WEBVTT 00:02.312 --> 00:05.253 [SPEAKER_02]: Hey guys, welcome back to the Christian parenting podcast. 00:05.353 --> 00:06.474 [SPEAKER_02]: I'm your host, Steph Thirling. 00:06.594 --> 00:08.595 [SPEAKER_02]: I am so glad that you are here today. 00:08.755 --> 00:11.096 [SPEAKER_02]: We are continuing our discipleship series. 00:11.116 --> 00:18.980 [SPEAKER_02]: We are looking at the practices that research tells us have the greatest impact on helping our kids develop a faith that lasts into adulthood. 00:19.440 --> 00:24.922 [SPEAKER_02]: And today, we are talking about something that I think is really easy to overlook, and that is regularly serving in church. 00:25.522 --> 00:31.065 [SPEAKER_02]: Because there's a difference between bringing our kids to church and then helping them understand that they're actually part. 00:31.285 --> 00:31.805 [SPEAKER_02]: of the church. 00:31.905 --> 00:33.186 [SPEAKER_02]: And that impacts their faith. 00:33.446 --> 00:37.027 [SPEAKER_02]: My guest today are my very dear friend, Sarah and Eric Holmstrom. 00:37.487 --> 00:41.569 [SPEAKER_02]: Sarah is the co-author of the book Raising Perfectal Kids We Wrote It Together. 00:41.669 --> 00:45.510 [SPEAKER_02]: And Eric is the lead pastor of Purpose Church in Pomona, California. 00:45.930 --> 00:49.572 [SPEAKER_02]: So, Eric and I actually served together on a different church staff in our early 20s. 00:49.632 --> 00:59.716 [SPEAKER_02]: So, I have done a lot of ministry with these two over the course of my career in their currently raising four kids and have been so intentional about making serving a normal part of their family 01:01.076 --> 01:04.357 [SPEAKER_02]: I really love this conversation because it's incredibly practical. 01:04.417 --> 01:13.959 [SPEAKER_02]: We talk about why serving matters spiritually, how even really young kids can participate, what to do when your child doesn't want to serve, and how to help kids discover where they're gifted. 01:13.979 --> 01:19.440 [SPEAKER_02]: And then also why serving gives our kids a sense of belonging in a sense of purpose in the church. 01:20.100 --> 01:25.022 [SPEAKER_02]: I think that you're going to walk away from this conversation really encouraged and with very practical tip. 01:25.162 --> 01:26.802 [SPEAKER_02]: So, enjoy Eric and Sarah. 01:33.345 --> 01:34.406 [SPEAKER_02]: Hi, Sarah and Eric. 01:34.687 --> 01:36.329 [SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to the Christian Painting podcast. 01:36.389 --> 01:37.330 [SPEAKER_02]: Or Sarah, welcome back. 01:37.531 --> 01:39.173 [SPEAKER_02]: Eric, welcome for the first time. 01:39.373 --> 01:41.095 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, thank you so much for having us. 01:41.115 --> 01:44.279 [SPEAKER_00]: Steph, we are huge fans of you, first and foremost. 01:44.900 --> 01:48.125 [SPEAKER_00]: And we love Christian parenting and all that you guys are doing. 01:48.145 --> 01:49.066 [SPEAKER_00]: So thank you for having us. 01:49.266 --> 01:49.926 [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you. 01:50.026 --> 02:01.252 [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, so we're in the middle of a series on discipleship and based off of some research that lifeways put out about what parents can be doing to help their kids develop a lasting faith. 02:01.332 --> 02:08.235 [SPEAKER_02]: And this isn't a formula like do these things and your kids are guaranteed to have a solid face faith, but they're helpful things. 02:08.255 --> 02:13.618 [SPEAKER_02]: And today I get to have you guys on to talk about regularly serving in church. 02:13.758 --> 02:13.958 [SPEAKER_02]: And I'm 02:14.078 --> 02:15.039 [SPEAKER_02]: Super, super excited about it. 02:15.059 --> 02:22.563 [SPEAKER_02]: You're the first people I wanted to call to talk about this, but before we dive into that part of it, I want to get to know you guys a little bit. 02:22.643 --> 02:28.646 [SPEAKER_02]: So why don't you guys just tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do and about your family and all the good things. 02:28.747 --> 02:32.849 [SPEAKER_01]: Well, stuff we are so honored to be on the podcast with you. 02:32.969 --> 02:35.091 [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so we live in Southern California. 02:35.371 --> 02:39.796 [SPEAKER_01]: Eric is a lead pastor of our church, purpose church in Pomona. 02:40.256 --> 02:41.458 [SPEAKER_01]: We've got four kids. 02:41.798 --> 02:44.701 [SPEAKER_01]: We homeschool them, which we never planned on doing. 02:45.201 --> 02:48.545 [SPEAKER_00]: I thought it was a crazy idea, but then you came around. 02:48.585 --> 02:49.646 [SPEAKER_00]: I've been totally convinced. 02:49.686 --> 02:50.587 [SPEAKER_00]: It's been awesome for us. 02:51.298 --> 02:52.639 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's been really fun. 02:52.659 --> 02:55.442 [SPEAKER_01]: We just take it year by year and we've done another year. 02:55.462 --> 02:57.003 [SPEAKER_01]: So our oldest is 14. 02:57.344 --> 03:00.266 [SPEAKER_01]: He's a boy and then we got girls that are 12 and 10. 03:00.687 --> 03:02.548 [SPEAKER_01]: And then the youngest boy is seven. 03:02.809 --> 03:06.012 [SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, and like Sarah said, we've been married 17 years. 03:06.032 --> 03:09.335 [SPEAKER_00]: We've actually been telling everyone this year that we've been married 18 years. 03:09.355 --> 03:11.917 [SPEAKER_00]: And then we ran the numbers and it all was only different 17 years. 03:11.997 --> 03:21.760 [SPEAKER_00]: So we want to clear that up, we've married 17 years and we've served at different churches and yeah, I just like Sarah said, I just stepped into a lead pastor role almost two years ago. 03:21.980 --> 03:26.382 [SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, so it's been awesome and we're in a fun stage with our kids. 03:26.402 --> 03:33.304 [SPEAKER_00]: We're like in between like we're out of diapers, but before like they fully launched out of the house. 03:33.884 --> 03:39.946 [SPEAKER_00]: And so it's been a it's a really exciting time of just deep relationship building with them and 03:40.586 --> 03:42.387 [SPEAKER_00]: watching them prepare for their next season. 03:42.547 --> 03:44.369 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I love this stage of parenting. 03:44.429 --> 03:45.269 [SPEAKER_02]: I think it's so fun. 03:45.409 --> 03:47.451 [SPEAKER_02]: It's gonna be a little intimidating, but I think it's really fun. 03:47.671 --> 03:48.151 [SPEAKER_00]: Yes. 03:48.732 --> 03:49.272 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. 03:49.632 --> 03:50.253 [SPEAKER_02]: It's okay. 03:50.613 --> 03:53.815 [SPEAKER_01]: But I was just gonna say, everybody is alive, you know? 03:53.835 --> 03:58.599 [SPEAKER_01]: Like everybody gets their own clothes on, jumps in the car, has their own soft and feeling. 