Parenting starts with us doing every little thing for our babies. As they grow and develop, so do the ways we support them. And ultimately, we begin to release responsibility to them. The Gradual Release of Responsibility is a lens to look at how parenting your child can shift through different ages and stages.

Here are the links mentioned in the talk:

Revival Parenting
https://amandacarrara.com/substance/

Pastor Peter’s Parenting Message
https://www.youtube.com/live/JuhbvmJY2ck?si=SJ5tQ1X74C5l7rxF

Discussion Questions

1. Which stage, “I do,” “We do,” or “You do” are you in right now with each of your kids?

2. Which tools have been most helpful for you in each stage?

3. What areas of parenting are causing the most struggle for you right now? What tools do you think might help?

4. Are there any areas you are looking to make a shift in your parenting?

Being a Mom can seem so mundane, and often it is as we daily raise the children God gave us. In the mundane we can often neglect things that are important to us. This message is to remind us, that in our daily obedience and trust in a good Father, we can experience the miraculous, even in the midst of the mundane of motherhood. When we tend to the areas of our life that we’ve been neglecting, we will bear fruit!


Discussion Questions

1. What, in your opinion, is the most mundane part of motherhood?

2. Name one area where you feel depleted? What is the truth? (e.g.- I feel depleted by my kids’ fighting. The truth is that God can give me wisdom to help my kids navigate their battles so that they’re equipped with tools to work things out together.)

3. What is one area you’ve been neglecting that you are encouraged to tend to?

4. What miracle are you trusting God for this fall?

In this first talk of the 2023-24 Moms Group season Sarah lays out the foundation for the year. She shares our Substance Moms mission, our theme this year which is Abundantly Fruitful, and how fruitfulness in our lives begins with knowing God's will and living in it.


Discussion Questions

1. Let's dream together for a minute and imagine - what would an abundantly fruitful life look like in your parenting world right now?

2. Bearing good fruit in our lives begins with having a relationship with Jesus - staying "connected to the Vine.” Remember the verse from John 15:5? "I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, He will bear much fruit." If you have a relationship with Jesus right now, how do you stay connected to Him? Do you pray at a certain time or throughout your day? Do you attend church? Do you experience God or can you see Him in nature? Etc...

3. Is it easy or hard for you to believe that God has an abundance of fruitfulness for your life this year? Why or why not?

Oftentimes there are miracles all around us but we don’t see them because we aren’t looking for them or expecting them. But Jesus literally said that for those of us who believe, we’d lay hands on the sick and they’d be healed. In this talk, Sarah encourages us to create a miracle culture within our families.


Discussion Questions

1. Have you experienced a miracle, an answered prayer, or heard of someone experiencing a miracle in your lifetime? If so, could you share it? (It can be big or small)

2. What is the biggest hindrance in your life regarding expecting, praying, and believing for miracles?

3. Brainstorm some ways your family could take steps towards creating a miracle culture in your home.

4. What is a miracle in your life that you’d like to see? If you are willing please share and then together as a group pray for these to happen!

5. What are some ways you’d like to stay engaged in mom community this summer?

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Before we were born, God set each of us apart with a plan and purpose. We are created to be the body of Christ and each member is needed. Lean into fully embracing who God made us (and our children to be). Are the things about yourself and your children that irritate you the most, actually gifts from God?


Discussion Questions

1. Do you lean more to nature or nurture in regards to what determines human behavior?

2. Jeremiah 1: 5 says, “before you were born, I set you apart.” How has God set apart each of your children? What gift do they have?

3. What is unique about your family? (How would an acquaintance or neighbor describe you and your family?)

4. How can you allow this “uniqueness” (this gift) to bring God glory?

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With some springtime prep and your own spin on a summer kick-off, team up with your family to create a summer that you will all love!


Discussion Questions

1. What summer commitments are you excited about?

2. What summer pain-points could you game plan for in advance? Work hours, transition times, etc. Brainstorm some ideas.

3. Share your best summer hacks! A snack kit so you can load everyone in the car faster? Keeping beach stuff in the trunk? Trade your best ideas!

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We have more control over how we respond to anxiety and fear than we think. Let’s unpack how we can choose peace, joy, and Jesus before fear grabs ahold of us and takes root!


Discussion Questions

1. What are some typical causes of anxiety or fear in your life (ie. health, finances, etc)?

2. What kinds of ways do notice your feelings following your focus? Are you preoccupied or short tempered?

3. Which step do you think you need to spend more time in to help fear lose its power in your life (acknowledging the fear, pausing and praying, reminding yourself who Jesus is)?

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Have you ever heard God speak to you about who he is to you and who you are to him - about your identity? Have you ever asked him what he thinks about you? Today, Shelly unpacks how to bring our "head knowledge" to "heart knowledge" through scripture, prayer, and engaging the Holy Spirit!


Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you most from this message?

2. Have you ever asked God to speak to you specifically about an area of your identity? If so, what was that experience like?

3. Have you ever been interrupted by the Holy Spirit in your day to day with a word of encouragement or love?

4. What is something that used to feel like "head knowledge" that now is "heart knowledge" for you? How did that happen?

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God created us in his image with a body, soul, and spirit. Then, decided it wasn’t good for humans to be alone. So He created Eve, a helper for Adam. We are created to be in community. Scripture and science tell us that our bodies are designed to live in communion with others.


Discussion Questions

1. Gen 2:18 Then God said: “It is not good that man should be alone ; I will make him a helper as his partner.” Why do you think God designed us to have a need for other people (when God could have easily fulfilled us).

2. Describe in your own words what “co-regulation” is. As an adult, do you find yourself needing to calm your nervous system alone (self-regulation) or with others (co-regulation) more often?

3. What is a calming access tool that supports are you going to implement this information into your daily life?

4. How are you going to implement this information into your daily life?

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