This is not a Christmas story.
This is a story about perspective. About how the same moment can mean everything to one person—and almost nothing to another.
Over the next twelve episodes on Together 4 Good, we’re sharing real stories that remind us we don’t all experience joy, meaning, or even God in the same way.
This is not a Christmas story.But it is a real one.
In this episode, Addison shares her story of losing her mom at a young age—and how grief changed her relationship with faith and the church.
After her mom’s funeral at Bethany, returning felt impossible. The memories, the questions, and the weight of expectation made faith feel distant instead of comforting.
This story is about grief, boundaries, and the slow work of finding support again—not all at once, but one step at a time.
Learn more: https://bethany-denver.org
This is not a Christmas story.
This is a story about perspective.About how the same moment can mean everything to one person—and almost nothing to another.
Over the next twelve episodes on Together 4 Good, we’re sharing real stories that remind us we don’t all experience joy, meaning, or even God in the same way.
This is not a Christmas story.But it is a human one.
In this episode, I tell a story from high school—one that never really resolved.
What started as a bike ride through an unfamiliar neighborhood turned into an unexpected encounter in the woods. No clear explanation. No tidy ending. Just a moment that stayed with us.
This reflection isn’t about fear—it’s about courage, community, and the power of a simple question: Are you okay?
Sometimes faith doesn’t give us answers.Sometimes it gives us the courage to ask.
Learn more: https://bethany-denver.org
Christmas often feels like a finish line. The gifts are opened, the music fades, and life moves on. But what if Christmas was never meant to be the ending?
In this episode of Together 4 Good, I reflect on the deep meaning of the incarnation — the bold claim that God didn’t stay distant, but became human in Jesus. Christmas isn’t just about a baby in a manger. It’s about God entering real, messy, ordinary human life — and continuing to show up long after Christmas Eve.
We explore why the incarnation matters so much for faith, especially in seasons of grief, doubt, or feeling like God is absent. From the overlooked details of Luke’s Christmas story to the way the early church understood itself as the Body of Christ, this conversation invites us to see how God’s presence continues through ordinary people showing up for one another.
Christmas doesn’t end. It expands. God keeps showing up — often through compassion, community, and small acts of grace.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Why the manger wasn’t the end — it was the beginning
• What the incarnation really means for everyday faith
• How God shows up in messy, overlooked places
• Why the church is called the Body of Christ
• How God’s presence continues through ordinary people
• What it means to “make Christmas last all year”
If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle of real life — this episode is for you.
Scripture referenced: Luke 2:1–20 John 1:5
Chapters
00:00 – Christmas isn’t over yet
01:00 – The manger was the beginning, not the end
02:00 – Why the incarnation matters
04:00 – God enters real, messy ordinary human life
06:00 – Luke’s overlooked Christmas details
09:00 – The Body of Christ and the church’s role
11:00 – God showing up through ordinary people
14:00 – When God feels absent
18:00 – Grace always comes first
21:00 – Making Christmas last all year
22:30 – The light shines in the darkness
Learn More: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
This Advent season, we’ve been taking a few quiet minutes each week to reflect on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love — not as abstract ideas, but as lived realities.
This week, the focus is Love.
Not the loud, flashy kind.Not the kind that arrives with certainty or spectacle.But the kind that shows up while we’re still waiting.
This spoken-word reflection centers on Mary — on waiting, on trust, and on a love that doesn’t hesitate or hold back. Mary doesn’t wait for proof. She doesn’t speak in “someday” language. She sings in the past tense, trusting that when God speaks a promise, it’s already true.
And that matters, because we’re still waiting.
We’re waiting for wars to end.For divisions to heal.For hearts to feel whole again.
But Advent reminds us that love doesn’t always arrive with thunder. Sometimes it whispers in hospital rooms. Sometimes it sits beside a bed. Sometimes it shows up at a neighbor’s door or quietly wipes the table and sweeps the floor.
