

Mama Bear Apologetics
Hillary Morgan Ferrer & Amy Davison
Mama Bear Apologetics is a podcast for mothers of biological, adopted, or spiritual children who want to learn about how to defend the Christian faith, help give their children reasons for faith, and understand the worldviews that challenge Christian faith in the first place.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 16, 2024 • 37min
Episode 102: ROAR'ing Through The He Gets Us Campaign
In this episode, they analyze the He Gets Us Super Bowl commercial using their ROAR method to discern truth from false narratives. They discuss the importance of guiding children in media consumption and maintaining biblical truth in the face of societal pressures. The chapter descriptions cover topics like humility, discerning truth, and navigating difficult conversations about faith.

Apr 2, 2024 • 49min
Episode 101. What Bible Translation Should I Use?
In this episode of Mama Bear Apologetics, we discuss all things bible translations — Formal, Functional, and Optimal. We also explore the difference between a translations and paraphrases. We delve into the historical sacrifices made by early translators to bring the Bible into the English language and offer guidance on choosing translations that foster faith and understanding, especially for children and new believers.We dissect the balance between literal accuracy and readability, as well as the pros and cons of each type of translation or paraphrase. And we also address the much asked question "What translation do we use at Mama Bear Apologetics?" Finally, we address the "KJV Only" movement — what is it, how should we approach it, and what is the historical context that should come to bear on the topic. This episode invites listeners to broaden their understanding of bible translations and their historical context so that the power and clarity of God's word is not lost in translation.Main Points CoveredHow did we get our translations?Broad categories for translation typesTranslations vs ParaphraseWhat are the pros and cons of each?What to consider in buying a bible for your KidsShould you only read the KJV translation?People and Resources People and Resources MentionedBiblia Hebraica StuttgartensiaLeningrad CodexAleppo CodexUnited Bible Societies Greek NTNovum Testament GraeceUnfamiliar VocabularyFormal Equivalence (Literal Equivalence) Translations: Word for Word as much as possible. This translation seeks to find an English equivalent word for every Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic word.Functional Equivalence (Dynamic Equivalence) Translations: Though for thought as much as possible. This translations translates a phrase as a whole and is not as concerned with preserving the exact same number of words or equivalent grammatical constructions.Optimal Equivalence: This is a blend of both Formal and Functional translation styles. This form uses word for word translation where possible, but switches to thought/phrase whenever the meaning isn’t clear.Paraphrase: This is not a true translation, but rather a retelling of Scripture based on original texts and/or modern translations. It often uses the most common modern idioms.Thanks to Our SponsorsThis episode is made possible in part by the support of Summit Ministries. Our hope, like yours, is that your children will grow up to develop an unshakeable faith, to be followers of Jesus Christ and live out His call on their lives in a way that brings God’s glory and flourishing. That's one of the reasons we love Summit. Summit takes biblical worldview training and makes it seriously fun. If you have a child between the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, send them to a two week conference in Colorado or Georgia this summer. Save $200 when you use the code ROAR24–and another $200 if you register before March 31st. Register today at summit.org/roar/

