God commands His people to be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). This is one way we show Christian love, as we fellowship and break bread with one another. We must view our homes, then, not just as a place for personal retreat, but as a hub for evangelism, discipleship, and personal ministry. In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by Gil Arterburn and his daughter Summer, discuss the joys of hospitality as well as common barriers that often hinder families from opening up their homes. Many fail to practice hospitality because they think their resources are not “good enough.” Yet you don’t need a big home or a fancy steak dinner to be hospitable. Giving of what you have, in a spirit of love, is all you need to encourage others in the Lord.

Membership in a local church involves more than just signing a card and occasionally showing up for a Sunday service. God’s Word gives particular duties that church members are to uphold toward their church leadership, fellow members, as well to their own respective families. But just what are these responsibilities?  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Trent Moody, answer the question, outlining the top ten duties of church members.  One, work and pray for the unity of the spirit. Two, seek the salvation of the different groups of people you relate to—those in our families, communities, and workplaces. Three, submit to your church leaders as they are faithful to Christ. Four, contribute cheerfully and regularly to the church. Five, faithfully assemble with your local church. Six, maintain family and private devotions. Seven, watch over each other in brotherly love. Eight, don’t practice things which jeopardize your own faith or another’s faith. Nine, be slow to take offense. And, ten, submit to biblically-defined church discipline.

Robert grew up as an only child in the small town of Beckley, West Virginia. Though his father never had much money, he had a tremendous work ethic and taught Robert the value of hard work. This said, his dad had no interest in the things of God, while his mom possessed a simple faith in Christ and took her son to a local country church. Entering his teens, Robert professed faith and was baptized at age 14. Yet, deep down, he had no change of heart.  Joining the Air Force at 18, Robert served four years as an intelligence analyst. During this stint, he and a good friend began discussing various religions, and Robert shared what he knew of the Bible with him. In God’s providence, his friend became a true believer, and God used his friend’s testimony to later bring Robert to true faith, as he was confronted with what sin is and his need for real repentance. Impassioned to share the gospel, Robert met his wife through street preaching. Married to Andrea since 2012, he is currently pursuing a MA in Theological Studies at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.

When it comes to having tough conversations with a spouse, friend, fellow believer, or co-worker, some are willing to sail right into the storm and throw everything on the table. Others, by contrast, are terrified in approaching any discussion that’s remotely uncomfortable. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, God’s Word gives clear principles to guide our hearts and words as we prepare for difficult talks.    In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason, joined by guest Taylor Tsantles, discuss these principles. The first is to love sincerely from the heart. We should strive to have this relationship equity with others, even before challenges arise. This will help smooth the way when tough conversations are necessary, because they know we care about them as a person. The second is to avoid harmful communication patterns such as using harsh words or tones, refusing to listen, and trying to force outcomes. We should instead be filled with the Spirit and be on a mission to bless—even when sharing hard truths.

In the last half of the 20th century, the singing of the Psalms hardly existed in the evangelical church. But Psalm-singing has made a resurgence. Why is this? It’s happened as increasingly more Christians and local churches have embraced the sufficiency of Scripture, recognizing that God has given His people an inspired hymnal of 150 psalms.    In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Scott Aniol, discuss this encouraging trend. There’s great value, they explain, in learning and singing the entire book of Psalms. As with expository preaching, this practice forces us to sing about themes we may not need in the moment, but we do need for shoring up our souls for the entire Christian life. Learning the full breadth of the Psalms will form our hearts to repentance, trust, thanks, and praise—giving us the posture that’s needed for every experience we face as Christians.

As Christians, we’re not free to dress as we please. Because we’ve been “bought at a price” we’re to “glorify God in [our bodies]” (1 Cor. 6:20). We learn this lesson from our first parents. Adam and Eve dressed their own way by covering their loins with fig leaves. Yet God viewed their effort as inadequate and designed more substantial clothing, using skins from a dead animal. The doctrine of clothing thus points to the substitutionary atonement of Christ:  He removes our filthy garments and replaces them with robes of righteousness.    In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Jeff Pollard, break down the doctrine of clothing, explaining that it’s about far more than modesty.  If Christ has purchased us with His blood, how we dress matters. To paraphrase Abraham Kuyper, “There is not one square inch [of our clothing] over which Christ . . . does not cry, ‘Mine!’” Ultimately, our clothing isn’t about us and what we like. It’s about giving ourselves to the Lord to bring glory to Him in how dress.

