Growing Families

This is our May Parent Lesson and our last one from Dr. Stratton.  He explains how to set goals for your family. You can use this process to plan how to continue the weekly family time you experienced in Growing Families. Parents, after you discuss your goals, bring your children into the discussion. Let them have some ownership in the goals you set as a family.

It’s May, and our theme for our final month is “A flourishing, thriving garden”. May is busy at Asbury Seminary, and this month’s spiritual practice will help you to slow down long enough to focus on God’s help and the gift of family. Don’t forget to visit the website this month for a helpful weekly breakdown of what to do each week, or you can find it in your printed curriculum.

This is our April Parent Lesson. Dr. Russell Hall shares how raising children is a sanctification process for both parents and children. He also provides a helpful review of everything we’ve learned together since the past fall. As you listen, you can use the worksheet in your resource bag to review the important points from each of his videos.

 This episode is the God’s Story lesson for April. This month, Valarie Stark teaches us the last part of God’s Story in the Bible. Spoiler alert – the story ends with a new beginning. Follow along with your gold bag of new story pieces, the backdrop of your home, and the family peg people you received in August.

It’s April, and our theme this month is “Seasonal Changes”. In our formation video this month, Laura explains how we can navigate seasons of change with our families with faith and grace. You can find a helpful weekly breakdown of what to do each week on the website, or in your printed curriculum. Here's the link to the Bible Project video for this month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=takEeHtRrMw

In this episode, we’re sharing the parent lesson for March from Dr. Steve Stratton entitled “Fostering Forgiveness and Grace in Your Family”. He teaches us how to forgive and explains why this process involves a commitment and a choice.

In this episode, we’re sharing part 2 of the Telling God’s Story lesson for March. Listen as Laura Hunter tells us how we fit into God’s Story by sharing the Good News of God’s Kingdom.

In this episode, we’re sharing part 1 of the Telling God’s Story lesson for March. Listen as Valerie Stark shares God’s Storythe story from the Ascension through most of the New Testament. She explains how God’s Kingdom spreads to different parts of the world. Use your props as you listen and follow along with the story.

It’s March, and as always we’re starting off this month with an introduction from Laura Hunter. Our theme this month is Budding and Blooming, and our spiritual practice is Generosity. Visit growingfamilies.asburyseminary.edu to see all of this month's lessons and resources!

In this episode, we’ll go over the February Parenting Lesson with Dr. Russell Hall called “Open Up, Be Present, Do whatMatters.” This month Dr. Hall teaches us how we can help our children, and ourselves, become more resilient. By opening ourselves up rather than avoiding pain, being present in the moment with our children, and making decisions led by our values, we can develop these traits together as a family.

In this episode, we’ll go over part two of the Telling God’s Story lesson for February from Valarie Stark. Don’t forget to use your props from your resource bag so you can play along!

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story lesson for February from Valarie Stark. We encourage you to take time once a week to retell the story using the gold bag of props. You can use this episode, you can read the script provided in your resource bag, or you can tell it in your own words.For parents with toddlers, we have another rhyming card video on the Growing Families website. And for teens, Stephanie Peterson has put together another creative response video, and this month she’s leading a yarnactivity your kids will really enjoy. Make sure you visit the website this month to get the most out of all of this month’s lesson.Also, you may have noticed that this episode says “part 1” in the title. That’s because this month’s we have two videos for Telling God’s Story, so be sure to listen to or watch both!

It’s February, and as always, we’re starting out with our Formation Lesson from Laura Hunter. Be sure to visit the website (growingfamilies.asburyseminary.edu) so you can see her recommendations for how you can implement this month’s theme each week. You’ll also find bonus resources there – beyond what’s provided in your monthly resource bag, that you can use to foster spiritual growth in your family.

In this episode, we’ll go over the January Parenting Lesson with Dr. Russell Hall called ““God, Help Me to Accept the Things I Cannot Change.” This month, Dr. Hall explains that the temperament each child is born with stays with them, but parents can still influence their children’s character traits. You can celebrate a child’s unique qualities while still guiding them toward holy living. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story lesson for January from Valarie Stark. We encourage you to take time once a week to retell the story using the gold bag of props. You can use this episode, or you can tell it in your own words. Toddlers can tell the story with rhyming cards Elementary-age children can tell the story with the story people and props Youth can tell the story using the comic strip Parents can use any of the above

Happy New Year, families! Is one of your resolutions to deepen your family's faith? You're not alone! This month, we're diving into "companion planting," starting with the spiritual practice of hospitality. Join Laura as she unpacks how practicing hospitality—no matter your personality or schedule—can cultivate spiritual vibrancy in your home. Let’s grow together!

