What are you holding onto so tightly that, if Jesus asked you to let it go, you'd walk away sad? In this episode, Kent and Lawson dig into the story of the rich young ruler and why it still hits hard for dads today. This is not just a conversation about money. It is about anything that competes for our trust, identity, security, and obedience. Possessions, status, titles, comfort, control. Anything we grip harder than we cling to Christ can quietly become a problem.
The guys talk about what Jesus was really getting at in this well-known passage, how God's kingdom completely redefines value, and why this story matters for fathers trying to lead their families with open hands.
This episode will challenge you to ask an uncomfortable but necessary question: Do you have your possessions, or do your possessions have you? If you want to follow Jesus more faithfully, lead your kids with greater clarity, and model what real surrender looks like, this conversation is for you.
Read the story of the rich young ruler (all 3 accounts): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%2019%3A13-30%3B%20Mark%2010%3A17-30%3B%20Luke%2018%3A18-30&version=ESV
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
“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
Has your "fear dial" felt like it's cranked to eleven lately? In this honest, funny, and practical conversation, Kent and Lawson unpack the tug-of-war between faith and fear—and why “biblical faith” isn’t faith in outcomes, it’s faith in a Person. You’ll hear a simple picture dads can use at the dinner table to explain how Jesus’ presence displaces fear, not just decreases it, plus a few stories from real dad life that’ll make you nod and laugh. We touch Mark 9:24 (“help my unbelief”), Hebrews 11, and Romans 10:17 without going seminary-level, then land on ways to model courageous trust for our kids this week. If your home has unknowns, this episode gives you a path from panic to peace. Share it with a dad who needs a steady voice today.
Check out Scott MacLellan's non-profit providing support for addiction recovery: https://www.riversoul.org
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of this show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ocpmKrp3Ayc
Listen Now:
Feeling the world spin a little too fast lately? In this honest conversation, Kent and Lawson unpack a simple five-step “Pathway to Peace” drawn from Philippians 4:6–9: panic, pause, pray, praise, and peace. While panic can often be an involuntary jolt, we discuss how intentional pausing resets your home’s tone, and how prayer and praise invite "the peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4).
Kent shares a fresh analogy that makes Christ's command “do not be anxious” feel doable, not dismissive, and Lawson tells a candid leadership story that every dad can learn from. Stay to the end for a special cameo—April reads Scripture that anchors the whole episode. We hope today's show helps you lead your family with a calm heart, steady hands, and a Christ-centered mindset.
Check out this amazing veterans focused men's ministry Lawson mentioned in the episode: shepherdsmen.com
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of this show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r3iF3aCPoVs
Listen Now:
What do youth sports reveal about us as dads? More than we might want to admit. In this conversation with Townsend Church Pastor and Upward Sports League Director Tim Sparrow, Kent and Lawson dig into the highs and lows of parenting on the sidelines. From yellow cards to halftime prayers, Tim shares how sports can be more than competition—they can be a training ground for humility, discipleship, and Christ-like leadership.
We touch on topics like:
- Why kids benefit when dads show up the right way
- How to handle your own failures and model repentance
- The connection between pride, parenting, and competition
Just a tease of some of Tim's wisdom: "When I feel ill-equipped because of my past experiences, I thank God for those experiences because that was him equipping me to be in the position that I'm in so that I can help people that are going through the same things." There's more where that come from in today's conversation with Tim. If you’ve ever lost your cool at a game or wondered how to keep Jesus at the center of all the busyness, this episode will encourage and challenge you to be a Father On Purpose.
Learn more about Upward Sports and their mission: https://www.upward.org/
Connect with Tim's Church in DE: https://www.tfwb.org/
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of this show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gfD9Dg4x0Bk
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.