Family Conversations

Can we trust that the Bible we have is the Bible God wanted us to have?
Read the related RENEW.org article, "How Did We Get Our Bible?": https://renew.org/how-did-we-get-our-bible/
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On this episode of Family Conversations, Collin Mathies and Caitlyn Rozenboom talk with Bobby Harrington and Jordan Arnold about one of the biggest questions parents and students ask: where did our Bible come from, and can we trust it?
This conversation focuses on canonization, the process by which God's people recognized the writings that carried divine authority. Bobby explains that "canon" means measuring rod, and that Scripture is the measuring rod for truth, doctrine, salvation, and how God calls us to live. Jordan defines canonization as recognizing which books the church, aided by the Holy Spirit, received as "thus saith the Lord."
Bobby traces the historical case from Jesus to the apostles, from Acts 2 to Paul's letters, and through early Christian witnesses like Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna. Long before any council met, the apostolic word was already functioning as authority in the church. Bobby also quotes J.I. Packer: church authorities no more gave us the Bible than Isaac Newton gave us gravity. They recognized an authority that already existed.
The conversation also covers the four criteria the early church used to recognize canonical books, why some books were disputed, what Athanasius listed in AD 367, what the Council of Carthage affirmed in 397, and why the Gospel of Thomas and other Gnostic writings were rejected. Jordan closes by reminding families that they can have confidence that the Bible they hold is the Bible God wants them to have.
Family practice for this week: if you have a spare Bible in your home, pray about who to give it to, then give it away.
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Key Highlights
0:00 The apostolic word created the church2:00 Why first and final authority decides everything4:00 What canonization means and why it matters8:00 Jesus, the apostles, and the Holy Spirit12:00 Clement, Ignatius, and Polycarp18:00 The four criteria for recognizing canon22:30 Athanasius in AD 367 and Carthage in 39726:40 Why the Gospel of Thomas was rejected31:30 The Bible God wants you to have35:30 Family practice: give a Bible away
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What is the New Testament, who wrote its 27 books, and what does it teach us about Jesus and the new covenant?
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The New Testament is more than a collection of Christian writings. It contains the apostles’ teaching about Jesus the Messiah, reveals the new covenant established through his blood, and shows how the earliest Christians lived out their faith.
In this episode of Family Conversations on Real Life Theology, Bobby Harrington and Jordan Arnold join hosts Caitlyn Rozenboom and Collin Mathies to explain the meaning and importance of the New Testament. They discuss the authority of the apostles’ teaching, the different kinds of books found in the New Testament, and how the Old Testament prepares us for the arrival of Jesus.
The conversation also explores why the new covenant is better than the old covenant. Through Jesus, God’s promises come into clearer focus: the Messiah has arrived, salvation has been accomplished, and Christians can now live under the reign of King Jesus.
Finally, the group offers practical encouragement for family discipleship. Parents and grandparents can help children value Scripture through family conversations, daily devotionals, Bible memorization, personal example, and consistent spiritual leadership. Even if you have not established these habits before, you can begin today.
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Why should Christians read the Old Testament—and which Old Testament laws still apply to followers of Jesus today?
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The Old Testament makes up most of the Bible, but many Christians struggle to understand why it still matters. Is it simply the history of ancient Israel? Are Christians still required to obey its commandments? How does it help us understand Jesus?
In this episode of Family Conversations on Real Life Theology, Bobby Harrington and Jordan Arnold join hosts Caitlyn Rozenboom and Collin Mathies to explain what the Old Testament is and why it remains essential for Christians.
They discuss how the Old Testament records God’s faithfulness, reveals our need for a Messiah, and provides the foundation for understanding the gospel. They also explore how books such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes help Christians recognize God’s work, face discouragement, develop wisdom, and live faithfully.
The conversation then addresses whether Christians are still bound by Old Testament law. Examining Ephesians 2:14–18, Matthew 5:17, Galatians 3, and other passages, Bobby and Jordan explain how Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets—and how Christians can read the Old Testament faithfully through the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
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What can we know about God—and how can parents help their children recognize his character, power, and goodness?
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Human beings naturally form ideas about God, but those ideas are often shaped by our experiences, fears, relationships, and assumptions. How can we discover what God is actually like?
This episode explores what we can know about God: His existence, character, actions, word, and power. Guests discuss how God is active in the world, why beauty and mathematics point to a divine mind, and how trials build character as God shapes us into Christ’s image.
Practical advice is given for parents discipling children—using family stories, remembering God’s work, and encouraging regular reflection on Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s presence.
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In this special bonus episode of the Family Conversations Podcast, we step away from our regular Real Life Theology Conversations curriculum to share a deep, personal, and intellectual discussion between Bobby Harrington and Anthony Walker on why they believe in Jesus and the historical validity of the gospels.
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Key Highlights:
Bobby’s Faith Journey: Bobby breaks down his conversion to Christianity as a young adult using a simple four-part paradigm:
Belief in God: Influenced by the beauty of creation, such as the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and conversations with atheists during his philosophy studies.
Conviction of Sin: Realizing a personal sense of shame and structural brokenness in the presence of a holy God.
The Power of the Gospel: Being completely won over by the love of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
A Transformative Way of Living: Recognizing that modeling life after Jesus' love and forgiveness represents the best version of humanity.
Anthony’s Faith Journey: Having his faith passed down from his grandmother and mother, Anthony accepted the gospel at age nine. By his teenage years, he began asking hard questions and testing his beliefs through an investigatory lens.
The Gospel of Luke as History: Anthony shares how his study of the Gospel of Luke solidified his faith. He highlights how Luke acts as a meticulous historian, utilizing eyewitness testimony and pinpointing highly specific political figures of the era to provide an objective, reliable account.
Evidence Beyond the Bible: Bobby summarizes historical and archaeological data that corroborates the biblical narrative. He notes 9 specific facts synthesized by scholars outside of scripture—such as the execution of Jesus under Pontius Pilate and the existence of His brother James—that mainstream modern historians do not dispute.
Tune in to discover why the Christian faith is not about parking your brain, but rather a belief system deeply grounded in historical fact, reason, and personal transformation.
 
