Big Beliefs!: Small Devotionals Introducing Your Family to Big Truths

by David R. Helm (Editor)

For many, consistently practicing family devotions can be an overwhelming task. Recognizing this, Pastor David Helm has written a devotional expressly intended to help parents to succeed and children to grow. Three weekly readings accompanied by suggested Scripture passages introduce and simply explain key theological concepts found in the Westminster Confession of Faith (reproduced here in modern English). Questions following each reading help to start a conversation about what is learned. It's never too early to introduce Christianity's big beliefs!

Genres: Childrens, Devotional, Nonfiction, Christianity, Parenting, Christian Living, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

David R. Helm, along with Arthur Jackson, serves as Lead Pastor of the Hyde Park Congregation of Holy Trinity Church Chicago. David is Chairman of The Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry devoted to equipping men in expository preaching.

A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.

David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Reviews

[SK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was helpful in establishing a daily routine of breakfast family devotionals. While ironing out this new habit, we found it useful to have the Scripture passage already at hand, rather than having to choose one amid the chaos of spilt juice and buttery hands grabbing for the last muffin. Some of the entries were a little on the cheesy side, but the kids found them accessible and therefore paid attention (for the most part).

[Deon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resources for family devotions, using the Westminster Confession as a companion guide.
The lesson are short and are followed by questions to engage good conversations. This devotional covers some great topics to solidify basic theology (e.g. the Bible, justification, adoption, christian liberty, and the sacraments)

Recommended age is 7-12 yrs old.

(In regard with this confession having distinct Presbyterian beliefs, particularly with infant baptism, the devotion is presented in a common ground with Baptists.)

I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

[Josh Cosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great devotional book to go through with the family. Each devotion has a Bible passage (you should have the Bible readily accessible to you) and an application which corresponds with each of the chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith. We enjoyed it. It’s written to children but is also really practical to the parents reading it aloud. Had to modify on the fly when we came across that chapter on baptism ;)

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The husband and 15 year old gave it 5 stars. I gave it 4 because the catechism answers were in archaic language that was a little hard for my 12 year old to absorb easily. But overall a great way to get acquainted with the great truths of the Bible.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional book to use during family devotions, if you have small children.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super family devotional with a great little introduction to the Westminster catechism. A little American in places for this British family but well worth doing.

[Yonasan Aryeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a selection of devotions to help families learn big truths in bite-sized sessions. There are seven parts to the book, with each part having a collection of lessons relevant to the assigned part. Thus, for the section on the Church, there are lessons on: (i) the Church, (ii) communion, (iii) sacraments, (iv) baptism, (v) L-rd’s Supper, (vi) discipline, and (vii) synods and councils. The book approaches all of the content from a Presbyterian theology, with the original intention of this work to be based off the Westminster Confession of Faith and designed for Holy Trinity Church in Chicago. Since then, the work spread to a wide-reaching devotional title. The work is designed to be taken in as three family devotions per week with a short reading of the Bible passage to children that is associated with the devotion. The concept is to teach on the passage with short points and retain an “interaction and reflection” time as a family.

Each lesson is broken into smaller components that are easy to digest. The first part is the biblical passage for the family to read aloud. The second part is a brief lesson and application of the material. The third part, Interaction & Reflection, engages the family to consider what is being taught and how it can apply to one’s life, as well as a broader application in a modern environment. It is followed up with an encouraged prayer point to finish the lesson. Families that are part of this church or party of the larger association of synods will appreciate this work and its beneficial role to the Presbytery. Outside of this denomination, some content will be applicable to Christianity as a whole, and other content will be eliminated from use as a result. Overall, it is beneficial devotion for those that wish to learn more about the Presbyterian method, but beyond that, there are a score of other devotionals I would recommend first.

Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Beliefs is a family devotional structured around the Westminster Confession of Faith. There are thirty-three lessons in Big Beliefs, or, thirty-three weeks of devotions. Each lesson is divided into three devotionals. Each devotional begins with a bible reference. This is probably the most important part of the devotion: the reading of the Bible itself. This should not be seen as skippable. Next there is the devotional itself. This is usually just two or three paragraphs long. It's short and story-based. Each daily devotion ends with a question or two for parents and children to discuss.

PART One: God's Word (1 lesson, 3 devotions)
PART Two: God (4 lessons, 12 devotions)
PART Three: The Fall, Sin, and Mankind (3 lessons, 9 devotions)
PART Four: Salvation (7 lessons, 21 devotions)
PART Five: The Christian Life (9 lessons, 27 devotions)
PART Six: The Church (7 lessons, 21 devotions)
PART Seven: The Last Things (2 lessons, 6 devotions)

The intended audience for the devotionals is ages seven through twelve. (This isn't a book children read on their own, but, instead a book parents read aloud to their children.)

I definitely think it's great for parents to have family devotions with their children, and to be purposeful in teaching their children theology--showing the next generation that Christianity is a living faith based on the Word of God. I think the length of each devotion is manageable. I also like that some review is built into this one.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful resource for families and ministries. Leading a family in regular devotions can be overwhelming for many, and good intentions often lead to discouragement and frustration when goals are set unrealistically and inevitable failure finally rears its head. Big Beliefs! is a book that will benefit many by offering sustainable and attainable goals when beginning family worship.

It is based on the Westminster Confession and offers 3 short lessons and Scripture readings over each chapter of the confession. 3 devotionals a week will still require discipline and determination, but it is doable. It also keeps you from setting the 8-nights-a-week goal that many of us make out of sincerity but break out of reality.

The lessons are short and simple. I cannot imagine an age that would be incapable of sitting through the lesson, and it is easily ramped up for older kids, especially a family with older and younger children.

I am glad this resource is available for my family and for the church at large.

I received and ARC from the publisher.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a maybe for me. I got really excited when I saw the great topics in the table of contents for family discussion, based off the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Presbyterian Church of America... unfortunately the execution didn't satisfy like I hoped for. Some great topics but not very many scriptural back up, some unhelpful or irrelevant examples or applications, and unsatisfying answers. Bit it could also be a great starting point to start from to do family devotions but supplement with your own more specific beliefs...hopefully based on what the Bible has to say and not a confession or denomination, though I don't know if that was the books problem or something else entirely. Glad to see a family devotion tackling big topics but not the delivery I hoped for.