The Gospel Shaped Family Podcast

Making Your Marriage Last a Lifetime with Larry and Gladine McCall

Many couples enter marriage with the expectation that their spouse exists to satisfy their personal needs. When the initial excitement fades or challenges arise, this self-focused perspective often leads to "marital monotony" or even divorce. Larry and Gladine McCall, high school sweethearts married since 1975, join the podcast to share wisdom gained from over 50 years of marriage and 40 years of pastoral ministry. They offer a vital corrective to the cultural understanding of romance by anchoring the relationship in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This conversation explores the transition from a "reactionary love" to a "vertical love" that depends on God's grace rather than a spouse's performance. The McCalls, authors of books such as Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church and A Seasoned Marriage, provide practical insights on navigating the empty nest, the value of walks in building intimacy, and the joy of coming alongside adult children to disciple the next generation. Whether you are a newlywed or approaching a "seasoned" stage of marriage, these biblical principles will help you build a legacy of faith that endures for decades.
 
Walking Like Jesus Ministries: https://www.wljministries.org/ 
Walking Like Jesus Ministries YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WalkingLikeJesusMinistries 
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

8 Battles Worth Fighting for Your Children’s Future

Many parents desire a home defined by peace and joy, yet they often find themselves weary of the constant friction that comes with raising children. While we should avoid conflicts born of our own sin, there are strategic battles that we must choose to engage. These are the essential areas where standing our ground helps shepherd a child toward godly maturity and a resilient faith.
In this episode, we explore eight specific areas where parents must be willing to go against the cultural grain. From managing screen time and reclaiming the family schedule to winning a child's heart, these battles require intentionality and fortitude. Though this path may cause temporary unhappiness for a child, the long term result is a trajectory of lasting joy and spiritual growth.
 
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

5 Characteristics of Biblical Discipline for Christian Parents

Discipline is often misunderstood as mere punishment or a battle of wills between parent and child. In this episode, we move beyond cultural trends of harsh control or permissive freedom to explore a restorative, heart-focused model of biblical discipline. We discuss how establishing parental authority is not about being bigger or smarter, but about acting as a steward on behalf of God to guide a child’s heart toward holiness.
By anchoring discipline in the Gospel, parents can move past surface-level behavior modification to address the root of sin. We examine practical ways to use Scripture as a tool for correction and training, ensuring that our homes are places where discipline is an unmistakable expression of love that leads to lasting repentance and peace.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

6 Practical Household Management Habits to Simply Life

Managing a home is more than just finishing a to-do list; it is a way to steward the environment where your family grows in faith. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill share six practical habits to make your family life simpler, more affordable, and more enjoyable. These systems are designed to reduce daily stress and create more space for what matters most: discipling your children.
You will learn how to craft a consistent daily routine, simplify chores like laundry and grocery shopping, and embrace bulk meal prep. By implementing these foundational systems, you can move away from survival mode and toward a home life characterized by peace and intentionality. Discover how small changes in your household management can lead to a lasting legacy of order and joy.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

5 Reasons Your Family Should Drink Raw Milk

In this episode, we discuss why our family chose to transition from store-bought dairy to raw milk. We explore the health benefits, the history of pasteurization, and how this choice fits into a lifestyle of biblical stewardship and natural living.
Many parents find that conventional dairy causes digestive issues or allergies. We share our personal journey with these challenges and explain how real, unprocessed milk has improved our family's well-being. Discover how choosing whole, real foods can help you build a healthy foundation for your home.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

Navigating the Exciting World of Teen Driving

Teaching a teenager to drive is a significant milestone that often brings a mix of excitement and anxiety for parents. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill discuss the changing landscape of teen driving, noting that many young people are delaying getting their licenses compared to previous generations. They explore the cultural shifts behind this trend, such as screen-based living and higher costs, and encourage parents to view driving as a key rite of passage into adulthood.
The conversation provides practical strategies for navigating this season, from modeling good habits behind the wheel to establishing clear expectations for car expenses and safety. You will hear about the importance of tailoring instruction to each child’s unique maturity level and ensuring they gain experience in all weather conditions. Whether your child is years away from driving or currently in the training phase, this episode offers biblical wisdom to help you lead your teen toward responsibility and independence.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

When Should I Give My Child a Cell Phone?

When should a child get a cell phone? For many parents, the pressure starts earlier than expected. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill address the question honestly and directly, explaining why their answer is often very different from the cultural norm. They walk through common reasons parents give for early phone access and explain why those reasons deserve closer scrutiny. 
Josh and Jen share their own family experience, including decisions they would change if they could. They explain why a smartphone is not just a phone, but an entire world of adult access placed into a child’s hands. They also discuss why responsibility, not age or peer pressure, should guide the decision, and why they chose to delay phones until driving years.
The episode also highlights key research from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, exploring how screen-based childhood has reshaped attention, sleep, social development, and mental health. Parents will walk away with a clear framework, practical boundaries, and encouragement to choose a slower, more intentional path.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 
 

Children and Sleepovers: Biblical Wisdom for Parents

Should your child be allowed to attend sleepovers? It’s a common question for Christian parents, and one that often stirs strong opinions. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill walk through the issue carefully, distinguishing between biblical commands and parental wisdom. They explain why Scripture does not give a direct rule, but why parents still need to think clearly about risk, vulnerability, and responsibility. 
Drawing on pastoral experience, family decisions, and insights from James Dobson, they discuss real concerns parents often overlook, including exposure to sexual abuse, unmonitored media, unhealthy conversations, and situations that tend to happen late at night when adult oversight fades. They also explain why their family chose a clear, consistent rule and how that decision actually created freedom rather than conflict.
This conversation is not about fear or legalism. It is about protecting children, preserving innocence, and choosing what is wise when the risks outweigh the benefits. Parents will come away with a framework to help them make thoughtful, confident decisions for their own families.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 
 

Digital Discipleship: Navigating Screens with Biblical Clarity

The issue of technology is the most common concern for parents today. Children in the digital age are growing up as "digital natives," often spending between seven and nine hours a day in front of screens. Dr. Josh Mulvihill joins Dr. Jessica Peck to discuss how media acts as a form of digital discipleship, shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation.
Instead of responding with fear or guilt, parents are encouraged to lead with intentionality and ask better questions about what is shaping their children. This conversation offers practical guidance on setting healthy boundaries, such as delaying smartphones and social media as long as possible. By providing compelling real-life alternatives and maintaining strong relationships, parents can steward technology for God's glory.
Key takeaways include understanding the power of algorithms in forming worldviews and the importance of having a predetermined plan for media usage in the home. Dr. Mulvihill emphasizes that while screens can be useful tools, they require proper guidance and training to prevent them from replacing essential flesh-and-blood relationships.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc 

15 Reasons We Homeschool Our Children

Every family makes an education choice, but few slow down to ask what Scripture actually says about education, discipleship, and responsibility. In this episode, Josh and Jen Mulvihill share the real reasons they chose to homeschool their children and how that decision shaped their family life, faith, and daily rhythms. 
Drawing from personal experience as parents, educators, and as a pastor, they walk through fifteen practical reasons for home education. Topics include parental responsibility, worldview formation, academics, socialization, family time, flexibility, and why education is never neutral. This conversation is not about pressure or perfection, but about helping parents think clearly and biblically. 
Whether you are considering homeschooling, already walking this path, or simply want to think more carefully about how education shapes discipleship, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a framework for wise decision-making.
Book 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home: https://bit.ly/50thingspc
Renewanation: https://bit.ly/rangsfpc 
Gospel Shaped Family Homepage: https://bit.ly/gsfhpc