Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from My Journey
Stand Firm Parents
What if church wasn’t something you went to... but something you lived? In this deeply personal episode, Jake McCandless shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of his relentless pursuit to build a ministry that reflects the Acts 2 church — where discipleship, mission, and real-life faith collide. From wrestling with Sunday-only Christianity to stepping out in faith to build something more authentic, this isn’t just a story — it’s a roadmap for families who long to see faith fully integrated into every part of life. Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or just hungry for something...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from Maturity
Stand Firm Parents
Guest: Dr. Jim Wilder, neurotheologian & author of The Other Half of Church What if the biggest barrier to passing on your faith… is your own maturity? In this powerful episode, Jake sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to explore how brain science and spiritual formation come together to grow resilient, emotionally grounded believers — starting with parents. You’ll discover why character maturity is critical for lasting faith and how to build a discipleship model that transforms not just minds but hearts and homes. 🧠 Learn how your brain was designed to grow spiritually...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from Brain Science
Stand Firm Parents
Jake McCandless sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to discuss the surprising connection between neuroscience and faith. Learn how your brain was designed to grow through joy and peace, how relational connections form the foundation of maturity, and how parents can use brain science to help their children develop a faith that truly lasts. Dr. Wilder also reveals how gratitude rewires the brain for resilience, and why a fully integrated faith is the key to spiritual and emotional health. Key Takeaways: • Your brain was designed for joy—and faith should be fueled by it. • Maturity is...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Parenting from the Other Half of Church
Stand Firm Parents
Jake McCandless continues his conversation with Michael Hendrix about brain science and discipleship, focusing on practical steps parents can take to nurture a healthy and resilient faith in their children. Discover why building joy, practicing rest, and showing true connection with your kids can make all the difference. Key Takeaways: Brain science reveals how children learn through joy and rest cycles Parenting with maturity impacts children's natural development Disciplining with grace and maintaining connection builds character Michel Hendricks is a pastor, teacher, and the...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from the Other Half of Church
Stand Firm Parents
Have we been discipling with half the brain? Michel Hendricks, co-author of The Other Half of Church, reveals how right-brain training is essential for true spiritual transformation. Most discipleship focuses on knowledge and willpower, but what if emotional and relational growth is the missing key? In this episode, we unpack: 🔹 How brain science connects to faith and formation 🔹 Why joy is the fuel for spiritual growth 🔹 The six big emotions that shape our discipleship 🔹 How parents can train their children’s emotional and spiritual resilience The Book - The Other Half of Church...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from Being the Church
Stand Firm Parents
Brian Johnson, co-founder of KC Underground, joins Stand Firm Parents to discuss a radical shift in how we do church and raise disciples at home. Instead of separating faith into a Sunday event, Brian shares how to make disciple-making a natural, daily part of life. Key Takeaways: ✔️ The biggest reasons young people leave the faith ✔️ What the early church teaches us about disciple-making ✔️ Why parents—not the church—are the primary disciple-makers ✔️ How microchurches can transform faith at home ✔️ Practical ways to integrate faith into everyday life Brian Johnson is...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from the Released Church
Stand Firm Parents
Rob Wegner joins Stand Firm Parents to challenge the way we think about church. Rather than centering faith around a weekly event, what if we saw it as a lifestyle of disciple-making? This episode explores how microchurches, spiritual families, and everyday disciple-makers are the future of faith. Rob Wegner is a leading voice in the missional movement and the co-founder of KC Underground, a decentralized network of disciple-making communities. He also serves with NewThing, helping catalyze reproducing churches globally, and leads Microchurch.Next for Exponential, equipping leaders to embrace...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from the Underground Church
Stand Firm Parents
The underground church in Iran is thriving under persecution while Christianity in the West is in decline. Why? Joel Richardson shares what’s fueling explosive growth in the Middle East and what Western believers—and parents—must do differently to raise children with a faith that lasts. This eye-opening conversation challenges our approach to discipleship and evangelism. Key Takeaways: Why Iran’s underground church is the fastest-growing in the world How disciple-making movements (DMM) are transforming communities What American Christians are getting wrong about church & faith A...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from the First Century
Stand Firm Parents
Jake McCandless speaks with Darren Huckey about the Jewish context of discipleship and what it means for parents raising children in faith. Learn how first-century discipleship was more than just knowledge—it was about full-life transformation through devotion, imitation, and replication. Key Takeaways: How first-century discipleship worked What Jesus meant when He said, "A disciple, when fully trained, will be like his teacher." How parents can model and teach discipleship at home Darren Huckey is the Assistant to the Rabbi at Shalom Macon Messianic Synagogue in Macon, Georgia. He...
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Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from a Hebraic Mindset
Stand Firm Parents
Jake McCandless sits down with Katharine van der Beek to explore the power of fully integrated faith through a Hebraic lens. Drawing from her experiences as an Israeli tour guide, Katharine shares profound insights into seeing God’s hand in everything and trusting His sovereignty in every aspect of life. Key Takeaways: The Hebraic mindset of faith as all-encompassing. How parents can teach their kids to see God in the details of life. Why recognizing God’s sovereignty changes how we face challenges. Katharine also gives a vivid snapshot of the current state of Israel, detailing the...
info_outlineParents as Disciplemakers: Lessons from Noah & Lot
Show Notes:
In this episode of Stand Firm Parents host Jake McCandless dives into the biblical stories of Noah and Lot, two fathers who faced apocalyptic-like judgments. He contrasts their experiences to highlight important lessons on parenting and faith. With a focus on how we, as parents, can raise children who hold steadfast in their faith, Jake explores the different outcomes of these two families.
Key Points Covered:
1. Introduction to the Theme:
- The Bible recounts two major judgments where only two families survived—Noah’s and Lot’s. Jake explores why these families were spared and what we can learn from their stories as parents aiming to guide our children in faith.
2. A Tale of Two Families:
- Noah’s family willingly walked into the ark, following his leadership with faith and unity.
- Lot’s family, in contrast, had to be dragged out of Sodom, with his wife ultimately looking back and turning into a pillar of salt.
3. The Importance of Compelling Faith:
- Noah’s life and actions compelled his family to follow him willingly. Lot, though a righteous man, didn’t instill the same level of faith and obedience in his family.
- Jake emphasizes the importance of not just guiding but compelling our children to embrace their faith willingly, drawing a powerful comparison between these two biblical accounts.
4. Parenting in Difficult Times:
- The episode ties these biblical examples to modern parenting challenges, particularly in helping children navigate their faith in an increasingly complex world.
5. New Podcast Format:
- Jake introduces a new format for the podcast, now available in both audio and video formats. He also shares updates on the new studio, partnership with Lifeword Media, and the revamped website.
6. Looking Ahead:
- Jake teases the next episode, where a guest will demystify the concept of discipleship, making it more accessible and less intimidating for parents.
Resources:
- Visit the new website: www.standfirministries.com for more resources and updates.
- Subscribe to the podcast and follow on social media for clips and more content.
Closing:
Jake wraps up by reiterating the mission of Stand Firm Parents: to help families cultivate a lasting faith in their children. He encourages listeners to share the podcast, subscribe, and most importantly, continue to stand firm in their faith journey.
Production Credits:
- Stand Firm Parents is produced by Stand Firm Ministries in partnership with Lifeword Studios.
- Created by Jake McCandless and Brandon Harrington of Dime Collective.
Be sure to tune in next week as the journey continues!