What does 1 & 2 Kings have to do with everyday family discipleship?

In this week’s episode of The Wholehearted Households Podcast, host Alex Blount introduces us to the books of 1 & 2 Kings, reflecting on his daughter’s love of reading books and how humans are naturally drawn to stories. In 1 & 2 Kings, there are plenty of stories to tell about the Hebrew kings, and each of these stories ultimately point us to God’s sovereignty and love for his people.

Our Bible spotlight focuses on the prophet Elijah and his posture of prayerful and faithful waiting. Even in a moment of exhaustion and desperation, Elijah is determined to keep his eyes fixed on our promise-keeping God, and in turn, he witnesses God’s great power.

Then, our discipleship nugget equips you to incorporate Scripture into your family’s daily routines. In 2 Kings, we learn of King Josiah’s high view of Scripture, and he models how Scripture helps us turn to God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

Finally, our spiritual practice invites you into a time of journaling, in which we can reflect on our own stories, bringing our feelings, hurts, ideas, and struggles before God and making room for the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives.

Wherever you listen, may you and your family be blessed by this episode as you seek to follow Jesus with your whole heart.

The Wholehearted Households Podcast is a production of InterVarsity Press (IVP) and made possible by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment. Discover more great listens from IVP on our website or on YouTube.

To reach the IVP podcast team, please use this form.

Resources from the episode

This week’s Bible spotlight is adapted from Hear My Prayer: Learning from the Faith of Elijah by Liz Ditty.

This week’s discipleship nugget is adapted from The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

This week’s spiritual practice is adapted from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPWHP for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Kaitlin Borek, Abby Lee, Karen Savella Stallard, and Travis Albritton

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Hosts: Alex Blount and Helen Lee

✅ Narrators: Kaitlin Borek, Jack Reece, and Karen Savella Stallard

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Amy Cerra

✅ Theme Song: “Elegant Flight” by Sounds Like Sanders and “Birdhouse” by EVOE

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts/authors featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

What do 1 & 2 Samuel have to do with everyday family discipleship?

In this week’s episode of The Wholehearted Households Podcast, host Helen Lee introduces us to the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. She reflects on the many stages of raising her sons, and how each of those stages represent a part of who they are today. Similarly, in 1 & 2 Samuel, we follow the many stories and stages of David’s life and how they inform his ultimate identity in God.

Our Bible spotlight focuses on David as king of Israel and his desire to honor, love, and serve God. Although David is far from perfect, God sees David’s heart and establishes a covenant with him: He promises to build David a house and a dynasty, and one day a king from David’s line will rule from his throne forever.

Then, our discipleship nugget equips you to practice blessing, sending, and anointing with your family. Just as the prophet Samuel blesses and anoints the young David as the next king of Israel, we can also bless and anoint our family members as they live out their callings, step into a big transition, or have an important event coming up.

Finally, our spiritual practice invites you to engage in the practice of ora et labora or “pray and work,” reflecting on how we can intertwine worship and work in our everyday lives. Before he is called to be king, David spends his days tending sheep, yet he still sees this work as a part of God’s greater work in the world. David’s humble beginnings remind us that we too can meet God in any task, no matter how great or small.

Wherever you listen, may you and your family be blessed by this episode as you seek to follow Jesus with your whole heart.

The Wholehearted Households Podcast is a production of InterVarsity Press (IVP) and made possible by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment. Discover more great listens from IVP on our website or on YouTube.

To reach the IVP podcast team, please use this form.

Resources from the episode

This week’s Bible spotlight is adapted from Savoring Scripture: A Six-Step Guide to Studying the Bible by Andrew Abernethy.

This week’s discipleship nugget is adapted from The Spiritually Vibrant Home: The Power of Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors by Don Everts.

This week’s spiritual practice is adapted from Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren, and The 1662 Book of Common Prayer, edited by Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane.

Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPWHP for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Kaitlin Borek, Abby Lee, Karen Savella Stallard, and Travis Albritton

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Hosts: Alex Blount and Helen Lee

✅ Narrators: Kaitlin Borek, Jack Reece, and Karen Savella Stallard

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Amy Cerra

✅ Theme Song: “Elegant Flight” by Sounds Like Sanders and “Birdhouse” by EVOE

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts/authors featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

What does Ruth have to do with everyday family discipleship?

In this week’s episode of The Wholehearted Households Podcast, host Alex Blount introduces us to the book of Ruth, reflecting on the value of above-and-beyond friendships and how being a part of God’s beloved community can transform our families.

Our Bible spotlight focuses on Naomi’s words of blessing to her daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah. Naomi’s deep love for Ruth and Orpah illustrate the concept of God’s hesed, pointing us back to the unwavering, faithful, and extravagant love of God.

Then, our discipleship nugget equips you to begin cultivating spiritual friendships, sharing ideas of how both you and your family can become more aware of current friendships and identify ways to invite God into those relationships.

Finally, our spiritual practice invites you think about the ways God’s love and character are reflected in our friends, and how we can more deeply embody the importance of God’s family in our day-to-day lives.

Wherever you listen, may you and your family be blessed by this episode as you seek to follow Jesus with your whole heart.

The Wholehearted Households Podcast is a production of InterVarsity Press (IVP) and made possible by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment. Discover more great listens from IVP on our website or on YouTube.

To reach the IVP podcast team, please use this form.

Resources from the episode

This week’s Bible spotlight is adapted from Redeemer: God’s Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young.

This week’s spiritual practice is adapted from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun.

Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPWHP for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Kaitlin Borek, Abby Lee, Karen Savella Stallard, and Travis Albritton

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Hosts: Alex Blount and Helen Lee

✅ Narrators: Kaitlin Borek, Jack Reece, and Karen Savella Stallard

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Amy Cerra

✅ Theme Song: “Elegant Flight” by Sounds Like Sanders and “Birdhouse” by EVOE

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts/authors featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.