What if family movie night could do more than kill time? Today, Kent and Lawson try something brand new: a simple plan for hosting a Christmas movie night that ends with a meaningful conversation, not everyone sprinting to bed. They use It's a Wonderful Life as the example, then show you how to do the same thing with any movie that fits your family. You'll hear how to pull out character lessons from George Bailey, Mary, and even the villain, Mr. Potter, plus how to tailor questions for an 8-year-old, a teenager, or a college kid home for break. Grab the free discussion guide below, use it to tee up the night, and turn a familiar tradition into a discipleship moment. You are not a father on accident, so go be a Father On Purpose.
Download the Family Discussion Guide here: https://bit.ly/movie-discussion-guide
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_gYbkISx0hY
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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
“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
What does a "Psalm 112 man" actually look like in a busy dad's real life? Kent and Lawson kick off a three-week walk through Psalm 112 (vv. 1–4 today), unpacking what it means to fear the Lord, delight in His commands, and model four marks at home—upright, gracious, compassionate, and righteous. You'll hear practical cues you can use this week, like scheduled windows for texts/emails, small daily "deposits," and how to show grace in the grocery-store parking lot).
We also talk perspective on "wealth and riches," why righteousness endures, and how the gospel fuels growth over time—without pretending dads have to be perfect. Pull up a chair, laugh with us, and leave with two or three doable steps for leading your family with joy and awe. You're not a father by accident—go be a Father On Purpose.
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XqcBAd5snzc
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What if the fastest way to bond with your son wasn’t through another lecture—but with a hundred-pound sandbag and a fire? Today we sit down with military veteran and modern-day apologist David “Goose” Mills of Men’s Alliance Tribe, whose battle cry is this: isolation is terminal for dads. Goose shares three anchors for spiritual leadership at home—reject the lie that you’re disqualified, lead where you want your kids to go, and learn how to be a lighthouse, not just a shipwreck.
We get super practical, unpacking why a paper Bible on the table matters, how to make small weekly “deposits” that compound over years, and why carving one hour to sharpen your axe (plus a standing date night) without guilt might be essential for your fatherhood rhythm. We also dive into apologetics for busy dads—Goose’s book Answer with Truth and his “Carry the Fire” training show how to raise kitchen-table apologists who can stand firm before college ever tests their faith.
If you’ve been craving a band of brothers and a clear next step, today’s episode will light the way.
Check out Goose's ministry: https://www.mensalliancetribe.com/
Find Goose's book "Answer With Truth" here: https://a.co/d/3MwMe6K
Listen to the Men's Alliance Tribe podcast: https://www.mensalliancetribe.com/podcast
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VVVX8hLLWvg
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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
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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.