This reflection is an invitation to notice where love is already present — even now — and to trust that God’s love has come, and is still coming.
Why Advent waiting isn’t passive — it’s expectant
How Mary models trust before certainty
Why love doesn’t wait for the ending of the story
Where God’s love shows up in ordinary, quiet ways
What you’ll hear in this reflection:What it means to be named Beloved before everything is resolved
Every December, it feels like the whole world is shouting buy more, hurry up, don’t miss out. And honestly? Most of us listen. Whether it’s a late-night Amazon cart or that one gift we’re convinced will finally make Christmas feel right, we all know the rhythm.
But underneath the purchasing and the pressure is something deeper — a soul-level ache that Advent invites us to notice rather than numb.
In this episode, I talk about the strange ways consumerism shapes us, why our desires feel endless, and how Advent meets us right in the middle of that frustrated longing. With a little help from Hagel, Lacan, and Peter Rollins (yes, we’re getting philosophical — but I promise, gently), we explore why waiting matters and how God might already be meeting us in the places we feel most incomplete.
Advent isn’t asking you to buy less stuff to be a better person. Advent is asking you to make space — in the ache, the boredom, the wanting — for the God who calls you enough before you even begin.
If you’ve ever wondered why the thrill of buying fades fast… or why your soul feels restless in December… this one’s for you.
00:00 — The weird thrill of online shopping01:00 — Why we buy more than we need03:00 — Capitalism, wants vs. needs, and the December pressure cooker05:00 — 3,000 ads a day: how marketing shapes our souls07:00 — The ache beneath our desire to buy09:00 — Advent as a season of lack, waiting, and holy discomfort10:00 — Hagel: God at work in tension and contradiction12:00 — Lacan: Why desire never satisfies14:00 — The secret is the lack15:00 — Peter Rollins: Christianity doesn’t erase the ache17:00 — God enters the messy, restless, lacking human experience18:00 — The Word tabernacles among us19:00 — Centering prayer and learning to sit with the ache20:00 — The manger as a space made ready21:00 — Asking better questions of our desires22:00 — A more abundant way to live this season
Chapters
This Advent, I’ve been sharing a short spoken-word piece each week—little moments to help us breathe, pay attention, and remember what God is growing in us during this season.Today, we’re talking about Joy and not the thin, glittery version December tries to sell us, but the deeper kind. The kind that actually holds.
Because if you’re anything like me, joy can feel a little buried this time of year. The lists get long.
The lights get loud. And somewhere between “too much” and “to-do”… joy gets jammed.
But Scripture reminds us: joy isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. Joy is what happens when grace finally gets our attention.
In this reflection, I explore the connection between the Greek words for joy and grace, why John the Baptist is such a surprising teacher of joy, and how stepping out of the spotlight might actually be the place where joy grows deepest.
My hope is that this simple poem gives you permission to stand where grace has placed you, breathe a little deeper, and recognize the light that God is already shining through you.
Make a plan and join us this Advent: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
00:00 — Welcome & Advent mini-episode introduction00:37 — When joy gets buried under December01:15 — Joy vs. momentary happiness01:40 — The Greek roots of joy & grace02:08 — John the Baptist and the joy of knowing who you’re not03:05 — Why we chase titles—and why grace tells the truth03:40 — Joy as standing where grace has placed you04:10 — The good news of who you are (and who you’re not)04:40 — Blessing & Amen
Have you ever felt like the anticipation of Christmas is better than the arrival?
My kids said that to me recently and honestly…they’re onto something.
There’s something about the lead up. The lights going up, the music (I bet your favorite Christmas songs are actually hymns, looking at you “Joy to the World,”) the catalogs arriving, that stirs more excitement in us than the day itself.
And believe it or not Advent has always been focused on the magic of waiting.
Today I’m talking about why waiting isn’t wasted time, and how Advent invites us to slow down, breathe a bit deeper, and resist the cultural pressure to hurry, buy, and cram every moment full.
