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Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own
Every child—from infancy to adolescence—is being discipled by someone or something. The question Are you willing to disciple them for Jesus’ sake?Accessible and actionable for parents of children birth to 13 years old, Raising Disciples offers a detailed discipleship map and directional markers to nurture your child’s spiritual growth with Christ.During her more than 25 years in children’s ministry alongside her academic work training up children’s ministry leaders, Dr. Teresa Roberts noticed that parents and even children’s ministry leaders seemed to struggle with knowing how to disciple children past the more-intuitive preschool ages. A foundational family and ministry resource, Raising Disciples reflects the developmental needs that will empower children to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word, develop a vocabulary of faith, engage in spiritual practices, and cultivate a deep, personal relationship with God. Featuring intuitive, quick-reference visual aids, researched expertise, real-life examples from the ministry of Jesus, and relational warmth, Raising Disciples is a must-have resource to give you a discipleship pathway for raising spiritually grounded children in today's complex world.Includes additional map from birth to adolescenceDiscipleship reference by age levelResource list for continued discipleship and training in biblical interpretationDiscussion questions for children’s ministry leaders and volunteersLearn how to equip your child with tools to navigate life’s challenges and make their Christian faith a personal and lasting commitment.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2024
19 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Roberts
1 book9 followersTeresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation and Program Director of Children’s Ministry at Ozark Christian College and Lincoln Seminary. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at College Heights Christian Church where her husband serves as the Operations Ministry Lead.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at College Heights Christian Church where her husband serves as the Operations Ministry Lead.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 15, 2025
I will reread this book when I have children. I will gift it at every baby shower & give to every couple who fosters or adopts. This book is such an amazing resource for teaching kids about God & gives such great tips for language to use at each age. I especially enjoyed the chapter on spiritual practices and how to implement each one. I also love Teresa so I’m a little biased, but this was such a great book!
September 16, 2024
If you have kids, work with kids, are around kids, care about kids, or once were a kid (have I covered everyone), you should read this book. Dr. Teresa Roberts does amazing work addressing how to love and raise children to become disciples of Jesus. Or, as she says, on how to guide children to grow continually in being the image of God. The book is practical (immensley: charts and all), well written, and truly helpful for parents who desire their kids to not simply just know about God but to know God. Every church should buy a copy (or few) as an amazing resource for their pastors, volunteers, and parents.
September 9, 2024
Raising Disciples is a wonderful resource for everyone. Whether you are on your own discipleship journey, leading children at your local church, or raising your own children to follow Jesus, this is a great read. Dr. Roberts shares knowledge and insights from years of research, education, and experience.
In her book, she outlines the discipleship path, including strategies and tips for each stage of a child’s journey. While following Jesus is not a one-size-fits-all formula, Dr. Roberts does an excellent job of explaining helpful information for discipleship.
While families should partner with the Church to raise disciples, parents are the primary leaders in the discipleship of children. With this book, parents, family members, leaders, and volunteers can be equipped to better point children toward the love of Christ.
In her book, she outlines the discipleship path, including strategies and tips for each stage of a child’s journey. While following Jesus is not a one-size-fits-all formula, Dr. Roberts does an excellent job of explaining helpful information for discipleship.
While families should partner with the Church to raise disciples, parents are the primary leaders in the discipleship of children. With this book, parents, family members, leaders, and volunteers can be equipped to better point children toward the love of Christ.
July 7, 2025
Must read for anyone working or interacting with children!!!
October 11, 2024
Dr. Roberts has provided a resource for parents that is valuable both devotionally and practically. It includes a treasure trove of charts to help better understand the spiritual benchmarks we should be aiming for with our children.
Discipleship is hard, and raising kids is hard. This book is an invaluable tool to have at the intersection of those two things.
Discipleship is hard, and raising kids is hard. This book is an invaluable tool to have at the intersection of those two things.
September 25, 2024
Parents are inundated with information about what to do, what not to do, specific tricks and tips to become better parents. Oftentimes Christian resources and studies can leave parents and caregivers overwhelmed by not “doing enough” to care for their child’s spiritual well-being and faith journey. This book is quite the opposite.
Raising Disciples is a breath of fresh air in a world of comparison, parenting hacks, and pressure to not ruin your child’s relationship with Jesus and His Church. Dr. Teresa Roberts lays out the foundation of all of our faith, reminds us we are all disciples of something, and encourages parents to help children make their faith their own. This book is incredibly empowering for parents to evaluate their own journey with Christ and begin prioritizing the need to identify where their child is on their personal discipleship journey.
Anyone who is a parent, grandparent, caregiver, guardian, or works with children should read this book.