03:58.739 --> 04:07.645 [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so the other day we were, we were pulling up to a gathering with some friends who had their pastors at our church and they have a one year, a newborn baby. 04:07.945 --> 04:13.569 [SPEAKER_00]: And they got for a newborn baby, I mean, they open up the trunk and they're getting the stroller and the diaper bag. 04:13.589 --> 04:16.471 [SPEAKER_00]: And it's, you know, I just got recently brought the whole house with them. 04:16.831 --> 04:21.174 [SPEAKER_00]: We get out of the car with our four kids and we don't got nothing like they put their shoes on everything. 04:21.194 --> 04:22.815 [SPEAKER_00]: So it's it is a sweet season. 04:22.855 --> 04:23.695 [SPEAKER_00]: We're appreciating it. 04:23.775 --> 04:32.501 [SPEAKER_02]: I do remember having little kids in like the double diaper bag and all the things and watching this mom get out of the car with her kids and like a tiny little purse. 04:33.382 --> 04:35.405 [SPEAKER_01]: I was like, where's your stuff, you know? 04:35.846 --> 04:36.908 [SPEAKER_02]: But it happened someday. 04:36.928 --> 04:38.190 [SPEAKER_02]: You'll carry a tiny purse. 04:38.851 --> 04:39.892 [SPEAKER_00]: And somehow we did that. 04:39.972 --> 04:41.896 [SPEAKER_00]: And when I looked back, I don't know how we did that. 04:41.976 --> 04:47.104 [SPEAKER_00]: Like I look at an basement at parents with like newborns and babies. 04:47.384 --> 04:48.446 [SPEAKER_00]: It's amazing what they're doing. 04:48.586 --> 04:53.650 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and you just do it because you have to, and you get to, but you just, you know, you figured out. 04:54.010 --> 04:54.210 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 04:54.551 --> 04:54.751 [SPEAKER_02]: Yes. 04:55.311 --> 04:55.631 [SPEAKER_02]: Okay. 04:55.751 --> 05:05.639 [SPEAKER_02]: Well, we're going to talk about serving in church because this has been kind of like statistically proven to be something that really impacts a child's faith development. 05:05.719 --> 05:09.602 [SPEAKER_02]: It's not just going to church in attending church, although that is important. 05:09.902 --> 05:18.928 [SPEAKER_02]: but serving in church is really where it starts to make a difference, you know, like entering the church building and being part of it makes a difference in a child's faith. 05:18.948 --> 05:23.631 [SPEAKER_02]: I think there is just a huge difference in going to church and being part of the church. 05:24.171 --> 05:27.934 [SPEAKER_02]: So why do you think that let's start with just like personally for you guys? 05:27.974 --> 05:31.356 [SPEAKER_02]: Why do you think serving has such an impact on a child's faith? 05:31.496 --> 05:39.298 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, well, Steph, I love that you're doing this and talking about this because I think not only do I believe in this as a pastor, but we believe in this as a family. 05:39.318 --> 05:41.378 [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen it with our own eyes. 05:41.418 --> 05:48.900 [SPEAKER_00]: So we do something at our church once a month called community meals where we just many people in our church come together to serve our community. 05:48.920 --> 05:59.643 [SPEAKER_00]: And we've got we live in a community where there's a high unhoused population and there's a lot of opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to love and serve our community. 05:59.683 --> 06:01.143 [SPEAKER_00]: And so we've got people who gather. 06:02.403 --> 06:12.167 [SPEAKER_00]: at these Saturday mornings for to do bike repairs to wash feet to take care of medical needs to provide food and clothing and they get a breakfast. 06:12.187 --> 06:13.428 [SPEAKER_00]: There's a prayer station. 06:14.208 --> 06:15.709 [SPEAKER_00]: There's all kinds of great stuff. 06:15.749 --> 06:19.290 [SPEAKER_00]: And our family has, you know, we try to participate in these as often as possible. 06:19.650 --> 06:24.371 [SPEAKER_00]: But I got to tell you a story, the other Saturday, I ended in just a long week of ministry. 06:24.471 --> 06:28.612 [SPEAKER_00]: And honestly, I was not excited to go to community meals on Saturday morning. 06:28.632 --> 06:29.792 [SPEAKER_00]: It starts at 7 a.m. 06:30.452 --> 06:32.352 [SPEAKER_00]: I wanted a sleep in morning. 06:33.193 --> 06:39.614 [SPEAKER_00]: And I thought I caught my break when Brinley our oldest daughter was sick on Friday night. 06:39.774 --> 06:45.755 [SPEAKER_00]: And so, being a, trying to be a good Christian dad and mask my own sin, I just said, 06:45.955 --> 07:10.275 [SPEAKER_00]: you know what guys all stay home with brinley from community meals all stay home the rest of you family you go sir said I'm gonna all stay home with brinley on Saturday morning cuz she's sick you know and I thought I had gotten out of it saturday morning brinley wakes up right in early she runs and serenize room and she goes I've been healed I'm healed I'm all better and I might be the only pastor in all of history who looked there and said girl you are not healed okay 07:10.775 --> 07:11.576 [SPEAKER_00]: You're not healed. 07:12.036 --> 07:13.898 [SPEAKER_00]: You're staying home with me. 07:13.998 --> 07:14.859 [SPEAKER_00]: We're staying home. 07:14.879 --> 07:15.700 [SPEAKER_00]: You're still sick. 07:15.860 --> 07:17.501 [SPEAKER_00]: Like, and she's like, no, I'm healed. 07:17.561 --> 07:18.042 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm healed. 07:18.102 --> 07:23.267 [SPEAKER_00]: And so I begrudgingly with the family went to community meals with a bad attitude. 07:23.507 --> 07:32.035 [SPEAKER_00]: And what I got to experience is as our family was walking the streets of Pomona, handing out flyers, inviting people to come and to 07:32.095 --> 07:44.198 [SPEAKER_00]: Join what we're doing as I watched our kids pray for people, as I watched our kids pass out food and help people find jackets and strike up conversations and pray with others. 07:44.238 --> 07:54.760 [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, what I got to see, and this is why I'm so passionate about it, I got to see our kids not just articulate what they believe, but live out what they believe. 07:55.080 --> 07:59.541 [SPEAKER_00]: And there's something about that that helps kids realize 08:02.402 --> 08:25.398 [SPEAKER_00]: It's not just an ideology, it's not just a philosophy, we're following a person and when we serve and love and care for others and put others needs before us we get to experience Jesus in a powerful way and I just watch their faith grow and become more genuine and so we're we're big believers in that and we're just seeing it with our own kids and our church 08:25.740 --> 08:35.382 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and I feel like one of the things I love about serving is it gives us, but it also gives our kids a front row seat to how big God is and how awesome he is. 08:35.462 --> 08:41.144 [SPEAKER_01]: And when they start to serve with us or come with us when we're serving, they are seeing prayers answered. 