God's Big Story

We're kicking off a brand-new mini-series about what it means to be a Christian! In this episode, Anna and her friend Jeffrey explore the difference between knowing facts about someone and actually having a relationship with them.

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⭐ What Kids Will Learn:

❤️ God's children know Him, love Him, trust Him, and obey Him.

📖 Knowing facts about God is important, but God wants us to have a relationship with Him.

👨‍👩‍👧 Just like we spend time with our family and friends, we can grow in our relationship with God.

🌎 Sin broke the perfect relationship Adam and Eve had with God.

✝️ Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again so we could be forgiven and become children of God.

🙏 Faith is a gift from God. We can ask Him to help us believe His Word and trust Him.

💛 We can know God by believing what the Bible says about Him and walking with Him every day.

🎵 Song in This Episode:

"Jesus Came to Save Sinners" by The Village Kids— a song reminding kids that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to save sinners like you and me.

🏡 Try This at Home:

💬 Ask your kids, "What's the difference between knowing about someone and really knowing them?" Talk about how we can have a relationship with God.

📖 Read John 1:12 together and talk about what it means to become a child of God.

🙏 Spend time praying together. Remind your kids that prayer is one way we talk to God and grow in our relationship with Him.

❤️ Ask your kids to name something they know about God from the Bible. Then talk about how that truth helps them love or trust Him.

🧠 Play your own version of the episode's Facts or Relationship Challenge. Take turns sharing examples of knowing facts about God and knowing Him personally.

Anna and Matt follow Paul on his second missionary journey as he travels toward Corinth and stops in Athens, where people worshiped idols and many different gods. With help from their friend Jeff the craftsman, kids will discover the difference between worshiping things people have made and worshiping the one true God who made everything.

📚 Helpful Definition:

THE CHURCH — Everyone who has ever loved and trusted Jesus.

⭐ What Kids Will Learn:

🏃 Following Jesus is like running a race. Sometimes it's hard, but we have something wonderful to look forward to.

❤️ We don't obey God to make Him love us. We live for God because He already loves us.

🌎 When Adam and Eve sinned, God's perfect world became broken by sin, bringing sickness, sadness, and death.

✝️ God kept His promise to send Jesus to rescue sinners through His death and resurrection.

☁️ Jesus promised to come back one day, but nobody knows exactly when.

🌱 When Jesus returns, He will make everything broken by sin brand new.

🙌 Everyone who loves and trusts Jesus will get to live with God forever, where there will be no more sickness, sadness, pain, or death.

📖 Bible Passage:

📖 Revelation 21:3-4

🏡 Try This at Home:

💬 Ask your kids, "What do you think it will be like when Jesus comes back?" Talk about the wonderful promise that God will make everything new.

🏃 Go for a walk or run together. Talk about how following Jesus is like running a race and why we can keep going even when life gets hard.

❤️ Imagine that Jesus was coming back this week. What would you want to be doing? Choose one way to love God or others and do it together.

🙏 Pray for someone who doesn't know Jesus and ask God to help your family share the good news with them.

📖 Read Revelation 21:1–5 together and talk about what it means that God will live with His people forever.

❓ 5-Second Fly Through Review:

What is the name given to everyone who has ever loved and trusted Jesus? (THE CHURCH)

Right now, the Church is waiting for something. What are they waiting for? (FOR JESUS TO COME BACK)

Who got to be with God in the perfect garden that He made? (ADAM AND EVE)

When Adam and Eve sinned, everything in God’s perfect world broke. Now bad things happen and our hearts are sick with what? (SIN)

God promised Adam and Eve that one day He would send a Savior to rescue God’s people from sin. Who is the Savior? (JESUS)

When Jesus comes back, everything that is broken because of sin will be made brand new and the Church will get to be with God… (FOREVER!)

🎶 Song Featured:

God is Good⁠ by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Village Kids⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!

Editing and support by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Anna and Matt follow Paul on his second missionary journey as he travels toward Corinth and stops in Athens, where people worshiped idols and many different gods. With help from their friend Jeff the craftsman, kids will discover the difference between worshiping things people have made and worshiping the one true God who made everything.

Helpful Definition:

ELDER — Means “overseer” or someone who is responsible for taking care of something for someone else. Elders are given responsibility by Jesus--who is in charge of every church--, to care for a local church.

⭐ What Kids Will Learn:

🌎 Paul traveled to Ephesus on his third missionary journey to tell people about Jesus.

🪵 Many people in Ephesus worshiped idols, including a false goddess named Artemis.

❤️ God saved many people in Ephesus and brought them into His family, the church.

😠 Some people became angry with Paul because fewer people were buying their idols.

🐑 God gives the church elders and pastors to teach His Word, guide His people, and care for them like shepherds.

💪 Paul continued sharing the good news about Jesus, even when it was dangerous.

⛪ The church is God's family, and we're called to tell others about Jesus so they can know and trust Him too.

📖 Bible Passage:

📖 Acts 20:24

🏡 Try This at Home:

🙏 Think of someone you know who doesn't love or trust Jesus. Pray for them and ask God to give you courage to share the good news with them.

🐑 Talk about what a shepherd does for sheep. Ask your kids, "How do pastors and elders take care of God's people?"

⛪ Write a thank-you card to one of your church's pastors or elders for helping your family learn about Jesus.

