Christian Parent, Crazy World

I love apologetics, explaining the faith and equipping parents to help their children stand strong in the faith. But there comes a time in life when we need to stop explaining and start exercising – we’ve got to start walking out all that we know.In this episode, we will cover:1. The four types of prayers we should be praying when we are in a battle for one of our kids2. The greatest impediments that keep us from being effective in our prayers.***The Four Types of Prayers:1. Declarative Prayer2. Exclamatory Prayer3. Interrogative Prayer4. Imperative Prayer ***Scriptures referenced:James 1:5Phil. 4:6-7Matthew 16:19 Matthew 18:18Luke 10:19Mark 11:23John 14:122 Chronicles 16:9Matthew 13:58***Read my article on this topic on Crosswalk.com***Books referenced:Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch Sheets, pg. 23 & 29.Confronting the Powers by C. Peter Wagner, pg. 242.The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/siraanamwong Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We spend a lot of time worrying that our children will leave the faith in college. But statistics show that children are more likely to leave the faith before they leave the nest.In this episode, Catherine covers:1. What is to blame when your child walks away from the faith (and what NOT to blame).2. A battleplan for going to war for your child’s faithArticles and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Read Catherine's accompanying article on Crosswalk: https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/what-to-do-if-your-child-has-walked-away-from-the-faith.htmlAlready Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church And What You Can Do To Stop It by Ken Ham, Britt Beemer, and Todd Hillard (pgs. 31-32)Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God by Jentzen Franklin.Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson.House of Miracles by Brandon Lake.***Scripture Referenced in this Episode:The Good Shepherd & the lost sheep: Luke 15:3-71 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”The Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-20 Exodus 17:8-16: Israel’s battle with Amalekites.***Quotes on prayer:J. Edwin Orr “History is silent on revivals that did not begin with prayer.” The Great Oswald Chambers called prayer "the greater work."W. Clement Stone: “Prayer is man’s greatest power.” Watchman Nee: “Our prayers lay the track down through Gods power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” ****Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Qvasimodo Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We have all heard at some point to “speak the truth in love." But how exactly do we do that? Where in scripture are we instructed to do so? In this episode, we are going to break down this popular saying and discuss how to humbly lead others to the truth. Our goal should not just be to speak the truth, but that our expression of truth is effective and genuine. Resources Mentioned:Article: The Danger of Speaking Truth without Love by Catherine SegarsScripture Referenced:Paul’s admonition to speak the truth in love: 1 Corinthians 13Zacchaeus’ story: Luke 19The woman at the well: John 4The woman caught in adultery: John 8"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)Paul’s admonition not to judge the world: (1 Corinthians 5:12).Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Canva Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our social and political landscape is incredibly contentious. We need guidelines to help us and our kids navigate these treacherous waters. In this episode, we discuss how to talk about sensitive topics with our kids, telling them the truth – which is often offensive -- but with love. How do we do that? I’ve got 6 guidelines.Read the article that goes with this episode.GUIDELINES:1. Listen. Really listen.2. Respect other people’s beliefs. Don’t ridicule3. Don’t assume a motive. Challenge methods, not motives.4. Be more concerned about people than your position.5. Speak in love while never denying truth.6. Recognize that what people need most is not an argument, it is an experience with God.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matt. 7:12)***Resources and Articles Mentioned in This Episode:The “love” chapter: 1 Corinthians 13The Danger of Speaking Truth without LoveC.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" BroadcastC.S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to Christianity C.S. Lewis quote on his encounter with God at Oxford***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/***Episode Image Credit: Getty/Gvardgraph Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is the culmination of all the hard work we have done in the last three episodes! We are going to look at why the other worldviews we’ve looked at begin to fall apart because they don’t accurately explain and represent reality.Resources and Articles Mentioned in This Episode:1. Eric Metaxas interview with John Smirak2. John Smirak article: Is the Woke Cult Just a Spastic Reaction to Darwinism?3. Christian Headlines article on Richard Dawkins, Atheist Richard Dawkins Says Its 'Wise and Sensible' to Abort Babies with Down Syndrome, Serious Disabilities4. Five