Questions Kids Ask

This is our last week walking through the key doctrines of the Christian faith as we cover the end times. We discuss why Revelation is one of Whitney’s favorite books of the Bible and how you can better learn to see the gospel clearly in how God says that the world as we have experienced it will end. Today’s guest is Whitney Capps. Whitney is a national Proverbs 31 speaker and the author of Sick of Me and also We Over Me, a Bible study based on the letters to the churches in the beginning of Revelation. She and her husband Chad have for boys and live just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Whitney created a fabulous group where she provides theological training called Simple Seminary that I absolutely love, so make sure to check that out!

This week, we are covering the importance of the Church in the Christian faith, coinciding with Week 7 of the Everyday Theology Bible study. We discuss details like why is it essential that we are part of a church and how we see women using their gifts in the church. We also talk about how church can be messy or even painful sometimes. Today’s guest is Jamie Ivey. Jamie is a podcaster, writer, and speaker from Austin, Texas. She is the proud mama of four kids and the wife of Aaron, worship pastor of The Austin Stone Community Church.  She is a fantastic cheerleader for women, encouraging them to use their gifts for God’s glory. She has a host of valuable resources, but you’ll definitely want to check out her first book, If You Only Knew and subscribe to her podcast, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. Jamie shares so much wisdom in this episode about trusting God with your gifts, confessing your sin to others, and seeking out community. You’re going to love it!

Every week, we are covering a key doctrine of the Christian faith and seeking to apply it to our everyday lives to coincide with the Everyday Theology Bible study. Today, we are talking about salvation. Today’s guest is Ruth Chou Simons. Ruth is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and speaker. You can learn more about her at GraceLaced.com and on Instagram @ruthchousimons. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are parents to six boys.

This week we are talking about humanity, and that walks alongside week 5 of the Everyday Theology Bible study. We are answering questions like: What does God say about us and how should that inform the way we live? and What is true freedom in Christ and how do we live out our identity as the imago Dei? We are talking with Gretchen Saffles today. Gretchen is the founder of Well-Watered Women and has so many wonderful resources available to lead you into a deeper relationship with Christ! These are at wellwateredwomen.com She’s also so encouraging on social media, has upcoming books and all sorts of exciting things coming you way - so make sure to follow along! 

Jackie Hill Perry joins Mary Wiley to discuss the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in today's episode that correlates with Week 4 of the Everyday Theology Bible study.  Jackie is the author of Gay Girl, Good God and Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today's Culture. She also is a poet, teacher, and hip-hop artist whose latest album, Crescendo needs to be in your arsenal of greats. She is a wife and mom to two cute kids with one on the way, and is just an all-around incredibly wise and kind person.

What you believe about Jesus matters. Kristi McLelland joins Mary Wiley to discuss the Person and work of Jesus in today's episode that correlates with Week 3 of the Everyday Theology Bible study.  Kristi is a speaker, teacher, and professor at Williamson College. She has a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and has dedicated her life to teaching people how to study the Bible for themselves. Kristi leads study trips to Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Italy and is excellent at teaching the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens.  Everyday Theology Bible study is available at lifeway.com and everywhere books are sold.

Kelly Minter joins us to talk about who God is and what He does on the Everyday Theology podcast today. We discuss God's holiness, goodness, wrath, and faithfulness and why it matters in our everyday lives.  This series is based on the Everyday Theology Bible study by Mary C Wiley. Available where books are sold.

Jen Wilkin joins Mary Wiley on the podcast today to talk about God's Word. They discuss the value of Scripture, how we can read it faithfully, the truths about its attributes, and what it looks like to be a doer of the Word.    This episode of the Everyday Theology mini-series is based on week 1 of the Everyday Theology Bible Study. Available where books are sold. Download a free set of memory cards so you can hide God's Word in deeply in your heart at www.lifeway.com/everydaytheology.

Today’s guest is Emily Jensen, cohost of the Risen Motherhood podcast and coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler. Today we are diving into how to talk about what God asks of us and how to talk about those truths with our kids. Who hasn’t heard a kid talk about what he wants to be when he grows up? How do we help kids think about what God wants them to be when they grow up? Make sure you check out Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments and the Risen Motherhood podcast. If you are a mom seeking to point your kids to the Truth, you’ll definitely love both!