08:41.424 --> 08:47.685 [SPEAKER_01]: Then they have these personal experiences of a way God use them to impact another person. 08:48.065 --> 08:54.807 [SPEAKER_01]: So they feel the sense of purpose, the sense of joy, and their view of God expands when they 08:56.127 --> 08:58.188 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Eric, I do want to say that I love you. 08:58.889 --> 08:59.449 [SPEAKER_02]: You're honest. 08:59.469 --> 09:11.136 [SPEAKER_02]: He's sharing that story because I feel like so many times we look at our pastors and we're like, oh, they are always on fire and We're always wanting to serve inside it, but just being like, I was tired and wanted to sleep. 09:11.316 --> 09:12.097 [SPEAKER_00]: You know what? 09:12.217 --> 09:17.562 [SPEAKER_00]: I told our whole church that story and yeah, because if I'm gonna believe this church, I got to be real. 09:17.682 --> 09:18.222 [SPEAKER_00]: I got to be honest. 09:18.262 --> 09:18.843 [SPEAKER_00]: I got to be me. 09:19.263 --> 09:23.627 [SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, there's a lot of days I don't want to serve, but I'm seeing it impact our kids so we keep doing it. 09:23.667 --> 09:24.468 [SPEAKER_00]: And it's impact to me. 09:24.548 --> 09:25.649 [SPEAKER_00]: God's using it to change me. 09:25.809 --> 09:26.770 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I love that. 09:27.150 --> 09:28.552 [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, I want to break down a little bit. 09:28.572 --> 09:34.517 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, what a scripture actually tells us about serving is like serving primarily something we do because the church needs help. 09:34.797 --> 09:41.305 [SPEAKER_02]: or is it part of our spiritual formation or what is let's talk about like factual scripture side of serving. 09:41.525 --> 09:45.090 [SPEAKER_01]: I love that question because really it is all over scripture. 09:45.430 --> 09:49.235 [SPEAKER_01]: One of the first says I think you just brought it up this summer, right? 09:49.315 --> 09:52.519 [SPEAKER_01]: And the Proverbs verse that we talked about in our kids, Proverbs 1125. 09:53.800 --> 10:17.414 [SPEAKER_01]: It says a generous person will prosper those who refresh others will be refreshed and so and it's so true when you start to Look for ways to refresh other people like what might they need what what's the way I could serve them you don't have to worry so much about Well, I get my needs met will I be comfortable because the Lord refreshes you it is so refreshing to serve other people and 10:17.894 --> 10:20.356 [SPEAKER_01]: I remember being a kid and not understanding that. 10:20.416 --> 10:23.337 [SPEAKER_01]: I remember being little and being sad about something. 10:23.417 --> 10:27.820 [SPEAKER_01]: I know I would tell you this story before a step at my dad said it was so funny. 10:27.840 --> 10:29.701 [SPEAKER_01]: He came in and he didn't even ask me what was wrong. 10:29.761 --> 10:32.063 [SPEAKER_01]: He just said, you should go help someone else. 10:32.563 --> 10:36.586 [SPEAKER_01]: And I remember thinking, one of the devices that, like, I'm having a hard day. 10:36.706 --> 10:39.587 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sad and I went to school and I tried it. 10:39.908 --> 10:40.848 [SPEAKER_01]: I don't remember what I did. 10:40.928 --> 10:42.629 [SPEAKER_01]: I was like, you know, helped a friend. 10:43.110 --> 10:44.771 [SPEAKER_01]: And I remember coming home and being like, 10:45.471 --> 10:46.031 [SPEAKER_01]: It worked. 10:46.572 --> 10:52.074 [SPEAKER_01]: I feel better and there's just something so refreshing because we were designed to serve. 10:52.114 --> 10:53.895 [SPEAKER_01]: We were designed that way. 10:53.955 --> 11:00.539 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and you know, I, I stuff you and I have had the opportunity to work at a church together and do ministry together. 11:00.879 --> 11:06.162 [SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, I know this was big for you and and as I stepped into the church, we're at right now. 11:06.182 --> 11:10.524 [SPEAKER_00]: I was the high school pastor for 10 years and before I stepped into the lead pastor role. 11:11.184 --> 11:31.186 [SPEAKER_00]: And a couple years into being a high school pastor, we made a decision to not have a high school specific Sunday morning program where we're taking students away from the church, but instead to help high school students fall in love with the church by worshiping with the intergenerational church and also serving throughout the church. 11:31.546 --> 11:37.068 [SPEAKER_00]: And that was a big change for our church, but it has produced something so incredible. 11:37.148 --> 11:46.131 [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, at this point now, in every single ministry in our church, during every single worship service, there are students serving at some capacity. 11:46.171 --> 11:55.395 [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, whenever our students head to camp for, you know, summer camp or winter camp, and they're going to be gone on a Sunday, our church staff begins the panic a little bit. 11:56.415 --> 12:01.479 [SPEAKER_00]: to figure out how will we do church this Sunday without all of our students? 12:01.879 --> 12:10.826 [SPEAKER_00]: And so our students are learning that they are an integral part of our church community, not just outsiders, kind of waiting till they become adults to become a part of our community. 12:11.166 --> 12:11.747 [SPEAKER_00]: And I drew this 12:13.508 --> 12:15.410 [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's all over the scripture. 12:15.510 --> 12:26.720 [SPEAKER_00]: So literally this morning, I began, or I ended a multi-year project of I've been wanting to write sort of dad's commentary on the Bible for art yet. 12:26.780 --> 12:31.725 [SPEAKER_00]: So what I wanted to do is write one at least, one commentary note. 12:32.365 --> 12:37.426 [SPEAKER_00]: just from my heart and time with the Lord on every single chapter of the Bible. 12:37.786 --> 12:40.487 [SPEAKER_00]: And so this morning, I finished the book of Revelation. 12:40.687 --> 12:45.648 [SPEAKER_00]: And so I'm going to keep adding to it where I give it to the kids, but it'll kind of be, hey, here's Dad's thoughts on the Bible. 12:45.928 --> 12:55.250 [SPEAKER_00]: And I was thinking about, I was just reading Revelation chapter 22, I inverse five, it says no longer will there be any curse. 