What stories are shaping the faith and worldview of today’s kids?

In this episode, Nick sits down with Matt Markins, CEO of Awana, to talk about child discipleship, biblical worldview formation, and the core message of his new book, The Story We Tell Our Children.

Matt shares his personal story, the research behind Awana’s child discipleship focus, and why churches need to move beyond “Bible-lite” teaching toward helping kids understand the full story of Scripture.

They discuss:

The three biggest factors that shape lasting faith in children
Why many churches unintentionally teach moralism instead of the gospel
The difference between teaching Bible stories and teaching the story of the Bible
How screen culture and modern media shape kids’ worldview
Why parents and churches both play critical roles in faith formation
How Awana’s Bright curriculum approaches Scripture and discipleship

If you care about helping kids develop resilient, lasting faith in Jesus, this conversation is packed with practical insight and theological depth.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and Welcome
00:24 Matt Markins’ Personal Story and Journey into Ministry
03:40 How Awana Has Changed Over the Years
05:20 Why Midweek Kids Ministry Is Growing Again
07:15 The Three Biggest Factors That Shape Lasting Faith
09:20 The Story We Tell Our Children
11:00 Counterfeit Stories Shaping Today’s Kids
13:10 The Role Parents and Churches Play in Faith Formation
15:30 What “Bible-Light” Teaching Looks Like
18:45 Moralism vs the Gospel in Kids Ministry
20:00 Bible Stories vs the Story of the Bible
23:15 How Much Bible Content Kids Can Actually Absorb
25:35 Measuring Child Discipleship Effectiveness
31:20 Can Churches Really Measure Spiritual Growth?
32:20 The Vision Behind Bright Curriculum
34:15 How Bright Approaches Bible Teaching and Discipleship
36:10 Final Thoughts and Resources