Church and Family Life Podcast

Michael grew up in a rough household. Most nights, he heard his parents fight, and on more than one occasion, he covered his father’s sleeping body up on the sidewalk near their home after a drunken bout. Pent up anger led Michael to disruptive outbursts at school, prompting his mom to ship him to live with his grandmother, a tough German woman who survived the Dresden firebombings in WWII.  From her rural country farmhouse, she taught him structure and discipline, yet still he struggled till God saved him at a Christian basketball tournament at age 17. Michael met his future wife Emily at a Bible study, and they’ve been blessed with 22 years of marriage and 9 children together. Author of It’s Good to Be a Man, he currently serves as lead pastor of East River Church in Batavia, Ohio. 

What Bible verses do feminists most hate? 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 are near the top: “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.” Hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm explain the wisdom of God’s command—it prompts husbands and wives to grow together, as they wrestle through matters of theology. By asking your husband hard questions at home, it requires him to lead, which affirms God’s order and promotes unity in the marriage bond. 

What are you doing to evangelize the lost? The truth is, the crushing need of all of humanity is for a Savior. Whether you’re “nice” and well-to-do or living in the slums, your only hope from the just wrath of God is through the Gospel, which “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). In this podcast, hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm discuss the need, scope, and motives for evangelism with pastor Rob Ventura—and how Christians can prepare themselves to share the Gospel, the focus of Ventura’s new book, Equipped to Evangelize.

Not every son will become an elder, but the requirements for this office (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) give a great benchmark for every father to strive for as they train their boys. Hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm discuss the essence of these qualities with Alexander Strauch. Their summary: All fall into three main categories: (1) evidence of mature Christian character; (2) the ability to manage a household well; (3) and aptness to teach—all targets which sons should be trained to hit as they enter manhood. These qualifications, along with the Book of Proverbs, form a tried-and-try manual for raising boys. 

What makes a good elder’s wife? Thankfully, we’re not left to wonder—as she “must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things” (1 Tim. 3:11). In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm welcome guest Alexander Strauch to break down these four elements. Strauch explains that an elder’s wife must, first, be worthy of respect. Second, she must not hurt others through loose or malicious talk. Third, she must be characterized by sound and stable judgment. And, finally, like the Proverbs 31 woman, she must show herself faithful in all her pursuits (Prov. 31:11). Perfection is not the standard—yet these qualities are what’s needed in an elder’s helpmeet. 

Over the last century, feminism has radically reshaped how the family, church, and state are led. While God’s Word calls on men to helm these spheres, even churches in more “conservative” denominations have compromised, allowing women to take on public roles not condoned in Scripture. Professing Christians have also slid from God’s standards in how they approach authority in the home and civil realm. In this podcast, hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by author Zachary Garris, survey this checkered landscape in light of the Reformers’ testimony. Their charge: rather than bow to the prevailing culture, men and women should buck this trend and joyfully embrace their God-given roles. 

You’ve heard the mantra—men, today, need “to get in touch with their feminine side.” But this is utter nonsense. In this podcast, hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by Carlton McLeod, declare the Scripture’s call for men to “act like men” and “be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). This doesn’t mean that males are to show no emotion—as Jesus wept (John 11:35), and we’re all charged to be “tenderhearted” to one another (Eph. 4:32). But men aren’t to cow in fear and give way to their emotions. When storms come, they’re to guide their families with calm judgment and bravely lead. 

Men are called by God to labor. Yet the uncertainty of financial markets, as well as the idolization of wealth, can prod men to fretfully toil beyond what is wise. What’s the answer to the problem? In this podcast, hosts Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by Carlton McLeod, turn to Psalm 127 for direction: Don’t fear the economy, but trust God, work with purpose, and sleep well. View your children, not your bank account, as your greatest asset. Instead of laboring in vain, look to God to build your house. 

When push comes to shove, who’s really shaping you in your walk with God? Sadly, most Christians today have “ten thousand instructors,” as Paul wrote, “but not many . . . fathers” (1 Cor. 4:15). The truth is, it’s far easier to look to popular podcasters to guide us, rather than seeking out the interpersonal influence of godly mentors as personal shepherds. But that’s not what the Scriptures prescribe. In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Bill Roach, give this earnest charge—stop stoking superficial manhood and womanhood through man caves and social media chatter, but seek out faithful shepherds who will spur you on to godly living. 

In today’s world, families rarely eat together. Yet this is a far cry from the biblical model, which pictures family mealtime as a blessing, describing “children like olive plants all around [one’s] table” (Ps. 128:3). In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Bill Roach, give ten reasons families should eat together daily: (1) it solidifies family culture; (2) it creates a rhythmic predictability about life; (3) it gets you off the Internet with real people; (4) it facilitates family joy; (5) it creates stories; (6) it surfaces problems; (7) it covers the news and world events; (8) it transmits values; (9) it cultivates belonging; and (10), it is generationally balanced.   So don’t let life’s distractions keep you from the family table—make eating together, each day, a top priority!