Discipleship for Dads with Kevin, Todd, Bill and Daniel

How do you raise children who still want to be around you when they’re grown? Kevin Swanson, Danny Craig, and Bill Roach start with 1 John 4. Your kids learn love from a father who has received God’s love himself.
The three of them admit where they’ve failed. Kevin spent far more time with his son than with his daughters. Bill played referee instead of listening. Danny catches himself treating his kids as an inconvenience to “the kingdom of Dad.” 

They also talk about what helped: praying with each child, apologizing to their wives in front of th...

Jesus wants you to love and serve your wife today, and it’s easy to get into a holding pattern THINKING you’re doing that. But when the chips come down, how well are you REALLY doing?

Kevin Swanson, Bill Roach, and Daniel Craig talk about the upward call of loving your wife better every day, and especially supporting her through her own struggles. They discuss…

- How to stop being oblivious to your wife’s struggles – including the one question to ask that will open your eyes to what the real problems are in your marri...

Homeschooling can be chaotic, and it’s easy to let the big things slip sometimes. But…what ARE the big things?

Kevin Swanson sits down with Daniel Craig and Bill Roach to discover what God says parents absolutely MUST teach their kids…

- The real place of academics, and why music is actually more important than math
- The fear of the Lord, without which any other knowledge is impossible
- Knowing, believing, and living the Word in obedience
- Loving the brothers we can see, so we can love the God we can...

Your family schedule is a statement about what matters most in your life. God has given us a tremendous gift in time – and everyone uses it for the things they believe to be the most important. 

Kevin Swanson, Todd Strawser, and Danny Craig talk about how to evaluate your schedule, and what it says about your goals, your objectives, and your reason for living. They discuss:

- Is “me time” a Christian idea, and if not, does that mean we can never have time alone?
- How much time should you spend on your own pro...

Sunday morning shouldn't feel like survival. In this episode of Discipleship for Dads, Kevin Swanson, Todd Strawser, Bill Roach, and Danny Craig talk through how to actually help your children engage in corporate worship — not endure it.
Their conviction is simple: kids belong in the service, sitting under the preached Word alongside the whole body of Christ. But how do you get a two-year-old through a two-hour service? The men get honest and practical, sharing what's worked (and flopped) in their own families over the years.

What you'll hear:

• Why worship is a 3-day expe...

What do you do if you started raising your kids with “gentle parenting,” and only just discovered what biblical discipline looks like?

How should you start administering the rod with a child who has never experienced it before? 

Kevin Swanson, Todd Strawser, and Bill Roach draw on scripture and extensive experience to answer this question from a listener. They talk about wisely navigating adjustments like this, and the deeper principles of discipleship that help you emulate the Father in your fathering.

- The importance of slow and humble changes, confessing that you didn’t have...

Your phone might be the biggest discipleship battle in your home - and you don't even realize it.

In this episode of Discipleship for Dads, Kevin Swanson, Todd Strawser, and Danny Craig put their phones down long enough to ask the hard question: what is that little screen actually doing to your walk with God and your relationship with your family?

They dig into the heart behind the habit - diversion, escapism, the "tyranny of the urgent," FOMO, and the love of pleasure over the love of God - and open the Word to find...

As dad, you’re the tip of the spear in the spiritual battle for your family. The dads talk about their own experiences in spiritual warfare, including examples from their own lives. They discuss how to prepare for spiritual attack…discerning and identifying demons at work…knowing the difference between fleshly responses and demonic influence…what it looks like to resist the devil…and how to avoid things that invite demonic influence into your home.

Some homes raise kids under a list of man-made rules — others let anything go. Both are a form of rebellion against God. The dads discuss how fathers can set biblical standards for movies, music, and modesty in the home without sliding into either ditch, and why the motive behind a standard matters as much as the standard itself.

The dads discuss the difficult process of preserving and growing your relationship with kids who are leaving for marriage – rather than stepping back too far or holding on too tight. They talk about how parents can keep from saying too much – or too little – while appropriately backing off…the proper alternative to feeling that you’re “losing a child”…and how they have personally navigated these difficult but blessed times.

Is it normal for children to fight on a daily basis over stupid things like who sits in the middle seat of the car? Why do things keep getting worse, even with constant correction? The dads address this ubiquitous issue, and talk about “pulling the weeds early and often”…use of the rod…why “stop it” isn’t enough…how to encourage good behavior rather than just quelling fights…and how they discipled their children through these issues.

