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Podcast Episode

Christian Film Making, A Good Idea vs a God Idea, & 3 Keys to Parenting | Alex Kendrick

COURAGEOUS PARENTING·Isaac & Angie Tolpin - CourageousParenting.com·15 September 2026·39 min

About this episode

We sat down with Alex Kendrick, the storyteller behind Facing the Giants, Courageous, War Room, Forge, and the upcoming Flywheel movie, for a conversation that goes far beyond moviemaking. Alex opens up about what his parents did to encourage their direction and sibling teamwork. He shares the testimony behind his calling, writing scripts rooted in biblical truth, and the difference between a good idea and a God idea when discerning direction for movies.He shares a powerful story from their teenage years, when he and his brothers shifted toward encouragement and teamwork with one another, living at the highest and wisest level as a family, and the practical fatherhood rhythms that hold their household together in the midst of the movie business: four family devotions a week, intentional travel together, and one on one time with each child so no one feels like just another task on the list.Alex shares a personal story of God calling him to deny himself, leading him to exclude himself from acting in one of the movies he wrote.We get into how attention, affirmation, and affection shape a child's sense of being fathered well. And movie making perspectives on AI as well.If you've ever wondered how a family builds a legacy of faith while also building a dynamic career, or how to keep from compartmentalizing calling and home life, this episode is for you.Topics covered:Alex's testimony and calling into filmmakingThe Good Idea vs God Idea filter for discerning directionFlywheel's re-release, October 16Keeping siblings and family in alignmentFamily rhythms: devotions, one on one time, not compartmentalizingPoint man mentality in being an effective team running a business with siblingsAttention, affirmation, and affection as the bedrock of fatheringRaising up the next generation of Christian filmmakersHis standards on AI and movie making as a ChristianLearn more about the Kendrick brothers new movie Flywheel at flywheelignitionofthesoulmovie.com🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book🤝 Companies we love and use:Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/