Barnabas Piper, author of The Curious Christian, and other books, joins us today to discuss what it looks like to raise kids who are curious about the world, leading them ultimately to worship God for who He is. Why did He create so many different things? Each thing He made can point us to worship. Today's sponsor: bottlesodes.tv Today's featured resource: CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible

We've probably all dealt with this question at some point in our Christian lives: "How do I KNOW I am saved?" We want a certificate or a box checked that guarantees we are secure and don't ever have to wonder, but we don't get this in Scripture. We do however, get the Holy Spirit as a down payment of what is to come. We need to know that doubt is okay, as it can help us reconfirm our commitment to the Lord, but we also CAN know for sure that we are saved because we know and trust that God's Word is true and tells us how to trust Jesus, and the result of trusting Jesus is an eternal life with Him!

All kids need to be reminded that although earthly parents may fail or be absent for one reason or another, God is the perfect parent. Lisa Harper adopted her daughter Missy four years ago, but as a single mom, she's needed to answer some questions that not all kids ask. Missy may not have a "skin" daddy, but she does have a Daddy God, and this is a great reminder for all kids. Today's featured resource is the CSB One Story Bible. Available where books are sold.

Every parent's fear is that their kids will scream something like, "Mom, that kid looks weird." in a public location about a stranger. Dorena Williamson joins us to discuss how to help our kids recognize the image of God in all people, including those who are differently abled from them. Dorena is honest and kind, reminding us to seek out proximity with those who are differently abled and to do all we can to love them and their families well.  Today's sponsors are:  CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible bottlesodes.TV

Did you know the Bible talks about money more than 2000 times, and Jesus talks about money more than any other subject?  We all know that it can be the demise of a person when they love money, and but it also is necessary for us to survive. So how do we raise kids who are generous givers and who use money the way God intends that we do?  Art Rainer discusses this and many instances in Scripture where money was the focus in today's episode. 

Jason Duesing joins us to talk about hope in a world of cynicism, and how we can lead our kids to a foundation for a life of hopefulness rather than allowing them to be overwhelmed with the disappointments of this world.  The eye is the lamp of the body. We have to be skilled in directing our kids' gaze. It's a proactive thing to direct them to hopeful things. Through remembering, praying, giving thanks through worship, and then sharing, we can help kids cultivate a cycle of hope for their days, bringing them back (and ourselves back) to the core of our hope: Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and one day return. Jason's book Mere Hope is today's featured resource.  

"Being deeply rooted in Scripture, in Bible study, in a trust of a God who loves you so much is what helped us in this situation to say God has not changed, God has not abandoned me, and why would I turn my back on the one who has taken me this far?" Walking through tragedy is never easy, and it is even more difficult when you must explain and re-explain what has happened to your kids. Join us as we talk about helping your kids walk through tragedy in today's episode. Featured Resource: I Will Carry You by Angie Smith https://www.marycwiley.com/podcast/miscarriage

It doesn't take long living in the world to realize that bad things happen. And they are really unavoidable. Bad things happen to all people. But why? Is God not in control? Does He care?  Bad things happen ultimately because sin has broken the world. God is still in control, although He is not the author of evil or bad things. As we see through Job, God does allow bad things to happen, though.  Listen in to hear more. Featured Resource: Job: A Story of Unlikely Joy

God could make us obey.  After all, He's God, but He doesn't. In many ways, He allows us to choose obedience or disobedience, belief or disbelief. Listen in as we answer, "Why doesn't God just make us all obey Him?"  And BONUS! Listen after the featured resource break for tips on helping your kid who is afraid of the dark.  Featured Resource: It's All About Jesus Bible Storybook

The concept of having a relationship with Jesus, or Him being our best friend as we so often describe it for kids, is so hard to grasp for concrete thinkers when they know they can't actually see Jesus. How can we help them know that Jesus is a better friend than any person we could know on earth? Emily Jensen from Risen Motherhood joins us to talk about helping our kids understand what it means to know and love Jesus, even when we can't see Him.  Emily Jensen from Risen Motherhood joins us to answer, "Why can't I see Jesus? How is Jesus my best friend?" 

God cares about animals - He created them and even sustained them through Noah's Ark. Prov 12:10 even says that the righteous care for their animals. But, is my pet in heaven? Well, that's more complicated. Romans 8:18-27 says Jesus came to redeem all creation. The Bible doesn't say exactly what happens to our pets, but we do see that there are animals in the new heavens and new earth (Is 11:6-7). Could God raise our pets? Sure. Will He? Listen in for more.

