Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones
“I’ve never read a book on this subject with so many practical suggestions for bringing a Christian influence on your children.”
―Donald S. Whitney, author, Family Worship and Praying the Bible
Discipling your family can feel like an intimidating task, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming or complicated. With a simple plan in place, discipleship is something every parent can do.
Pastors Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have made it their mission to help you develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship focused in three key areas: time, moments, and milestones. Filled with suggestions, sample plans, and Scripture references, this book begins with the end in mind―equipping you to create a unique plan for your family as you raise your children in the love and fear of the Lord.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“What an insightful, helpful book! I love the fresh yet thoroughly biblical approach to family discipleship. The emphasis on discipling your family through time (daily, ongoing practices), moments (unplanned, spontaneous occasions), and milestones (special events) will enable you to see more clearly how to bring the gospel into all of life. I’ve never read a book on this subject with so many practical suggestions for bringing a Christian influence on your children from their birth to the end of their days (and long after you are in heaven). Begin reading this book and I think you’ll find, like I did, that it starts strong and gets better with every chapter.”
―Donald S. Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Family Worship; Praying the Bible; and Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
“If you are a flawed parent who doesn’t have it all together, but believes that God desires to use you to shape your kids toward knowing and enjoying Jesus, pick up Family Discipleship! It’s a profound yet down-to-earth guide to help you form a framework for your home that fits your personality and gifts.”
―David Robbins, President and CEO, FamilyLife
“Yes! This is the framework families need. Both paradigm shifting and practical, this resource will demystify the idea of family discipleship and challenge you to utilize the opportunities right before you.”
―Ruth Chou Simons, Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Beholding and Becoming and GraceLaced; artist; Founder, GraceLaced Co.
“Family Discipleship is an outstanding resource for families. Like a life raft in a vast sea of parenting advice, this book offers parents a framework for one of their most important tasks when raising children―teaching them to know and love the Lord. Theologically rich, incredibly practical, and genuinely realistic―this is a book I hope all parents put on their bookshelf.”
―Laura Wifler, Cofounder, Risen Motherhood; coauthor, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments
“In Family Discipleship, Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin make you feel more excited than ever to call yourself a parent, while also casting a gripping vision for why we should take discipling our kids seriously. This book is a clarion call to every Christian parent: family discipleship matters, it is doable, and it’s our joy-filled responsibility both to God and to the next generation.”
―Ryan and Selena Frederick, Founders, Fierce Parenting and Fierce Marriage; authors, Fierce Marriage
“Family Discipleship is a rare resource―intensely practical without becoming a simplistic, one-size-fits-all ‘how-to manual.’ Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have provided a framework that challenges and equips parents to fulfill their divine calling to disciple their children in all seasons of life. This book is realistic in its approach, acknowledging the imperfections we all have as parents, and yet very helpful in guiding parents to develop a strategy that fits their unique families. Parents will be challenged to model a life of faith, develop intentionality around God’s word, seize everyday discipleship moments, and celebrate life’s milestones. Most importantly, parents will be encouraged that this great task of making disciples of their children is empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit through them.”
―Afshin Ziafat, Lead Pastor, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas
“This is one of the best books I’ve read on family discipleship! Chandler and Griffin bring wonderful insight to the challenge and joy of everyday parenting―and refreshing perspective on the immense responsibility of disciple making in our own home.”
―Noe Garcia, Senior Pastor, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona
“Parents have the greatest opportunity to disciple their children, but many parents haven’t experienced discipleship themselves to even begin to know how to do that. In the current ‘Pinterest-perfect’ era of parenting, stress is high for mom and dad as they try to raise their children in the Lord. Family Discipleship takes you just as you are, and will show you the way regardless of your level of confidence. Deep and practical, Family Discipleship is highly recommended.”
―Mark Matlock, coauthor, Faith for Exiles
“There is a need and a place for books about how to implement family-equipping ministry in the local church, but that’s not what this book provides. Family Discipleship fills a very different need that’s every bit as important as field guides for churches: it provides parents with the simple and practical tools that they need to disciple their children. Richard Baxter once pointed out to pastors that if they will train parents to disciple their children, these practices of family discipleship ‘will not only spare you a great deal of labor, but will much further the success of your labors’ as a pastor. This book then provides pastors with a simple way to ‘further the success’ of their labors.”
―Timothy Paul Jones, author, Family Ministry Field Guide; C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
About the Author
Matt Chandler (BA, Hardin-Simmons University) serves as lead pastor of teaching at the Village Church in Dallas, Texas, and president of the Acts 29 Network. He lives in Texas with his wife, Lauren, and their three children.
Adam Griffin (DEdMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in East Dallas, Texas. He previously served as an elder and spiritual formation pastor at the Village Church. Adam lives with his wife, Chelsea, and their three sons Oscar, Gus, and Theodore, in Dallas, Texas.
Jen Wilkin is a Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas. As an advocate for biblical literacy, she has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts and authored multiple books, including the best seller Women of the Word. You can find her at JenWilkin.net.