Yes, Christian Parents Can (and Should) Teach Kids Apologetics. Here's How.

Mike interviews Natasha Crain, author of "Talking with Your Kids about Jesus" — an apologetics book for parents covering 30 conversations about Jesus that kids need in today's world. Five sections: identity, teachings, death, resurrection, and difference Jesus makes.

Introduction — Natasha Crain interview

Natasha's journey: started a devotional blog in 2011 with three kids under 3. Skeptics began challenging her on her blog — she couldn't answer questions about biblical errors, Jesus's historical existence, science disproving God. Realized her kids would face these challenges and she needed to equip them. Discovered the world of apologetics.

Natasha's journey into apologetics

Research shows 60-90% of kids from Christian homes walk away from faith. Parents often have a false sense of security because their kids aren't currently questioning. But kids absorb worldview from culture, not just church. The Bible calls parents to disciple kids — what that requires changes as the cultural environment changes.

Why parents need apologetics — the youth exodus

Biblical love vs. secular love: secular love = affirming whatever someone wants for themselves (happiness as highest good). Biblical love = wanting for others what GOD wants for them, which may differ from what they want. The key: the two greatest commandments in order — love God first, then love others. Loving others is contextualized by loving God first.

Teaching kids about love — biblical vs secular

Teaching kids about judging: Matthew 7:1 ("do not judge") is about hypocritical judgment, not prohibition of all discernment. Read the full passage — Jesus says remove the log from your own eye FIRST, then help your brother. John 7:24: "judge with right judgment." Discernment between right/wrong is essential. Irony: saying "don't judge" is itself a judgment.

Teaching kids about judging — Matthew 7 in context

Building a case for Jesus's miracles with kids: (1) If God exists, miracles are possible — this is a worldview starting point. (2) Earliest sources (Mark) describe a miracle-working Jesus — 40% of Mark's narrative involves miracles. (3) No sources describe a non-miracle-working Jesus. (4) Miracles are integrally woven into the narrative — you can't remove them without the story collapsing. (5) Virtually all historians agree Jesus drew large crowds doing something remarkable. (6) The resurrection is the central miracle with significant historical evidence.

Case for Jesus's miracles — for kids

Each chapter has a conversation guide: (1) "Open the conversation" — easy questions to get kids talking without intimidation. (2) "Advance the conversation" — deeper questions with tips in parentheses guiding parents on key points to cover. Designed to move from kids' heads to actual parent-child dialogue.

Conversation guide structure