Worldview Comparison Chart from Xenos.org5. Postmodernists deny that there "are objective, or absolute, moral values.”6. William Wilberforce’s Christian faith and crusade to end the slave trade.7. The testimony of John Newton8. Martin Luther Kings’ 'I Have a Dream' Speech“***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/***Episode Image Credit: Getty/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Natasha Crain expertly challenges us: Instead of asking if a worldview is religious or non-religious, we should ask – from where does this worldview get its authority?Research and Resources That Went into This Episode:Natasha Crain’s Website: https://natashacrain.com/Crain’s podcast that asks, “From where does this worldview get its authority?”Debate between Alan Dershowitz and Alan Keyes on religions role in society (quoted material starts around 32:00)https://www.c-span.org/video/?159474-1/organized-religion-debateSlaves Sold by African Rulers and Tribal Merchants:https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxt3gk7/revision/7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NXC4Q_4JVgArab-Muslim Slave trade:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OdIqeWkhHUhttps://jcpa.org/article/the-arab-muslim-slave-trade-lifting-the-taboo/https://jtf.org/10-facts-about-the-arab-muslim-enslavement-of-black-people-not-taught-in-schools/Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Qvasimodo Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we’re getting brainy. But we’re also going to have a lot of fun. The subject of worldviews can be overwhelming and confusing. But you and your kids are going to need to understand these concepts. I break down each main worldview in easy-to-understand terms and have a ton of resources to help you explore and explain these worldviews to your kids.When it comes to worldviews, the question we have to ask ourselves is: “Which worldview best represents and explains reality?” We don’t want our kids to believe the Christian faith just because we told them to, but because they have investigated other worldviews and believe Christianity is the best explanation of reality.We want our kids’ beliefs to be:Sound, Logical, Cohesive, Coherent, and ConvincingWhen you combine all of that with a personal relationship, your kids will have a really solid faith. If you missed Episode 6, be sure to go back and check it out.So, what are the various worldviews?1. Naturalism 2. Pantheism3. Theism or Monotheism4. Spiritism and Polytheism5. Postmodernism6. Pluralism7. Moralistic Therapeutic DeismMORE RESOURCES ON WORLDVIEW:- Xenos.org article, “Five Worldviews,” by Dennis McCallum: https://www.xenos.org/essays/five-worldviews - Chart on worldviews: https://rw360values.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Six-Worldviews.pdf- Cheat sheet on existentialism: https://www.dummies.com/education/philosophy/existentialism-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/- MIT Physicist Ian Hutchinson quote on scientism: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-worldview/- Pew Research Center statistic on belief in God: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/25/key-findings-about-americans-belief-in-god/- Ligonier Ministries article “What is a Worldview” by James Anderson: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-worldview/ FOLLOW CATHERINEhttps://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Benjavisa Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Some might argue that we should simply teach our kids the principles of the Christian faith and ignore other worldviews. Isn’t knowing the truth enough?Catherine doesn’t think so. We want our kid’s faith to be challenged. Resistance creates strength. Lack of resistance creates a wimpy, flabby faith.In this episode, she will give you FIVE reasons why we want to teach our kids other worldviews. You can read the article that accompanies this episode here.Resources Mentioned:Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, by Hillary Morgan Ferrer, states: “Most studies indicate between 45%-48% of youth leave the church after their freshman year in college and never return” (pg. 27)Bible Verses Referenced:“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8Jesus told us to be “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23The Athenian Altar to the Unknown God: Acts 17:22-34Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/lemono Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If we want our kids to stand strong in their faith, we need to have real answers to some of their hardest questions about God and His Word.Why did God use men to write his book? In this episode, Catherine unpacks this question and the powerful, life-altering answer. The fact is: that God used the men and women he did to write the Bible and share the gospel should give us incredible hope for our own lives.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch SheetsBible Verses Discussed in This Episode:2 Chronicles 16:9; Matthew 13:54-58Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Daseugen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