God ordained music not merely to convey particular moods, but to form our affections after His Word. As Christians, we’re to teach and admonish “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). This is a non-optional mandate. But how does a dad, with no musical background, cultivate music in his home? How can the local church foster robust singing in the congregation?    In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Scott Aniol, discuss how to create a culture of music in the home and church. For dads who lack experience, they encourage investing in a good set of hymnals and using the SingYourPart app and relevant online videos to bolster the process. For churches, they explain that the human voice, not musical accompaniment, should be the prominent feature in corporate worship. Be it at home or church, the voice of God’s people should joyfully sing forth His praises.

For 35 years, Alexander Strauch’s book, Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, has been the premier book explaining the biblical teaching on church eldership, which is shared pastoral leadership by a council of scripturally-qualified elders. Theologically sound and eminently practical, Alex’s book helped ignite a worldwide awakening to this long-neglected and misunderstood subject.    In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm welcome Alex to discuss his completely revised edition of his classic work. The new version, titled Biblical Eldership: Restoring the Eldership to Its Rightful Place in the Local Church, features a word-for-word exposition of all the key biblical texts on eldership—as the original—yet offers a new chapter, “Making Pastoral Eldership Work,” as well as a more developed discussion on the full parity—yet functional diversity—of elders within a local church.

In a recent MacArthur Center for Expository Preaching podcast titled “John MacArthur Is My Youth Pastor,” Austin Duncan raised objections to the family-integrated church movement. Duncan, who serves as College Pastor for Grace Community Church as well as Director of the MacArthur Center, cited a “friendly argument” with Voddie Baucham on the matter while lodging numerous criticisms of the family-integrated model.   But is Duncan’s critique correct? In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm address his objections, point by point. They express high regard for the teaching ministry of John MacArthur and agree with some of Duncan’s concerns while also refuting numerous mischaracterizations. Resting their case on the sufficiency of Scripture, they maintain that the structure of the church and family should reflect the structure revealed in the Bible alone.    Podcast Related Links: Is The Church A Family of Families? By Scott Brown Some Answers For Critics by Scott Brown The Forgotten Mission Field Of The Family by Voddie Baucham Other Resources by Voddie Baucham

How should a young man prepare for marriage? In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm address this question with special guest Hayden Ford who was married a year ago. Hayden credits his parents’ commitment to teach God’s Word daily and to model a godly husband-wife relationship in the home as giving him a great foundation in preparing him for marriage—but young men need more than this to be ready.    Key lessons from Hayden: Be disciplined students of the Scriptures yourselves, learning God’s attributes and knowing what His Word says about the important issues of life. Purpose to have a consistent income and ample savings. Honor the authorities God has placed in your life, humbly getting their opinion on your readiness for matrimony. And stop seeking marriage as your driving aim, but strive to be more like Christ each day.

The Scripture’s witness is clear—we’re to joyfully bring our children into the public worship of God. Yet this blessed opportunity is not without challenge, especially for the young who are prone to distraction. So how should parents prepare their little ones for the meeting of the church?  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by their wives Deborah and Janet, share practical tips on how to go about this. Drawing from personal experience, they counsel dads to take the lead in training their kids to be attentive through family devotions in the home, and for moms to have clothes and other necessities laid out ahead of time to smooth the way for Sunday worship. Other advice they give: Don’t let your children resort to “playtime” when you take them out for correction or other needs, but seek to grow their affections for the blessings of the worship service.

Since ChatGPT launched last year, AI has dominated headlines, with its great benefits and real abuses being hotly debated worldwide. Without question, AI is poised to transform how governments, companies, ministries, and individuals manage information and engage in problem-solving. But how should Christians respond to this emerging technology?  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by Church and Family Life Technical Lead Colton Neifert, explain how technology, at its core, is a means to do things more efficiently, which Christians should welcome, when used rightly, as a means for godly dominion. Though AI can be harnessed for evil, Colton explains the exciting new ways that Church & Family Life has employed AI to offer thousands of new online resources to build up Christians, as well as new innovative tools that churches on the FIC Network can use to encourage their congregations.

Singing is one of the glorious gifts of the church. It draws you into the beauty of the kingdom and the power and truth of God. If this is true, what are you as parents doing to teach your children to sing and prepare them for corporate worship?  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm offer five key scriptural insights highlighted in the book, The Family at Church: Teach your children to sing (1) to teach others God’s Word and (2) to admonish one another; and teach them to sing (3) to God personally, (4) to the unconverted, and (5) to their own souls. Rather than view singing as an option, parents should guide their children to joyfully obey God’s command: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

Should Christians make “New Year’s Resolutions?” The answer is “yes,” as believers are under a Divine order to “excel still more” (1 Thess. 4:1, NASB)—to “be fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10) and to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).   But why do most fall short of their yearly resolutions? In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Mat Dewing, attack the problem head on. They explain the need to make resolutions that matter and are “SMART”—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-specific. And if you have a bad day or week? Persevere, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 2:3-4).