In this episode, we’ll go over the December Parenting Lesson with Dr. Steve Stratton about Balancing Conflict. After you’re done listening, be sure to read and respond to the handout on the curriculum page on the Growing Families website.

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story lesson for this month from Valarie Stark. As you listen to the story, look for the many times God kept his promises. Try to retell the story using the props from the gold bag. Listen to it as many times as the children choose. For families with toddlers or teens, be sure to visit the growing families website for additional videos to help them dive deeper into the lesson. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the Formation lesson for this month from Laura. Our theme this month is “Building a Trellis for our growing garden”, and we’ll be taking a closer look at our habits. Be sure to check the lesson page on the Growing Families website for a weekly breakdown of the formation activities for this month. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the November Parenting Lesson with Dr. Steve Stratton about "Effective Communication For Your Family". After you’re done listening, be sure to read and respond to the handout on Communication. You can find it on the curriculum page on the Growing Families website. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story lesson for this month from Valarie Stark. As you listen to the story, look for the many times God kept his promises. Try to retell the story using the props from the gold bag. Listen to it as many times as the children choose. For families with toddlers or teens, be sure to visit the growing families website for additional videos to help them dive deeper into the lesson.

In this episode, we’ll go over the Formation lesson for this month from Laura. Our theme this month is “Building a Trellis for our growing garden”, and we’ll be taking a closer look at our habits. Be sure to check the lesson page on the Growing Families website for a weekly breakdown of the formation activities for this month. 

This is the last October episode, and we’re covering the parenting lesson. This month, Dr. Russell Hall will teach us about parenting with values. His lesson is called “Begin with the End in Mind”. Afterwards, be sure to look for his notes on the October curriculum page on the Growing Families website. They will help you teach your children about values and virtues that exemplify the Kingdom of God. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story video for October. This month, Valarie tells us what happens in the garden after creation in “When things fall apart.” After you’ve heard the story, take turns telling it to each other using the props from your October activity bag. 

In October, our theme is planting the seeds of values and virtues deep in your family soil. This month, we will follow Dr. Russell Hall’s terminology and use the word “values” for the character traits we want in our lives. Values are traits you strongly believe are good and right. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your child always act on those beliefs. When a value becomes an internal desire and also an external behavior, it moves from a value to a virtue that you exhibit. We want our children to choose values freely and also choose to live a virtuous life. 

In this episode, we’re covering the Parenting Lesson for the month of September. This month’s lesson comes from Dr. Russell Hall, Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the School of Counseling at Asbury Seminary. As a licensed psychologist in KY, he has worked with parents and children in various settings. This month’s lesson is Part One in a two-part series on parenting. He discusses power struggles, conflict, and new ways to respond. Listen for important parenting tips on how your relationships matter for family harmony and your children’s spiritual growth. 

In this episode, we’re covering September's “Telling God’s Story” section from the Growing Families website and printed curriculum. As the story is told, have your children use props and figures to act out the story. 

In this episode, we’re covering the September formation lesson. This lesson is intended to be done as a family, but it’s ok if you want to listen to it separately and then talk about it together later. In 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul writes, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” As parents, we pray that someone like Paul and Apollos will plant and water in our children’s lives, and we believe that God will make the seed of his word grow. But he has given us the holy job of tilling the soil of their hearts even before the seed is planted. As you listen to this month’s formation video, consider how to prepare your children’s hearts for spiritual growth. 

This episode is the August Parenting Lesson taught by Dr. Steve Stratton, Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care at Asbury Seminary. His topic is Centered Family Life and his question to parents is, “Are you living in scarcity or abundance?” As you listen, you’ll hear Dr. Stratton’s heart for Seminary families and we hope you will implement some of his sound advice. After this video, complete the time budget worksheet in your ring binder or download it from the August curriculum page.

This episode is the August video for the Telling God’s Story section on the lesson page. This month, Laura introduces us to how we will use play in telling God’s Story over the next 9 months. After you listen to the 3 and a half minute   recording, get ready to play! If you want to read more resources about how play and discipleship are connected, check out the August recommended materials page on the growing families website.

Listen as Laura Hunter introduces us to the Growing Families program. After listening to this episode, be sure to check out the "Planning your Family Garden" worksheet in your printed curriculum. Welcome to Growing Families!

Welcome to the Growing Families podcast, your on-the-go access to this month’s video resources from the Growing Families initiative at Asbury Seminar. If you’ve stumbled upon this podcast and aren’t part of Growing Families, don’t worry—you’re still welcome to listen in! While the families that participate in this program at our Seminary receive printed materials to complement these resources, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy and benefit from here. Each month, you’ll hear a Bible story for kids, beautifully read by Valarie Stark, and a parenting lesson crafted by licensed professionals from our Van Tatenhove Center for Counseling. These resources are designed to equip parents with communication tools and skills to help their children grow in faith.