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Stand Firm Parents
Fully Integrated Faith: Lessons from Brain Science
Jake McCandless
(Stand Firm Ministries)
Aired on May 27, 2025
Show Stand Firm Parents
Mar 19, 2025
Duration:
00:25:49 Minutes
Views:
3
discipleship family family life parent parenting science science and the Bible

In this groundbreaking episode, Jake McCandless speaks with Dr. Jim Wilder, a pioneer in the intersection of neuroscience and faith. Dr. Wilder, the co-author of The Other Half of Church, introduces the concept of neurotheology, showing how our brains are wired for joy, connection, and relational transformation—exactly what biblical discipleship calls for. Dr. Wilder reveals how the church has unintentionally focused on performance rather than identity formation, leaving many believers stuck in surface-level spirituality. He unpacks how brain science affirms Scripture, showing that joy and peace fuel lasting faith, while gratitude rewires the brain for spiritual and emotional resilience. For parents, this episode offers practical insights on raising children with a faith that lasts. When joy is missing in the home, kids associate faith with pressure rather than delight. But when families intentionally cultivate joy and relational connection, they build spiritual endurance that carries into adulthood. Dr. Wilder also shares one powerful practice to start integrating faith into daily life: expressing gratitude multiple times a day. This simple shift activates the brain’s relational circuits, keeping believers emotionally healthy and spiritually strong.

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