12:55.610 --> 13:02.012 [SPEAKER_00]: The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him. 13:02.372 --> 13:28.084 [SPEAKER_00]: So literally the picture for us, for followers of Jesus, of what all the eternity will look like, will involve serving Jesus, and we know heaven is going to be far more joyful and life-giving, and a blessing, and a wonderful place, and a life-to-live for all of eternity, and it includes serving. 13:28.444 --> 13:30.807 [SPEAKER_00]: And they will see his face. 13:31.007 --> 13:37.633 [SPEAKER_00]: And I think about what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 25 verse 40 in the story of the sheep and the goats. 13:37.914 --> 13:43.559 [SPEAKER_00]: Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me. 13:43.759 --> 13:45.581 [SPEAKER_00]: And so when we serve people now, 13:46.382 --> 13:52.628 [SPEAKER_00]: We're actually serving Jesus first, which is a really cool thing that helps especially when it's difficult serving people. 13:53.189 --> 13:56.853 [SPEAKER_00]: I'd say remember that we're serving Jesus and we're preparing for eternity. 13:57.053 --> 13:58.034 [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, eternity isn't. 13:58.134 --> 14:00.176 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm on the golf course on the cloud. 14:00.356 --> 14:01.617 [SPEAKER_00]: You're in my own thing. 14:01.978 --> 14:04.881 [SPEAKER_00]: Like, you know, and sure there's probably going to be golf in heaven. 14:04.921 --> 14:06.602 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't golf, but maybe there'll be golf in heaven. 14:06.622 --> 14:06.963 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know. 14:07.423 --> 14:13.346 [SPEAKER_00]: But I know that Scripture says we will be serving Jesus and it will be the most life-giving thing we could do. 14:13.406 --> 14:18.069 [SPEAKER_00]: So potentially, the most life-giving thing we could do now is to serve. 14:18.589 --> 14:21.551 [SPEAKER_00]: And I think you experienced that when you begin to serve. 14:21.791 --> 14:22.991 [SPEAKER_02]: I love that connection. 14:23.011 --> 14:29.195 [SPEAKER_02]: Like I think that people who are looking for Scripture on serving, probably are not typically looking at Revelation. 14:29.575 --> 14:32.278 [SPEAKER_02]: But I love the connection all the way through it. 14:32.318 --> 14:40.488 [SPEAKER_02]: So it's actually a such a beautiful picture of what scripture is, which is like one complete story, you know, pointing us to one complete thing. 14:40.528 --> 14:43.171 [SPEAKER_01]: And so how cool that we are preparing ourselves. 14:43.612 --> 14:48.057 [SPEAKER_02]: Now, and that we're not going to wake up cranky and tired when we have to serve and have it. 14:48.718 --> 15:00.185 [SPEAKER_02]: We're gonna like it all the time, but it kind of let's talk about practical side a little bit because I think people listening are like, okay, so kids serve when your church can serve an archer. 15:00.705 --> 15:04.628 [SPEAKER_02]: It's fun like we are a huge on that in our church. 15:04.668 --> 15:12.133 [SPEAKER_02]: I think a lot of churches are, but parents get a little overwhelmed because they hear like, your kids can some come serve with you and it's like, well, what can they do? 15:12.273 --> 15:16.035 [SPEAKER_02]: And it's maybe easier if you have high schoolers, but what if you have. 15:16.275 --> 15:18.116 [SPEAKER_02]: elementary school or even younger. 15:18.156 --> 15:21.118 [SPEAKER_02]: Like at what age do you think kids can realistically serve? 15:21.158 --> 15:23.539 [SPEAKER_02]: And what are some things that they can actually do? 15:24.440 --> 15:25.240 [SPEAKER_02]: I love that question. 15:25.260 --> 15:27.441 [SPEAKER_01]: I used to worry about that a lot when they were all little. 15:28.342 --> 15:33.425 [SPEAKER_01]: But one thing is, I know we talked about this, but even just inviting them to come with you and you serve. 15:34.005 --> 15:38.407 [SPEAKER_01]: Like we, for example, we started a new prayer team that meets before church. 15:38.587 --> 15:39.708 [SPEAKER_01]: And we just made that early. 15:39.728 --> 15:43.250 [SPEAKER_01]: We walk around the campus and pray for the city and the kids' mystery, all that. 15:43.630 --> 16:04.525 [SPEAKER_01]: And so my kids obviously have to come with me because they don't wear drivers lessons yet or anything and even the little ones won't jump in and pray or they won't say anything But they'll observe and hear and then see Like how prayers are being answered and just have this different heart I'm one of my daughters who just felt like she was praying with us and bring me again, but she said 16:05.165 --> 16:19.854 [SPEAKER_01]: I just feel like the Lord is telling me like people are gonna come here who are really sad and who don't know him yet, and then they're gonna meet him, and so she's experiencing the joy of that even though she's not necessarily on the prayer team, well, she is because she shows up with us. 16:21.335 --> 16:39.215 [SPEAKER_01]: And then for little little kids, I think just even talking about when they're in their Sunday school class or when they're at church, who can they look for that might be lonely or might be sad or who might be new or who they can welcome and sit by and be a blessing to and all of that is serving. 16:39.355 --> 16:39.636 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. 16:40.116 --> 16:49.623 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most painful realities of parenting is that that statement, that motto that's so true, is more is caught than it's caught in them. 16:50.004 --> 16:51.985 [SPEAKER_00]: And that is so difficult as a parent, right? 16:52.005 --> 17:00.492 [SPEAKER_00]: Like we want to teach our kids all the lessons, but then they watch us and they end up, you know, I've been thinking about this idea a lot that we don't 17:01.112 --> 17:03.414 [SPEAKER_00]: reproduce what we believe necessarily. 17:03.434 --> 17:06.037 [SPEAKER_00]: We reproduce who we are in other people. 17:06.377 --> 17:08.099 [SPEAKER_00]: And so more is caught in its top. 17:08.139 --> 17:15.667 [SPEAKER_00]: I remember Steph when you and Sarah were writing the book that God gave you the vision, Steph, to write, raising purple kids. 17:15.687 --> 17:16.507 [SPEAKER_00]: I'll plug it here. 17:16.547 --> 17:19.831 [SPEAKER_00]: It's my favorite book, raising purple kids. 17:19.851 --> 17:21.993 [SPEAKER_00]: Steph when you and Sarah were working on that book. 17:22.173 --> 17:38.062 [SPEAKER_00]: you know, our kids had a front row seat to watching Sarah and your kids watching you not only researching prayer but practicing prayer and incorporating prayer more into the life of your family and her Sarah into our family. 17:38.706 --> 17:49.894 [SPEAKER_00]: And I remember there was a moment where, you know, our kids were just seeing Sarah praying more and more and leading our family more in prayer and praying in all seasons with situations. 17:50.115 --> 17:56.820 [SPEAKER_00]: And then Sarah was, you were doing an acting, you had an acting job and she was on set filming something. 