Parenting by God's Promises - by Joel R Beeke (Hardcover)

About the Book

In Parenting by God's Promises, Dr. Joel R. Beeke explores what nurture and admonition look like and offers gems of practical wisdom for parents on topics such as family worship, teaching children, modeling faithful Christian living, and exercising discipline.

Book Synopsis

Parents are unable to give their children what they need most--new hearts that trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins. All belief is a work of God alone. But parents must not "hinder" their children from coming to Christ, as Jesus' disciples sought to hinder mothers and fathers from bringing small children to Him (Mark 10:13-16). On the contrary, they must do everything in their power to "bring" their children to the Savior, which means raising their sons and daughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

In Parenting by God's Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace, Dr. Joel R. Beeke explores what this nurture and admonition looks like and offers gems of practical wisdom for parents on topics such as instituting and leading family worship, teaching children, modeling faithful Christian living, and exercising discipline. However, he carefully puts parental responsibilities in their proper perspective and guides mothers and fathers to lean not on their own abilities but to trust more fully in the God who knits children together in the first place. Above all, he affirms, parents must look to the one true God, who promises to provide everything His people need and to bless them and their families.

Review Quotes

"In an age of pragmatism, Joel Beeke is a drink of fresh, cool theological water. Raising children is about more than just surviving until they leave home; Beeke reminds us that Christian parents must view their roles in the broader context of God's redemptive work. Our goal must be raising children who, by God's grace, come to know and follow the Lord who has redeemed us and called us to Himself. This is a daunting task, and parents need all the help they can get. For those desperate to hear a clear, thoughtful, biblical, theological, Reformed treatise on the subject, Parenting by God's Promises is a valuable read. "

--Dr. Voddie Baucham

"In this book, Dr. Joel Beeke provides information that is in keeping with what we have come to expect from his preaching and writing: biblically based information about parenting, practical illustrations that really illustrate, and specific instructions that will help people to know how to put the directives of Scripture into practice. In this book, every Christian parent will find solid, dependable, practical, biblical help for bringing children up God's way. Dr. Beeke places a correct emphasis on the centrality of God's grace and sovereignty, and the importance of parental responsibility. Parents who are looking for a right perspective and practical help for facilitating this right perspective will find this book to be an excellent guide."

--Dr. Wayne A. Mack

"The defection of young people from the church is creating great concern in our day. Oftentimes the solutions seem to exacerbate the problem. Joel Beeke's book, Parenting by God's Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace, is a sane, biblical word in the midst of the chaos. The book blends a vibrant covenant theology with wise, practical instruction. Moreover, it keeps a balance between family and church in the nurture of our children. This book is an important read for pastors, elders, parents, and grandparents."

--Dr. Joseph A. Pipa Jr.

"To our great shame, far too many Christians raise their children without much thought as to what makes parenting distinctively Christian. Secular patterns of thought and habit have deeply infected Christian homes, and an antidote is urgently needed. Thankfully, it arrives as Parenting by God's Promises by Joel Beeke. This is a truly helpful and healthy book for Christian parents--deeply biblical, theological, and practical. Parents, prospective parents, and churches will want to keep Parenting by God's Promises close at hand."

--Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.

About the Author

Dr. Joel R. Beeke serves as president and professor of systematic theology, church history, and omiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation; editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth; editorial director for Reformation Heritage Books; president of Inheritance Publishers; and vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, all in Grand Rapids, Michigan.