Marriage is hard. Parenting is harder, and the only thing harder is parenting in a blended family.

This week on the podcast we are wrapping up our series on parenting. If you missed any of the other 3-weeks, feel free to go into the podcast feed and grab those. If you have a blended family—the other three weeks will be really helpful but we want to aim our focus on this specific topic today.

You may be listening to this podcast and you're not a blended family... This episode will still be helpful because it will give you greater understanding about the people in your life that are in a blended family , and it may provide greater clarity on how you can love, serve and support them. Join us as we sit down with Edgar and Michelle to talk about the challenges and beauty of a blended family and how it is so often written into God's story.

Opening Questions

Where are you winning this week?
Last week we challenged you to take something practically and apply it to the way you parent. What did you try? How did it go?
When you think of "Blended families" what comes to mind?

Discussion Questions

The podcast describes blended families as complex and challenging. Where have you personally seen or experienced that kind of complexity in family, either your own or someone close to you?

How does it change your perspective to realize how many blended or complicated families show up in the Bible?

The idea was shared that divorce creates real loss—not just for spouses, but for kids too. Where have you seen unprocessed loss show up in someone's life—or even your own?

Where do you think parents (maybe even you) underestimate how much kids are affected by family tension or change?

Blended families are described as being "born out of loss and into ambiguity." Where do you see confusion around roles, expectations, or identity showing up in family dynamics?

From the challenges discussed (loyalty tension, different parenting styles, unclear roles, etc.) Which challenge stood out to you the most—and where do you see that playing out in real life?

The conversation highlighted the importance of compassion. Think about a difficult relationship… what would it actually look like for you to lead with compassion instead of frustration?

Instead of focusing on what others aren't doing, the question was asked: "What is one thing you can bring to the situation that benefits the child?" How would you answer that personally?

The phrase "always moving toward unity" came up. What does that practically look like in real relationships, especially when it's hard or not reciprocated?

The podcast ends with the idea that love is a decision, not just a feeling. Where in your life do you need to choose love right now instead of waiting to feel it? Final challenging questions for this episode:

Is there anything that the Holy Spirit has brought to the surface in your current family situation?
Is there anything that you need to let go of? Anything that you need to own?

Resources

Grief Share is a Group: Southland.church/groups and look for Groups Share.
Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages of Becoming Step Family Smart, Gary Chapman
The Smart Stepfamily: 7 steps to a healthy family, Ron L. Deal
Blended and Redeemed: The Go-To Field Guide for the Modern Stepfamily, Scott & Vanessa Martindale.
As always, we have Christian Counselors that we partner with that could be a great resource for you or your kids, if that's something you're looking for. No shame in that game. To learn more, go to Southland.church/help, scroll down and you'll find Christian Counseling there.
I'd love to see Blended Families pray about stepping up and leading Blended Family Groups at all 5 of our campuses. That would bring a lot of support, encouragement and wisdom. If you're a blended family, I'd love for you to reach out to me shatfield@southland.church. I'd love to talk with you about what that could look like.

Wrap Up

If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.
If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step, if you'd like to connect with Edgar & Michelle…shoot us an email at lockerroom@southland.church.
As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend. You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about.
Thanks for listening. Get after it! We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.