The Thriving Family

As followers of Christ, it can sometimes feel like we are a minority in a secular world, and struggle to engage culture. But we can learn a great deal from someone who walked this road: the apostle Paul.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, we are taking a look at an example of evangelism in a highly secularized culture – the apostle Paul’s address in Athens. We can learn a lot from him to understand how best to engage people with the Gospel in a culture that’s much like our own.

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Sources from today's episode:

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Baker Academic, 2007.
F.F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, (New International Commentary on the New Testament), Eerdmans, 1988.
R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, (Preaching the Word), Crossway, 2014.
I. Howard Marshall, Acts, (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries), IVP Academic, 1980.
Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles, (Socio-Rhetorical Commentary), Eerdmans, 1997.

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Focus on the Family has offices in countries all across the globe. When we get together, it’s truly like a family reunion.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, host Jean-Paul Beran got to sit down with friend and colleague Graeme Schnell, CEO of Focus on the Family Africa. Our respective ministry offices may be on opposite sides of the globe, but we share a heart for families. 

Focus on the Family Africa

Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

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© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved

Navigating today’s political landscape can feel overwhelming, but we don’t need to lose hope in our pursuit of a better country.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. In our highly polarized and divided world, we feel immense pressure to encamp ourselves on one side and with one tribe. This is leading many to claim political homelessness. While that may cause despair for some, as Christians, we can actually find encouragement in this position. In today’s faith-filled episode, you’ll understand why being politically homeless reminds us to seek the good of the city we’re living in while keeping our eyes and hearts on God’s Kingdom.

Article: Political homelessness: Charting a path to a better country

Focus on Faith and Culture e-newsletter

Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

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Sources from today's episode:

Amy Julia Becker, “For those of us who feel politically homeless,” author’s blog, February 15, 2022.
Chelsea Langston Bombino and Katie Thompson, “Hope for the politically homeless,” The Banner, September 14, 2020.
Olivia Elder, “Sincerely, a politically homeless Christian,” Gordon Review, May 10, 2022.
Matt Forde, Politically Homeless, Quercus Publishing, 2022.
David French, “The spiritual blessing of political homelessness,” The Dispatch, October 18, 2020.
John Ivison, “Do we need a new party for the politically ‘homeless’?” National Post, February 11, 2022.
Leah MarieAnn Klett, “Scott Sauls on embodying Christ’s gentleness in culture; why Christians should feel politically ‘homeless’,” Christian Post, September 17, 2020.
Aaron Schafer, The Politically Homeless Christian: How to Conquer Political Idolatry, Reject Polarization, and Recommit to God’s Greatest Two Commandments, Foundation Publishing House, 2020.
Sarah Styf, “The politically homeless Christian,” Red Letter Christians, February 4, 2020.
Tish Harrison Warren, “Black, Christian and transcending the political binary,” New York Times, October 28, 2022.

© 2023 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Video games often get a bad reputation as isolating and a waste of time. But what if we looked at how gaming can build deep, meaningful connection and discipleship between youth and mentors?

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, you’re in for a fascinating conversation with Jamie and Jessica Harris, founders of the ministry Satellite Gaming. Satellite Gaming points students to Jesus Christ by building relationships through video games. Jamie is so passionate about video games, but this passion is eclipsed by his heart for youth and teens, and reaching this often overlooked demographic through discipleship. Join us for an in-depth conversation about faith, family, parenting, and the bright side of video games.

Note: This episode does not constitute an endorsement of aforementioned video games, television shows, or movies by Focus on the Family Canada. Check out reviews at Plugged In to help you determine what is appropriate for you or your family.

Satellite Gaming

Plugged In

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Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

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© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

In an increasingly divisive world, the most radical thing we can do is seeing our fellow humans as made in the image of God.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, we’ll dive deep into a phrase that may be familiar to you: “made in the image of God.” But what does this actually mean? And how does this impact how we view the world and live our lives?

Focus on Faith and Culture e-newsletter

Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

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© 2018 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.