17:57.460 --> 18:15.561 [SPEAKER_00]: and our kids were there, and our kids were watching her, and our kids could tell that Sarah was a little bit nervous during this, and they started praying on their own, not being prompted by anyone, they just started praying on their own, and they told you, Sarah, they told you afterwards, hey, like we noticed that you were getting a little nervous, and we started praying for you. 18:16.081 --> 18:21.706 [SPEAKER_00]: The reality is more as caught than as taught, and so I would say for parents with little ones, start serving now. 18:21.786 --> 18:26.569 [SPEAKER_00]: Before you expect them to go serve, you start serving and bring them along with you. 18:26.970 --> 18:36.057 [SPEAKER_00]: Let them watch you and observe and catch the vision for what serving can be, and I think that might end up being more effective in the long run. 18:36.925 --> 18:37.405 [SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah. 18:37.766 --> 18:41.448 [SPEAKER_01]: That reminds me of my favorite person in the Bible is David. 18:41.568 --> 18:49.394 [SPEAKER_01]: We know a lot about David David like his heart was so unfire for the Lord, but recently I discovered just a little verse about David's mom. 18:49.674 --> 19:00.842 [SPEAKER_01]: We don't know a lot about David's mom, but in Psalm 86 that's the Psalm where he's like begging God to give him an undivided heart and then in verse 16 he says, 19:04.785 --> 19:16.178 [SPEAKER_01]: And we were laughing talking about that because it's not like we know if David's mom was good at panties or like it was that house clean like we don't know anything about David's mom. 19:16.238 --> 19:19.341 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I wish mostly an organized pantry modeling. 19:19.382 --> 19:21.704 [SPEAKER_01]: We just know that only credit he gives her is. 19:22.745 --> 19:27.347 [SPEAKER_01]: she served the Lord and then if you look at David's life, that's all he was about. 19:27.427 --> 19:33.509 [SPEAKER_01]: Like, he served the Lord full time in when he was in a cave when he was fighting the life. 19:33.629 --> 19:41.993 [SPEAKER_01]: And so that's really conducting to me because I tried to, you know, be this kind of mom, I think I should be, but really when I'm serving the Lord, 19:42.593 --> 19:54.838 [SPEAKER_01]: they see how it's impacting me or I talked to them about the joy of serving or the hardships of serving or where God met me when we didn't feel like serving but we did and they catch that. 19:55.260 --> 19:59.983 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, one of the values that our church has is everyone is designed to serve. 20:00.323 --> 20:11.731 [SPEAKER_00]: So we believe every age and stage is designed to serve that doesn't mean everyone's designed to serve in all the same ministries or even everyone's designed to serve in the ministry day first and foremost want to serve. 20:11.771 --> 20:21.638 [SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes you've got to help somebody discover their gifts and figure, okay, where's their best spot and where can they have the greatest impact according to how God has wired them and spiritually gifted them? 20:21.978 --> 20:23.699 [SPEAKER_00]: But everyone is designed to serve. 20:23.819 --> 20:29.761 [SPEAKER_00]: And so I think for families embracing that and going, okay, so where is God calling each one of us to serve? 20:29.821 --> 20:35.964 [SPEAKER_00]: And then getting to share that with each other, Tim, Tim really created an exciting and dynamic family culture. 20:36.084 --> 20:36.364 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 20:36.684 --> 20:40.525 [SPEAKER_02]: How do we help our kids figure out where God is calling them to serve? 20:40.565 --> 20:44.367 [SPEAKER_02]: Because yes, when they're younger, they can just come along with us and they can 20:44.427 --> 20:46.788 [SPEAKER_02]: come to the pur team because we're on the pur team and you don't have a choice. 20:46.828 --> 20:54.650 [SPEAKER_02]: But like as they get older and like I want like I want to lean into who God has made me to be like, how do we help them find those gifts and then serve God with them? 20:54.850 --> 20:55.050 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. 20:55.430 --> 21:07.173 [SPEAKER_00]: I think of like three initial questions that can be helpful for parents to unpack with their kids and even invite their kids to think for and the three questions are this. 21:07.233 --> 21:09.294 [SPEAKER_00]: Number one, where's the need? 21:09.654 --> 21:13.357 [SPEAKER_00]: So as we're looking around our church, where is the need right now? 21:13.437 --> 21:14.498 [SPEAKER_00]: Is it in kids ministry? 21:14.558 --> 21:18.340 [SPEAKER_00]: Is it in handing out programs or communion cups? 21:18.721 --> 21:20.402 [SPEAKER_00]: Is it greeting people at the door? 21:20.722 --> 21:21.683 [SPEAKER_00]: Where is the need? 21:22.003 --> 21:25.466 [SPEAKER_00]: The second question is, where can I make an impact? 21:25.806 --> 21:35.012 [SPEAKER_00]: So that's beginning to think about how our kids are wired and gifted and where based on their personality, where could they make an impact? 21:35.353 --> 21:38.295 [SPEAKER_00]: And then the third question is, what will bring me joy? 21:38.615 --> 21:52.028 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, not all serving opportunities bring us joy, but I do think that God has wired each one of us that when we're serving in our sweet spot, more often than not, there's going to be joy that's going to come from that. 21:52.108 --> 21:53.469 [SPEAKER_00]: So helping our kids 21:54.170 --> 21:57.531 [SPEAKER_00]: figure out, okay, what will bring you a lot of joy. 21:57.571 --> 22:05.593 [SPEAKER_00]: So if you got like a super extroverted kid that loves being around people, maybe being on the church camera is not the best spot for them. 22:05.633 --> 22:14.796 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe they need to be around other kids, but if you've got to really shy, maybe introverted, maybe reserve child, don't put them on stage to do announcements. 22:14.836 --> 22:15.476 [SPEAKER_00]: Like that's just, 22:15.916 --> 22:17.598 [SPEAKER_00]: cool and unusual punishment. 22:17.618 --> 22:18.619 [SPEAKER_00]: Like that wouldn't be cool. 22:19.000 --> 22:24.387 [SPEAKER_00]: So really trying to sink through where's the need, where can I make an impact, and what will bring me joy. 22:24.742 --> 22:31.187 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we have our oldest to our can serve now, because they're, I mean, they all can serve, but they can have official serve for us. 22:31.287 --> 22:38.612 [SPEAKER_01]: And our daughter brings us all her older brother, serving in tech, and he loves it, running the camera, doing this lights, and her friends are there. 22:38.732 --> 22:42.335 [SPEAKER_01]: So she tried it, and then she was just, you know, a little bored. 