The Lord's Supper is one of those moments in church life that can be difficult to understand for kids. Talking about blood is normally not something we do much unless one of our children is literally bleeding, so to think of Jesus' blood and it's symbolism in the cup that we take is a little weird. Not to mention, SNACK TIME! Bread and juice? Of course every kid wants in on that. Listen in to hear how Brittany and her family have talked about this ordinance with their kids. Featured resource: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/preventing-metoo-begins-pre-school-4-books-help-talk-kids/

Katie Orr joins us to talk about understanding God as our perfect Father, even if and especially if a child's earthly father is absent or not the best example of godly love and care. Although this is probably not a question your kids will ask directly, it is an important conversation for you to begin with them to help them understand that when they hear God referred to as Father, He is the only perfect parent - loving, providing, protecting, and caring perfectly for them. Don't forget to get the 30% coupon for Katie's FOCUSed15 Bible Study Training: https://resources.katieorr.me/focused15-bible-study-training?coupon=QKA

With historical evidence - both inside the Biblical text and outside it - we can certainly confirm that Jesus was a person who lived in a certain time of history from the town of Nazareth. What must be taken on faith is the rest of the story: that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, took on the wrath of God for sin on the cross, died, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven. Indeed, it is the greatest story ever told but is also foolishness to those who don't believe. It seems crazy! But it's true. And we can help our kids be ready for the questions they may have or be asked that revolve around Jesus' existence, Personhood, and ultimately deity.  Get Devotional Doctrine here: https://www.gospelproject.com/doctrine-book/

Danielle Bell has been serving in children's ministry for 21 years, and is currently at Dawson Family of Faith in Birmingham, Alabama. She recently adopted an adorable little girl from the foster system, and is passionate about helping people serve kids and families within the foster system well. In this episode, we talk about why foster care matters, what you can do to help, how you can educate your kids on why some kids are adopted and also calm any fears they have about them being "taken away" and adopted to another family, and what it looks like on the daily to do all the things as a single mom of a two year old. 

Jamie Ivey and her husband, Aaron, worship pastor at The Austin Stone Community Church, live in Austin, Texas with their four kids and two dogs.  Through her podcast, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, she uses a raw a nd intimate approach to connect with her audience. Jamie’s prayer and hope is for God to use her words to encourage and show others that they are not alone, while constantly pointing them to Jesus.  Today we talk about discipline and how it's so difficult with our kids, why we continue to sin even after we become a Christian, and why confession is so important and not talked about enough in our churches and our families.  Jamie tells a story about finding out one of her kids was using an app in a way that she didn't approve, and how she didn't handle the situation like she wished she had. Make sure to listen in, as there's so much wisdom there. Today's featured resource is If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey. If you've ever felt like a fraud in your Christian life or wondered how people would respond if they really knew everything about you, then this s book is for you. It's available anywhere books are sold!

Today's guest is Jana Magruder. Jana is the Director of LifeWay Kids and brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and curriculum writing. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville, TN. Why do we pray? If God really is in control and is all-knowing, shouldn't He know what we need and what we would ask for if we were praying anyway? God is in control and God does know. In fact, He knows BETTER than we do about what we need, but prayer is still SO valuable. There's so mystery about it - but we know two things for sure: Prayer changes our hearts and prayer has the power to really change things. We see God answer prayer over and over again in Scripture and He does the same for us.

Dorena Williamson is a bridge buider, speaker, writer, and worship leader who knows the power and beauty of racial awareness. She and her husband, Dr. Chris Williamson, planted Strong Tower Bible Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and have spent more than twenty years ministering to its richly diverse faith community. Dorena and Chris have four children. Dorena joins us today to talk about race, how to talk with kids about the difficult past of American slave trade and oppression, relearning history, and celebrating diversity in all the world because God has created it and it is good! 

Prayer is the most important weapon we have against the enemy, and the Bible even says that Jesus intercedes for us while He sits at the right hand of the Father. Yet, there are often questions about the nature of prayer. Because it's a conversation with a God who we cannot see who knows all things and is entirely in control it seems like it may be pointless to voice our needs, our gratitude, and our worship because God already knows what we are going to pray before we pray it. Still, we see prayer as unbelievably powerful throughout Scripture. Prayer changes things - and we can be a part of what God is doing in the world by having a vibrant prayer life.  

