I am sitting down with some good friends of mine and parents of 11, Chris and Sabrina Miller. For those of you who are local and know them, we recorded this interview last summer before they set off for the Philippines. I wanted to offer some context to our conversation. We are chatting candidly about living missionally as a family, trusting God in the unknown and His amazing work in the inconceivable and unexplainable.

Today we are starting a new series entitled “On Mission”. We asking the Lord to open our eyes to all the different ways we can apply the gospel and live out His call in every area of our lives. What can seem scary or intimidating can be one of our coolest adventures, as we learn how to recognize his promptings and where He is at work in and around us.

I hope this conversation brings great encouragement. Thanks for joining us….I’m glad you’re here.

On today’s episode, I am chatting with Adam Griffin, lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas, as we talk about how we can effectively and practically disciple our children. Adam has recently co-authored the book, "Family Discipleship," with Matt Chandler.

Discipleship can be an intimidating. After all, we can be so aware of our own sin and struggles and feel inept and inadequate to lead our children. How beautifully the gospel reminds us the ability to disciple is not sourced in ourselves, but rather Christ! As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we are offered opportunities to invite our children to journey alongside.

What is discipleship and why is it so important? How do we, as parents, begin or even know how to do this? We are talking about practical ways we can disciple and walk into gospel conversation with our children by seizing opportunities within the normal rhythms of our day. Adam is also helping us de-mystify what discipleship is, and how, even unknowingly, we are already discipling our kids on a daily basis in how we treat our spouse, interact with our children and friends and just living life.

Adam has recently co-authored the book, "Family Discipleship," with Matt Chandler. “Pastors Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have made it their mission to help you develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship focused in three key areas: time, moments, and milestones. Filled with suggestions, sample plans, and Scripture references, this book begins with the end in mind―equipping you to create a unique plan for your family as you raise your children in the love and fear of the Lord.” (Crossway)

How can we intentionally root ourselves upon the Lord in such a way that when the unexpected comes and rocks us, we are able to remain firm in our faith? How can we practically keep the gospel in front of us on the days where everything seems to weigh heavy and we feel overwhelmed? We are talking about how the Lord tenderly meets us and reminds us of his presence through his word, prayer and the lives of others. How can we partner with others in a way that allows them a safe place to open up and share while also gently offers the hope of the gospel?

On today’s episode, I am chatting with Melanie Matthews, a wife and mother of three, as we continue on in our series on gospel-centered parenting. We’re talking about how we can apply the gospel when life looks different than we envisioned.

What is the Lord’s design and purpose in grandparenting? What should we strive for in terms of our lasting legacy - both in our family and community? Scripture advocates the importance of “dying to self”…how does this impact our marriages, parenting and grandparenting? What have you discovered over the years that keeps you connected and thriving in your marriage? These are some of the questions we will target in this episode along with their transparency of things they wish they did differently, what the Lord is currently teaching them and how they are choosing each day to come before the Lord and ask “What is it that you would have me to do today?”

How can we balance work, activities outside the home and service to others while also being tuned into the hearts of our kids? How does the Lord use his word to guide us in our role as parents? As our children began to marry, is there a process in learning to let them go….how do we navigate through this or better yet, how does the Lord lead us? They also have a specific word for those walking through infertility and the new mom out there who may feel overwhelmed.

On today’s episode, I am chatting with Bill and Pam Mutz, parents of 12 and grandparents of 27. We dive into life, marriage and raising children with a focus on becoming “difference makers” for the sake of the gospel. This conversation is packed with rich gospel truth and encouragement, practical ways to bring the gospel into our homes and parenting, lots of laughter and even tears as we witness how the Lord can and does work in our hearts.

Today's episode is focusing on the empty nest years and how God can work and use this season of our lives for continued eternal impact. How does the Lord prepare us prior to “officially” entering these years? How can we know what he would have for us? What about the concerns we hear voiced such as becoming "reacquainted with our spouse" or feeling like we have lost our “purpose” with our children gone? For those of us with kids still in the home, how can we set up safeguards in these areas of understandable concern? How might this season allow us to embrace the call of mentorship found in Titus 2 and 2 Timothy 2?

On today’s episode, we are talking about some common perceptions of the teen years but what this season can be looking through the lens of the gospel.  How we can walk alongside and shepherd our children’s hearts in these years?  How can we help them navigate this transition into adulthood?  If more is “caught than taught,” how can we strive to live out an “authentic faith”, an overflow of who Jesus is to us, in front of them?  What about those of us who feel we are too far into these years and have lost too much ground…is there any hope?

It can be easy to set our eyes “outside the home” in terms of “doing important things” but how can we be mindful of our primary mission field being first within the walls of our home? How can we practically lean into walking in the Spirit versus the flesh as we parent-what influences the direction we choose? How does Scripture help us navigate through the times when we mess up and feel like a complete failure? What are some “end goals” of parenting and how might this shape how we fill and walk out our days?

