Focus on the Family Africa Family Matters

Family Matters

Family Matters is a 5 minute programme offering practical advice from Focus on the Family. Receive a daily dose of encouragement and advice for the family with keys to stronger marriages, effective parenting, deeper relationships and a more satisfying lifestyle.
Daily English South Africa Society & Culture · Religion & Spirituality
1,149 Episodes
132 – 152

Sexual Immorality and Physical Intimacy Before Marriage

So many young people who are in romantic relationships find that they’re struggling with keeping themselves pure before marriage. The Bible has clear cut scriptures on the matter, which some try to argue are outdated.
25 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Quality Time vs Quantity Time in Parenting

In this day and age with the increased use of technology and devices, as well as parents working long hours to support their families, time spent with our kids is being greatly affected, and unfortunately, the research is showing the negative impact of this lifestyle on the family as a…
24 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Parents Disagree About Offering Financial Assistance to Grown Child

It’s always tough for a mom to say goodbye to her adult child when he or she decides to fly the nest and begins to tackle life as a grown up. But when that adult child is struggling to support himself and is generally not coping with the responsibility of…
23 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Hopeless, Feels Like a Loser (Part 2 of 2)

Last time on Family Matters we were responding to a cry for help from one of our listeners who feels like a loser and has lost hope in this life. A plea like this really touches our hearts at a deep level and we always want to step in and…
19 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Hopeless, Feels Like a Loser (Part 1 of 2)

Have you ever felt as though your life is falling apart and there’s no hope for you? These kinds of feelings are not to be taken lightly and should be assessed by an outsider who can offer a different perspective on the situation.
18 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Blended Family Etiquette

Bringing two families together to form a new family is always tricky. There are all sorts of challenges that go along with blending a family, even down to the labels that are given to the new Mom or Dad.
17 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Biblical Perspectives on Polygamy and Polyamory

The practice of having multiple wives or partners is one that definitely occurred in Old Testament times, however, what does the Bible actually say about what God designed for a man right in the beginning?
15 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Girls and Women Wearing Pants

Historical cultural norms can have a great influence over family life and choices, but there’s a difference between culture and Biblical truth. When backing up our beliefs with scripture, we need to be careful that we look at the verses in context.
12 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Talking to Teen About Suicide of Friend or Acquaintance

Teen suicide statistics have risen substantially over the last number of decades. When a teen commits suicide he leaves a wake of grieving friends and family. How can a parent be there for the grieving child, and what conversations should take place over that time?
11 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Reasons to Pursue Higher Education

In the economic climate we find ourselves in, in this country, the lack of job opportunities has certainly restricted the value and significance of a university degree. There are countless people who have hard-earned qualifications but can’t find well-paying jobs in their field. Do these current circumstances negate the need…
9 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Husband Wonders if He Should Become 'Mr Mom'

It's not every day that you see Dad doing the school run, after school activities, homework, and preparing dinner, but in some cases, this is the role Dads are finding themselves in.
8 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Grandparents Filling in for Busy Moms and Dads

In modern society, it has become increasingly common for both moms and dads to work outside of the home, and it’s overwhelmingly evident that busyness has become the norm for so many families. The words: ‘Oh, we’ve just been so busy!’ are almost everybody’s mantra. And with parents adopting this…
5 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Disciplining an Uncooperative Child

The subject of discipline is a hot topic among most parents, and it’s an area where parents can feel overwhelmed and underqualified. What a lot of Moms and Dads don’t realize is that effective discipline takes effort and follow-through, and when there’s inconsistency, children end up feeling unsure of their…
4 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Cohabiting Boyfriend Has Been Unfaithful

A relationship that ends because of unfaithfulness is always a serious blow, but when there are children involved it makes the situation so much more difficult and devastating.
3 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Christian Calling vs Family Commitments

As a Christian, how do I sort out the difference between my obligation to family on the one hand and to the work of the gospel on the other? And what's my responsibility to my extended family as compared with my obligation to my immediate, nuclear family? Is there any…
2 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Denominationally Mismatched Romance

Pursuing a serious relationship with someone who you feel is a potential marriage partner is always a big decision. This is because marriage is a lifetime commitment that doesn’t only involve you and your spouse but your respective families too.
1 Jan 2023 5PM 4 min

Understanding teen cutting

How should I respond to my adolescent daughter's cutting habit? I only recently discovered that she's been cutting herself. I've tried to let her know much this concerns me. I've even requested that she let me "monitor" the situation. But she is very sensitive and perceives this as criticism and…
29 Dec 2022 5PM 4 min
132 – 152