If the pace of this season feels more frantic than hopeful, consider this an invitation to step back for a moment and listen again for the quieter story Advent is trying to tell.
Make a plan to join us this season in-person or online: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
00:00 — A very Advent greeting (and a nod to John the Baptist)
01:00 — Why Advent hymns might just be the best hymns
01:40 — Advent as a season of holy anticipation
02:10 — The “almost” feeling we love more than arrival
03:05 — Why we’re wired to enjoy the build-up
04:00 — Packaging, Oreos, and the psychology of wanting
06:10 — Is Advent playing into this? A surprising “yes and no”
07:20 — How Advent helps us unlearn the hurry
08:30 — Centering prayer and the gift of slowing down
10:10 — What surfaces when we finally get quiet
11:10 — Wilderness stories and the importance of in-between time
12:35 — Why we need space before we’re ready for Christmas
13:40 — Advent vs. cultural Christmas: two different rhythms
14:45 — Letting Advent reshape our pace
15:15 — A blessing for slowing down
This Advent season, we’re taking a few minutes each week to reflect on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. And to mix things up a bit, I’m sharing a short spoken-word piece every week.This week, I’m talking about Peace.
Advent Peace isn’t the soft, candle-lit word we print on cards. It’s not the “if I could just get my life together…” kind of peace. And it’s definitely not the version we try to manufacture by control, comfort, or numbing.
In the poem, I explore how real peace doesn’t show up in palaces or power structures — it shows up in the wilderness. In unexpected places. In unlikely people. And ultimately in Jesus, who brings peace not by force, but by presence.
If you’re carrying worry, striving for calm, or trying to hold it all together during a season that promises “peace and quiet” but rarely delivers… this reflection is for you.
Take a breath. Listen in. And let this be a reminder that peace isn’t something we achieve — it’s a gift already given.
Watch, reflect, and share if someone in your life needs a small moment of peace today.
Make a plan and join us this Advent: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
00:00 — Opening Reflection: What Do We Mean by Peace?00:32 — The Peace We Chase (and Can’t Quite Catch)01:13 — Peace in Jesus’ Day: Power vs. Promise01:50 — The Wilderness Word: John’s Message02:28 — Peace as Gift, Not Achievement03:05 — Peace in the Manger, Cross, and Resurrection03:48 — Closing Invitation: Stop Running, Receive Peace
Every year, Advent shows up with candles, wreaths… and, strangely enough, apocalyptic readings. And if you’ve ever thought, “Wait—why are we talking about the end of the world when we’re gearing up for twinkle lights and baby Jesus?”—you’re in good company.
In this episode, I’m talking about why the church calendar always begins with the end. Why Jesus keeps bringing up apocalyptic moments. And why “apocalypse” doesn’t really mean destruction—it's about transformation.
I share a story about binge-watching House when my daughter Evelyn was a newborn (yes, really), and how a cliffhanger episode helped me understand what Advent is actually trying to teach us: We don’t know every detail of what’s ahead, but we do know how the story ends—with God gathering all things in love.
And maybe that’s why Martin Luther could say, “If I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, I’d still plant my apple tree today.” Because faith in an apocalyptic God isn’t about fear—it’s about hope. It’s about trusting that God is already in the future, pulling us toward something good, something whole, something new.
As we step into Bethany’s Advent theme, The Beginning of Everything, I pray this episode helps you hear those apocalyptic texts not as doom, but as a promise: Something new is beginning. Something hopeful. Something God-shaped.
Thanks for listening, and as always—stay in peace.
Sunday School Remix is a new Together 4 Good series re-examining familiar Bible stories to uncover what they really tell us about faith, humanity, and grace today.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-making-sense-of-life-and-faith/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA 🙏 Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA | Cherry Hills Village, CO https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
This Advent season, we’re taking a few minutes each week to reflect on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. And to mix things up a bit, I’m sharing a short spoken-word piece every week.
