Avoiding the Parent Trap - Resources for Parents

The following books are resources we have found helpful in becoming more gospel-centered as parents. This does not mean that each person on staff would agree with every point made in these works; however, they are, generally speaking, of such a high quality that we believe they can benefit you in your pursuit of raising children who not only love the good news of Jesus Christ but make it central to their life.

Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William Farley. Bill Farley's new book on parenting is rock solid. It is so because it is so profoundly grounded upon the all-sufficiency of the Word of God and the Gospel of grace. When it comes to parenting, Farley is no neophyte; he has been in the trenches raising sinful kids by the grace of God and for the glory of God for two decades. Nor is he going to give you theoretical platitudes; he is honest about his own deficiencies and his great need of Gospel wisdom in parenting. Here is Jonathan Edward s theology made accessible to depraved parents raising depraved kids in a depraved world. This is, ultimately, a parenting book full of hope, hope grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. --- Douglas Bond, author of Fathers & Sons.

Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. Kimmel, author and founder of Family Matters ministries, likens many Christian parents' attempts at rearing children to putting together a puzzle without first studying the completed picture located on the box's cover. Kimmel states that families of faith tend toward extremes, either being overly permissive or overly legalistic. This is not a particularly new concept, but Kimmel pulls it off with interesting storytelling and sound biblical parallels. He says Christians frequently believe that the battle for a child's heart and soul is fought on the outside-with rigid rules and boundaries-when in fact just the opposite is true. He underscores the importance of communicating the unconditional love that Christ offers and affirming this timeless message of grace to one's family. - Publishers Weekly

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. The Jesus Storybook Bible' says it all: The Scriptures are not merely a collection of stories designed to teach moral lessons. As Jesus explained to the men walking the road to Emmaus on Resurrection Sunday, the whole Bible is about Jesus. In the words of the subtitle, every story whispers his name….Lloyd-Jones manages to show again and again the presence of Christ in all the Old Testament Scriptures, and the presence of the Old Testament Scriptures in the life of Christ. - Christianity Today

This is absolutely my favorite children's Bible because every individual, beautifully illustrated story ultimately points to the greater Story of Jesus and the good news that is the Gospel. I joyously use this Bible with my own children. - Yancey Arrington, Teaching Pastor

You can also see Bibles we recommend for different age-graded ministries - here.