Why would God, if He knew Adam and Eve would sin, put a tree in the garden that would sentence them to death if they ate from it?  We know God is sovereign, and there also is need for humanity to obey. A love without choice is not love at all, so God gave us the opportunity to obey out of love. And yet, Jesus was not God's plan B. Even as consequences were being discussed of Adam and Eve's sin, God tells them that there will come a time when a Messiah will come to redeem what had been done and make all things right again.

It can be easier to help kids understand how Jesus is the same us - how He was born, was a child, and had all the experiences we have, but it's much more difficult to help kids understand how He is different - that He is God and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father today interceding for us. In this episode, we talk about how we should speak truth in as bite-sized portion for our kids as possible, but not watering it down so that it has a different meaning. We want our kids to know what is true, even if it's hard to comprehend.  

Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy, Fear and Faith, United, and God’s Very Good Idea. She's been published in Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, and more. Trillia is married to Thern and they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.  Today, she joins us to talk about what kids can do when they are sad. There are so many great passages in Scripture that we can run to when we feel sad - and it should be a great encouragement that even Jesus felt sad! Jesus is God, who came as a baby and grew and experienced life just as we do. He was sad, hungry, tempted, happy, and tired. He understands, and today He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us before God.  Listen in to hear more.  

The work of translation cannot be emphasized enough. We want God's Word to be carried to every tribe and tongue so that they may read His Word for themselves in the language that they speak and even think in so that the Word of the Lord may dwell richly within them and also so that they might understand the gospel. We are so blessed to have so many translations of the Bible in English, and as we discover more manuscripts and have more archaeological evidence, we get closer, not farther away from what we know the original Greek/Hebrew text said. So which translations should we use with kids? Why do translations choose different words but are using the same original text? Listen in to hear.

Sometimes God asks us to do things that are uncomfortable or challenging. We see it throughout Scripture, but we don't want it to be true of us. And, even when we step out in faith and do the hard things God has called us to do, it doesn't always work out like we hope. But, God is always in control and obedience s always what is most satisfying and brings the most peace, even when obedience leads us into difficult situations.  Today's featured resource is CentriKid Camps. Learn more at centrikid.com

If you are listening on April 4th, make sure to check out the #MLK50 live stream here: https://live1.thegospelcoalition.org This event is put on by the ERLC, which Dan Darling works with, and I am so thankful they have made this event on racial reconciliation available for all of us online. Today's episode covers some topics that some find controversial. Ultimately, we want kids to know that God loves everyone and hopes that they will follow Him, but He also knows that not all people will. There are particular rights that are afforded to His children. These concepts of theology - of being children of God and as the Bible says, His chosen people should not point us to arrogance but to fall on our knees in worship!

Today, we're not talking about a specific question kids are asking, but rather how we can help kids build a framework for the whole story of Scripture. We'll talk about explaining creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration as a good foundation to build upon as they learn the stories in Scripture and realize that it all points to Jesus' sacrifice for our sin and ultimately, the end of the story, or His return to make things good like they were before sin entered the world.  I hope that this will help you understand Scripture better, and will also help your kids! Join us here to jump into the conversation.

Good Friday was a traumatic day - full of difficulty, pain, and shame for Jesus. Good Friday was the day that He carried His cross up to Golgatha and was crucified. Jesus was completely innocent of sin, but took on God's wrath on the cross so that we might be able to have a right relationship with God. Through His death, He paid for our sin with His blood, and through His resurrection, He guaranteed that the debt had been paid and sin and death had been ultimately defeated - and that one day all who trust Him will be raised just like He was raised.  Good Friday may not seem good - like a day at the amusement park, zoo, or pool might be to our kids, but it is good because of what it purchased for us. Ultimately, through Jesus' death on the cross, the separation between God and man that sin caused was removed. The temple veil was torn, and all who trust Jesus were then allowed to have a right relationship with God without the need to go through a high priest for forgiveness of sin and prayer. Instead, Jesus acts as our great High Priest. Good Friday is good because we see God's great love for His people and Jesus' great sacrifice on our behalf. Our sin was the cause of Good Friday, but Jesus' victory is what we celebrate a few days later! Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/why-is-good-friday-good