One of the main reasons young people are leaving the faith is because they are growing up in a legalistic faith. They approached their faith as a list of do’s and don’ts. Their relationship with God was a checklist, a duty.In this episode, Catherine unpacks what the rules in the Bible are all about, why they are important, and how we sometimes misunderstand what they are about. The rules aren’t about pleasing God. God’s rules are given as a way to approach us.Scripture Referenced in This Episode:The tree of knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:15-17The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Luke 15:1-7The Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Church of the Highlands: Freedom CurriculumLiving in the Tree of Life, Jan. 17, 2021, Chris Hodges, Church of the HighlandsEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Maliha Majeed Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the last episode, we talked about what our kids need for an authentic faith. We concluded that we need to teach our kids how to wrestle - how to contend - for their faith. One of the primary reasons cited for this youth exodus by Tom Bisset in his book Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith is surprisingly simple: “They left because they never personally owned their faith.” In other words, their faith was an offshoot of their parent’s spiritual journey. Like Esau, who didn’t value the birthright his father wanted to bestow, these kids never found a personal faith. They never wrestled with God like Jacob did. They never contended with the ideas of men and women. They never learned how to overcome. And when faced with worldly ideals backed by popular secular ideology, the faith of these young people couldn’t stand.In this episode, Catherine shares 7 steps parents can take to help their kids begin to wrestle with their faith.Be sure to check out Catherine's accompanying article: Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?Episode Image Credit: Oleksandr Pupko Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The key to an authentic faith? Wrestling. In this episode, Catherine walks us through the story of Jacob and how, through his wrestling, his faith became his own.A new LifeWay Research survey says Two-thirds of young people say they stopped regularly going to church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith by Tom Bissett. In that book, he gives the top four reasons. Scripture Covered in this Episode:Esau despises his birthright: Genesis 25:19-34Jacob takes Esau’s blessings: Genesis 27Jacob wrestles with God: Genesis 32:22-32Be sure to check out Catherine's related article: Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/ Episode Image Credit: Getty/SurfUpVector Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

An astronomical number of Christian young people are leaving the faith after they leave the nest. A recent New LifeWay Research survey shows that two-thirds of Christian youth stop attending church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.A study from the Assemblies of God shows that “at least half and possibly over two-thirds of Christian young people will step away from the faith while attending a non-Christian college or university.” A similar study from the Southern Baptist Convention “indicates that they are currently losing 70-88% of their youth after their freshman year in college.”In her recent book, Mama Bear Apologetics, Hillary Morgan Ferrer offers a somber reality when it comes to our Christian teens and twenty-somethings: “Most studies indicate between 45%-48% of youth leave the church after their freshman year in college and never return.” (pg. 27)If the massive youth exodus we are experiencing in the church doesn’t concern us as parents, it should.In this inaugural episode of CPCW, Catherine breaks down what is happening to youth in our churches, so we as parents can understand how to counteract this trend.See Catherine’s supplemental article on Crosswalk: “Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?” https://bit.ly/3rNY5lj RESOURCES REFERENCED:“Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults,” Lifeway Research: https://bit.ly/3T6FAV8 “Young adults are dropping out of church in large numbers, survey finds. This is Why.” USA Today: https://bit.ly/2DdLlw8“Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies” by Hillary Morgan Ferrer: https://bit.ly/3ys5Bq3 “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church… and Rethinking Faith” by David Kinnaman: https://bit.ly/3EqFXpd “Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity,” Cold Case Christianity: https://bit.ly/2S0fM1M; (This resource contained the following referenced studies: Assemblies of God Study by Dayton A. Kingsrite, 2007; Southern Baptist Convention Data T.C. Pinkey’s remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee, 2001; Southern Baptist Council on Family Life report to Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2002)“The Tops Reasons Young People Drop Out of Church,” by Griffen Paul Jackson, Christianity Today: https://bit.ly/2MS0OFk “Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith” Tom Bisset, Discovery House Publishers (1992). https://amzn.to/3fUSM11 Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/ Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.