Hey Friends!

I’ve never done a solo episode before, but Christmas felt like the right time to try. In the middle of a season that can feel loud, full, emotional, and a little overwhelming, this episode is an invitation to take just ten minutes to pause and breathe and remember the gift that never fades.

Whether your home feels busy and chaotic or quiet and tender this year, remember Emmanuel, God with us.

Through Scripture, simple family traditions, and honest encouragement, this episode is for weary parents who want to love their kids well and keep Jesus at the center without feeling pressure to get everything just right.

With love,

Steph Thurling

P.S. Please consider making a year-end gift to Christian Parenting to help us create more encouraging, faith-filled podcast episodes for families in every season.

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The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Let’s talk about Christmas. Not just the cozy traditions or the sparkling lights, but the actual story of what happened in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.

This week on the podcast, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Lee Strobel and together we explore the deeper truths of the nativity story, why the details matter, and how we can share that with our kids in a way that builds their faith.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

• Why understanding the virgin birth is crucial to understanding who Jesus really is
• The difference between the cultural version of Christmas and what Scripture actually says
• How to talk to kids about the parts of the story that might confuse them (like the wise men and the timeline!)
• And yes, we even touch on Santa and how to navigate that as Christian parents

Lee Strobel is a former legal editor for the Chicago Tribune and a New York Times bestselling author of more than forty books, including The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith. After investigating the claims of Christianity as an atheist, he became a follower of Jesus and now speaks and writes to help others explore faith with confidence. His newest book, The Case for Christmas, explores the historical and biblical evidence behind the nativity story.

Whether you’ve heard the Christmas story a hundred times or are learning it with your kids for the first time, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of awe.

(00:00) From Atheism to Faith: Lee Strobel's Journey

(03:00) The Cultural Significance of Christmas

(05:47) Revisiting the Nativity Story: Myths vs. Reality

(09:04) Understanding the Virgin Birth

(12:12) The Role of the Magi in the Christmas Story

(14:56) The Importance of Context in Biblical Narratives

(18:05) The Legacy of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus

(20:47) Celebrating Christmas with Children

(24:01) The True Meaning of Christmas

Connect with Lee

LeeStrobel.com

Lee Strobel X

Case For Christmas

Resources Mentioned

Lee’s books

Case For Christmas

Christian Parenting resources

The Christian Parenting Podcast: Faith, apologetics, and the supernatural with Lee Strobel

Support Christian Parenting

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

The lights are twinkling, the carols are playing, and everything should feel magical... but sometimes, it just doesn’t. Whether your kids are navigating big feelings of disappointment or you're trying to balance joy and weariness in your own heart, this conversation is for you.

This week I’m joined by author and speaker Sheila Walsh, and we’re talking about what really matters this Christmas: God’s love, Emmanuel with us, and how to guide our children through holiday letdowns with grace, presence, and prayer.

Here are just a few things we talked about:

• How to help kids walk through disappointment (even when they don’t get the part they wanted in the play)
• Why our prayers for our children matter more than any gift we could ever wrap
• Simple ways to re-center your home on Jesus in a culture that’s always asking for more
• How unmet expectations can be invitations to discover God's love more deeply

Sheila’s brand-new picture book, The Little Drummer Girl, tells a beautiful story about a child who doesn’t get what she wants… and instead finds the joy of giving to Jesus. It’s such a special book to read together this season. You can find the link in the show notes!

Sheila Walsh is a best-selling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and co-host of TBN’s Praise. She has written over 50 books for women and children, including It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, Holding On When You Want to Let Go, and The Storm Inside. Her new book, The Little Drummer Girl, is a heartwarming Christmas story for kids about faith, giving, and the love of Jesus.

So whether you’re on your third cup of cocoa or hiding wrapping paper in the closet, I hope this episode wraps around you like a warm blanket and reminds you: Jesus is with us. That’s what matters most.

(00:00) Embracing the Christmas Spirit

(02:52) Sheila Walsh: A Journey of Faith and Family

(05:59) The Heart of Christmas: Lessons from Isabella

(08:59) Navigating Disappointments: Teaching Kids Resilience

(12:06) The Power of Prayer in Parenting

(15:05) Finding Joy in Community and Service

(18:13) Understanding God's Love and Forgiveness

(20:47) The Impact of Prayer Across Generations

(24:08) Celebrating God's Plan in Our Lives

(26:54) The Gift of Christmas: Sharing God's Love

Connect with Sheila

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Better Together show

Resources Mentioned

The Little Drummer Girl book

Christian Parenting resources

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org