This week, I’m talking about Hope.
Hope and fear can live in the same space inside us — same heartbeat, same tight shoulders — but they push us in very different directions. Fear shuts us down. Hope asks us to open up, even just a little.
In this reflection, I’m naming that tension we all feel when life is unclear, and why Advent is the perfect time to lean toward hope while we wait for Jesus to show up.
If you’re needing that shift toward hope this week, I’m right there with you.
Join us this season https://bethany-denver.org
In this Sunday School Remix I take another look at one of Jesus’ most well known miracles, the feeding of the 5,000, and explore a different angle than what many of us learned in Sunday School. Yes, Jesus multiplies bread and fish, but what if that is not the only miracle happening on that hillside?
As I walk through the story, I share:
Why this is one of the only miracles recorded in all four gospels
The small detail most people miss, Jesus organizing the crowd into little communities
What happens in our hearts when someone goes first in generosity
Why “You give them something to eat” might be the real invitation
How gratitude, neuroscience, and faith overlap in surprising ways
Why Thanksgiving is not only giving thanks but giving it back
How sharing even a little of what we have can bring God’s kingdom closer
My hope is that this story shapes your Thanksgiving week with a deeper sense of abundance, gratitude, and community.
Thank you for being here. Truly.Stay in peace, friends.
Sunday School Remix is a new Together 4 Good series re-examining familiar Bible stories to uncover what they really tell us about faith, humanity, and grace today.
💬 Tell us what story you want to see remixed next! 🙏 Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA | Cherry Hills Village, CO https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
📍 Listen & Subscribe:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-making-sense-of-life-and-faith/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
You’ve heard the story of Adam and Eve before: a snake, an apple, a garden, and a whole lot of trouble.But what if that’s not what the story was ever meant to be about?
In this first episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate digs into the Garden of Eden story with grown-up eyes. Together, we look at how this ancient story speaks to our world today, where we still wrestle with control, guilt, and the temptation to “play God.”
Maybe the serpent wasn’t Satan.Maybe the fruit wasn’t an apple.And maybe the real “fall” was never about disobedience at all — but about shame and blame.
In this episode:
✨ Sunday School Remix is a new Together 4 Good series re-examining familiar Bible stories to uncover what they really tell us about faith, humanity, and grace today.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-making-sense-of-life-and-faith/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
💬 Tell us what story you want to see remixed next! 🙏 Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA | Cherry Hills Village, CO https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
When faith feels complicated or life gets messy, why do we still show up?
In this guest-hosted episode of Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith, Kimberly—Bethany’s podcast producer—takes over while Pastor Nate is away and looks back at our summer series, Why Are You Still Here? This collection of stories from the Bethany community reminds us what keeps us grounded in faith—hope, belonging, and grace.
From the “God-size hole” that faith fills to the “foreverness” of church that anchors us, these voices reflect what it really means to be part of something bigger than ourselves. You’ll hear moments of honesty, humor, and deep connection that show how faith is lived through people—on mountaintops, in worship, and everywhere in between.
💙 Whether you’ve been at church forever or you’re just finding your way back, may these stories remind you why you’re still here, too.
🎧 Listen now:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-making-sense-of-life-and-faith/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church for more reflections and the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
It’s Pastor Nate’s birthday episode and he’s using it to talk about one of his favorite topics: spirituality in everyday life.
Because let’s be honest sometimes faith can start to feel like another thing on the to-do list.
Go to church.
Read your Bible.
Say your prayers.And all of that matters, but having faith is so much more than just going to church or reading your Bible.
It’s about connection and relationships. Remembering that God is bigger than any one practice or person.
After 15 years as a pastor, Nate admits that worship and Bible study can sometimes feel more like work than rest, so he’s learned to look for God in other places, too:
in gratitude before a meal,in a walk under the trees,in the rhythm of a ritual that brings you peace,or even in a sticky note on your bathroom mirror that reminds you:God’s here.
