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.
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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 kind of legacy are you really leaving for your kids – your name, or your Savior's?
In this final week of our Psalm 112 series, Kent and Lawson walk through verses 9 and 10 and unpack what it means for a dad to be generous and righteous, not wicked and worried. They talk about "freely scattering" your gifts like seed in a field, and how that applies to dad stuff like your time, your connections, your money, and even your encouragement.
You will hear how Psalm 112 points beyond our performance to the perfect righteousness of Jesus, why real legacy is more about your great-grandkids loving God's Word than anyone remembering your name, and how the "wicked being vexed" shows up today in jealousy, frustration, and comparison. The guys also get super practical about slowing down in Scripture, writing verses out by hand, and letting God's Word soak in instead of just bouncing off your busy day.
If you have ever wrestled with feeling like you are not enough as a dad, or you are tempted to chase your own platform instead of God's purposes, this one is for you.
In this episode you will learn:
- What it looks like for a dad to "freely scatter" his gifts in everyday family life
- How generosity, righteousness, and honor fit together in Psalm 112
- Why your true legacy is Christ's righteousness, not your achievements
- The difference between a struggling believer and the "wicked" in Scripture
- Simple ways to slow down, rightly handle God's Word, and lead your family spiritually
You are not a father on accident. Go read Psalm 112 (slowly!) and be a Father On Purpose.
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4t5UIsAR0wU
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What makes a man steady when life gets shaky? In part two of our Psalm 112 series, Kent and Lawson unpack verses 5–8 and discover that generosity isn't just about giving money—it's about living open-handed before God. From Lawson's trip to visit his daughter in New York to Kent's humbling "YMCA incident," this episode is packed with real-life moments that show how generosity and trust in the Lord go hand in hand.
The guys talk about what it means to raise kids who see a dad that listens well, admits when he's wrong, and gives freely—whether that's time, encouragement, or attention. They also tackle the trap of entitlement, how to build a heart that isn't afraid of bad news, and why most dads underestimate the spiritual power of simple kindness.
In this episode you'll hear:
- How Psalm 112 links generosity to unshakeable stability
- The difference between generosity and entitlement
- How giving—of any kind—trains your heart to trust God
- Simple ways to model generosity for your kids
- Why admitting your mistakes at home might be your most generous act
For the dad who wants to be steady, grateful, and rooted in God's character—this one's for you.
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vCrpuwHBfFw
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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’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.
