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Grandparenting with Grace (EP:987)


When Christian Grandparenting Becomes a Sacred Calling

Pastor Larry McCall never expected to cry at a church member's funeral. But when her granddaughter stood up and said, "Grandma sure did love us, but she loved Jesus even more," everything changed about how he viewed grand-parenting.


In this powerful conversation, Pastor Larry—author of "Grand-parenting with Grace: Living the Gospel with the Next Generation"—challenges the cultural assumption that grand-parenting is simply about spoiling kids and making memories. Instead, he reveals how God has given grandparents a sacred calling to impact the next generation for His glory.


christian grandparenting

Three Key Highlights:

  1. Spoiling Grandchildren Actually Harms Them Pastor Larry argues that the cultural norm of "spoiling" grandkids feeds their sinful nature and undermines parental authority. When grandparents say "this will be our little secret" about breaking rules, they're teaching children it's acceptable to disobey parents as long as they don't get caught.

  2. Intentional Planning Transforms Grandparent Time Rather than just spending time with grandchildren, Pastor Larry advocates for intentional planning. He and his wife Gladine host annual "Grand Camp" for five days with all seven grandchildren, complete with themes, devotionals, and purposeful activities. They also conduct weekly video Bible studies with distant grandchildren.

  3. Your Legacy Is What You're Passionate About The most powerful insight centers on legacy: "They're gonna remember not just your words or your actions, they're gonna remember what you're passionate about." Pastor Larry challenges grandparents to create homes that "smell like Jesus"—where grandchildren experience the aroma of Christ through their grandparents' passion for Him.


With 2.7 million grandparents in America serving as primary caregivers for their grandchildren, Pastor Larry's message couldn't be more timely. Grand-parenting isn't just a role—it's a calling to pour God's glory into the coming generations so they might put their hope in Him.

Larry McCall is the author of Loving Your Wife (as Christ Loved the Church) and Walking Like Jesus Did. Pastor Larry was on our show last year back in Episode #229 – which was one of my favorite interviews, because it was so convicting and inspiring at the same time.  If you haven’t already, make sure you go back and listen to it.

 

He just released his second book, called Grandparenting with Grace: Living the Gospel with The Next Generation. 

 

Pastor Larry has served as a pastor at Christ’s Covenant Church of Winona Lake, Indiana since 1981.

 

He’s been married to his wife Gladine for more than 30 years, and they’re parents of three married children, and they have seven grandchildren.


If you like to connect with Pastor Larry or get a copy of his book, simply go his website at http://www.walkinglikeJesusministries.org 

 


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