22:42.595 --> 22:50.741 [SPEAKER_01]: So I would say let them try other things, then she joined Kid Choir, which that was fun, but now she's in the nursery and her heart. 22:51.734 --> 22:56.498 [SPEAKER_01]: exploding and I feel like the Lord is using it to show her more of her purpose in her future. 22:56.518 --> 23:06.685 [SPEAKER_01]: Like now she's joining this safe sitter class so she could eventually start babysitting and she just has this joy of going to the nursery so much so that if we're going to be on vacation or something. 23:08.106 --> 23:10.628 [SPEAKER_01]: She throws a huge bang because of that joy. 23:10.888 --> 23:12.129 [SPEAKER_01]: So I would say that too. 23:12.149 --> 23:24.577 [SPEAKER_00]: Trying to think we're criminals for going on vacation because of how our kids and I think it's because of their sense of belonging, but also their sense of purpose that they have faith. 23:25.048 --> 23:27.230 [SPEAKER_00]: in their areas where they're serving. 23:27.290 --> 23:29.912 [SPEAKER_00]: It's really brought them a lot of purpose. 23:29.932 --> 23:35.817 [SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think every kid is asking three questions, who am I, where do I belong and what's my purpose? 23:36.358 --> 23:40.962 [SPEAKER_00]: The church has got to help young people answer that question. 23:41.002 --> 23:43.944 [SPEAKER_00]: Those questions early in their life. 23:44.285 --> 23:47.607 [SPEAKER_00]: Who am I, where do I belong and what's my purpose? 23:47.627 --> 23:50.690 [SPEAKER_00]: And I think serving can help answer that purpose question really well. 23:50.830 --> 23:55.733 [SPEAKER_02]: What do you do as a parent if you don't have a prinley who's mad because you're going on vacation. 23:57.213 --> 24:01.696 [SPEAKER_02]: What if your kid just doesn't want to serve like how much do you think parents should push this like there. 24:01.716 --> 24:06.699 [SPEAKER_02]: Because there is a little bit of like this is what we do as a family and so this is one of our values. 24:06.779 --> 24:14.963 [SPEAKER_02]: So we're going to do this and then you don't want them to make to think that this is something I have to do in order for God to love me or for me to be a good Christian. 24:15.023 --> 24:16.544 [SPEAKER_02]: You know there's a balance there. 24:17.064 --> 24:18.525 [SPEAKER_02]: So how do you find that balance? 24:18.705 --> 24:20.187 [SPEAKER_00]: and we face that as well. 24:20.207 --> 24:30.337 [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, there are seasons and times with different kids at different moments where they're not wanting to serve or not as interested or feeling, you know, much purpose as they wish they had or whatever. 24:30.777 --> 24:32.339 [SPEAKER_00]: So we totally get that. 24:32.819 --> 24:37.344 [SPEAKER_00]: I think it goes back to what you started with right there, Steph, about family values. 24:37.724 --> 24:41.068 [SPEAKER_00]: And so I would encourage any parent to really think through number one. 24:41.408 --> 24:43.350 [SPEAKER_00]: what's your value as a family? 24:43.390 --> 24:55.263 [SPEAKER_00]: So we meet a decision, Sarah and I a while ago, that our family vision statement, that our marriage vision statement, our family vision statement, our family value is three words, be a blessing. 24:55.464 --> 25:02.972 [SPEAKER_00]: And so we literally have told our kids that since we were dropping them off in the nursery before they're going in there, you know, on the first day that our 25:03.332 --> 25:05.053 [SPEAKER_00]: oldest son Charlie was in the nursery. 25:05.333 --> 25:06.494 [SPEAKER_00]: He did a kid. 25:06.874 --> 25:09.776 [SPEAKER_00]: This is my first day as a pastor at this church. 25:10.017 --> 25:11.137 [SPEAKER_00]: We checked Charlie in the nursery. 25:11.157 --> 25:12.038 [SPEAKER_00]: He bites a kid. 25:12.058 --> 25:14.339 [SPEAKER_00]: I thought we were going to excommunicate it and kick out. 25:15.220 --> 25:20.924 [SPEAKER_00]: But so we've been telling our kids, we tell them every time we drop off the nursery and where they go, we say, hey, guys, what's your job? 25:20.944 --> 25:22.325 [SPEAKER_00]: And they say, be a blessing. 25:22.385 --> 25:30.070 [SPEAKER_00]: We tell them all time being a blessing to their siblings, being a blessing to mom and she's homeschooling, being a blessing to their friends, their church be a blessing. 25:30.390 --> 25:35.754 [SPEAKER_00]: and we've tried to make it clear to them that we don't be a blessing to try to earn God's love. 25:36.074 --> 25:40.597 [SPEAKER_00]: That we be a blessing as the home-strum family because God has already loved us. 25:40.898 --> 25:42.018 [SPEAKER_00]: He's already chosen us. 25:42.339 --> 25:44.901 [SPEAKER_00]: He's already died for us, rose from the dead for us. 25:44.961 --> 25:53.367 [SPEAKER_00]: He has demonstrated to us his blessing over our lives, so we want to respond by being a blessing to him and being a blessing to others. 25:53.927 --> 26:10.178 [SPEAKER_00]: So I would say just thinking through what's the culture of your family, what's the value because I think when serving takes on a bigger form of it's not just something we do on a Sunday morning, but it's how we treat our siblings at the dinner table. 26:10.258 --> 26:12.460 [SPEAKER_00]: It's it's how we get water for each other. 26:12.520 --> 26:15.321 [SPEAKER_00]: We do one of another's chores at times. 26:15.422 --> 26:15.602 [SPEAKER_00]: We 26:16.182 --> 26:18.445 [SPEAKER_00]: that use our words kindly to be a blessing. 26:18.525 --> 26:30.498 [SPEAKER_00]: We're trying to reinforce that's our culture as a family, so that serving in church comes a little bit more naturally because it's just kind of who we are and who we're trying to be in our neighborhood and our community. 26:31.218 --> 26:34.382 [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, that can be challenging and we continue to face that as well. 26:34.562 --> 26:38.945 [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, if you have a kid who doesn't like serving, you are not alone. 26:38.965 --> 26:46.029 [SPEAKER_01]: I remember one time we are helping somebody in the church and one of our kids said, it's really hard loving Jesus and being in a church. 26:47.010 --> 26:47.910 [SPEAKER_01]: You are not alone. 26:48.711 --> 26:51.713 [SPEAKER_01]: Just another little practical thing as your kids are eating older. 26:51.773 --> 26:53.194 [SPEAKER_01]: I think inviting friends. 26:53.334 --> 26:54.815 [SPEAKER_00]: If you, yeah, oh, that's good. 26:54.835 --> 26:59.638 [SPEAKER_01]: Like me, we, um, I Christmas time we make these little blessing bags for people we might see. 27:00.038 --> 27:02.620 [SPEAKER_01]: as we're driving and but we do it with their friends now. 27:02.700 --> 27:10.947 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's less of a like, oh, we got to do this thing and they have these shared memories with their friends or, you know, our daughter who serves in the nursery and invited her best friend to do it. 27:10.987 --> 27:12.929 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's something they look forward to together. 