What’s your reading plan for 2024? The Bible should come first, above all other books, for God’s Word makes wise the simple. It rejoices the heart. It converts the soul. It’s a true and unchanging witness that is sufficient for all of our needs. As such, it should take precedent in our personal study, as well as in what we read aloud to our families.  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by Church and Family Life Technical Lead Colton Neifert, discuss Journey Through the Bible. This daily Bible reading plan began as a book, but is now available as an app you can take with you anywhere. Great for personal study and family worship, it includes a daily Scripture reading, so you can read the Bible in a year. But there’s much more! For each book of the Bible: (1) read the outline and overview; (2) listen to the summary audio message; (3) sing a hymn on the theme; (4) ask important study questions; (5) memorize key verses; and (6) learn top 5 facts to remember. As you start 2024, read God’s Word and saturate your family with it!  Learn more and download The Journey Through the Bible app here.

Time is a precious gift of God. But what are Christians doing with this valuable asset? Are they using their time to promote their own self-interests or wisely investing it for the glory of Christ?   In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm are joined by data analyst Drew Davis, who shares his research on how people use their time. The trends are disturbing. The average American, for example, spends 2 ½ hours a day consuming television and radio—not to mention their time on their phone and tablets. And young people entering adulthood are playing more than working at an increasingly higher rate. Rather than squander time, their charge to believers is this: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Young people struggle with the same dangerous pitfalls in every generation. They’re typically full of zeal but lack wisdom and consistency. They view the advice of their elders as backwards and prefer the opinions of their peers. Though technology and cultures change, these same errors ensnare the young, over and over again.  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm call out the key traps so common to youth and urge them to follow the path of true wisdom. Their counsel is to the point: Understand the devastation of sin and don’t dally with it. Kill envy between brothers and sisters. Be careful who your friends are. Don’t hand influence to worldly peers or pop stars. Listen to the counsel of wiser older people, instead. Drawing insights from such authors as Matthew Henry and Charles Spurgeon (as collected in the book, The Theology of the Family), Scott and Jason seek to fortify the young by pointing them to the sure path found in God’s Word.

How do you discern whether a child is a Christian based on his profession of faith to you or to a pastor during a baptism interview? Are they coming forward for baptism to please their parents and to follow what they’ve seen others do—or is their genuine contrition for sin and true belief?   In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Trent Moody, tackle these thorny questions. They maintain that being born again is more than mental assent to certain Gospel truths; it comes to a heart who knows the weight of sin, a heart that beats with fervent faith that the Savior has washed him clean from his corruption. And it comes with a cost: The child’s allegiance must be to Christ first, even above their own family. Their deepest affection must be to the things of God and His Word.

In every generation, the relationship between the law and the gospel is fiercely debated, as if the two are at odds with one another. We’re under grace now, not law, some claim, while others pridefully parade their law-keeping, believing it merits their salvation. Neither position is correct.  In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm cut through the confusion and show how law and gospel work together for our good. The law, they explain, is a reflection of who God is in all His moral perfections, so to argue that it’s now abrogated is an affront to His eternal character. Because no man can perfectly keep the law, it therefore drives sinners to the Gospel, as Christ bore the curse of the law as the only perfect lawkeeper, making the way for salvation. Once redeemed, the Christian should strive to grow more in God’s likeness each day and joyfully exclaim, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97).

Thanksgiving, as a yearly celebration, has all but been canceled in today’s culture, with stores transitioning directly from Halloween to Christmas. It’s as if the story of our Pilgrim forefathers doesn’t matter. And where it is acknowledged, it is dubbed a “day of mourning” by Leftists who loathe the Christian heritage of the small band of believers who settled Plymouth in 1620.     In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guests Steve Hopkins and Gill Arterburn, urge listeners to make Thanksgiving great again. They suggest that families engage in special readings, with excerpts from the Pilgrims and Psalms, sing period songs, and play fun, but meaningful games that give gratitude to God and commemorate the rich legacy of the Pilgrims. Learn from their inspiring Thanksgiving celebrations as you plan your day together with your family.     Click here to read Scott Brown’s “Fifteen Tips for Celebrating Thanksgiving Day.”     Click here to read Steve Hopkins’ “History of the Pilgrims.”