Let's Parent on Purpose: Christian Marriage, Parenting, and Discipleship

How do Christian parents navigate the challenging transition from raising children to building healthy relationships with adult sons and daughters? In this insightful conversation, Jay sits down with Dr. Kathy Koch to discuss one of the most important shifts in biblical parenting: moving from being a parent who directs and instructs to becoming a trusted consultant who advises and encourages. Drawing from her book Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children, Dr. Kathy shares practical wisdom for maintaining strong family relationships, avoiding common parenting pitfalls, and fostering mutual respect as children enter adulthood. Christian moms and dads will be encouraged to release control, trust God with their adult children, and pursue relationships marked by grace, understanding, and hope.

This episode explores topics such as helicopter parenting, family estrangement, communication with adult children, marriage and in-law relationships, prodigal children, and the importance of healthy boundaries. Dr. Kathy reminds parents that discipleship does not end when children leave home, but it does change. Rather than offering constant correction or unsolicited advice, parents can build long term trust by listening well, praying faithfully, respecting their adult children's independence, and remaining available when wisdom is requested. Whether you are preparing to launch a teenager into adulthood or navigating a difficult season with an adult child, this conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical tools for strengthening multi generational family relationships.

Key Takeaways
Parenting changes when children become adults. Parents become consultants, coaches, and encouragers rather than directors and decision makers.
Unsolicited advice often feels like criticism. Listening and understanding create stronger relationships than constant correction.
Healthy adult relationships are built on respect, trust, and appropriate boundaries.
Parents should avoid making their adult children's choices, successes, or struggles the center of their identity.
Letting children experience challenges and consequences helps develop resilience and maturity.
Strong relationships with adult children begin with intentional discipleship and connection during the younger years.
Family estrangement is painful, but parents can focus on hope, prayer, humility, and reconciliation rather than endless self blame.
Investing in long term relationships requires patience, grace, and a willingness to love without keeping score.
Parents can continue to influence their adult children by being available, supportive, and genuinely interested in their lives.
God loves our children even more than we do, and we can trust Him with their future.

Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc., a child development specialist, and a sought after speaker dedicated to helping parents, educators, and churches inspire children to develop biblical character and strong faith. She is the bestselling author of numerous books, including Parent Differently, Resilient Kids, Raising Gender Confident Kids, and her latest book, Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children. For more information, visit celebratekids.com.

Let’s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcasting Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Resources & Links:
Purchase Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children by Dr. Kathy Koch on Amazon or through the Celebrate Kids online store.

More Resources & Links:
Get Jay's new devotional, Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal  Use it solo, with your small group, or as a family for daily Scripture-based prompts to foster gratitude and closeness to Christ.

Text "THINGS" to 66866 for free high-quality resources from Jay, including fun family conversations, a 52-week Scripture memory system, dating questions for kids, marriage tools, and more.

Check out www.youthministry.coach
Daily Devotional Podcast Guided by Faith: www.guidedbyfaith.net
Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 
Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive through the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

In this powerful episode of Let’s Parent on Purpose, host Jay Holland sits down with Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and author of The Five Habits of a Tech-Ready Family, for an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting kids in the digital age. Chris shares how smartphones, social media, pornography exposure, gaming, and AI have created an “experiment” that today’s parents never signed up for. Together, Jay and Chris unpack the emotional and spiritual challenges Christian families face as children navigate addictive technology, online temptation, and constant digital influence. This episode offers biblical wisdom, practical parenting strategies, and encouragement for moms and dads who want to raise disciples of Jesus in a screen-saturated world without leading from fear or shame.

Throughout the conversation, Chris explains why Christian parents must move from panic to intentionality by building trust, pursuing authentic connection, and responding with grace first when children fail online. He introduces the five habits of a tech-ready family, including modeling healthy technology use, delaying addictive apps and social media, encouraging real-world play and responsibility, and creating layers of digital protection in the home. Parents will be challenged to think differently about smartphones, social media algorithms, and the emotional realities their children face every day. If you are looking for practical Christian parenting advice on technology, digital safety, online purity, discipleship, and protecting your children’s hearts in the age of AI and social media, this episode is an essential listen.

Key Takeaways
Kids today are carrying emotional and spiritual burdens online that previous generations never experienced
Technology companies are intentionally competing for your child’s attention, affection, and habits
Grace-first parenting creates safety for children to confess struggles and mistakes
Parents should practice calm responses before digital crises happen
Delaying addictive technology is not anti-tech parenting, but wisdom-based parenting
Real-world play, chores, movement, and face-to-face connection help build resilient kids
Healthy digital boundaries require ongoing conversations, not just parental controls
Parents do not need to panic, but they do need a plan
Building digital trust happens “step by step and chat by chat”
Protecting children online starts with intentional discipleship at home

Bio:
Chris McKenna is the Founder of Protect Young Eyes and President of The Better Tech Project.  leading voice on digital safety, he testified before the U.S. Senate in 2019, sparking more than 20 hearings on online child protection. Under his leadership, Protect Young Eyes earned the Dignity Defense Award and the Phase Alliance Child Safety Award. He co-authored the Child Device Protection Bill, now law in Utah and Alabama, requiring devices to activate content filters for minors. 

