The Gospel Shaped Family Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Parenting without a plan often leads to missed opportunities. In this episode of the Gospel Shaped Family Podcast, Josh and Jen share why intentionality is critical and provide guidance about how to create your own customized discipleship plan for your children.

You’ll hear:

• The story of how Josh and Jen began setting yearly goals for each of their children
• Why intentionality matters when it comes to spiritual formation
• Practical ways to create a discipleship plan for your family
• The four benefits of parenting with a clear plan and purpose
• How their book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home equips families with a framework for raising children to godly adulthood

Whether you’re raising toddlers or sending teens into adulthood, this conversation will encourage you to be intentional with the time God has entrusted to you.

Subscribe now and join us as we shape hearts, homes, and churches around the gospel one conversation at a time. Check us out on YouTube, Rumble and anywhere you get audio podcasts.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

What Does the Bible Say About That? By Kevin Swanson: https://amzn.to/4mWaoXx

Nertz Card Game: https://amzn.to/3HCxH9O

50 States in 50 Days YouTube Series: I Visited 50 States in 50 Days

What is the biblical goal of parenting? In this episode of the Gospel Shaped Family Podcast, Josh and Jen share how parents can move beyond survival mode and gain crystal clarity about what they’re aiming for with their children.

You’ll hear:

• Personal stories of faith and legacy from Josh and Jen’s families
• The surprising research on why children keep (or leave) their faith as adults
• The three simple practices every parent can start today to nurture authentic faith at home
• Key biblical passages that shape how parents can disciple their children

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or church leader, this conversation will encourage you to make your child’s maturity in Christ your priority.

Subscribe now and join us as we shape hearts, homes, and churches around the gospel one conversation at a time.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Article: The No. 1 Reason Teens Keep Faith as Young Adults: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-no-1-reason-teens-kee_b_6067838

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp: https://amzn.to/4p62zR5

What happens when a pastor and a musician raise five children, run a farm, and still find time to equip families to disciple their children and grandchildren? In this premiere episode of the Gospel Shaped Family Podcast, Josh and Jen Mulvihill invite you into their world: a home filled with music, ministry, and a mission to raise children who love Jesus, live in obedience to God's truth, and make a difference in this world for Christ. 

You’ll hear their story 25 years of marriage, a growing family, and a passion for biblical parenting, intentional Christian grandparenting, and family discipleship. Learn how this podcast is an extension of their ministry with RenewaNation, equipping parents and grandparents to pass on a biblical worldview in today’s culture. 

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, church leader, or just longing to raise children who love Jesus, this episode sets the tone for what’s to come: real conversations about life and family, biblical guidance, gospel-centered insights, and theologically rich resources to help you shape your family with God's Word. 

In this episode: 

• Meet Josh and Jen: their family, farm, and ministry life 
• Why they created this podcast and what you can expect 
• Their vision for encouraging and equipping parents and grandparents
• Book recommendations based on what they are reading right now
• A goldfish story you don’t want to miss 

Subscribe now and join us as we shape hearts, homes, and churches around the gospel one conversation at a time.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Dr. Josh and Jen Mulvihill provide biblical, practical guidance about parenting, grandparenting, marriage, family discipleship, and raising children with a biblical worldview.

Subscribe and join us for the first full episode. Together we’ll shape hearts, homes, and churches around the gospel—one conversation at a time.

Family worship has been one of the most important ways parents have discipled children for centuries. But what does it look like in real life?

In this episode, Josh and Jen share how to start family worship, why it matters, and how it changes as children grow older. They answer questions from parents about helping little ones sit still during Bible reading, building prayer habits with teens, and using music to make Scripture memorable.

You’ll hear their own family’s story of moving from short Bible readings around the dinner table to in-depth study and prayer with older children. They also highlight practical resources like Long Story Short, Old Story New, and Seeds Family Worship that make it easier for parents to begin.

Whether you’re new to family worship or looking to grow deeper, this episode will encourage you to take the next step in leading your home with God’s Word.

Subscribe now and join us as we shape hearts, homes, and churches around the gospel one conversation at a time. Check us out on YouTube, Rumble and anywhere you get audio podcasts.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

This episode continues the Why Worldview Matters series and focuses on one of the most important pieces of a child’s faith: helping them develop a deep love for the Bible. Josh and Jessica talk about why Scripture must be the foundation of every child’s worldview and why parents cannot assume their children will believe the Bible is true. They walk through common misconceptions, the reliability of Scripture, and the danger of neglecting God’s Word.

They also share personal stories about how their own love for the Bible was shaped, why Scripture has endured through history, and why it has changed so many lives. The conversation gives parents and grandparents practical encouragement for building a home where the Bible is read, trusted, and lived.

