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
412 – 432

Mental Disorders in Kids

If your child is suffering from a mental illness and you have not sought professional help, you’re going to need to. The prevalence of mental health disorders in children and teens is on the rise, and the way to help is to seek professional counsel.
29 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Husband to Be has been Sexually Active Before Marriage

When a couple decides to get married, there should be no secrets between them that may surface in their marriage and trip them up. So, what happens if you have chosen to stay sexually pure before marriage but your partner is no longer a virgin? We’ll discuss how this can…
28 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

How to Help a Depressed Spouse

Depression is a very real and debilitating illness that needs to be taken seriously. Many people may not understand the nature of depression and how it should be treated, and that is why we are going to talk about what depression looks like, and how to help someone who is…
27 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Homemaking and the Biblical View of Work

Being a homemaker and a stay at home mom may not feel like it’s an economically viable job, in the sense that one does not bring in an income. Many mothers have wrestled with this fact, questioning their decision to stay home as well as the validity of homemaking as…
26 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Conflict With Parents Over Wedding Plans

When it comes to planning a wedding there are all sorts of areas in which conflict can arise. With two families coming together to make this important day special, there will always be differences in opinion and family culture.
23 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Children's Nervous Habits

Have you noticed that your child has an annoying nervous habit that doesn’t seem to be going away? Kids pick up little habits that become a part of who they are for a while, and then usually give them up after time. So, when should you be concerned about those…
22 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Becoming a Successful Blended Family

In light of the fact that re-marriage is an extremely common phenomenon, the blended family is one that requires a lot of time and energy in order to create a unit that operates in harmony. The factors that make the work harder are things like past hurts and baggage, former…
21 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Affair With a Member of the Extended Family

Extra-marital affairs can have devastating consequences! And although the right thing to do is be honest about the misdemeanor, when should one just keep their mouth shut?
20 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Adult Child Living at Home Disregards Parents

What kind of standards of conduct and behavior should parents impose upon an adult child living in their home? Our single 29-year-old daughter lives with us in separate quarters off of the main house. She knows how deeply we feel about marriage as the only appropriate context for sexual expression,…
19 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

When Not to Submit to Your Husband

Is it ever appropriate for a woman to question her husband's judgment or to oppose his decisions when she believes he's in the wrong? If so, how does this fit in with Ephesians 5:22, where Paul says, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord?" Are there any…
16 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Special Needs of a Compliant Child

How is a mild-tempered, cooperative child likely to be impacted by the presence of a defiant and strong-willed sibling in the home? My oldest daughter is a model child-pleasant, cheerful, and agreeable. Her brother is the exact opposite. I may contact you about him some other time; believe me, there's…
15 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Moving Forward After the Pain of Divorce

How do I deal with the brokenness of divorce and make a new life for my kids and myself? I'll admit that I've made some bad choices. One of the worst was walking away from my family when my marriage got too tough to deal with. I realize now that…
13 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Addictions, Choosing an Accountability Partner

As a recovering addict, how can I find someone to walk with me through the difficult beginning stages of the healing process? Do you have any advice on choosing an accountability partner and what this relationship should look like? I'd really appreciate any suggestions you can offer.
12 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

A Christian's Relationship With a Godless Government

Why should I "submit" to a government that I believe is moving in the wrong direction? I love my country and want to cooperate with the political system, but I'm struggling to understand what the Bible says on this subject. How in the world can the apostle Paul tell Christians…
9 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Sex At Its Best

Is marital sex really more satisfying? I'm in a difficult marriage, and one of the biggest sore spots between me and my wife is the whole issue of sex. I feel deprived. Sometimes I'm even tempted to explore the possibility of getting my needs met somewhere else. I read an…
8 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Sorting Out Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

What's the difference between obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder? I'm confused about the terminology, which complicates my efforts to find help for my spouse, who (in my opinion) exhibits a number of obsessive-compulsive traits. Can you clarify the difference for me?
7 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Struggling With Same-sex attractions

Is there any way I can overcome my life-long struggle with same-sex attraction? I've tried to resist, but it seems inevitable that I will eventually act on these feelings. What should I do?
6 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min

Talking to Children About Tragic Events

s a parent, how should I deal with my children when mass shootings, natural disasters, and other tragic events involving loss of life occur? Should I do my best to shield them from this information – an almost impossible task in the face of today's constant news media cycle? Or…
6 Dec 2021 9AM 4 min

Use of Contraceptives in Marriage

All married couples face the enormous decision of if and when they would like to have children. There are various different methods for preventing pregnancy, which, of course, allows a couple to wait for a while after marriage before starting a family, in between having more kids, or when choosing…
1 Dec 2021 5PM 4 min
412 – 432