How we can recognize opportunities to present and keep the gospel in front of our children…where do we start in even knowing how to do this? We are also talking about hard days: how do we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, to not only parent but to do it with His joy and ability? How can we take the truths of scripture and fully stand upon God’s promises of not leaving us and finishing the work he has begun in us? Please join us as laughter, transparency, but most of all gospel-hope and truths are woven throughout this episode!

Why do we pray? How can we learn to grow and become passionate in our prayer life? How can we practically carve out time in our busy and full days to pursue God through prayer? How might the Lord be using our hard times to draw us to himself? I am sitting down with two prayer warriors, Billie Sue Raboin and Alicia McMurray to talk about prayer and how we can learn of God's leading for our lives through this avenue. They are also sharing from their own lives and specific examples of how God has dramatically intervened through their prayers.

On today’s episode of as we press, I am sitting down with John Avant, President of Life Action Ministries, and his wife, Donna, to talk about knowing God’s will. At times, discerning God's will for our lives at times can seem intimidating, but perhaps it isn’t meant to be. How can we learn how to hear from God and his recognize his leading? Where do we start? How can we practically apply the Bible to our day to day lives and future? What would it look like to live out the call of the Great Commission in the midst of a pandemic, national unrest and protests?

The Avant’s are also sharing from their own experiences on how God has called them to deeper faith and trust. Their “yes” to God’s leadings has led them to experience his faithfulness like never before. They also share specific encouragement for pastors and their wives as they talk about this being “one of the hardest times to be in ministry.”

On today's episode we are beginning a series, "reflections: looking back to better look ahead" as we begin to prepare for 2021. I am sitting down to chat with Melody Shannon on exuding joy and Christ in our day to day, where true joy is found, dangers of comparison and how to practically rehearse truth to ourselves. Melody has taught art for 21 years at Providence Academy and is now in her 5th year at Kingsport Christian Academy.

In this episode, John and Alicia recall God's redemption and restoration of dormant hopes and dreams as they talk about what life looks like now. They passionately share a word to younger couples (John specifically addresses the men) from their own journey. We close the conversation talking about the hard but necessary road of forgiveness and what God is currently teaching them.

What about when we are weary in the “wilderness” experiences life can bring? Is the Lord really at work in these seasons that can seem dry and barren? How do we keep on going? What about when the enemy’s attacks seem relentless; would it be easier to just back away from the “front lines” of following Jesus in abandonment? Would we really miss out on that much?

On today’s episode of as we press, I am sitting down with John and Alicia McMurray as we talk through these different questions in regards to life and relationships. John and Alicia share of the Lord’s great work of preparation in both of their lives, how they navigated through their “wilderness seasons”, God’s strategic placement of friends and family in their lives and how God redeemed and restored in a way that caught them both by surprise.

How can we walk life in a way that glorifies and honors God when our world and we, ourselves, become "undone"? How do we ground ourselves upon His word, in preparation for whatever might come our way? On today's episode, I am sitting down with jamin rathbun and discussing these questions and more as we talk through relationships, specifically the area of divorce. Jamin brings much gospel-centered wisdom coupled with deep transparency as he shares from his own life and what God continues to teach him.

On today's episode we are talking with Traci Begley about marriage from the wife's perspective. Traci shares from her 32 years of marriage as we talk about navigating through differences, digging into scripture for God's design of marriage and how to handle conflict in front of our children. Traci shares some very personal stories that are packed with great truths of what the Lord has taught her. Traci’s warm personality and heart for Jesus and others to know Him pours forth as she transparently shares of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to enable us to love our spouse well.

If someone asked, "How is your marriage?"  how would you respond? In today's episode of as we press, we are diving into this series on relationships from the husband's perspective.  How can we learn to love our spouse well?  How do we balance being transparent in our marriage while also maintaining trust with our spouse?  Is there a practical way to gauge and navigate this balance?  What impact does the gospel have upon our marriages?  What is the biblical role of the husband and how can wives come alongside them?   What is important for wives to know from their husband?

What do you currently find yourself waiting for right now? It can be so easy for us to feel like our lives are “on hold” while we wait; for our “waiting” to become our focus, all that we see. We are kicking off our relationship series by sitting down with katy anderson. We are talking about singleness and how we can learn to wait well in a way that glorifies God. What does this look like in our day to day? How can we keep the focus of our “wait” from occupying our minds and becoming an idol?

On today's episode we are sitting down with Janet Anglin and talking about grace. Janet is a pastor's wife and transparently shares how God kindly opened her eyes to experience His daily grace in a new way. In this episode we are discussing what grace is, how to practically shift from a "doing" for God into a resting in His Spirit to work and accomplish what He desires.

“Every time you tell your story and tell someone about how faithful God has been, you are reminded of it yourself.” In today's podcast, Theresa Mills shares with us how God ministers to us deeply as we share of His work in our lives and pour out to others. We are also discussing how to effectively walk unexpected and hard roads with our children and spiritual warfare. She has a very specific word of encouragement for those who are currently in the midst of walking through loss.