Mar 19, 2024 • 39min
Episode 100. New Book: Honest Prayers for Mama Bears
SummaryEvery mother's prayer journey is unique, yet bound by a common thread of seeking God's guidance through the chaos and beauty of raising children. Julie and Hillary, walk through the pages of "Honest Prayers for Mama Bears," a new book birthed from the depths of maternal hearts and a collaboration that spans the nation. We reveal the sometimes raw, unpolished dialogues with God that range from the humorous pleas of wanting to use the bathroom in peace to the heartfelt petitions of a mother facing a miscarriage.Hillary and Julie, alongside voices from the Mama Bear community, crafted a tapestry of prayers that we hope speaks to the soul of motherhood. Our conversation takes you behind the scenes of this unique creative process, emphasizing the importance of authenticity as we addressed delicate subjects like addiction and family dynamics. Poring over every word, we ensured that our prayers resonated with truth and relevance, offering a lifeline of hope and solidarity for mothers everywhere.As we share personal insights and practical tips for integrating prayer into the daily grind, "Honest Prayers for Mama Bears" is more than just a book—it's a spiritual companion for every season of motherhood. From fill-in-the-blank prompts to theological expertise, we've poured into this project with a shared goal: to empower mothers to foster honest, heartfelt communication with God, and to support one another as we navigate this transformative journey called motherhood. We hope it blesses you!Pre-order the book now at mamabearapologetics.com/bookMain Points CoveredWhy did we write this book?The difference between Honest and Shallow prayers.Creating a collective voice from momsPrayer book creation processHow to use this bookHonest journalingOur favorite, most convicting and hardest to write prayersPeople and Resources MentionedEvery Moment Holy - Douglas McKelvieHonest Prayers for Mama BearsThanks to Our SponsorsThis episode is made possible in part by the support of Summit Ministries. Our hope, like yours, is that your children will grow up to develop an unshakeable faith, to be followers of Jesus Christ and live out His call on their lives in a way that brings God’s glory and flourishing. That's one of the reasons we love Summit. Summit takes biblical worldview training and makes it seriously fun. If you have a child between the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, send them to a two week conference in Colorado or Georgia this summer. Learn more at summit.org/roar/. Save $200 when you use the code ROAR24–and another $200 if you register before March 31st. Register today at summit.org/roar/Quotable Quotes“I think sometimes learning how to do honest prayers often starts with shallow prayers. And so I just want to give mom's permission to pray the shallow prayers, if that's where you are starting." - Hillary Morgan Ferrer"We made it. We're not saying it's perfect, but... our heart's desire was to make sure that these prayers were Theologically sound." - Hillary Morgan Ferrer"I know I thought back on what were some of the times that really drove me to prayer, maybe as a younger mom, as a mom of a teenager, and then even now. I had some opportunities to write some prayers that maybe approach more being a mom of an adult child too, because that's a whole other season there." - Julie Loos

7 snips
Mar 5, 2024 • 43min
Episode 99: How Christianity Changed the World for the Better.
Dr. Jeff Myers from Summit Ministries discusses how Christianity has positively impacted science, justice, and compassion. They debunk myths about Christianity's role in scientific progress and highlight the Christian legacy in adoption, healthcare, and social justice. The podcast emphasizes empowering children with critical thinking skills and showcases the Christian influence in art, science, politics, and education.

Feb 20, 2024 • 39min
Episode 98: Crash Course in the Enneagram
Amy and Alexa dive into the Enneagram's impact on faith, family, and identity, questioning its ability to reveal our 'true self'. They dissect its susceptibility to manipulation and its potential ties to New Age beliefs, urging critical evaluation. The discussion delves into its historical origins and controversial connections, highlighting concerns about its influence on Christian beliefs and morality.

Feb 6, 2024 • 35min
Episode 97: The Four Types of Love and Why Our Kids Need to Understand Them
Exploring the four types of love - Agape, Storge, Phileo, Eros - and the importance of understanding their distinctions to avoid confusion. Discussing how culture distorts these loves, impacting children's perceptions. Providing examples from literature and movies to illustrate each type of love and suggesting resources for teaching kids about these concepts.

Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 7min
Episode 96. How to Discuss Pro-Life Arguments with Friends and Family
Summary The hardest conversations to have often aren’t with strangers, but with our own family, especially when it comes to hot-button issues like a woman’s right to an elective abortion. In this podcast, mama bear Jennifer DeFrates chats with host Amy Davison on how to speak with truth and grace on the subject of abortion […]
The post Episode 96. How to Discuss Pro-Life Arguments with Friends and Family appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

Jan 10, 2024 • 40min
Episode 95. Family-Focused Resolutions for 2024
Summary In this impromptu podcast, Hillary and Amy wished the Mama Bears a Happy New Year and a challenge: to focus on discipling the home in spiritual faithfulness. In the past 5 years a focused attack has been waged on societal unity and the sanctity of the home. Secular culture has focused on vilifying the […]
The post Episode 95. Family-Focused Resolutions for 2024 appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

Dec 24, 2023 • 25min
Episode 94. Advent 4: The Theology of Hark the Herald Angels Sing
This is the third podcast in our Advent 2023 series. Did you miss the third one about “Joy to the World”? You can watch it here. Summary As we close out the season of advent, we reflect upon the theme of love. Acts of love quickly come to mind at Christmas in the form of […]
The post Episode 94. Advent 4: The Theology of Hark the Herald Angels Sing appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

Dec 17, 2023 • 24min
Episode 93. Advent 3: The Theology of Joy to the World
This is the third podcast in our Advent 2023 series. Did you miss the second one about “O Holy Night”? You can watch it here. Summary If there’s one word that can sum up the Christmas season it’s joy! But while the world offers superficial excitement over presents or food, Christians have ultimate joy in […]
The post Episode 93. Advent 3: The Theology of Joy to the World appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.