Gospel Centred Family [Paperback]

Tim Chester (Author), Ed Moll (Author), Tim Thornborough (Editor), Steve Devane (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Numerous books set out to help Christian parents in the challenging mission of raising their children well-so what's different about this one? Well, the answer's in the title! It's not about how the gospel fits into Christian family life, but how family life should fit into the gospel-God's greatest purpose for this universe, achieved in Christ. Many books aim to raise up competent, balanced parents and well-trained, well-rounded children. But Tim Chester and Ed Moll focus on families growing God-knowing, Christ-confessing, grace-receiving, servant-hearted, mission-minded believers-adults and children together. Christian families should be about... - not just making good citizens but also church planters, missionaries, reformers, servants and evangelists - not just learning about God but also showing Him to others; - not just controlling behavior but also changing the heart; - not just parents and children, but being an integral part of the wider church family. In twelve concise chapters, Gospel-Centered Family takes us through the major Bible principles for family life, challenging us to give up our 'respectable' middle-class idols, and to become the distinctively different people that God, through His gospel, calls us to be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Most books on parenting today focus on getting a child to comply to the parent s standard of behavior or to become well-trained, well-rounded children. Others focus on trying to get the gospel to fit into the family life. Rarely do you see books that encourage family life to fit into the gospel. Gospel-Centred Family is one such book. In the latest in the gospel-centred series from The Good Book Company, Ed Moll and Tim Chester encourage families to holistically live out the gospel by putting the gospel, grace, the Word, and mission at the center of their lives. Like the other gospel-centered resources by Chester, Gospel-Centred Family is divided into parts: a gospel-centered family, a grace-centered family, a word-centered family, and a mission-centered family. Each short and easy-to-read chapter gives a central principle, opening scenario, Scripture passage with questions, explanation of the concept, discussion questions, and ideas for action. With regard to Gospel-Centred Family, I could not extol it more. While there are many other resources that go into greater depth on issues of roles in families, idols of the heart, discipline, and teaching children the Word, I have yet to see a resource that is more concise, yet holistic on the issue of parenting. Each chapter is short but packed with content. The discussion questions are heart-penetrating and the ideas for action are practical, giving you tangible ways to build upon newly acquired insights. The first two chapters alone are so worthwhile that I actually wrote pure gold at the top of each page. But probably the most notable thing about Gospel-Centred Family is the way it centers the family in the church and views the family as a ministry unit, rather than related individuals. Moll and Chester challenge families to put Christ at the center of their family life and help them to develop strategies for doing ministry together. Rarely do you see a resource on families that helps them to find their identity in the church and give them handles for family-based ministry. And it does all this simply, without requiring any prior biblical knowledge from the parents. If you want to give the families of your church comprehensive vision for their homes that is centered on the good news of Jesus Christ rather than their immediate relations, get them to study Gospel-Centred Family. --TGC Reviews

About the Author

Tim Chester is a writer, teacher and church planter in the UK

Product Details

• Paperback: 93 pages
• Publisher: The Good Book Company; first edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906334706
• ISBN-13: 978-1906334703
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.2 x 6.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #599,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr Tim Chester is a director of the Porterbrook Institute which provides affordable, Bible-college level training for church leadership and missional church in the context of your ministry (www.porterbrookinstitute.org). He is a leader of The Crowded House, a church planting network (www.thecrowdedhouse.org). He blogs at www.timchester.co.uk. He has previously been Research and Policy Director for Tearfund UK and a part-time lecturer in missiology. He is the author of a number of books and series editor of The Good Book Guides (The Good Book Company). He is married with two daughters.