. . . or are we an evil and adulterous generation? The difference is whether the Holy Spirit will cause us to hear the Word, or not

This article comes to us from 1517 guest contributor, Karen Stenberg.

Let’s stop pretending that we’ll wait for our children to grow up so they can choose their religion. Parents always choose their children’s religion. Without exception. It’s just that, in some cases, this religion operates under a different name.

Gretchen and Katie wrap up their conversation on parenting, otherwise known as "calling a thing what it is." They talk about confession and absolution in the home and standing back when we try to take over the Holy Spirit's role.

In this unusual episode, recorded in Gretchen's basement, getting interrupted by children too often, Gretchen and Katie talk about parenting.

Sin will constantly break our hearts, but God's love in Christ Jesus will give us new hearts daily, in the abundance of his forgiving grace. This is love in its purest form, and he has overcome the world.

Our very lives as parents and children implicitly proclaim this higher and lovely truth: we have no value to God based upon our usefulness.

I don't remember a time not knowing I was a sinner. Seriously, I've always understood that Christ died for me.

As important as the training of your children is, much more important is handing them over to God—from the very beginning, from infancy, and beyond.

We tell the little story of the Gospel because our great stories ultimately reflect Christ.

We might assume that all ways are equal to raising a child in wisdom, but they are not.

On this episode we talk about Cinderella, the difference between circumstance and identity, God's gifts found in ordinary objects, and our longing for the "happily ever after" ending. We were inspired by an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien called “On Fairy Stories”. Ultimately, these fun stories stir up simple truths about ourselves, our God, and the greatest story we know in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.