#142 - Family Devotions That Actually Work with Carl Laferton

The Family Discipleship Podcast

Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Christianity, Parenting, Kids & Family

5.0 • 597 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if family devotions didn’t have to be perfect to be effective? Adam and Cassie sit down with Carl Laferton to talk about what family Bible time really looks like in a normal home—and why the ordinary, imperfect moments are often where God is doing the most. If you’ve ever thought:

“We should be doing family devotions…”
“We tried, but it didn’t go well…”
“I don’t feel equipped to lead my kids spiritually…”

This episode is for you. Carl offers a refreshing, honest take:
Family devotions are necessary—but they’re not everything. They’re one part of a much bigger picture: a home where the gospel shows up in everyday life. “Family Bible time is not sufficient for discipleship… but it is a necessary foundation.” Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too. Head to cozyearth.com and use our code FDP for an exclusive 20% off, and if you see a post-purchase survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth from us here at The Family Discipleship Podcast. Follow Us:
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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the Family Discipleship Podcast.
0:11.1	Welcome to the Family Discipleship Podcast.
0:13.2	We're here to equip and encourage Christian parents to lead their families.
0:15.7	And we're now posting every other Monday all year long.
0:17.8	This is Adam Grypton.
0:19.1	And I'm here with my co-host and my friend, by the way.
0:22.6	Cassie Bryant. Cassie, how are you today? I'm well. I'm very good. I'm excited to be here with Carl. Oh, wait, Carl's here? Oh, my goodness. Wait, don't you see him? Oh. Oh, on today's episode, everybody, friend of the show, our publishing pal from across the pond,
0:38.1	the CEO of the Good Book Company and part of the show, our publishing pal from across the pond, the CEO,
0:38.8	the Good Book Company and part of the royal family of Christian resources, Carl Lafferton.
0:44.0	Carl, how are you? Doing well. What an introduction. It's such a hype up, right? I'll struggle
0:50.2	to not just be a disappointment after that, Adam. But thank you. Well, I'd like to say I just pulled it right off your online bio, but we did write that ourselves. But I think we could update your bio for you. I mean, it was an exciting edition. But thank you. Well, today, Carl, we're so excited to talk to you about family divos in general, some of the work that you've been doing, which is so excellent. We've had you on before to talk about tales that tell the truth and some of the other resources you put together in children's Bibles. But today, let's talk about in general. A lot of times when people think about family discipleship, the first thing that comes to mind for them is family devotions, is sitting down to have a devotional time. Can you give us maybe just as we start
1:28.9	a glimpse into the Lafferton home? Have you been a family that gathers around and does
1:33.2	family devotions? What does that typically look like in your home? Yeah, so we have a 13-year-old
1:39.8	and an 11-year-old, and we started doing family devotions when the kids were super little,
1:49.0	like I think with their eldest when he was about two.
1:53.0	Obviously they looked a little different then than they do now,
1:57.0	both the kids and the devotion times.
2:00.0	And we've obviously done it differently through the years,
2:05.0	but we've stuck at it.
2:07.8	Some days have been hard.
2:09.8	Most days have been sort of kind of average.
2:12.9	And occasionally there's been a super good day
	...

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