Parents, have you ever considered your parenting from this perspective?
Christians parent with one eye on eternity. Their children will live forever. This is a staggering thought…Therefore, the Christian does not parent for this life only. The believing parent labors to prepare each child for the day of judgment. The stakes are inexpressibly high…
Christian parents have one goal during this short window of opportunity. It is to transfer the baton of faith in Christ to the next generation. Victory does not always go to the fastest four-hundred-meter relay team. It goes to the team that most efficiently transfers the baton. No matter how fast the runners, if the transfer is slow and clumsy, the team will probably lose. In the same way, parents prepare their children for the day of judgment by transferring their faith, values, purposes, self-discipline, and motivations to their children.
(William P. Farley, God-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting, ©2009, page 41)
What an enormous, God-given privilege and responsibility! Furthermore, we are parenting in the midst of a hostile world, and we daily struggle with our own indwelling sin and that of our children. Parenting is plain hard work! Therefore, parents should make use of as many good, biblical, and helpful resources as possible.
Here is a list of some parenting books that we have reviewed and recommend:
Age of Opportunity (Paul Tripp)
The Disciple-Making Parent: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Raising Your Children to Love and Follow Jesus Christ (Chap Bettis)
Equipping for Life: A Guide for New, Aspiring & Struggling Parents (Andreas and Margaret Köstenberger)
The Faith of a Child: A Step-by-Step Guide to Salvation for Your Child (Art Murphy)
Future Men: Raising Boy to Fight Giants (Douglas Wilson)
Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting (William Farley)
Grace-Based Parenting: Set Your Family Free (Tim Kimmel)
Hints on Child Training (Clay Trumbull)
Instructing a Child’s Heart (Tedd Tripp)
Parenting by the Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child (John Rosemond)
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family (Paul Tripp)
Peacemaking for Families (Ken Sande)
Shepherding a Child’s Heart (Tedd Tripp)
Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training (Lou Priolo)
Why Christian Kids Rebel: Trading Heartache for Hope (Tim Kimmel)
Your Child’s Profession of Faith (Dennis Gundersen)
Special note to children’s ministry workers and grandparents: Don’t feel left out! You can also benefit from these resources. I read most of these books AFTER my children reached adulthood. They have helped me be a better grandparent and Sunday school teacher. Additionally, I would even go as far to say that they have challenged me to be a better parent to my adult children, as each book offers timeless truths.
