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Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design, by Tad Thompson
Endorsed by Joel Beeke, Kevin Ezell, Timothy Paul Jones, James Hamilton, and more.
There are literally thousands of books available on how to live various aspects of the Christian life. Of these, at least a couple of dozen pertaining to family life and child training are well worth reading.
This is not one of those books.
This book is designed to help you take those other books, as well as all the sermons, teachings, and exhortations you have received on child training and leadership in the home, and make sense of it all. Pastor Tad Thompson has assembled a biblical approach to effective family discipleship. Let him share it with you in this clear, encouraging, accessible book. This is not another book of tactics and techniques. It is a book of strategy for parents who want to be intentional about discipleship in the home.
Author
Dr. Tad Thompson is a second generation pastor who entered the ministry at age 18. Tad has served local churches in student ministry, adult ministry, and now as the lead pastor of Harvard Avenue Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Tad and Mandy were married in 1999 and have two children. Tad has a passion to help churches equip parents to engage in effective family discipleship. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2009.
Endorsements
“Will help any parent put the truth of God’s Word into the hearts of their children.”
—Kevin Ezell
Click for all endorsements
“Dr. Tad Thompson’s Intentional Parenting is a practical page-turner that encourages fathers to engage the hearts of their families with truth and grace. In an age when truth is either ignored or despised, it is refreshing to see a book written for ordinary fathers who want their families to be sanctified by the truth (John 17:17). Thompson writes with grace which reminds us that parenting, like every aspect of Christian discipleship, flows from the sweet mercies of Christ.”
—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“As parents, we know God has given us the responsibility to train our children in His ways. But many parents aren’t biblically discipling their children because they feel overwhelmed and don’t know where or how to start. Tad has done a favor for all of us by identifying seven key categories of biblical teaching we can all utilize in teaching our children Godly truth and principles. He has organized it in an easy-to-follow plan that will help any parent put the truth of God’s Word into the hearts of their children.”
—Kevin Ezell, father of six and president of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention.
“Need an introductory text for parents to the topic of discipling children, perhaps in a church where this simply isn’t the way dads and moms think about their role? If so, give some consideration to Intentional Parenting by Tad Thompson. It’s a clear and simple text on family discipleship, centered on the gospel rather than on human successes or external behaviors.”
—Timothy Paul Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Discipleship and Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of Family Ministry Field Guide, Perspectives on Family Ministry, and Trained in the Fear of God: Family Ministry in Biblical, Theological, and Practical Perspective
“Are you doing what you can to make sure that the coming generation will praise the Lord? This book can help you in that great task. May the Lord use it powerfully to cause our little ones to praise his name.”
—James M. Hamilton, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Biblical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and author of God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment, and God’s Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments
“Tad Thompson knows about the needs of today’s families. This approach is creative, thoroughly biblical, and is a must read for any parent who desires for the children to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their might. This is a great strategy for anyone who is looking for a way to pull their family together around God’s Word.”
—Blake Gideon, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Inola, Oklahoma
“Whether your family needs a complete discipleship renovation or a simple tune-up, Intentional Parenting will challenge you to go deeper as a family. This book is biblically sound, with helpful applications in regards to the roles of parents and the spiritual development of our children. For far too long, parents have shirked this sacred responsibility of teaching our children, leaving it solely to the local church. Intentional Parenting is a refreshing yet sobering reminder of our duty as followers of Jesus Christ to assist our children’s growth. Written from a pastor’s heart, the stories will encourage you in your journey of capturing your children’s hearts for Jesus Christ. I have been personally challenged in my own heart by this book, and I highly recommend it to you!”
—Heath Peloquin, Senior Pastor, Brighton Park Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas
Blog Review –
Frank Turk is the first to review Intentional Parenting over at the Team Pyro blog.
“The rudimentary wisdom for starting family discipleship found in this book will break through your complacency and fear about the task…Do yourself a favor and skip lunch one day this week, and put your lunch money up for this book. You can download it immediately, and you can start your new program of giving your children a godly heritage by dinnertime the next day.”
Terry Delaney over at Christian Book Notes gives Intentional Parenting a solid review and recommendation.
“I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Intentional Parenting. Reading it may change your life. Reading it and applying the principles found within its pages will certainly change the lives of your children.”
Jimmy Davis gives Intentional Parenting high marks at the Cruciform Life Blog.
“Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design encouraged me today. I was reminded that God does indeed expect me to disciple my children, but that through his gospel and his people and his Spirit he also will equip and empower me to do that which he expects…This book is a fantastic introduction to gospel-centered family discipleship. I am the pastor for discipleship at our church and I plan to recommend (if only I could require!) this book to every parent in our congregation. I will especially be looking for opportunities to use this to train new and young parents.”
Charlie Langton –
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