As we read the Old Testament and all the times God promised to send a Messiah, Jesus' entrance into the world can seem like it took FOREVER. We read from Adam and Eve to Noah to David and on into the minor prophets, and God's people were yearning all along for a Savior, waiting on His arrival. Then, between the books of Malachi and Matthew were 400 years of silence, and God's people were just waiting. Why did God wait so long?  This is one of those questions that we just don't have Scripture that answers it directly, but we can infer that God was working in hearts all along, pointing them to want to love and obey Him and that Jesus came at God's perfect time. Similarly, many ask today why God is waiting so long to send Jesus back to earth to make all things right, and in the same way, God is being so merciful - giving more time for those who do not trust Him to turn from their wicked ways and obey Him (2 Peter 3:9). We look forward to that day, and we celebrate His entrance into the world as God the Son - God with skin on to live among us - His perfect life that He lived out in our place - His death on the cross to pay what we deserved to pay for sin - and His resurrection and ultimately ascension, proving that death was defeated and that He has secured a right relationship with God for all who trust Him. Hallelujah! The depth of our sin was so deep, but God's grace was still deeper. 

We talk a lot about what's different from before we were Christians to deciding to follow Jesus, but that doesn't mean it's super easy to talk about with our kids. That's no different for Jamie. Of course, we know that there's no weighting of sin in the Lord's eyes and that even one of the "tiniest" sins is deserving of death (Romans 6:23), there are some sins that do have weighter consequences. In Jamie's life, those "big sins" were premarital sex and abuse of alcohol, and sometimes we don't want to tell our kids because we don't want them to think less of us or to give them permission to do the same - because we want better for them. I don't think we are giving them permission to do what we did, but are instead giving them a picture of the pointing them to a Savior. When we share, our focus has to be not what we did, but what Jesus did. We always point back to the gospel, being confident that we aren't so much sharing our failures, but shining a great big spotlight on our Savior.  Mistakes or failures DO NOT mean that we cannot be a good example. We will always fail God even when we love Him dearly and are following Him. We've been sinners since Adam, yet God chose to send Jesus to pay for sin. The Gospel is why we can share our story and point to Jesus instead. How gracious God is that He would send Jesus and forgive us. I pray that my kids won't remember what their mom did so much, but that they'll see a God who pursued their mom. Read more of the show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/before-you-were-a-christian

It shows the sin in the world and how sin has broken certain people, and that brokenness twists their minds and hearts that they feel they need to lash out. I hope that this helps my kids understand the profoundness of human need - that sin is constant and everywhere and our need for a Savior is obvious in all aspects of life and in every day. As Christians, what is our appropriate response?  It has to be more than simple social posts, but we can DO something. We can advocate before God that He will do something about it, give, or seek to influence for justice. We rest in the hope that all of this WILL be fixed. We rest in the hope that we have a way to be forgiven of sin because of Jesus and that one day He will return and He will clean up His Kingdom and all will be made right. 

The quick answer is "God's glory," but it has far-reaching implications. Our lives are not for our own enjoyment or our own pleasure, but for Him. Why would God create a world He knew would rebel against Him?  We have to let some tension hang here, as we don't know all the ins and outs of the mind of God, but we know God created us knowing we would fall. He knew He would send Jesus. This question screams His love to us, which drives to His glory. The more we understand His love, the more we understand His glory. God knew the full ramifications of what was happening, and yet He chose to create nonetheless. Creation before the fall shows us what life will be like when Jesus returns and makes everything right again. Heaven by Randy Alcorn is super helpful (AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) to learn more here. Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed their work and enjoyed one another. Our relationships that we know today will be changed in eternity, but all relationships, all work, and every moment will point to God's glory. Even right after Adam and Eve sinned, God slaughtered an animal and made Adam and Eve clothing. His plan to provide covering for their sin through the blood of Christ is already being foreshadowed here. We consistently see God's grace and humanity's need for Him throughout Scripture. Featured Resource: Cornerstones by Brian Dembowczyk is a fantastic resource that walks through 200 questions and answers to build a strong theology with kids. Read more at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/whydidgodcreate

Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy, Fear and Faith, United, and God’s Very Good Idea. She's been published in Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, and more. Trillia is married to Thern and they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.  Sometimes, we might feel guilt for receiving good gifts from God because others might not get the same gift. Trillia joins me to discuss how we can best help our kids cultivate gratitude without being boastful and how to help kids understand that the talents they are gifted with our for the purpose of bringing glory to God. Trillia talks about a time that her son asked her to draw Kung Fu Panda, reminds us to celebrate God's goodness to us and also to be generous with what we do have, and to be in God's Word daily because it is truly the bread of life.  Read more at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/goodthings.