27:12.949 --> 27:13.489 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. 27:13.550 --> 27:17.853 [SPEAKER_01]: So, and that's hard when your kids are little little, but as they get older, inviting other family. 27:18.153 --> 27:18.694 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 27:18.734 --> 27:21.396 [SPEAKER_02]: Well, as they get into those years, our friends are so important to them. 27:21.596 --> 27:24.579 [SPEAKER_02]: It's a great way to keep them interested and exciting. 27:28.627 --> 27:46.180 [SPEAKER_00]: And then it's just the other thing I would do is when they have those, when they start serving and they, you know, get to experience God working through them, taking moments to celebrate them, to even re-relecting with them and helping your kid answer the question, why does it matter that they serve? 27:46.540 --> 28:02.670 [SPEAKER_00]: Why does it matter so, you know, we had two of our guys on our staff in our maintenance crew who it's been really hot here in Southern California on a Sunday morning, they were literally keeping the air conditioning running during the worship service as it was shutting down. 28:02.990 --> 28:28.988 [SPEAKER_00]: those same guys were filling up the baptism tank for our 15 baptisms that we were having like and I just said guys what you do matters like keeping the air condition on helps people not be distracted by a hondes but they can focus on the Lord filling up the baptismal that's kind of important to do baptisms like what you're doing matters and so whether it's adults or kids helping people understand that what they're 28:29.928 --> 28:40.698 [SPEAKER_00]: batters and is making a difference and celebrating that, you know, there's a old, I heard Andy Stanley say it before, what gets celebrated gets repeated? 28:41.018 --> 28:47.004 [SPEAKER_00]: So celebrate celebrate the serving your senior, your kids and it's likely to get repeated. 28:47.264 --> 28:49.106 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's I love that quote. 28:49.206 --> 28:49.686 [SPEAKER_02]: That's good. 28:50.026 --> 28:50.607 [SPEAKER_00]: That's really good. 28:50.872 --> 28:55.577 [SPEAKER_02]: quickly, because we have to wrap up or relatively soon, which I hate, because I feel like we could talk forever. 28:56.177 --> 28:56.478 [SPEAKER_02]: What? 28:56.718 --> 29:02.484 [SPEAKER_02]: I'm curious from your perspective, because you've served as parents and you both are church staff. 29:02.684 --> 29:05.407 [SPEAKER_02]: So what are some things that parents could ask? 29:05.467 --> 29:08.510 [SPEAKER_02]: They're church or their kids' pastor or senior pastor or whatever? 29:08.710 --> 29:13.555 [SPEAKER_02]: If they're curious about how what are some reasonable opportunities for my kids to get involved? 29:13.775 --> 29:20.096 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think that's a great question stuff because honestly, not every kid is ready to serve in every area of the church. 29:20.116 --> 29:28.238 [SPEAKER_00]: So I think very practically what you could do is one look on your church's website and see, okay, what are the different ministries that they offer. 29:28.578 --> 29:35.520 [SPEAKER_00]: Then I would call your kids pastor or one of the other pastors on your staff or your lead pastors, whoever it is that you would call. 29:36.160 --> 29:45.986 [SPEAKER_00]: or reach out to or email and let them know, hey, I've got an eight year old and a 12 year old, you know, we'd love for them to begin serving what ministries could they serve it? 29:46.427 --> 30:03.417 [SPEAKER_00]: Because I think that pastor or ministry leader could get back to you and say, hey, here's the three ministries that we see kids really thriving in terms of, and then, you know, maybe take a spiritual gift survey or test with your kids, begin to think about their personality and start making a list, okay, 30:04.698 --> 30:09.740 [SPEAKER_00]: Here's the four where kids can serve at our church, which two of those do you want to try out? 30:09.960 --> 30:14.923 [SPEAKER_00]: And it not be afraid to try them out and to see which one fits and which one doesn't. 30:15.083 --> 30:15.363 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 30:15.942 --> 30:25.188 [SPEAKER_02]: I think sometimes we just have to ask and I think we get a little intimidated by that, like, you know, it should I just already know this or am I annoying, but everyone always wants to help. 30:25.248 --> 30:29.070 [SPEAKER_02]: So just asking is the best place to start for sure. 30:29.130 --> 30:35.754 [SPEAKER_02]: Kind of to wrap us up since we are talking about raising kids with a faith that lasts outside of home. 30:35.794 --> 30:37.115 [SPEAKER_02]: And I know you guys are so 30:37.755 --> 30:43.260 [SPEAKER_02]: passionate about this, not just for your own kids, but for all kids in your church and just in God's Kingdom. 30:43.280 --> 30:52.169 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, what do you hope serving in the church teaches the kid about who they are, who God is, and what it means to belong to God's Kingdom? 30:52.189 --> 30:53.831 [SPEAKER_01]: That's such a good question. 30:53.851 --> 30:58.796 [SPEAKER_01]: And obviously that's our prayer and our hope we know our kids are not ours, but they're the Lord's. 30:58.936 --> 30:59.076 [SPEAKER_01]: But 30:59.473 --> 31:01.634 [SPEAKER_01]: praying that they will love him all the days of their life. 31:01.714 --> 31:08.798 [SPEAKER_01]: And I think what just immediately popped into my mind when you asked that is the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet. 31:08.958 --> 31:13.540 [SPEAKER_01]: Like he didn't just say he'd go into this, but that's who he was. 31:13.580 --> 31:21.024 [SPEAKER_01]: Like he was the king of the world and he was washing his friends feet and even his betrayers feet, you know? 31:21.144 --> 31:24.086 [SPEAKER_01]: And so I think it just teaches our kids. 31:24.525 --> 31:27.766 [SPEAKER_01]: I hope and pray it teaches our kids to live like Jesus. 31:27.986 --> 31:37.849 [SPEAKER_01]: Not to really the goal, like that they would love him and be loved by him, but also just follow him and live the way he lived in such an opportunity to do that. 31:38.029 --> 31:42.310 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think about it from a leadership standpoint and how it applies to our families. 31:42.490 --> 31:50.132 [SPEAKER_00]: Something I've been telling the staff of our church for a little while now is we are not the exception, we are the example. 31:50.292 --> 31:52.313 [SPEAKER_01]: And something weird can happen. 