He shares how the Bible talks about forgetting and remembering God and how spiritual practices are really just ways to help us remember who God is, who we are, and who we’re called to love.
📖 In this episode:
Forgetfulness vs. sin and why “ah shoot, I forgot” might be a gentler way to understand grace
How your faith practices can change with the seasons of your life
Why ritual and repetition (yes, even lighting the same Advent wreath every year) matter
What gratitude and nature teach us about remembering God
And why even a few seconds of stillness can be an act of worship
This episode is a reminder that God’s already here — in your work, your car, your chaos, and your quiet. You don’t have to be in church to be close to Him.
🎧 Listen now:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church for more reflections and the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
Everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence, but beneath the headlines and hot takes, many of us are quietly wondering: what does this mean for our faith?
In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate explores our shared AI anxiety, that uneasy feeling that technology might outpace our humanity, and what Scripture has to say about it. From the story of creation to the healing miracles of Jesus, this conversation reminds us that the heart of the Gospel has always been about relationship, incarnation, and community.
As AI reshapes how we live, learn, and even pray, Nate challenges us to see the hope within the change, that God is still at work, calling us back to real human connection and reminding us that we are more than what we produce.
You’ll hear about:
Why AI is changing everything — but maybe for the better
How technology can push us toward deeper community instead of away from it
What Jesus’ incarnation teaches us about the importance of being physically present
The danger of idolatry when we start thinking we can “save ourselves”
How faith invites us to hope beyond our fears of the future
💬 Whether you’re fascinated or fearful about AI, this conversation will help you see how faith still holds steady — even when the world feels like it’s upgrading faster than we can keep up.
Key Scripture:
Genesis 1:27
Luke 10: 25-37
Download the podcast here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
What if the moment you thought your faith was slipping away… was actually the moment it started growing deeper roots?
In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate wrestles with a truth that’s both unsettling and freeing: sometimes, you have to lose your faith to find it again. He explores why doubt isn’t a failure—it’s often the beginning of a more honest, mature faith.
This episode unpacks how God meets us in our uncertainty, how compassion heals more than clichés ever could, and how even in the silence, God is already showing up, sometimes right in the palm of your hand.
You’ll hear about:
Why “childlike faith” isn’t the same as childish faith.
The harm in faith clichés like “God never gives you more than you can handle.”
What it really means to suffer with someone (compassion’s truest definition).
How doubt and belief can coexist and why faith actually requires both.
A personal story about doubt, communion, and discovering God in the middle of it all.
Whether you’ve ever felt disconnected from church, uncertain about your beliefs, or frustrated by easy answers, this episode is for you. It’s a reminder that resurrection comes after death of faith, of certainty, of what we thought we knew.
Maybe what feels like losing faith is really God inviting you into something more real.
👉Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.
Read: The Great Dechurching https://www.amazon.com/Great-Dechurching-Leaving-Going-Bring-ebook/dp/B0BN19KT5M
Download the podcast here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
Let’s be honest, a lot of us are doing everything right. We’ve got the job, the family, the house, the hobbies. Maybe even a decent morning routine. And yet…we’re not happy.
Why?
In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate digs into that question we all wrestle with but rarely say out loud. Why do we keep chasing the next thing, the next achievement, the next purchase, the next version of ourselves, only to end up feeling restless again?
It’s what psychologists call the hedonic treadmill: the more we get, the more we want. And that cycle can leave even the most faithful among us exhausted and unsatisfied.
But grace tells a different story. Grace says you don’t have to keep running. Grace says you are enough, right now, exactly as you are.
Nate shares a real-life confession about stress-buying on Amazon (because we’ve all been there) and even pulls a surprisingly wise lesson from NBA star Kevin Durant. This episode paints a picture of how our endless pursuit of happiness, more stuff, more success, more “nexts” can blind us to the joy that’s already sitting right in front of us.