Raising Disciples is a breath of fresh air in a world of comparison, parenting hacks, and pressure to not ruin your child’s relationship with Jesus and His Church. Dr. Teresa Roberts lays out the foundation of all of our faith, reminds us we are all disciples of something, and encourages parents to help children make their faith their own. This book is incredibly empowering for parents to evaluate their own journey with Christ and begin prioritizing the need to identify where their child is on their personal discipleship journey.
Anyone who is a parent, grandparent, caregiver, guardian, or works with children should read this book.
October 3, 2024
“Does your child see Jesus in your breathing?” This line made me take a step back. Does my child really see Jesus in me? I am so thankful to have read Dr. Robert’s book and think it’s a phenomenal resource for anyone who is a spiritual parent in a child’s life!
October 25, 2024
Wonderful discipleship resource!
In Raising Disciples, Dr. Roberts eloquently explains how the first 12 years of a kids life are vital for their discipleship. It’s in these formative years that children begin to develop familial attachments (secure/insecure), habits, and a theological understandings that accompany them throughout their lives.
She also provides practical methods for disciplining children that are appropriate to their age/stage of development. Methods such as reflection, tailored Bible stories and spiritual exercises.
Would recommend for parents, Sunday school teachers, pastors, youth leaders, etc!
In Raising Disciples, Dr. Roberts eloquently explains how the first 12 years of a kids life are vital for their discipleship. It’s in these formative years that children begin to develop familial attachments (secure/insecure), habits, and a theological understandings that accompany them throughout their lives.
She also provides practical methods for disciplining children that are appropriate to their age/stage of development. Methods such as reflection, tailored Bible stories and spiritual exercises.
Would recommend for parents, Sunday school teachers, pastors, youth leaders, etc!
September 12, 2024
If you have children younger than 13, or work with children, and want to lead them into lives of faith, this book provides a number of tremendous resources.
October 11, 2024
If you are a Christian parent with a child under the age of 13, buy and read this book NOW. Teresa gives you practical tools to disciple your child at home.
August 13, 2024
As a children’s pastor, if I had to give one word to describe this book, I would use the word Ambitious. And please note, I am not saying overly-ambitious. It’s so very clear that Prof. Roberts is an optimist and honestly it’s a fresh perspective that is needed right now in the field of teaching/discipling children.
Roberts sets the bar high for our discipling of our children (whether that be as a parent or mentor) but she backs it with a thoughtful “map” on how we can actually help our children to come to a faith of their own by being so intentional with how we interact with them over their first 13 years of life.
I appreciate her note on if we don’t disciple our children in this way, something else will. Additionally as a children’s pastor that doesn’t have a lot of training in the area of child development, this is the first children’s discipleship book that I have read that gives clear instructions on what kids need at what ages. I would buy the book simply for its Appendix over “Age-Level Discipleship.”
Overall, a book that I would highly recommend.
Roberts sets the bar high for our discipling of our children (whether that be as a parent or mentor) but she backs it with a thoughtful “map” on how we can actually help our children to come to a faith of their own by being so intentional with how we interact with them over their first 13 years of life.
I appreciate her note on if we don’t disciple our children in this way, something else will. Additionally as a children’s pastor that doesn’t have a lot of training in the area of child development, this is the first children’s discipleship book that I have read that gives clear instructions on what kids need at what ages. I would buy the book simply for its Appendix over “Age-Level Discipleship.”
Overall, a book that I would highly recommend.
November 13, 2024
Dr. Teresa Roberts, here, does a splendid job of synthesizing lessons from decades of ministry, study, and her own spiritual journey in order to help parents, ministry leaders, and friendly Christians how to purposely raise children to love Jesus.
Of specific help, here, is the focus Teresa places on time: the first 13 years of life. Many resources attempt in too few pages to cover too large a life span, and Teresa avoids that pitfall by staying focused.
The tips and questions she poses are helpful and practical, and yet are also well-informed. As a scholar, Teresa is not content with only her own story or experiences, though the book is sprinkled witt anecdotes and comments from her expertise, and is instead well informed by others, researched and cited throughout.
As one of the kids who was impacted by Teresa as a student in her children's ministry, music classroom, and seminary classes, I am touched she wrote this book and entrusted a review copy to me.
Of specific help, here, is the focus Teresa places on time: the first 13 years of life. Many resources attempt in too few pages to cover too large a life span, and Teresa avoids that pitfall by staying focused.
The tips and questions she poses are helpful and practical, and yet are also well-informed. As a scholar, Teresa is not content with only her own story or experiences, though the book is sprinkled witt anecdotes and comments from her expertise, and is instead well informed by others, researched and cited throughout.
As one of the kids who was impacted by Teresa as a student in her children's ministry, music classroom, and seminary classes, I am touched she wrote this book and entrusted a review copy to me.