31:52.693 --> 31:59.937 [SPEAKER_00]: when you either join the staff of a church or you've just been a Christian for a little bit longer. 32:00.137 --> 32:02.898 [SPEAKER_00]: You start to believe this lie. 32:02.918 --> 32:07.701 [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's a lie from the enemy that you are the exception, not the example. 32:07.761 --> 32:11.943 [SPEAKER_00]: So I don't need to read my Bible as much as a new believer does. 32:12.203 --> 32:16.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Or I don't need to give and tithe because other people do that. 32:16.705 --> 32:16.745 [SPEAKER_00]: Or 32:20.287 --> 32:21.609 [SPEAKER_00]: No, no, no, Jesus made it clear. 32:21.629 --> 32:24.373 [SPEAKER_00]: That's such a beautiful example, Sarah, of what you share that story. 32:24.454 --> 32:26.396 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus did it tell his disciples. 32:26.417 --> 32:26.717 [SPEAKER_00]: He had one. 32:26.757 --> 32:34.849 [SPEAKER_00]: You guys to go wash each other's nasty feet and serve Jesus, set the example because he wasn't the exception. 32:35.430 --> 32:48.884 [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that is really at the heart of what it means to follow Jesus is to follow His example and to never abdicate our role to continue to be the example and not the exception. 32:49.345 --> 32:50.626 [SPEAKER_00]: I think about, um, oh, 32:50.686 --> 32:57.613 [SPEAKER_00]: you know, I told our church this on Sunday that you are not the main character in your story. 32:57.953 --> 33:00.756 [SPEAKER_00]: God is the main character in your story. 33:01.096 --> 33:09.325 [SPEAKER_00]: And there are, you know, we live in a world that's profiting off of this lie that you are the most important person in the universe. 33:09.905 --> 33:19.052 [SPEAKER_00]: and your personal happiness, your, you know, personal gratification, everything, comfort, everything is about you. 33:19.252 --> 33:23.736 [SPEAKER_00]: That life actually leads to despair and brokenness. 33:23.896 --> 33:29.660 [SPEAKER_00]: Joy is actually found in recognizing that I'm not the main character in my story. 33:29.940 --> 33:30.461 [SPEAKER_00]: God is. 33:30.821 --> 33:32.022 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm a supporting role. 33:32.222 --> 33:43.969 [SPEAKER_00]: I get to live out the life that God has created for me and called me into, and that's the one that actually won't lead to despair, but will lead to joy, even in the most difficult circumstances. 33:44.269 --> 33:48.251 [SPEAKER_00]: Our junior high pastor, Nick Beren, got to give him a shout out at our church. 33:48.632 --> 33:58.798 [SPEAKER_00]: He recently told the junior high students in our ministry that the way you can experience joy is by following the acronym joy, Jesus. 33:59.198 --> 34:02.000 [SPEAKER_00]: for J, others owe you for why. 34:02.301 --> 34:03.302 [SPEAKER_00]: So how do you have joy? 34:03.522 --> 34:05.603 [SPEAKER_00]: You put Jesus first, then others. 34:05.924 --> 34:11.949 [SPEAKER_00]: Then of course, you take care of your needs and think about yourself and and God wants you to enjoy the life that He's giving you to live. 34:12.249 --> 34:14.951 [SPEAKER_00]: But we sometimes get that in reverse. 34:15.152 --> 34:17.594 [SPEAKER_00]: And so that would be my hope and desire. 34:17.614 --> 34:21.997 [SPEAKER_00]: And I believe so many Christian parents out there and churches are already doing this so well. 34:22.318 --> 34:23.999 [SPEAKER_00]: And so we just want to encourage you to keep it up. 34:24.640 --> 34:26.261 [SPEAKER_00]: It's, it's, I think, the best way. 34:26.401 --> 34:30.485 [SPEAKER_02]: I think that last little bit there, it was so powerful and so good. 34:30.525 --> 34:35.590 [SPEAKER_02]: And if there's nothing else that you remember from this conversation is just joy, Jesus, others, yourself. 34:35.670 --> 34:38.412 [SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's so great because it's so easy to teach our kids to. 34:38.473 --> 34:45.139 [SPEAKER_02]: Like you can start teaching your kids that when they're, getty-bitty and probably have to keep reminding us as they get to people turn foot. 34:45.279 --> 34:49.183 [SPEAKER_00]: Because I mean, you remind me, I don't get it easily as I forget that. 34:49.705 --> 34:52.766 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I love that you guys thank you so much for being here. 34:52.966 --> 35:00.008 [SPEAKER_02]: It is so good to hear all of your wisdom and everything that the Lord is teaching you and working on your own family. 35:00.028 --> 35:03.229 [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for being so vulnerable and for just talking with us today. 35:03.409 --> 35:06.189 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, we have loved it and secretly the secret is death. 35:06.209 --> 35:08.110 [SPEAKER_00]: We've just learned all this stuff from you and Trevor. 35:08.270 --> 35:15.072 [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so we're we've just stolen all of your nuggets that we're from in brilliance and just applied it to our family. 35:15.212 --> 35:16.952 [SPEAKER_02]: Well, it's not true, but I appreciate it. 35:17.192 --> 35:18.833 [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you guys so much for being here. 35:22.256 --> 35:23.957 [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for being here. 35:24.017 --> 35:29.280 [SPEAKER_02]: I really loved that conversation and I love their reminder that our kids aren't just the future of the church. 35:29.360 --> 35:31.841 [SPEAKER_02]: They are part of the church right now. 35:32.481 --> 35:35.683 [SPEAKER_02]: One of my favorite takeaways was Eric and Sarah's family model be a blessing. 35:35.803 --> 35:41.706 [SPEAKER_02]: I can attest that I have heard them say this so many times to them every time they leave with a babysitter or drop them off somewhere. 35:42.326 --> 35:44.007 [SPEAKER_02]: They really do use it and it is just such a 35:46.688 --> 35:51.311 [SPEAKER_02]: outside themselves and ask how can God use me right here and right now. 35:51.371 --> 35:55.915 [SPEAKER_02]: And I also really love that joy acronym, Jesus, others, yourself. 35:56.355 --> 36:06.162 [SPEAKER_02]: In the culture constantly telling your kids that they are the center of the story, serving reminds them that God is the main character and we get the privilege of joining him in what he's doing. 36:06.953 --> 36:08.975 [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much again for being here. 36:09.295 --> 36:10.497 [SPEAKER_02]: May God bless you this week. 36:10.577 --> 36:13.820 [SPEAKER_02]: May you and your kids know that God has created you with purpose. 36:14.381 --> 36:22.109 [SPEAKER_02]: May you discover the joy that comes from putting others before yourselves and may your kids grow up knowing that they simply don't go to church, they belong to church.