Chris serves as a technical advisor and represents the Human Change Movement, speaking globally—including at the World Economic Forum—while collaborating with advocates, tech leaders, and legislators. Featured in the film Childhood 2.0, Protect Young Eyes equips families with practical safety tools. His debut book, Five Habits of the Tech-Ready Family, releases on June 16, and according to Publishers’ Weekly, it is “comprehensive,” “illuminating,” and “an informative resource for parents eager to establish digital safety nets for their children.”
His greatest treasures remain family life, road trips, running, and adventures with his wife, Andrea, four children, and two dogs. 

Let’s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcasting Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Resources & Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectyoungeyes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mckenna-75962211/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/protectyoungeyes 
Website: https://protectyoungeyes.com/ 

Visit Christian Parenting’s Moms, Dads, and Grads Gift Guide: https://www.christianparenting.org/gifts/

This episode of Let’s Parent on Purpose explores a crucial question for Christian parents: what makes faith stick in the lives of our children? Drawing from over 25 years of youth ministry experience, Jay shares five key elements consistently present in students whose faith endures into adulthood. While acknowledging the mystery of God’s work, he emphasizes that intentional discipleship at home plays a primary role. Parents are encouraged not to outsource spiritual formation to the church, but to become the leading spiritual influence in their child’s life. The first two elements—truth kids understand and relationships they trust—highlight the importance of clearly communicating biblical truth in age-appropriate ways and surrounding children with trusted, godly influences who reinforce faith beyond the home.

The episode continues with three additional pillars of “sticky faith”: habits they own, purpose they live, and transforming moments they remember. Jay explains that lasting faith develops when children move from passive participation to personally owning spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture reading, and service. He also stresses the importance of helping kids see their faith as a mission, not just a belief system, by living on purpose and engaging in God’s work daily. Finally, both joyful and difficult life experiences can become defining spiritual moments when processed through a biblical lens. This episode equips Christian moms and dads with practical ways to evaluate their home environment, initiate meaningful faith conversations, and intentionally disciple their children for lifelong faith in Jesus.

Key Takeaways for Parents:
Help your children understand biblical truth, not just hear it—encourage questions and discussion.
Cultivate trusted relationships with other godly adults and peers who reinforce your child’s faith.
Model and encourage consistent spiritual habits like prayer, Scripture reading, and service.
Teach your children to live on mission—following Jesus is more than just believing; it’s living with purpose.
Recognize and process significant life moments to help your child see God at work in their story.
Focus on progress, not perfection—discipleship is a lifelong journey, not a quick fix.

Let’s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcasting Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Resources & Links:
Think Orange by Reggie Joiner
Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal by Jay Holland
Check out www.youthministry.coach
Daily Devotional Podcast Guided by Faith: www.guidedbyfaith.net
Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 
Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive through the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

This episode of Let’s Parent on Purpose features a powerful and practical conversation with author Jon Acuff about overcoming procrastination and building a more intentional, purpose-driven life. Drawing from his new book Procrastination Proof, Acuff reframes procrastination not as laziness, but as a mismatch between our intentions and actions, often driven by fear, overwhelm, or misplaced priorities. He introduces a simple but transformative framework—Dream, Plan, Do, Review—that helps parents and leaders move from good intentions to consistent follow-through. For Christian moms and dads seeking to disciple their children well, this episode emphasizes that growth starts with modeling: aligning your own habits, stewarding your time wisely, and making decisions today that serve your future self and family.

The conversation also dives into practical strategies for busy families, including how to “make tomorrow easy today,” prioritize what matters most, and avoid the trap of trying to do everything at once. Acuff’s insights are especially helpful for parents navigating full schedules, offering realistic tools like starting with just 15 minutes a day and focusing on three to five key priorities. The episode closes with a meaningful challenge for Christian parents: to intentionally shape not only their habits but also their children’s mindset about success, time, and stewardship. By addressing concepts like the “acceptable success line,” parents can disciple their kids to pursue God-honoring excellence without guilt, fear, or comparison, equipping them to live faithfully and fruitfully.

Resources Mentioned:
Purchase Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again by Jon Acuff on Amazon https://amzn.to/4dPSlRF

Visit Jon Acuff’s website at jonacuff.com and follow his podcast: All It Takes Is A Goal

Get Jay's new devotional, Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl Use it solo, with your small group, or as a family for daily Scripture-based prompts to foster gratitude and closeness to Christ.

Text "THINGS" to 66866 for free high-quality resources from Jay, including fun family conversations, a 52-week Scripture memory system, dating questions for kids, marriage tools, and more.

