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About the Episode
In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Jonathan Holmes about his book, Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ. Some of the questions addressed in this interview are:
• What is meant when the term “identity” is used in everyday conversation?
• What positive role can parents or caregivers play in the formation of a child’s identity? How might parents or caregivers negatively influence it?
• How has the concept of personal identity evolved over the years?
• What are five different yet common areas where kids tend to struggle with their identity?
• How do the Scriptures speak to the problem of a child grounding their identity in their academic performance?
• Why is it good news that our identity is ultimately “something we receive, not something we achieve?”
• Why is it important to “connect before [we] correct” when it comes to having identity-related conversations with our children?
• What role does the local church play in helping children learn how to base their identity in Christ?
About the Guest
Jonathan Holmes MA, is the Founder and Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling. He previously served for fifteen years on the pastoral teams of Parkside Church and Parkside Green. He is the author of several books, including Counsel for Couples, Rescue Skills, and Rescue Plan. Jonathan serves as a visiting faculty member and member of the Board of Trustees for CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation), as well as an instructor at Westminster Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Jennifer, have four daughters.
About the Book
Grounded in Grace gives parents a guide to understanding how a child’s identity is formed in today’s world and why it leads to insecurity and confusion.
Children and teens face a tremendous amount of pressure from their peers and culture to find their identity in their activities, feelings, or performance. This modern way of looking at identity can be challenging to navigate for parents who grew up with a traditional view of identity rooted in predetermined roles. What if they could help their children and teenagers find their identity in something that never went away and never changed based on their ability or performance—an identity grounded in God’s grace?
Jonathan Holmes explores the five core areas of identity struggles most common to teens: sports, academics, moralism, sexual orientation, and gender confusion. He provides parents with a biblical foundation to work from and practical tools to help their teen find their identity based on who God says they are.