Key takeaways include how to talk with children about where the Bible came from, why it is trustworthy, and how doctrines like inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency guide everyday life.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Culture Proof Podcast: https://podcast.cultureproof.net/ 

The Dr. Nurse Mama Show: https://www.drnursemama.com/show 

Children’s and youth ministry has become the default approach in many churches, but few parents stop to ask what role it should actually play in the discipleship of their children. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill walk through the history of age-based ministry and explain the different forms it has taken over the years.

They offer a clear, Scripture-centered framework to help parents think carefully about children’s and youth ministry without dismissing its value. You will learn how family-first discipleship shapes healthy engagement with the church, why corporate worship matters, and how ministries should function as a supplement rather than a replacement.

This conversation equips parents to ask better questions, stay engaged, and take responsibility for the spiritual formation of their children. It is practical, thoughtful, and grounded in biblical priorities that help families navigate church life with confidence and clarity.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Bible in 365: https://bit.ly/b365gsfpc 

In this episode of the Gospel Shaped Family Podcast, Josh and Jen address two cultural ideas shaping modern homes—child-led parenting and marriage as a capstone—and help listeners think through both from a biblical perspective.

They discuss why giving children authority in the home leads to confusion, inconsistency, and spiritual harm, and how Scripture calls parents to lovingly lead with truth and discipline that produces holiness.

Then, they turn to the growing trend of delaying marriage as a personal achievement rather than viewing it as a foundation for life. With biblical wisdom and real-life experience, Josh and Jen show why early marriage often leads to stronger families, shared growth, and deeper faith.

In this episode:

• What “child-led” parenting gets wrong about human nature
• Why biblical discipline is about holiness, not control
• How the “capstone” view of marriage distorts God’s design
• Research showing the benefits of early marriage
• How parents can model God’s order and authority in the home

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Bible in 365: https://bit.ly/b365gsfpc 

SchoolHouse Rocked Podcast: https://www.schoolhouserocked.com/episodes 

Child Led Parenting: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/10/27/were-doing-child-led-parenting

Marriage as a Capstone vs Cornerstone: https://praxiscircle.com/blog/marriage-capstone-event-or-cornerstone-for-life

Marry Early and Flourish Together:  https://ifstudies.org/blog/marry-early-and-flourish-together 

Is Marrying Later Always Better?: https://nationalmarriageproject.org/2022-state-our-unions 

Servant Not Savior by Levi Secord: https://amzn.to/3LLduQK

The Flip Side of Feminism by Suzanne Venker: https://amzn.to/49qr0TI

How to Build a Better Life by Suzanne Venker: https://amzn.to/43BlXvZ

Some links are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you buy through them.

What if your Christmas traditions did more than create memories—what if they pointed your family to Christ?

In this episode, Josh and Jen share three simple, timeless traditions that have shaped their family’s Christmas celebrations for more than twenty years. These ideas are meaningful, practical, and work for every stage of family life—from young children to college-age children and even grandchildren.

You’ll learn how to make Scripture reading, music, and worship central to the holiday season with traditions that cost little but leave a lasting spiritual impact. Josh and Jen also explain the true meaning of Advent—why the longing for Christ’s coming still speaks to every heart today—and how to celebrate it intentionally.

Whether you’re starting new habits or refreshing old ones, this episode will help your family focus on what matters most: celebrating the coming of Christ with joy and purpose.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Bible in 365: https://bit.ly/b365gsfpc 

Culture Proof Podcast: https://podcast.cultureproof.net/ 

Legend of the Candy Cane:https://amzn.to/480OE6L

If He Had Not Come: https://amzn.to/4oHy8zL

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: https://amzn.to/4pfXRiz

The Family Under the Bridge: https://amzn.to/43zh6eN

Behold the Lamb of God Music: https://amzn.to/4805hzB

Some links are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you buy through them.

How do we raise children who love God in a culture that no longer acknowledges Him? In this special episode recorded at The Gospel Coalition’s annual Conference, Dr. Josh Mulvihill joins John Piper, Mark Vroegop, and David Michael for a rich conversation about family discipleship in a secular age.

Together, they discuss how secularism shapes the way our children think and how parents and churches can counter that influence by modeling authentic faith, cultivating joy in God, and keeping the Bible at the center of daily life. From practical parenting advice to heartfelt stories of faith and perseverance, this episode helps families understand that discipleship isn’t about behavior modification—it’s about heart transformation.

You’ll walk away encouraged to lead your family toward a deeper love for Christ and equipped with wisdom to navigate a culture that often pulls hearts away from Him.

Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc

Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 

Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Bible in 365: https://bit.ly/b365gsfpc