True Tale Trail Episode 12: Crossing the Jordan

Listen now to the new episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify or Amazon Music.

If you want to teach your kids to trust God for their future, the best place to start is by reminding them of how faithful God has been in the past!

In this episode of The True Tale Trail, we’ll hear how God used twelve stones as a spiritual souvenir to remind His people of one of the most amazing ways He provided for them in their journey to the Promised Land.

Today we’ll explore Joshua chapters 3 and 4, where God leads His people across the Jordan River on dry ground and gives them a powerful reminder of His goodness.

This story will teach your family that remembering God’s faithfulness in the past helps us trust Him for the future, and will point them Jesus—the one who made an even greater way for us through the cross.

This is a perfect one for families as we close out the old year and step into a new one, to help us to pause, remember God’s goodness, and learn to trust Him wherever the He leads next.

Today’s Backpack Bible Verse:
“Lord, I will remember what you did. Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” – Psalm 77:11 (NIrV)

Download this week’s Family Discussion Guide to talk more about this episode together at home.

Download a bonus New Year’s Eve Family Timeline Activity to help your family look back on the past year to see where God showed up in your family to help you trust Him in the new year.

Sign up here for the True Tale Trail Newsletter to get family discussion guides sent straight to your inbox.

True Tale Trail Episode 6: One Thankful Man (Luke 17)

Listen now to the new episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify or Amazon Music.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a perfect opportunity to get our kids talking about gratitude. In this week’s episode of the True Tale Trail we’ll explore one of the most powerful stories of thankfulness in the Bible—Luke 17:11–19. Ten men with leprosy cried out to Jesus for help, and all ten were healed… but only one turned back to say “thank you.”

Why did he return when the others didn’t? What does this teach us about real thankfulness? And how can our families learn to slow down, look around, and thank God not just for His gifts, but for who He is?

Whether it’s Thanksgiving or summertime, this adventure invites people of all ages to pause, praise, and draw close to Jesus, the Giver of every good thing.

And don’t forget: after you listen, download the Family Discussion Guide to keep exploring the True Tale Trail together at home.

Sign up here for the True Tale Trail Newsletter to get family discussion guides sent straight to your inbox.

True Tale Trail Episode 5: Tracking Jesus

Have you ever been walking on a trail and noticed tracks in the mud—maybe from a dog, a deer, or even a duck? In this week’s episode, we kick things off with a fun game called Tricky Tracks where kids will hear clues about different animal footprints and get to guess what creature made them.

But even better than that, we’ll be talking about what it looks like to follow the best tracks ever, the footsteps of Jesus! Just like we can follow animal tracks in the woods, the Bible says we can follow Him.

“He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21b (NLT)

In simple, kid-friendly language, the episode explains that we follow Jesus not by hunting for His footprints outdoors, but by living like Him—loving God and loving people even when it’s hard.

We also focus on our Backpack Bible Verse for this episode:

“Come and follow me,” Jesus said.
Matthew 4:19 (NIrV)

Jesus didn’t just invite His disciples 2,000 years ago to follow Him—He invites us today. When kids (and grown ups) follow Jesus, step by step, the “tracks” they leave behind become shaped by the love, joy, peace, patience and fruit His Spirit grows in our lives.

So grab your backpacks, your Bibles and let’s hit the True Tale Trail! You can listen to the new episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify or Amazon Music.

Download the Tricky Tracks Worksheet to have fun identifying various animal tracks with your kids.

And don’t forget: after you listen, download the Family Discussion Guide to keep exploring the True Tale Trail together at home.

 Listen now

 Get the Family Discussion Guide

Sign up here for the True Tale Trail Newsletter to get family discussion guides sent straight to your inbox.