Parenting

Parenting isn’t easy and requires extraordinary sacrifice. For children to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually requires self sacrifice from their parent or parents or carers. Without the loving self sacrifice of an adult to a child or adults to children, they will not grow emotionally, spiritually and even physically.

Below are some resources to help parent children. But also lean into your church community - you’re not alone. Every parent or carer knows the incredible joys of caring for children but also the hardships.

Big Principle Books

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change your family, by Paul Tripp.

The great thing about Paul Tripp is that he deeply understands the Gospel and he knows it is the key to knowing God and living a transformed life. He brings the great gospel of Jesus to bear on parenting.

Big Picture Parents: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life, by Harriet Connor.

Harriet’s goal is for parents to discover the Big Picture of parenting working within the plan and purpose of God. See a review here.

Bibles

LittleS- ages 1-4

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm.

It tells the story in big pictures and beautiful words of the need and search for the forever king, Jesus. It traces the plot line of the whole Bible to bring the good news of Jesus to our kids. It does miss some of the classic stories. But its goal is to give the big story and that is a far better goal than a random collection on seemingly unrelated stories. And yes, it is expensive but it has beautiful pictures and is a great size for a littlie to sit on your lap and be immersed in the images.

Primary School

The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski.

I reckon it is terrific. It has 156 stories covering the Old and New Testament. And in every story Marty shows the connections in the story with the great news of Jesus. He also has good questions at the end to help kids (or the parents) think a little more deeply! See my review here.