November 13, 2024
I can’t recommend this strongly enough. What a fantastic book! I’ve read quite a few parenting books, but none captured my heart quite like this one. As a pastor, I felt a lot of excitement reading this. I kept nodding my head and giving a quiet “YES” as I turned the pages. But as a parent of a 10 and 7 year old, I felt the excitement AND conviction, and challenge, and deep desire to implement the strategies she lays out in the book in my own house. Conviction is a good thing. It pushes us to want to be better. That’s what this book did for me. It makes me want to be a better father and Christlike example for my girls. Thankfully, Dr. Roberts has laid out a clear and practical pathway to make that happen in this book.
September 13, 2024
🥹 My eyes are still damp from the conclusion of this book. Talk about an incredible resource that is both informational and pastoral.
As one who has had the privilege of studying under Dr. Roberts, I can attest to the fact that the heart and passion with which she wrote this book is the same heart and passion with which she lives her life. God has given her an immense level of care for raising disciples. She’s dedicated her life’s work to raising disciples, and through this book she’s extended the invitation to any of us who interact with children to join in the intentional work of raising disciples.
This is an invaluable resource to have in your toolbox.
As one who has had the privilege of studying under Dr. Roberts, I can attest to the fact that the heart and passion with which she wrote this book is the same heart and passion with which she lives her life. God has given her an immense level of care for raising disciples. She’s dedicated her life’s work to raising disciples, and through this book she’s extended the invitation to any of us who interact with children to join in the intentional work of raising disciples.
This is an invaluable resource to have in your toolbox.
November 16, 2024
Raising Disciples is a helpful resource for church leaders, children’s ministry volunteers, and parents. I teach undergraduate and graduate level children’s ministry courses, and have added this book to my reading list. The author describes the goals of spiritual discipleship and includes helpful charts to connect the development stages to the what the children should be able to learn and understand about God. I find these charts as a helpful resource for any teacher or parent. I greatly appreciate the attention given spiritual disciples and identity formation.
November 19, 2024
We are sharing this book with our parents as one that can impact the daily way that matters as trusted adults walk with children and show them the path for their faith journey. Dr. Roberts meshes together two components that make this relevant and focused in disciplining kids at home.
Dr. Roberts takes developmental stages and faith essentials and makes clear charts broken down by age as a guide to walk with your kids. Then, she puts the icing on the cake by sharing the whys of walking this path and providing many helpful suggestions and examples of her own home life growing up.
Dr. Roberts takes developmental stages and faith essentials and makes clear charts broken down by age as a guide to walk with your kids. Then, she puts the icing on the cake by sharing the whys of walking this path and providing many helpful suggestions and examples of her own home life growing up.
August 19, 2025
Thanks, Teresa, for your words of wisdom! What I most appreciate is simply the fact that for every stage of childhood, discipleship looks different, and I appreciate the practical wisdom that follows. There may be an updated review in the future as I implement many of the elements of this book into my kids ministry and possibly school.
August 10, 2025
This book wasn’t bad, but it was a bit simple. I find myself often wanting parenting type books to be more practical but this one was a bit too practical. It was mostly charts with some light commentary, nothing really deep like I’d hoped.
January 27, 2025
Excellent, practical principles for instilling love and devotion to God in children ages birth to 13 years.
November 10, 2025
This was a really good book for guiding children to their faith.
November 25, 2025
Very practical! I appreciated the tables/charts. Would probably disagree with or adjust some things but overall helpful read for discipleship!
November 26, 2025
This book is excellent. It is full of practical roadmaps for discipling children.
“When should my kids be able to pray on their own?” “Which Bible stories should I share with them?” “How will I know if my child has a faith of their own?” All of these questions and so many more are answered in this book. As a long-time believer, this book is really useful. If you did not grow up in a Christian household, this book is indispensable.
My kids hit almost every age bracket - newborn, preschool, mid-elementary, and preteen. I can tell you from first-hand, currently-in-the-trenches experience that her assessment of kids’ abilities and Spiritual needs are right on track.
I bought the Kindle version. I will also purchase a paper copy so I can highlight and take notes. I would love to go through this book with a group of young moms at my church. I am even excited to read it again for myself! It is that good!
“When should my kids be able to pray on their own?” “Which Bible stories should I share with them?” “How will I know if my child has a faith of their own?” All of these questions and so many more are answered in this book. As a long-time believer, this book is really useful. If you did not grow up in a Christian household, this book is indispensable.
My kids hit almost every age bracket - newborn, preschool, mid-elementary, and preteen. I can tell you from first-hand, currently-in-the-trenches experience that her assessment of kids’ abilities and Spiritual needs are right on track.
I bought the Kindle version. I will also purchase a paper copy so I can highlight and take notes. I would love to go through this book with a group of young moms at my church. I am even excited to read it again for myself! It is that good!
October 27, 2025
Lots of good, practical tips
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews