Review: Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design

Tad Thompson. Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design.  Adelphi, Maryland: Cruciform Press, January 1, 2011.  114 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

I love the title of this book.  Are you intentionally raising your children in a manner that is meaningful and fulfilling God’s purpose?  This is a book Christian parents should get and read.  I have not heard of the author Tad Thompson before until I read this book and after I finished this book I see that he’s a second generation pastor and started ministry when he was 18.  He’s written a resource that’s definitely biblically wise.

There are six chapters in this book.  The first chapter establish not only the need for this book but the need for children to have their parents disciple them rather than it being outsourced to a youth ministry or the church.  Chapter two involves the readers doing a self-reflection of where one is at spiritually; it is appropriately titled “The Mirror.”  Chapter three looks at what does family disciple involve with the various ways of studying and applying God’s Word and the author titled it the Kitchen since it looks at the “ingredients” of family discipleship.  Chapter four looks at the context for discipling one’s kids and is titled the living room since much of life takes place in the home in the living room.  Chapter five looks at the subject of shepherding the child’s heart and chapter six is titled “Times to Engage.”

This was for me a spiritually refreshing read.  I read it and took notes.  There was many good things from this book.  For instance I thought it was good that the author made the point that statistics should show us the importance of child’s spiritual growth is most effective coming from parents than outsourced to the church and youth ministry. Never have we have more youth pastors in the church and a whole industry specializing in youth ministry yet we see more and more fall away from the faith.  God’s tried and true way of parents teaching their own kids about God is needed today.  I thought it was good the author talked about parenting not just in the home but discipleship involves giving input in four spheres: home, community, church and world.  I also thought the book’s discussion of four common wrong goals of parenting and then reminding readers of the Gospel focused purpose for Christian parenting.

If there’s one constructive criticism is I wished it was longer.  That stood out to me as he talked about the seven “ingredients” of family discipleship which were Gospel, Bilical Theology, Systematic Theology, Spiritual disciplines, Christian living and Biblical Worldview.  I wished he could have explained each more.  Still I don’t know if this constructive criticism is as being so critical given that few people today want to read long books and there’s a place for parents to read and get the big picture and this book is a gateway resource to further deeper studies.

I recommend this book.