Is it still possible to pay off a house before you’re 30? If so, how can we support our children toward this goal? The dads talk about how young men they know have achieved this – and what biblical principles laid the foundation. They discuss the connection between obedience and diligence…whether childhood is for playing…focusing on productive skills like carpentry, rather than football…and ultimately, seeing our work as participation in God’s own building.

Many men compulsively side with women, whether they’re right or wrong. But we should be more jealous for God’s honor than women’s, and more fearful of what He thinks. The dads talk about the white knight mentality, and ask: don’t women deserve special honor? How biblical is “happy wife, happy life?” Can you really keep the peace without obedience to the gospel of peace? And what should you do if there’s a tug-of-war for control in your marriage?

We are to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord – but what are the basics of doing this? The dads talk about their own practices: the place of family worship…what they’ve learned about sanctification taking place in daily activities…which books of the Bible they focus on most…how to instill doctrine systematically while keeping it relevant to life…helping kids deal with opposing worldviews…and making the home safe for questioning.

Scripture treats complaining and ingratitude with immense gravity. But how do we teach a whiny six year old about the eternal ramifications of discontentment? The dads talk about modeling gratitude and joyfulness, rather than self-pity and criticism…some of the biggest causes of ingratitude and grumbling in a family…how to lovingly and consistently correct complaining…and the strategies that have helped them the most to create a thankful spirit in their homes.

Women offer their bodies as living sacrifices to bring forth children. Being pregnant doesn’t give them a pass to sin – but it does require an extra measure of grace. How can we provide this, and minister to their weakness in an understanding way? The dads talk about preparing for childbirth emotionally, spiritually, and physically…taking hormonal changes and depression seriously…being steady without being detached…and nurturing your wife with the help of God’s Word.

In this follow-up to last week's program about navigating spritual crises of faith, the dads talk about what to do when your child has already abandoned the faith. They discuss how this is one of the most painful trials a Christian can face...what loving the apostate child looks like...and why a father's trust in God may speak louder than anything else.

There’s no greater joy to see your kids walking in the truth; no greater sorrow to see them abandon it. Yet 66% of 20 year olds will abandon the churches of their teen years. What contributes to this? What can dads do to prevent it? What are the safety nets we can put in place…how can we cultivate openness in our kids…how can we set boundaries and avoid bad influences…how do we effectively nurture and disciple?

When in-laws criticize and undermine your parenting choices, what do you do? When trying to reason together just creates contention, how should you respond? When a mother-in-law shows interest in only the grandchildren she likes and ignores the others, what is the right course? The dads discuss biblical strategies, and assess cutting off contact…whether “boundaries” are biblical…what the role of the church is…and a smart tactic for honoring bad in-laws.

The dads discuss fiery trials, and what has God taught them through these. They talk about long-term grinding down vs sudden crushing…the value of being forced to wait on the promises of God…how responding to bad news without complaint powerfully proves the faith to your kids…and the great balm of the psalms for the pain of asking, “Is God being good to me right now?”

The dads discuss sheltering kids from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—while still living in the world. They ask whether you can ever over-protect your kids, talking about how to help them discern good from bad…the value of family-integrated entertainment…trying to achieve holiness by subtraction rather than encouraging good appetites…and swimming with your kids instead of throwing them in the deep end.

Comparison parenting is everywhere — in the pew, the homeschool co-op, and your own head. The dads dig into why we compare spouses, children, and churches…how comparison reveals that we doubt the sufficiency of God's grace…the danger of setting expectations your family can't meet…and how to point your wife and children to the acceptance they already have in Christ.

What if your wife feels like you’re not prioritizing your family enough compared to your work—especially ministry work? The dads answer a listener question about balancing the needs of your family with the needs of the body. They discuss how your wife and children share in your calling…integrating family economy with ministry work to establish a symbiosis…being discerning about the real importance of common family activities…and how to know when you’re working too much.

The dads talk about happy marriages, and how to build them. They discuss unity of vision (rather than division that kids can exploit)…what’s more important than being “compatible”…why men don’t pray with their wives…public displays of affection…how to handle disagreements (especially in front of the kids)…delighting in each other (rather than just getting things done together)…and the number one thing to do for your wife.

Lying, anger, laziness, lust — family is a beautiful opportunity for gospel life! The panel discusses how to remain hopeful even when kids keep committing the same sins…how to confront and disciple them after the 76th time they’re caught…what to expect in terms of breakthroughs…how much mom should deal with ongoing sin…and the place of guilt, shame, and the gospel.