Guest Bio: Jon Acuff
Jon Acuff is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and leadership expert known for his practical and engaging approach to personal growth and productivity. He has written multiple books, including Procrastination Proof, helping people overcome overthinking, take action, and live with greater purpose. Jon works with individuals, teams, and organizations to build habits that lead to lasting success, all while blending humor, honesty, and real-life application. He lives in Tennessee with his family and is passionate about helping others reach their full, God-given potential.

Key Takeaways from the Episode
Procrastination is a gap between intention and action, not just poor time management

The “Dream, Plan, Do, Review” framework provides a simple, repeatable path to progress

Start small: 15 minutes a day can build momentum and lasting habits

Focus on 3–5 priorities instead of trying to do everything at once

“Make tomorrow easy today” is a powerful discipline for both parents and kids

Model habits first. Discipleship is more caught than taught

Teach kids to think long-term and make decisions that benefit their future selves

Be mindful of the “acceptable success line” and how your beliefs about success shape your children

Celebrate progress and reinforce positive habits in your home

God-honoring productivity isn’t about perfection. It’s about faithful stewardship over time

Let’s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcasting Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org

More Resources & Links:
Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal by Jay Holland https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Check out www.youthministry.coach

Daily Devotional Podcast Guided by Faith: www.guidedbyfaith.net

Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! https://tinyurl.com/292kv68y

Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive through the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/

In this powerful episode of Let’s Parent on Purpose, Jay welcomes back Dr. Kathy Koch to discuss how Christian parents can raise gender-confident kids in today’s confusing cultural climate. Drawing from her book Raising Gender-Confident Kids, co-authored with Dr. Jeff Myers, Dr. Kathy unpacks the biblical framework behind the “Five to Thrive”—security, identity, belonging, purpose, and competence—and explains how unmet core needs often fuel gender confusion. With compassion and clarity, she equips parents to move from fear to faith, offering practical tools for affirming their child’s God-given design while maintaining strong, loving relationships.

This episode explores how stereotypes distort masculinity and femininity, why social contagion and mental health struggles play a significant role in teen gender confusion, and how parents can proactively build confidence in their children from a young age. Dr. Kathy shares wisdom on affirming a child’s unique strengths through the “Eight Great Smarts,” guarding kids from harmful cultural influences, and responding wisely if a child questions their gender identity. If you’re a Christian parent seeking biblical guidance, practical strategies, and hope in navigating conversations about gender identity, this episode will strengthen your resolve and remind you that God’s design is both intentional and good.

Resources Mentioned:
Purchase Raising Gender-Confident Kids by Dr. Jeff Myers and Dr. Kathy Koch on Amazon or through the Celebrate Kids online store.

Grab a copy of Five to Thrive by Dr. Kathy Koch on Amazon or through the Celebrate Kids online store.

Get Jay's new devotional, Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Use it solo, with your small group, or as a family for daily Scripture-based prompts to foster gratitude and closeness to Christ.

Text "THINGS" to 66866 for free high-quality resources from Jay, including fun family conversations, a 52-week Scripture memory system, dating questions for kids, marriage tools, and more.

Guest Bio: Dr. Kathy Koch
Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc., and a child development specialist. She is also the author of nine bestselling parent-child enrichment books including her latest book, Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character that Changes Culture.For more, visit celebratekids.com.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

Drawing from Lightbulb Moments in Marriage, Dr. Eggerichs and Jay explore transformative "aha" insights for successful and satisfied Christian couples. Here are the highlights:

The Five Core Needs (“Five to Thrive”) – Security, identity, belonging, purpose, and competence must be rooted in Christ to build lasting confidence.

Identity Crisis Often Begins with Security Crisis – When kids don’t know who to trust, they struggle to know who they are.

Gender Confusion vs. Gender Dysphoria – True clinical dysphoria is rare; confusion often stems from deeper identity and belonging issues.

Celebrate Differences Without Stereotypes – Liking math, mechanics, ballet, or sports doesn’t redefine gender. Boys and girls can be multifaceted.

Affirm Early and Specifically – Children become who we tell them they are. Use intentional language to affirm their God-given design.

Guard Against Social Contagion – Social media exposure significantly influences teen identity struggles. Protect hearts, minds, and devices.

Mental Health Matters – Many teens struggling with gender identity are also battling anxiety, depression, or isolation. Address root issues first.

Keep the Relationship Alive – When a child questions their gender, prioritize connection, truth, and long-term influence over fear-driven reactions.

Model Confidence in God’s Design – Parents who embrace their own God-given identity create a powerful example for their children.

Hope for the Future – Research shows most teens experiencing gender confusion resolve it naturally by adulthood without medical intervention.

Let’s Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcasting Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org

More Resources & Links:
Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal by Jay Holland

Check out www.youthministry.coach

Daily Devotional Podcast Guided by Faith: www.guidedbyfaith.net

Join my Things for Thursday Email List and get a free Marriage Snapshot Tool and Fun Family Conversation Ebook! 

Support Let’s Parent on Purpose as we help families thrive through the gospel: https://letsparentonpurpose.com/support/