Ask Questions First

This episode of the Focus on the Family Equipping Parents Podcast explores the transformative power of asking questions in parenting, particularly when navigating deep conversations with teens about faith, truth, and identity. Host John Fuller is joined by Dr. Danny Huerta, who draws on insights from a conversation with Dr. Sean McDowell about using thoughtful, curiosity-driven questions to engage adolescents. The discussion emphasizes that parents don’t need to be the 'smartest person in the room'—instead, their role is to listen, reflect, and invite exploration. The hosts highlight that questions foster intimacy, reduce defensiveness, and create space for genuine dialogue, echoing Jesus’ use of questions in the Gospels. They stress that the goal isn’t to win an argument or impose answers, but to build trust and help teens wrestle with big questions in a safe environment. The episode also addresses the emotional weight of a child questioning faith, normalizing parental anxiety while offering hope through counseling resources and practical tools like Sean McDowell’s book, A Rebel's Manifesto.