A quiet fear haunts many parents: what if our kids walk away from church—and from God—when they leave home? We tackle that fear head-on with hard data, honest stories, and a roadmap for raising disciples who see church as a covenant community, not a spiritual marketplace. From a heartbreaking turn in a close friend’s family to a sweeping look at declining membership and rising “no preference” identities, we unpack the cultural forces shaping the next generation’s choices and the personal habits that either anchor them or set them adrift.

We get practical about the shift from consumer faith to committed belonging. You’ll hear why attendance alone won’t make church feel relevant, and how serving, using spiritual gifts, and seeking real accountability transform Sunday into a life-giving rhythm. We talk openly about church hurt, resentment that hardens, and the courage to pursue reconciliation using Matthew 18. We also demystify leadership—pastors are called, not flawless—and explore how humility, accountability, and grace rebuild trust after hypocrisy or failure fracture it.

Throughout, we link marriage and church with the biblical picture of covenant: staying, serving, forgiving, and showing up even when convenience says “skip.” Parents will find clear steps to model consistent worship, shepherd heart issues beyond quick labels, and invite kids into real ministry—praying with the lonely, asking deeper questions, and meeting needs beyond the walls. The aim isn’t control; it’s formation, so our children choose Jesus freely and recognize the church as a family on mission.

If this resonates, share it with a parent who needs hope, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review to help more families find gospel-centered help for marriage and parenting.

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

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What if the real win of parenting isn’t quieter dinners or tidy rooms, but shaping a heart that keeps God at the center when life gets loud? We sit down with our kids to unpack how grace and discipline actually work together, why some rules are scaffolding and not forever, and how discerning real needs from felt needs can spare a family from debt, disappointment, and drift. The stories are simple and honest—lost retainers, toothpaste races, and a car that turned into an idol—but they point to a bigger truth: formation beats behavior management every time.

We anchor the conversation in scripture, especially Hebrews 12 and Proverbs, exploring how loving discipline trains children for righteousness and peace. That lens helps us ask better questions: Are we disciplining from anger or love? Are we teaching our kids to obey us or to honor God? How do we build boundaries that hold in split homes where one set of rules feels easier but emptier? We talk openly about modeling reconciliation after conflict, letting kids see how we put God first, marriage second, and children third, not to diminish them, but to give them a stable, joyful home that overflows with love.

Practical takeaways weave through every segment: choose consequences that target the heart, replace arbitrary rules with clear principles as kids mature, and speak love in the language each child understands—time, touch, words, or service. We also share tools for training financial wisdom early, helping teens feel the weight of choices without crushing them. By keeping Christ on the throne, our homes become training grounds for adulthood—places where kids learn to shoulder responsibility, prefer others, and read discipline as love.

If this conversation encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s in the thick of parenting, and leave a review with one lesson you’re putting into practice this week. Your story might be the nudge another family needs.

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

What if the coldest seasons of marriage could become the soil where joy, prayer, and gratitude take root? We explore a simple, Scripture-shaped framework—promise, purpose, path, perseverance, and praise—that helps couples move from numbness to renewed connection. Drawing on personal stories of burnout and a misfired sabbatical, plus our daughter’s relentless grind through demanding courses, we get honest about distraction, isolation, and the after-holiday blues—and then we show how God’s promises cut through the fog.

We start with promise because God’s promises are more than verses on a page; they reveal His character. From 2 Corinthians 1:20 to James 1 and Philippians 4, we unpack how promises clarify identity and reshape expectations for hard days. That clarity awakens purpose that begins today, not when emotions improve or circumstances change. Purpose then forms a path: staying near to Jesus so we can give away the love we receive from Him through small, daily acts—gentle words under stress, courageous honesty when weary, and simple prayers when words won’t come.

On that path, perseverance stops being a grim duty and becomes the gym where steadfast love grows. We talk about practical tools to resist boredom and bitterness: naming specific provisions from God, replacing spiraling thoughts with gratitude, and seeking godly influence instead of isolation. As perseverance matures, praise follows—sometimes as a sacrifice, often as a spontaneous response to seeing God provide what we lacked. By the end, you’ll have a clear way to navigate winter-hearted days and a handful of Scriptures to keep your steps steady.

Ready to warm cold spaces with hope and action? Listen now, subscribe for future episodes, and share this with someone who needs a fresh start today. If it helped you, leave a quick review so more couples can find their way from winter to worship.

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.