Have you ever felt like you're still trying to prove yourself as a dad?
In this episode, Kent and Lawson sit down with Jeff Zaugg of Dad Awesome to talk about the deeper issues that shape a man's fatherhood: identity, freedom, intentionality, wonder, leadership, and healing from the past.
Jeff shares how years of interviews, ministry, and real-life fatherhood led to the six core discoveries in his new book, Dad Awesome. Along the way, this conversation gets honest about the weight many dads still carry from their own upbringing, the lies that keep men stuck, and the freedom that comes from receiving God's love instead of trying to earn it.
This episode is biblical, practical, and full of hope for the dad who wants to lead his family well but knows he cannot do it alone. In this conversation, you'll hear:
- Why fatherhood is bigger than the chapter you're in right now
- How your identity shapes the way you show up at home
- Why healing does not happen in isolation
- The power of brotherhood and accountability in a dad's life
- How wonder and delight can transform your relationship with your kids
- What it looks like to lead from freedom instead of shame
If you've ever felt like God is holding a clipboard and waiting for you to measure up, this episode is for you.
Buy Jeff's latest book Dad Awesome: https://www.dadawesome.org/book
Learn more about Jeff's ministry: https://www.dadawesome.org/
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MEET THE HOSTS
Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical fatherhood ministry projects. He’s authored four books. The most recent, Don’t Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit. He and his wife April have been married for three decades and they have five sons.
Lawson Brown married his high school sweetheart, and is a father of two adult daughters. He’s a business leader and a former (always!) Marine. He’s served as a small group leader, helped launch ministries and a church plant where he served as its Men’s Ministry leader. His faith journey has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men who’ve been brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.
FEATURING GREAT GUESTS
Gary Chapman
Ken Blanchard
Chip Ingram
“Y’all are teaching Godly wisdom in ways that I can understand and put to use raising these 8 kiddos of mine, and to be a more present and respectful husband! Keep it up Brothers! God bless y’all!”
–Cody C.
“I’ve been listening to the Father on Purpose podcast for about 3-4 months or so now and I absolutely love the fathering advice that is discussed. This show has helped be become a better father day after day.”
–Matthew S.
RECENT PODCASTS
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a special announcement!
Friend of the show Rick Altizer joins us to talk about a powerful new film coming soon to theaters: He Calls Me Daughter. If you've ever wondered how your role as a dad shapes the women in your life, this conversation will grab your heart.
This film explores the deep impact fathers have on their daughters and the healing that can happen when we reflect the love of our Heavenly Father. None of us will do that perfectly. We're human, after all. Still, we can learn to love our wives and daughters with more humility, more awareness, and more Christ-like care. That's exactly the kind of conversation this film is meant to spark.
Mark your calendars for March 17th-18th. Go out and support this God-honoring, high-quality project when it hits theaters. Grab some tickets, bring your family or small group, and help spread the word. We'll link the website below where you can learn more and find showtimes.
Get tickets and learn more: https://hecallsmedaughter.org/
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What does it actually look like for a dad to follow God in everyday life?
In this episode, Kent and Lawson talk about a simple but powerful word that is shaping Kent's year: follow. For 16 years, Kent's family has taken an annual family retreat where each person chooses a word to focus on for the year. This year, Kent's word opened the door to a deeper conversation about hearing God's voice, letting go of our own plans, and trusting Him with the path ahead.
They also talk about how dads can study Scripture in a way that actually changes them, not just fills their heads with information. Kent shares a practical method for slowing down, praying through God's Word, and doing a topical Bible study that sinks into the heart.
Along the way, Lawson reflects on disappointment, closed doors, and how God often uses detours to grow our faith and redirect our lives. If you've ever felt pulled in too many directions, unsure what God wants from you, or hungry to lead your family with greater spiritual clarity, this conversation will help.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How the Evans family uses a yearly retreat to build spiritual intentionality
- What Jesus teaches about following the Father
- Why pace and prayer matter when reading the Bible
- How disappointment can become a tool God uses to redirect us
- Why dads who want their kids to follow well must learn to follow God first
Key Scriptures (for further study, if you're so inclined...;):
- John 6:38
- Proverbs 16:9
- Ephesians 2:10
- John 8:12
- John 10:4
- John 12:26
And, if you're interested in hearing more from our 9-part study on Proverbs 16, scroll all the way back to episode 59 and give those a listen!
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What happens when your kids start asking hard questions about faith?
Kent recently had a fascinating—and heartbreaking—Uber ride with a driver who grew up in a family of pastors but walked away from Christianity completely. His reason? He says every question he asked about faith growing up was shut down. That conversation got us thinking.
As dads, how we respond when our kids ask honest questions about God, the Bible, and faith might shape their spiritual trajectory for decades. Are we creating space for those questions, or accidentally pushing them away?
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why questions from your kids are actually a good sign
- The danger of shutting down honest curiosity about faith
- How Jesus modeled asking questions
- What to do when your kids ask something you don't know how to answer
- How to disciple your kids without pretending you have everything figured out
Your kids will ask hard questions someday. The real question is whether they'll feel comfortable bringing them to you, or if they'll go anywhere but their dad for guidance. While we never have complete control over our kids, we can create an environment that fosters communication and honesty.
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What’s Your Mission as a Dad?
Being a godly dad is hard work. Challenges abound, and sometimes, we just need some ideas, encouragement, and a little laughter along the way. So, we created the Father On Purpose Podcast to have real, fun, and practical conversations about being dads. Fatherhood is awesome, sacred, and hard all at the same time. We don’t have all the answers, but together as dads, we’ll try to figure it out.