Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast: Children | Youth | Students | NextGen

What stories are shaping the faith and worldview of today’s kids?In this episode, Nick sits down with Matt Markins, CEO of Awana, to talk about child discipleship, biblical worldview formation, and the core message of his new book, The Story We Tell Our Children.Matt shares his personal story, the research behind Awana’s child discipleship focus, and why churches need to move beyond “Bible-lite” teaching toward helping kids understand the full story of Scripture.They discuss:The three biggest factors that shape lasting faith in childrenWhy many churches unintentionally teach moralism instead of the gospelThe difference between teaching Bible stories and teaching the story of the BibleHow screen culture and modern media shape kids’ worldviewWhy parents and churches both play critical roles in faith formationHow Awana’s Bright curriculum approaches Scripture and discipleshipIf you care about helping kids develop resilient, lasting faith in Jesus, this conversation is packed with practical insight and theological depth.Timestamps00:00 Intro and Welcome00:24 Matt Markins’ Personal Story and Journey into Ministry03:40 How Awana Has Changed Over the Years05:20 Why Midweek Kids Ministry Is Growing Again07:15 The Three Biggest Factors That Shape Lasting Faith09:20 The Story We Tell Our Children11:00 Counterfeit Stories Shaping Today’s Kids13:10 The Role Parents and Churches Play in Faith Formation15:30 What “Bible-Light” Teaching Looks Like18:45 Moralism vs the Gospel in Kids Ministry20:00 Bible Stories vs the Story of the Bible23:15 How Much Bible Content Kids Can Actually Absorb25:35 Measuring Child Discipleship Effectiveness31:20 Can Churches Really Measure Spiritual Growth?32:20 The Vision Behind Bright Curriculum34:15 How Bright Approaches Bible Teaching and Discipleship36:10 Final Thoughts and Resources