HomeWord with Jim Burns

Few things are more painful than seeing an adult child walk away from the faith and values you raised them with. In this episode, Dr. Jim Burns is joined by Dr. Rob Rienow—pastor, speaker, author, and founder of Visionary Family Ministries—to talk about how parents can respond with faith and love. Dr. Rienow shares practical ways to encourage your adult child’s spiritual journey, while also emphasizing the importance of staying roo...

Feeling overwhelmed by stress? Discover how faith and science can help you find peace and resilience. In this episode, Dr. Charles Stone—author, pastor, and leadership coach with 40+ years of experience—shares his journey through health struggles and his research on stress and neuroscience. Together with Dr. Jim Burns, they unpack how stress is at the core of most doctor visits, the importance of Sabbath rest, and practical ways to...

School is back in session—and at HomeWord, it’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Teaching is one of the most demanding and impactful professions, shaping the lives of children and young adults every day. Today, Dr. Jim Burns sits down with Dr. Kevin Leman—renowned psychologist, best-selling author of over 50 books, and trusted voice on parenting and family—and Kristin Leman O’Reilly, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the award-wi...

Parenting teens and young adults in today’s world can feel like navigating a maze—with social media, mental health, faith questions, and major life transitions all in the mix. In this episode, Jim Burns is joined by licensed professional counselor, speaker, and author Michelle Nietert to talk about helping our kids grow strong and secure in a confusing world. They unpack how to disciple your children, respond to doubts about faith,...

How do we protect and strengthen our marriage when life takes an unexpected turn? How do we stay rooted in the truth that God is in control—even in seasons of suffering? On this episode of HomeWord, Jim Burns is joined by Ryan and Laura Dobson for a candid and powerful conversation. Laura opens up about her journey through cancer—how it affected her personally, impacted her marriage and parenting, and ultimately deepened her faith....

Your role as a parent doesn’t end when your kids grow up—it pivots. Steve and Julia Cummings—authors of The Parent Pivot and hosts of The Parent Pivot Podcast—join Jim Burns on HomeWord  to talk about the “parent pivot” that occurs when young adults leave the home and the role of a parent changes. They unpack the emotional challenges of watching kids leave home and the hard truth that clinging to control, especially through expecta...

Life is messy—but we can trust God through the mess. On this episode of HomeWord, Jim Burns is joined by Cynthia Yanof—wife, mom, blogger, podcast host of MESSmerized, and author of Life is Messy, God is Good. Together they talk about redefining success and failure from a Kingdom perspective, the power of community and friendships, and the importance of parenting with eternity in mind. Cynthia opens up about church hurt, the beauty...

You asked—Jim answered…again! In Part 2 of this special listener Q&A, Jim Burns returns with producer Mike to continue addressing tough, honest questions from HomeWord  listeners about navigating relationships with adult children. Jim tackles real-life concerns like: Is it ever okay to ask our 26-year-old son to move out? Should we require our adult child to attend church if they live at home? Is it wrong to help them financial...

You asked—Jim answered! In this special listener Q&A episode, Jim Burns is joined by producer Mike to tackle real-life questions submitted by HomeWord listeners. From navigating estranged relationships to managing financial boundaries, Jim offers heartfelt, practical advice rooted in decades of experience and his bestselling book Doing Life with Your Adult Children. What do you do when your adult child walks away from church—or...

A recent Barna study reveals that 62% of men report struggling with sex addiction or challenges related to pornography—yet only 1 in 10 churches offer resources to help. In this powerful and vulnerable episode, Chris Cannon, founder and Executive Director of Sword and Shovel and leader in HomeWord’s Pastor-to-Pastor ministry, shares his personal journey from early exposure to pornography at age 8 to finding healing through grace, c...

God created us with a deep need for connection—not on social media, but real, meaningful connection. Dr. Mark Mayfield joins Jim Burns to unpack the growing epidemic of loneliness and its serious impact on our physical and emotional health. They talk about how loneliness affects children as well as adults, and how people often try to numb it in unhealthy ways. Dr. Mayfield shares a personal story of caring for his grandparents that...

Did you know that 27% of adults are estranged from at least one family member? In this heartfelt episode, Jim Burns sits down with therapist and author Tina Gilbertson to unpack the many layers of parent–adult child estrangement. They explore the different forms this can take—whether emotional distance, total silence, or an on-again, off-again connection. Tina shares practical do’s and don’ts for reaching out, how to apologize auth...

Grandchildren today face a rapidly changing world—and more than ever, they need intentional, Christ-centered grandparents who are present, prayerful, and purpose-driven. In this inspiring episode, Jim Burns sits down with Larry Fowler, Founder and CEO of Legacy Coalition, to explore the powerful spiritual influence grandparents can have on the next generation. Larry shares how Scripture opened his eyes to the calling of grandparent...

Did you know that staying connected with our kids can actually change their brain chemistry? Today, Jim welcomes Dr. Chinwé Williams—a trauma therapist, author, and speaker—for a powerful conversation about the vital role parents play in their children's emotional and spiritual development. They explore the healing power of presence, the pain that comes from disconnection, and how to balance empathy with healthy boundaries. Dr...

Is technology bringing your family closer together—or pulling it farther apart? That’s one of the key questions Jim Burns invites you to reflect on in this episode about building a media-safe home. He encourages parents to evaluate what their children are seeing and hearing, examine their own habits, and engage in ongoing conversations about technology and social media. How can we guide our kids to use technology responsibly? Jim s...

Today, Jim welcomes Cindi J. Martin, a licensed psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience in counseling and ministry. As Founder and Director of Wellspring Counseling Ministries, Cindi integrates biblical faith with mental health support to help individuals and couples heal from trauma, addiction, and relational challenges. Cindi recently released a truly excellent book called Choosing Intimacy: Exploring Christ’s Model for ...

*Trigger Warning* This episode contains adult themes around pornography and marital betrayal.

For the wife whose husband was unfaithful or discovered to have a sexual addiction, you know the pain, anger, and sense of betrayal that overtakes you. Today’s guest, Dr. Sheri Denham Keffer, knows this agony all too well - and her journey through it is what led her to help women in a similar situation today. Dr. Sheri Denham Keffer receive...

Do you consider yourself a go-with-the-flow parent? Or are you a little more rigid? When it comes to raising our kids, it turns out that flexibility and adaptability are vital to effective parenting - but that doesn’t mean boundaries and authority don’t have their place. Today, Jim welcomes Dr. Danny Huerta. Dr. Huerta is a bilingual psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, author of 7 Traits of Effective Parenting, and the V...

Forgiveness is hard. There are hurts so deep that the pain has become a familiar friend you can’t imagine life without  - so how do you move forward? Today, Jim welcomes back Ruth Graham, author, speaker, and founder of Ruth Graham Ministries, to discuss her book Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself. Ruth’s story is full of deep wounds that affected her for years until she discovered the true freedom found in Christ’s love and how...