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
72 – 92

Scriptural Basis for Defending Human Life

Where does the Bible speak about the "sanctity of human life?" I've noticed that the more widely a phrase or slogan gets thrown around, the fuzzier its meaning seems to become. This one is a good example. I'm forever hearing Christians talk about "the sanctity of human life" – in…
19 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Preparing for Spouse's Release From Prison

In life we sometimes face challenges that we never dreamed we’d have to go through. Imagine not seeing your spouse for years because of imprisonment, and then knowing that the release date is approaching. After your relationship has been barely existent for so long, you’ll now be navigating the way…
18 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Spouse Misrepresents Husband

An important rule for any married couple is to avoid belittling or undermining your spouse in public. This statement may sound obvious, but often times a spouse may not even realize the error of his words, and that is why open and honest communication is so necessary.
17 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Boundaries in Marriage

Placing healthy boundaries in your marriage can never be underestimated. Too many marriage relationships have been thwarted by a lack of appropriate boundaries, which has inevitably led to falling into sin. Should a married man spend one on one time helping a women who is experiencing martial problems?
16 Apr 2023 6PM 3 min

Dealing with Childish Irresponsibility

Having a child who is inherently irresponsible can be one of the most frustrating things for a parent. Parenting is a tough enough task as it is, without having to constantly be worrying about a child who can’t seem to take responsibility for his things.
13 Apr 2023 6PM 3 min

My Spouse Physically Abuses Our Children

The statistics for reported child abuse in our country are way below the actual numbers, and this is due to various reasons. First a foremost, the fear instilled in the victims if they tell anyone what is going on, and then sadly, the social acceptance of practices like corporal punishment…
12 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

How to Leave Work at the Office and Be There for Your Family

The demands of a high powered job are monstrous, and fighting off the monster for the sake of your family can be one of the most challenging and yet profoundly important things you can do. In our fast paced world, with technology at our fingertips meaning that we are constantly…
10 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Grace, Law and Speaking the Truth in Love

If you’re a bible believing Christian who is on fire for the Lord and you’re desperate to see others experiencing the fullness of what God has for them, then you are not alone. Your approach to the people around you should be taken seriously and cautiously at the same time…
9 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Discerning the Signs of Alcoholism in a Loved One

Have you ever wondered if someone you love may have a drinking problem? There are many misnomers around alcoholism, and we want to disclose the signs you should be looking for if you suspect an issue with alcohol.
6 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Cybersex Online Affairs and Divorce

Marriages are under threat in an even more terrifying way than ever before with the introduction of cybersex and other online portals to sexually explicit material. So many people are falling prey to the lure of sexual encounters online without realizing the serious nature of such practices.
5 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Changes That Occur During Puberty and Adolescence

Can you tell us what changes we should expect as our child goes through puberty and enters adolescence – and how we should deal with them? I realize that this is likely to be a challenging time in our son's life. I'm also assuming that my spouse and I will…
4 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

Career, calling and Christian Vocation

It’s sometimes difficult to get a sense of really counting for God when your everyday life tends to feel quite mundane. Christians often question how effective they are being in God’s kingdom, trying desperately to pursue their ‘calling’ and ending up resenting their career.
3 Apr 2023 6PM 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…
2 Apr 2023 6PM 4 min

wondering if the spouse is truly repented over affair

How can I be sure that my spouse is really repentant for the pain he has caused me? A year ago, I discovered he'd been involved in an emotional affair with another woman for nearly a decade. He also has a history of explosive anger which has often led to…
30 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min

Divorce and impact on children

Divorce is never an easy road to walk, and when there are kids involved you can expect an even harder slog. Children are profoundly affected by their parents splitting up, and Mom and Dad need to know how best to deal with their kids’ scared and confused behavior.
29 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min

Minimising the impact of depression on your family

Depression is a clinical condition that affects the psyche of a person in varying degrees, but it also affects the family members in a considerable way. We’ll take an honest look at ways to minimize the impact of depression.
28 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min

How Dad teach daughters about modesty

There is so much to be said for the enormous role that a father plays in his daughter’s life, and especially in her confidence. A father shapes the way a girl sees herself in society, and so he has a great influence on feeding her self-worth.
27 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min

Help for victim of cyber bullying

We are regularly asked by parents, how they should go about dealing with a child who has been a victim of bullying and cyber-bullying. There are a number of articles that give guidelines and advice to those parents on our website at safamily.co.za. But, today we want to speak to…
26 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min

Child is afraid of the Devil

Children read about the Devil in the bible and hear stories told in Sunday School, and sometimes they begin to have nightmares and uncontrollable fears of this unseen enemy. Parents can do a lot to allay those fears by referencing what God’s word says in the Bible.
23 Mar 2023 6PM 4 min
72 – 92