10 of those

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 behaviour 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.

Read an independent review from The Gospel Coalition.