The Shock Absorber

Joel and Tim explore what it means to live and raise children as elect exiles in a world with different values. They reflect on social media, culture, and the ways Christians can tell the alternate story of Jesus — distinctive, thoughtful, and rooted in grace.

The discussion covers family and intergenerational ministry, schools, and creating spaces for children to engage meaningfully with the church. They highlight the importance of modelling commitment through consistent presence and participation.

Over-commitment to church isn’t the problem — intentionality, faithfulness, and living in deep community are. By prioritising time together, parents and churches equip the next generation to confidently live as elect exiles in Christ.

🕓 Timestamps
00:00 Mass deletion in NYC + Freya India
18:32 The Christian story as the alternate story
31:59 How do we raise children as aliens in a foreign world?
40:34 The role of schools in raising children as exiles
54:17 Committing to the alternate story
1:07:40 Tim’s Takeaway

📌 Discussed on this episode
Time To Refuse
Gen Z held an anti-social media event. Here's how they heard about it
Italian Brain Rot
We Are The Slop, by Freya India
Is Sora the Beginning of the End for OpenAI?
Parenting Beyond Your Capacity: Connect Your Family to a Wider Community, by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwenhof
Raising Boys, by Steve Biddulph

What is The Shock Absorber?

Thinking and doing church a little differently...