July 27, 2025 — Episode #80

Jerry and Becky begin walking through a list of core “characteristics of the teenage years,” starting with the idea that every child is born with a sin nature and that rebellion shows up in varying degrees.

Drawing on Job 20:11 and Jeremiah 22:21, they discuss how sin doesn’t suddenly appear at age thirteen but is present from infancy, and they emphasize that children can understand and choose faith long before any specific “right age.” They share the personal story of their son’s decision as a young boy to trust Christ and their daughter’s own profession of faith soon after, along with a story about a single mother who had to firmly discipline her rebellious teenage son by removing everything from his room until his attitude changed. They stress that parents who have done their best should not blame themselves if a child still walks away, and that consistency, not harshness, is what breaks a child’s will without breaking their spirit.

Topics discussed:

• Sin nature present from infancy, not just in the teen years
• Helping children understand and choose faith personally
• Story of a son and daughter’s individual professions of faith
• Degrees of rebellion in teenagers
• Disciplining a strong-willed teenager with consistency
• Encouragement for parents who feel they’ve “failed”
• The role of daily family devotions in shaping children

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