Because maybe the question isn’t “Why am I not happy?” Maybe it’s “What if I already have everything I need?”
Listen if you’ve ever felt like:
You should be happier than you are
You’re stuck chasing “the next thing”
You can’t rest until life finally feels perfect
You want to find a joy that actually lasts
👉Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.
Download the podcast here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
Have you ever sat with the question, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” You’re not alone. In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate wrestles with the big questions of purpose, vocation, and identity, and why chasing the “perfect” career or calling often leaves us more restless than fulfilled.
Through scripture, stories, and some honest reflection, Nate reminds us of an important truth: you are already loved, already blessed, and already enough in God’s eyes. Instead of searching endlessly for the next big thing, maybe God is inviting you to notice what’s already in your hands.
You’ll hear about:
Why our culture pushes us to believe something better is always around the corner.
How the story of Moses and the burning bush invites us to look at the gifts we already carry.
The difference between original sin and “original blessing” in understanding who we are.
Practical ways to discern identity, belonging, and purpose through faith.
Why gratitude and joy are linked—and how that can shift your perspective today.
This episode is for anyone feeling restless, burned out, or stuck in the constant “what’s next?” cycle. Instead of chasing greener grass, learn how faith roots us in the moment, teaches us to love what’s in our hands, and shows us that there is more than one way to live a purposeful life.
👉 Download the free devotional booklet Who Am I? for a simple introduction to the Enneagram and Bible passages to guide your journey. You can grab it here https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver or if you’d like a physical copy email nate@bethany-denver.org 👉 Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.
Why doesn’t prayer work the way we want? You pray for healing, peace, or even a new job…and instead of a clear answer, it feels like God left you on “read.” If you’ve ever wondered why God doesn’t answer prayers, you’re not alone.
In this episode of Together for Good, Pastor Nate explores the purpose of prayer from a Lutheran perspective, with a little help from three German theologians (Schleiermacher, Tillich, and Martin Luther). Think of it as a crash course in “Prayer for Real Life,” with fewer halos and more honesty.
✨ What you’ll hear:
Why prayer isn’t a vending machine (sorry, no button for instant miracles).
How Christian theology explains unanswered prayers.
Why even Jesus prayed for something and didn’t get it.
What prayer is really about: connection, trust, and God’s presence in suffering.
Whether you’re searching for “why doesn’t God answer my prayers,” “Christian teaching on unanswered prayers,” or just curious about how prayer actually works, this conversation is for you.
👉 Stick around to rethink prayer, not as a cosmic wish list, but as a way to root yourself in God’s promises, even when nothing changes.
Download the podcast here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
Parenting is messy, beautiful, and exhausting. And for many of us, one of the big questions we carry is: How do I raise my kids in the Christian faith?
In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate shares Christian parenting tips that he and his wife are learning as they raise their three kids; what’s working, what they’re still figuring out, and why faith has to be about more than just “good morals.”
You’ll hear stories about family traditions that nurture Christian faith (like Christmas Eve hikes with hot cocoa), simple rituals that help children connect with God (their sign-language mealtime prayer is a favorite), and why curiosity, awe, and wonder might be the best tools parents have for passing faith to the next generation.
In this episode
How to raise kids in the Christian faith without just teaching rules
Why “faith is caught, not taught” matter for parenting today
Family traditions and rituals that ground children in faith
Simple ways to teach children about God through wonder and curiosity
Why asking “when did your heart feel full?” is a better spiritual practice than focusing only on morals.
If you’re looking for practical ways to raise kids with faith, love, and humility, this episode will give you encouragement and ideas to bring into your everyday family life. And if you need to hear it today: you’re doing a great job.
Special Bonus: As a companion to this episode, you can also watch or listen to a bedtime story of God’s love, Bible stories for sleep, relaxation, and faith. A gentle way to end the day and remind your children that they are deeply loved. You can tune in here: https://youtu.be/xYUWupzgZrY
📌 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA
Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver