Carpooling with Jesus

April 3rd: Why Did Jesus Pray? (And What That Means for You) | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus — the quick, fun, faith-based podcast for kids and families on the go. Whether you're driving to school, having breakfast, or just hanging out at home, we’re so glad you’re here!
Today, Pastor Justin is answering a question lots of kids (and adults!) wonder about:👉 If Jesus is God… why did He pray?
Great question. Let’s find out together.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day
Luke 22:42 –"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
This verse is one of the most powerful prayers Jesus ever prayed. Right before He was arrested, He cried out to God—and trusted Him completely.
💡 In This Episode:
Why Jesus, even as God’s Son, still prayed
What prayer means (it’s not about fancy words!)
How we can talk to God anytime, anywhere
Jake’s story about his nervous swim meet—and a simple prayer that made all the difference
💬 What Would Jesus Say?
"I prayed because I needed to stay close to God. And I want you to pray too. You don’t need fancy words — just talk to God like a best friend because He’s always listening."
🏊 Jake’s Story:
Jake was nervous before his first swim meet. What if he messed up? His dad reminded him:“Just pray.”So Jake whispered a simple prayer:"God, I’m nervous. Help me do my best."And guess what? He felt peace—and swam with confidence. Prayer helped him remember: God was with him.
🙌 Living It Out:
Jesus prayed to stay close to His Father.
We can pray too—when we’re scared, thankful, excited, or confused.
You don’t need big words—just an open heart.
❓ Question of the Day:
What’s something you can pray about today?Before you jump out of the car, take a moment to share with your family!
📣 Parent Tip:
Loving this podcast? Share it with another family you know.Big faith starts with small, honest conversations—just like this one.
🔗 Listen & Subscribe
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April 2nd: Why Did Jesus Have to Die? (The Answer Every Kid Should Hear) | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus — the 5-minute podcast that turns your car rides, breakfast table, and family time into faith-filled moments.
In today’s episode, Pastor Justin is diving into a big, important question:👉 Why did Jesus have to die?
It’s a question many kids wonder about — and the answer is beautiful, powerful, and full of hope.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day
Romans 5:8 –“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
💡 In This Episode:
What sin does and how Jesus fixed it
Why Jesus chose to die (it wasn’t an accident!)
How Jesus’ death brings us close to God
Emma’s classmate Carissa and the story of second chances
🧠 Key Takeaway for Kids:
Jesus died for you because He loves you—even before you got anything right. And He rose again so you can live with Him forever.
💬 What Would Jesus Say?
"I love you so much that I gave my life for you. You don’t have to be perfect. I died so you could be forgiven and close to God forever in heaven."
✏️ Carissa’s Story:
Carissa forgot to study for her math test and failed. She felt awful. But her teacher gave her a second chance—and even offered to help her study.That’s a lot like what Jesus does for us:✅ We mess up.✅ He steps in.✅ He offers us grace, love, and a fresh start.
🙌 Living It Out:
Talk to Jesus when you mess up—He already paid the price.
Thank Him for loving you before you ever got it right.
Give others the same kind of grace He gives you.
❓ Question of the Day:
What are other ways we can go to Jesus for help when we need it?
Use that question to spark great conversation before drop-off!
📣 Parent Tip:
Love this episode? Share it with another parent or friend!Let’s spread God’s love—one car ride at a time.
🔗 Listen & Subscribe
🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ🚗 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB

April 1st: God’s Foolish Plan?! Why the Cross Didn’t Make Sense (But Saved the World) | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus — the 5-minute podcast that helps kids and families grow in faith during everyday moments. Today’s episode lands on April Fool’s Day, but we’re skipping the pranks and diving into something truly surprising: the “foolishness” of God.
Wait, what?! Don’t worry—it’s not what it sounds like. Let’s find out what the Bible really means.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day
1 Corinthians 1:25 –“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
💡 In This Episode:
Why God’s ways sometimes seem confusing
Why the cross looked foolish to the world—but was actually God’s perfect plan
How Colby’s “missed race” became a moment to help others
What Jesus would say to us when things don’t make sense
💬 Jesus Says:
"People don’t always understand the way I do things. I came to serve, not to be served — and that seemed strange. But God’s ways are always best, even when they don’t make sense at first."
🧠 Key Takeaway for Kids:
Even when things seem confusing or silly, God’s plan is always bigger and better.
🏃 Colby’s Story:
Colby thought he was going to run a race—but ended up helping instead.Here’s what happened: ✅ He lent shoes to a friend✅ He helped someone who got hurt✅ He encouraged others and made a great memory👉 Sometimes the “foolish” choice turns out to be the wise one.
🙌 Living It Out:
God’s wisdom is different than the world’s
When things feel upside down, trust God’s plan
Ask: “Could this be part of something bigger?”
❓ Question of the Day:
What’s something that seems silly... but might actually be wise?Talk about it as a family before the ride ends!
📣 Parent Tip:
Loving the podcast? Share it with another family today.This is the perfect way to spark spiritual conversations with your kids—on the go.
🔗 Listen & Subscribe
🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ🚗 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB

March 31st: What Does God Look Like? (The Answer Might Surprise You) | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus — the podcast that turns car rides and breakfast time into faith-filled moments. Whether you’re on your way to school, learning at home, or just hanging out as a family, this episode is packed with love, kindness, and one BIG question:👉 What does God look like?
📖 Bible Verse of the Day
John 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
When we look at Jesus — the way He loved, helped, healed, and forgave — we see the heart of God. Jesus gives us the clearest picture of who God is!
💡 In This Episode
Learn why we can't see God the way we see people
Discover how Jesus helps us “see” God through His actions
Hear a heartwarming story about Pastor Justin’s classmate Brian
Learn how YOU can reflect God’s love today
🧠 Key Takeaway for Kids
When you show kindness and love like Jesus did, you show the world what God is like.
🙌 Living It Out
Look for someone who might be feeling left out or lonely
Show them kindness—share, sit with them, smile
Talk about how Jesus treated others and how we can do the same
🗣️ Question of the Day
How can you show God's love to someone today?Pause and talk about it with your family before the ride ends!
📣 Parent Tip
If this episode encouraged your family, share it with another family!Faith starts with small conversations — and this podcast is the perfect place to begin.
🔗 Listen & Subscribe
🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ🚗 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB

March 28th: The Golden Rule (again) | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus! Whether you’re in the car, at the breakfast table, or working on homeschool, we’re so glad you’re here. Today, we’re talking about one of the most important things Jesus taught us — treating others the way we want to be treated.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day:"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." – Matthew 7:12
🌟 Big Idea:The Golden Rule is all about treating others the way we want to be treated. If you want kindness, be kind. If you want to feel included, include others. This is how we show God’s love in our everyday lives.
💡 What Would Jesus Say?If Jesus were sitting with us, He’d say:"I know it’s hard to be kind when someone isn’t nice to you, but remember — you can make a big difference by choosing kindness. When you treat others the way you want to be treated, you’re showing God’s love to the world around you."
🍎 Emily and Zoe's Story:Emily noticed her friend Zoe sitting alone at lunch because she forgot her lunch. Emily remembered the Golden Rule and decided to share her lunch with Zoe. Zoe’s face lit up, and they had a great time together. By treating Zoe the way she’d want to be treated, Emily showed kindness and made Zoe feel included.
❤️ Living It Out:
If you want kindness, be kind.
If you want people to listen to you, listen to them.
You can change the world by showing love and respect to the people around you — at home, school, or even on the playground.
🙌 Parent Tip:If you love this podcast, share it with a friend! Faith-filled conversations start right here.
📣 Question of the Day:Who can you show kindness to today?
🔗 Listen & Subscribe:🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB🚗 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ

March 27th: Doing Everything for God's Glory | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Hey Friends!Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus! Whether you're in the car, sitting around the table, or just got home from school, I'm so glad you're here. Today, we're talking about something super important — doing everything for God's glory.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day:"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." – Colossians 3:23-24
🌟 Big Idea:Whether you're working, playing, or helping at home — give it your all, just like you're doing it for God. When we give our best, we honor Him with our effort.
💡 What Would Jesus Say?If Jesus were here, He'd say:"I see you. Whether you're studying hard, practicing out on the field, cleaning up at home, or just being kind to others — do it for Me. I love seeing you give your best."
🏆 Robin’s Story:Robin had a big math test coming up. She wasn’t excited, but her mom reminded her to do her best for God. Robin prayed before her test and gave her best effort. When she got her grade — an A! — she felt proud. Not just because of the grade, but because she knew she honored God with her hard work.
🛠️ Living It Out:Today, whatever you do — whether it's homework, BMX practice, building Legos, or helping at home — do it for Jesus.
🙌 Parent Tip:If you enjoy this podcast, share it with a friend! Also, if your child has a story or topic they'd love to hear about, message us on Instagram.
📣 Question of the Day:What’s one thing you can do for God's glory today?
🔗 Listen & Subscribe:🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB🚗 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ

March 26th: Forgiveness is for Everyone | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Welcome, Friends!Whether you're on your way to school, having breakfast, or hanging out at home, I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Pastor Justin, and today we’re talking about something really important—forgiveness.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day:"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’" – Matthew 18:21-22
🌟 Big Idea:Forgiveness isn’t about counting how many times you forgive—it’s about always being ready to forgive. Letting go of anger and choosing kindness brings peace to your heart and helps you feel lighter.
💡 Story Recap:
Peter thought forgiving seven times was a lot—but Jesus said to forgive 77 times!
Jesus wasn’t saying to count each time—we’re called to forgive endlessly.
Forgiveness isn’t just about the other person—it frees your heart too.
When you forgive, you feel lighter, happier, and more at peace.
❤️ What Would Jesus Say?If Jesus were sitting with us, He’d say:"Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it brings peace. Let go of anger, and I will fill your heart with kindness and joy. Just like I forgive you, I want you to forgive others too."
🏆 Asher and Tony’s Story:Asher always picked Tony first for the team—but one day, Tony dropped the ball and the team lost. The next day, Asher didn’t pick Tony, which hurt Tony’s feelings. Tony’s mom reminded him that forgiveness is like a key that unlocks your heart. The next day, Tony forgave Asher, and they ended up having a great time together at recess. Forgiveness made them both feel better and strengthened their friendship.
🙏 Forgiveness in Our Lives:Next time someone hurts your feelings, remember what Jesus said—forgive, forgive, and forgive again. Forgiveness brings peace to your heart and helps you treat others with kindness.
🙌 Parent Tip:If you love this podcast, leave a rating and review—it helps other families join the conversation too!
📣 Question of the Day:Who is someone you can forgive today? How can you show them kindness?
🔗 Listen & Subscribe:🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ💻 Podbean: https://bit.ly/PodbeanCPWJ📱 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB🚗 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ

March 25th: James Teaches Us Patience | Carpooling with Jesus

👋 Welcome, Friends!Whether you're in the car, having breakfast, or heading off to practice, I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Pastor Justin, and today we’re talking about something we all struggle with—patience.
📖 Bible Verse of the Day:"Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rain. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." – James 5:7-8
🌟 Big Idea:Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about trusting God’s timing. Just like a farmer waits for crops to grow, we need to trust that God is working, even when we can't see it.
💡 Story Recap:
James, Jesus's half-brother, wrote this letter to encourage believers to trust God, even when life is tough.
He compares patience to a farmer waiting for crops to grow—there's no rushing it!
When life doesn’t go how we expect, God is still working behind the scenes.
Patience means trusting God even when the outcome isn’t clear.
❤️ What Would Jesus Say?If Jesus were sitting with us right now, He might say:"Waiting isn’t easy, but it’s a way to show that you trust Me. I see the whole picture, and My timing is perfect. While you wait, I’m helping you grow."
🏆 Ellie’s Story:Ellie was excited about summer vacation, but when her dad had to work extra hours, their family trip got canceled. Ellie was disappointed, but instead of feeling upset, she decided to trust God. She helped her mom in the garden, played with her brothers, and found new ways to have fun at home. By the end of the summer, Ellie realized that waiting wasn’t about missing out—it was about trusting God’s plan.
🙏 Patience in Our Lives:Next time you’re stuck waiting—whether it’s for a fun event, your turn to play, or even an answer to a prayer—remember that patience means trusting God. Like the farmer waiting for crops, God is helping you grow while you wait.
🙌 Parent Tip:If you love this podcast, leave a rating and review—it helps other families join the conversation too!
📣 Question of the Day:What’s something you’re waiting for right now? How can you trust God while you wait?
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March 24th: Honoring Your Parents | Carpooling with Jesus

📖 Bible Verse of the Day:"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—this is the first commandment with a promise—'so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" – Ephesians 6:1-3
🌟 Big Idea:Honoring your parents isn’t just about doing chores—it’s about showing love, respect, and kindness. God promises that when we honor our parents, things will go well for us!
💡 What We Learned:
The Apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to encourage believers to live like Jesus and love others—including their family.
Honoring your parents means more than just obeying—it’s about showing love and respect even when it’s hard.
Jesus himself honored Mary and Joseph, even though He was the Son of God.
When we honor our parents, we’re not just making them happy—we’re making God happy too!
🔗 Listen & Subscribe: 
🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq 
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO 
📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ 
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📱 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB
🚗 Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCPWJ
 
❤️ What Would Jesus Say?"If Jesus were sitting with us, He’d probably say: ‘Loving and listening to your parents isn’t just about following rules—it’s about showing love, just like I love you.’"
🏀 Melvin’s Story:Melvin didn’t like cleaning his room, but when he honored his mom by listening and cleaning up, it made both of them feel good. Honoring our parents isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it!
👉 Family Discussion:What’s one way you can honor your parents today?
➡️ Listen now to hear how Joseph’s story teaches us about honoring and trusting God’s plan!
 

March 21st: Forgiveness Like Joseph | Carpooling with Jesus

Hey friends! Whether you're on your way to school, sitting at the breakfast table, or getting ready for homeschool, I'm so glad you're here. Today, we’re learning an important lesson from Joseph’s story—when his brothers came to Egypt and Joseph chose forgiveness instead of revenge. Can you believe it?
📖 Today's Verse: Genesis 45:4-5 – Joseph forgives his brothers and teaches us that God’s plan is bigger than our mistakes.
👀 What You'll Learn:
The power of forgiveness and how Joseph chose to forgive his brothers
How Joseph's story shows us that even bad things can be used by God for good
A real-life story about a kid choosing to forgive a friend
✨ Big Question: Have you ever forgiven someone who hurt you? How did it make you feel?
🙏 Friday Prayer: God, thank you for this week, help us finish strong today and bless our weekend with joy and rest. Amen.
🙌 Parents! If you love this podcast, share it with a kid's pastor or a friend you see this weekend so they can have great conversations too.
 
🔗 Listen & Subscribe: 
🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ZQq3iq 
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Zt7lvO 
📺 YouTube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeCPWJ 
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📱 Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/CPWJFB
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