📖 Read Acts 20:17–38 together and talk about why Paul was willing to keep following Jesus even when it was hard.

❓ 5-Second Fly Through Review:

Paul went on how many missionary journeys? (THREE)

Paul’s third journey was to a city called... (EPHESUS)

Were the people of Ephesus worshipping God or idols? (IDOLS)

How many people believe Paul’s words about Jesus? (MANY, MANY PEOPLE!)

Did that make everyone in the city happy? (NOPE. PEOPLE SELLING IDOLS WERE ANGRY)

Did God rescue Paul’s friends from the angry people? (YES!)

Was Paul afraid of telling other people the good news about Jesus? (NO!)

Why not? Paul knew people needed to hear the good news about Jesus because only Jesus came to save sinners and bring them into God’s family, the…. (CHURCH!)

🎶 Song Featured:

The Church is God's Family by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Village Kids⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!

Editing and support by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠

For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Anna and Matt follow Paul on his second missionary journey as he travels toward Corinth and stops in Athens, where people worshiped idols and many different gods. With help from their friend Jeff the craftsman, kids will discover the difference between worshiping things people have made and worshiping the one true God who made everything.

⭐ What Kids Will Learn:

🌎 Paul traveled to different cities to tell people the good news about Jesus.

🪵 The people of Athens worshiped idols made from wood, stone, and other materials.

❤️ An idol is anything we love or trust more than God.

👑 There is only one true God, and He made everything in heaven and on earth.

🙌 God doesn't need anything from us. He is the one who gives us life, breath, and everything we need.

✝️ Paul told the people of Athens about Jesus, who died and rose again so sinners could be saved.

⛪ Some people believed the good news and became part of God's family, the church.

📖 Bible Passage:

📖 Acts 17:24–25

🏡 Try This at Home:

🎨 Make something together as a family! Draw a picture, cook a meal, or build a bird feeder. Thank God for making you in His image and giving you the ability to create beautiful things from His creation.

💬 Ask your kids, "What's the difference between something God made and something people make?"

❤️ Talk about things your family loves and enjoys. Remind your kids that these are good gifts, but we should never love or trust them more than God.

📖 Read Acts 17:22–31 together and talk about what Paul taught the people of Athens about the one true God.

❓ 5-Second Fly Through Review:

What do we call someone who tells other people in other places the gospel truth? (A MISSIONARY)

Paul’s second journey was to a city called what? (CORINTH)

Which big, important city did Paul stop in on his way to Corinth? (ATHENS)

What were the people in Athens worshipping? (IDOLS)

Were the gods the people of Athens were worshipping real? (NO!)

Who did Paul tell them deserves all of our worship? (THE ONE, TRUE GOD)

Did God save some of the people listening to Paul and bring them into His family? (YES!)

Everyone who has ever loved and trusted Jesus is a part of God’s family the… (CHURCH!)

🎶 Song Featured:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠God Made Everything by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Village Kids⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!

Editing and support by⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠

For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Talking with our kids about gender, sexuality, and identity can feel intimidating. We may worry about saying too much, saying too little, or simply saying the wrong thing. But when our kids bring us questions, we don't have to panic. A question isn't an emergency. A question is an invitation to disciple them.

🌎 Start With God's Good Design

Before talking about everything that's broken or confusing, give your kids a beautiful picture of what God created.

❤️ God made every person in His image.

🧍 God made our bodies, and our bodies are good gifts from Him.

👦👧 God made people male and female.

🤝 Men and women have equal dignity and value because both are made in God's image.

👑 Ultimately, we belong to God.

💬 Tell the Truth Simply

Answer the question your child is actually asking, not every question you're afraid they might ask someday.

👂 Ask, "What made you wonder about that?" Then listen.

🧒 Give age-appropriate answers your child can understand today.

📖 Clearly explain what your family believes based on God's Word.

❤️ Speak about people who believe differently with kindness and dignity.

🚪 Ask, "Does that answer your question?" and leave room for them to come back with more.

🏡 Keep The Door Open

Don't wait for the world to begin these conversations for you. Start small and add more information as your children grow.

👶 Teach younger kids correct names for their body parts and that their bodies are good.

🔒 Teach appropriate privacy and boundaries around their bodies.

💍 Talk positively about God's design for marriage.

❤️ As they grow, teach that sexual intimacy is a good gift from God designed for marriage between a man and a woman.

📱 Create safeguards around what your children can see online while continuing to have open conversations at home.

🙌 Encouragement for Parents

You don't need perfect words or an answer to every question. Keep showing up. Keep listening. Keep speaking truth with love. Let your home be a place where your kids know they can bring difficult, awkward, or confusing questions.

Your job isn't to win a culture war at the dinner table. Your job is to faithfully disciple the child God has given you. Keep pointing them to Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.

📚 Resources Mentioned

Birds & Bees Online Course — practical training for parents on talking with kids about sex, bodies, pornography, reproduction, and ongoing conversations.

Mom, Dad...What’s Sex? by Jessica Thompson and Joel Fitzpatrick

God’s Design for Sex Series by Stan and Brenna Jones

How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex by Stan and Brenna Jones

Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen A. Jenson

God Made All of Me by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb

What Do I Say When...? by Andrew T. Walker and Christian Walker

Editing and support by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co