Lisa is the author of 6 books, speaker, founder of Ministry Strong and the 5 Word Prayers Daily Podcast. She has also been a wife for 22 years and is the mother of 3. Today, we talk about if God cares when we feel lonely, afraid, and unhappy. Does God want these things for His children? Absolutely not, but because of the world's brokenness through the effects of sin, everyone experiences them from time to time. In God's graciousness, though, even when we experience hard times God can use them for His glory. Read more of the show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/doesgodcare.

Brandon Smith discusses heaven, hell, and the new heaven and earth that will be ushered in when Jesus returns in today's episode. He talks with us about how to discuss eternity and these concepts with young kids, we talk about judgment houses and their versions of heaven and hell, (Anyone go to one of these in the early 2000s? Do churches still do these?) and how to raise kids who don't just seek Jesus for "fire insurance," but live obedient and faithful lives. Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/heaven-and-hell.

Rachel C Swanson is the author of the Big and Little Coloring Devotional and is a mom of three. She joins us today to help us understand what sin is and how to raise kids who confess sin and ask forgiveness quickly. I love how this conversation so simply leads into a conversation about the Gospel and our need for rescue from sin that can only be done through a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again, paying the penalty for sin. Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/what-is-sin.

Why are there children who go to bed at night hungry? Why do earthquakes or tornados destroy entire towns? Micah Fries is here to answer our tough question today of "Why do bad things happen?"  Listen in as we talk about how sin has invaded every piece of life on earth, how we shouldn't sanitize Bible stories, and how we can parent kids who love God's Word. Read more of the show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/why-bad-things-happen.

Dan Darling is the Vice President for Communications for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC), and is the author of multiple books including, The Original Jesus. He writes regularly for Christianity Today’s CT Pastors, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, For the Church, and others. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry and is a graduate of  Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dan and his wife Angela have four children and live in the Nashville area, where Dan serves at Green Hill Church as Pastor of Teaching and Discipleship. In this episode, we discuss human dignity, God's image and how it is present after sin's entry into the world, and how this truth should affect the way we treat others and think about others. Read more show notes at http://www.marycwiley.com/podcast/in-gods-image

Aaron is the Brand Manager of The Gospel Project and writes at Blogging Theologically. In this episode, we talk about the need to discuss Bible stories without avoiding hard things with age appropriateness, God calling Aaron's family to move to the US from Canada, and how we just never know what is going to come out of our kids' mouths. We talk about how weird it must have been for Noah or others in the Bible to obey God, and how we must do the same, even when it seems weird. Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/strange-things

Brittany Salmon (Masters in Intercultural Studies and pursing a PhD at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) joins me to talk about the Holy Spirit and shares a ton of encouragement for those moments when you totally botch a conversation with your kids and when you are busy and struggle with balancing all the plates that you have spinning.  Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/who-is-the-holy-spirit

Brian Dembowcyzk (Managing Editor of The Gospel Project and dad of three) answers this question often with his kids. His daughter, Hannah has a limb difference and a prosthetic, so she deals with feeling different or being told she is different often.  Brian wisely leads us to remember that God does have a perfect version of the human body, as seen before sin entered the world in Adam and Eve and that will be restored when Jesus returns. Reminding kids that sin has effected every element of our lives, including our bodies is important. Listen in as Brian answers the question, "Why Did God Make Me Different?" Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/made-different

Don’t think, “Oh it would never be my child that struggles with this.” If they come home from college or from some class with new questions and new ideas, don’t panic. Helping kids understand the need to own their own faith and remind them of God's love for them seen in Him sending Jesus to pay for our sin. Read more show notes at http://www.marycwiley.com/podcast/why-follow-jesus

Brandon shares with us about the internal and external evidence that supports the reliability of the Bible. We also talked about how miraculous it is that the Bible has be preserved through rulers requiring that all manuscripts be burned within their empire, through generations of people, and through all sorts of other challenges pre-printing press. As Brandon says, If God gave us a book so that we might know Him, of course He is going to preserve it. Isn't it so good of God to do that for us? Read more show notes at www.marycwiley.com/podcast/is-the-bible-true