What if trying to be the hero in your home is actually hurting your kids?
In part four of our From Overwhelmed to Intentional series, Kent and Lawson unpack a subtle but critical distinction every dad needs to understand: the difference between being an example and being a hero.
Many dads feel crushing pressure to be perfect, to have all the answers, and to never mess up. Others check out completely because they feel unqualified. Neither path leads to biblical, healthy fatherhood.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why Scripture calls dads to be examples, not saviors
- How being "the hero" can quietly tether your kids' faith to you instead of Jesus
- Why humility, repentance, and presence matter more than performance
- How to disciple your kids even when you don't feel spiritually equipped
You don't need to be flawless to lead well. You need to be faithful, present, and pointed in the right direction.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure of fatherhood, this conversation will help you breathe, recalibrate, and lead your family with confidence and clarity.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
Listen Now:
Subscribe and Don’t Miss an Episode
Get new episodes delivered wherever you listen to podcasts.
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
“I listen to the father on purpose podcast and you guys are amazing. Thank you for all you guys do and please keep it up. Us Fathers need this NOW more than ever.”
–Joel C.
“Thank you for the effort and time you put into leading us dads toward the Kingdom of God. I have learned and put to use so much by listening to the podcast.”
–Cole S.
RECENT PODCASTS
Are you leading your home, or just reacting to whatever happens next? If you feel like you're always playing defense, this episode is for you.
In Part 3 of our series From Overwhelmed to Intentional, Kent and Lawson get painfully honest about the difference between reacting and responding, and why that gap matters in fatherhood. You'll hear how great leaders put "thinking" between the moment and their mouth, why your intent isn't the same as your impact, and how repentance can actually remove pressure from your kids.
You'll also get a practical reframe for the busyness trap, especially when family schedules start running the house. Sports, activities, money, time, energy. What's the real win, and what's the real cost?
If you want to lead with direction and humility instead of constantly living on edge, press play.
Check out our friend Pat Combs' book "More Than The Score" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/auLJ57G
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
Listen Now:
Ever feel like you're talking… and it goes straight through your kid's ear and right out the other? This week in part 2 of our series we're calling "From Overwhelmed to Intentional," Kent and Lawson get super practical about communication with your kids, especially in the teen years.
You'll be challenged to consider why "Why won't they listen?" might be the wrong question, how your posture and timing matter more than your volume, and why listening is not weakness, it's leadership leverage. Lawson shares a real story from a weekend with his daughter in New York that reframed how he shows up in deeper conversations. Kent breaks down how to season hard conversations with grace (Colossians 4:6), ask questions that are not "gotchas," and trade control for influence so your kids learn to listen to God, not just comply with you.
If you want the kind of relationship where your kids, no matter the age, want to talk to you, this is a deposit worth making.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
Listen Now:
Ever wondered how Father On Purpose decides what to talk about?
In this episode, Kent and Lawson pull back the curtain and let you step into the "kitchen," the behind-the-scenes process where upcoming episodes get planned and filtered through one question: What does Scripture say Christian dads actually need right now?
You'll hear how the show balances Scripture, practical tools, and real-life stories without winging it and without sounding scripted. You'll also get a sneak preview of our brand new series which will cover the next five weeks: From Overwhelmed to Intentional. If you feel stretched thin, reactive at home, or like you never have enough time, this series is built for you.
Here's what's coming over the next five weeks:
- Time: You don't need more time. You need clarity about what matters most in this season.
- Communication: If you want to be heard, you have to hear.
- Leadership vs reacting: Stop getting caught off guard and start leading on purpose.
- Discipleship: You don't have to be perfect to disciple. You have to be present.
- Regret and redemption: God does some of His best work after we think we failed.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast. Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
Go back and listen to our amazing conversation with Scott MacLellan: https://manhoodjourney.org/podcast/letting-jesus-be-your-childs-savior-with-scott-maclellan/
Check out Scott's book "An Acre Of Fools:" https://a.co/d/dqU3fa7
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RGuxYX1S0VU
Listen Now:
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.