Next week, the podcast will return to its regular schedule to discuss what truths can be known about God. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!
 
Key Takeaways
00:20 - Introduction and Welcome
01:08 - Overview of Today's Episode
02:30 - Bobby’s Four-Part Faith Paradigm
03:28 - Phase 1: Belief in God & the Beauty of Creation
06:43 - Phase 2: Conviction of Sin and Shame
10:17 - Phase 3: The Gospel, Love, and Atonement
15:05 - Phase 4: A Replicated Way of Living
18:42 - Four Questions of Humanity
22:02 - Anthony’s Faith Journey and Family Heritage
25:20 - Questioning Beliefs and the Investigatory Lens
25:56 - Meticulous History in the Gospel of Luke
33:28 - Historical and Archaeological Corroboration
38:31 - Mainstream Historical Acceptance of Jesus
41:39 - 9 Facts Outside the Bible
45:34 - Preview of Luke's Archaeological Evidence and Conclusion

How Can We Know the Truth About God? | Family Conversations on Real Life Theology
In our very first episode of the Family Conversations on Real Life Theology podcast, we dive into the fundamental question: "How can we know the truth about God?"
As parents, one of our greatest challenges is helping our children navigate a culture that often encourages "self-invention." We discuss why grounding children in their identity as beings made in the image of God is crucial, and why the ancient practice of catechism—engaging in simple, honest family conversations—remains one of the most effective tools for discipleship today.
Join us as we explore how to move beyond basic arguments and cultivate a faith that is deeply rooted in Scripture, creation, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Get the book Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
Key Topics Covered:
The Necessity of Catechism: Why question-and-answer formats help train young minds to follow Jesus.
Ways We Know God: A breakdown of General Revelation (creation), Special Revelation (Scripture), Jesus the Savior, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Discipleship in a Complex Culture: Practical steps to help your children identify untruths in media and culture by comparing them to the truth found in the Bible.
Episode Chapters:00:00 | Introduction Teaser & Key Quotes01:01 | Welcome to the Podcast & Host/Guest Fun Facts02:57 | The Story Behind the Book and Catechism Approach04:34 | Overview: How Can We Know Truth About God?06:25 | Special Revelation vs. General Revelation08:31 | The Innate Belief in God and Philosophical Reflections11:50 | Knowing God Through Jesus the Savior (Old vs. New Testament)14:02 | Factual Arguments for God (Cosmological, Complexity, and Moral)17:51 | Magnifying God Through the Beauty of Christ and the Gospel23:25 | Addressing Cultural Conditioning (Does Geography Dictate Faith?)27:13 | The Importance of Discipling Children in the Truth29:51 | Weekly Family Application and Wrap-Up
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