He who troubles his house shall inherit the wind — so a workaholic is no better than a sluggard. The panel discusses keeping it between these ditches: breaking a control-freak mindset…three warning signs of burnout…examples of how to reduce high stress levels…what it looks like to apply the Sabbath principle every Sunday…and ultimately entering the rest of the Lord, and exemplifying that rest to our children.

With the average marriage age at 29–32, the average man hooked on porn, and the average woman a feminist, it’s not easy finding godly suitors. How are we to identify them? How picky should we be? Bill and Todd share their lists of non-negotiables, and the panel discusses sending kids out in search of spouses…the dangers of “courtship” (and what to do instead)…whether chaperones are a good idea….and avoiding heartbreak.

What can you do if you have children from toddlers to teenagers, and you feel like you’re not making headway with family discipleship? What are the top issues to focus on, and strategies to follow? The panel talks about going beyond family worship…ways to find one-on-one time with lots of kids…big mistakes…the role of the church…and the best things their own parents did.

Scripture commands that we nurture our children in the admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4)—but sometimes it just doesn’t seem to work. The panel discusses the place of spanking in the training of children, asking: is it not working, or is it just taking longer than you’d like? They talk about teaching vs atonement…rebellion vs immaturity…changing behavior vs changing the heart…and alternatives to spanking that often render it unnecessary.

Proud, hypocritical spouses are sadly not unusual in Christian homes. Unsubmissive wives who refuse to attend church — or unloving husbands who refuse to lead the family. They claim Christ, but won’t follow Him. So is there anything you can you do? Can you “fix” your spouse? Is church discipline appropriate? Is it different dealing with a bad husband vs a bad wife? The panel lays out practical strategies and biblical principles.

What plans would you change if you knew you were doing to die tomorrow? Forget money — what will your children remember you for? What do you want to pass on to them in turn…and what do you NOT want to pass on? The panel talks about the inheritance they have received…the inheritance they intend to leave…how to course-correct a bad legacy…and how to bring forth an inheritance that endures.

Download the episode MP3 here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2591389/episodes/18800194-leaving-a-spiritual-inheritance-for-your-kids-discipleship-for-dads.mp3

Cowardice, people-pleasing, apathy, self-seeking — these sins are passive and easy to overlook. But when indulged, relationships dwindle, children drift, and households disintegrate. The panel discusses the pride that causes conflict-avoidance…right and wrong ways to say, “I don’t want to argue about this”….the right time to be silent or emotionally detached…and how to engage, even when it’s hard.

Your marriage should tell the story of the gospel — but irritation and busyness often drag it off course, especially once you have kids. The panel talks about practical ways to cultivate friendship and affection with your wife (both physically and emotionally)…fostering oneness and guarding intimacy…and maintaining margin for each other without neglecting work and children.

The panel discusses the classic concern: how could any child become socially and relationally mature without attending a state school? But what is socialization, defined biblically? And does state school actually teach it? The dads share practical methods for ensuring kids don’t become isolated and introverted…how they trained their kids to interact with adults and unbelievers…and five simple questions to make kids great conversationalists.

God has made Dad the principal of the homeschool…not the teacher’s assistant. But are you engaged enough to bear this level of responsibility? If not, what should you be doing? The panel talks about vision-setting and curriculum decisions…delegation vs micro-management…dealing with problems when you’re at work…assessing progress…being truly available to your wife and kids…and maintaining an upward trajectory.

When kids are young, we put ourselves between them and the world, the flesh, and the devil. But as they mature, they must learn to fight for themselves. So how can we teach our kids to face temptation — and how do we prepare them relationally to be open about such trials? The panel talks through the struggles they have observed — from lust to rebellion to self-image — plus practical strategies they have used.

The panel discusses the tricky process of children growing up while still living at home. How do you avoid being too controlling…and too permissive? What are the warning signs for a bad launch, or dysfunctional relationship in the future? How do you deal with personality conflicts? And how do you keep incorporating your kids into your household, when they are finding their own independence?

The panel lays bare the fatherhood lessons they took away from 2025 — from inching toward an empty nest and trusting God with the kids…cultivating relationships with adult children…taking care of health and numbering days when aging…developing an instinct of gratitude in trials…learning to notice and confess personal failures…practicing being kind and gentle…getting better at communication…and creating a habit of true service.

Work takes up 40–50 hours a week—so it’s shaping us and shaping our kids whether we realize it or not. What does it look like to work unto the Lord instead of working for approval, money, or reputation? How do we keep a good attitude on Monday, stay focused in a distracted age, and carry integrity when the workplace pressures compromise? The dads get practical about being a godly worker and training our sons to be the same.