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How to Raise Children for Christ: A Guide for Excellent Christian Parenting
I will put my trust in Him ... Behold I and the children which God has given me
– Hebrews 2:13
This book is different from most books on raising children. It is a plea for the parents to truly know and walk with God – for them to love God and His Word. In the correct order, focusing first on the parents, Andrew Murray then urges parents to sincerely and consistently love their children and in all tenderness and gentleness teach them as God also teaches us.
Children are a most precious gift that we receive from God, and they deserve our very best. Our faithful training will not be lost on our children; this is a promise found over and over again in the Scriptures. If our hearts are right towards God and our children, the world's influence will not impact our children. We can and must exercise faith, so our children and our children's children will be able to impact the world for Christ and inherit eternal blessings.
A few of the parenting topics covered in this book:
• What sin did to the family and how to redeem that which was lost.
• The distinct and also shared roles of fathers and mothers.
• How and why to teach children manners.
• How to show children the Scriptures in a way that takes root in the heart.
• How to teach with a quiet, gentle spirit, as God teaches us.
• How to intercede effectively in prayer for our children.
About the Author
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a well-known South African writer, teacher, and pastor. More than 2 million copies of his books have been sold, and his name is mentioned among the other great leaders of the past such as Charles Spurgeon, T. Austin-Sparks, George Muller, D.L. Moody, and more.
This book is different from most books on raising children. It is a plea for the parents to truly know and walk with God – for them to love God and His Word. In the correct order, focusing first on the parents, Andrew Murray then urges parents to sincerely and consistently love their children and in all tenderness and gentleness teach them as God also teaches us.
Children are a most precious gift that we receive from God, and they deserve our very best. Our faithful training will not be lost on our children; this is a promise found over and over again in the Scriptures. If our hearts are right towards God and our children, the world's influence will not impact our children. We can and must exercise faith, so our children and our children's children will be able to impact the world for Christ and inherit eternal blessings.
A few of the parenting topics covered in this book:
• What sin did to the family and how to redeem that which was lost.
• The distinct and also shared roles of fathers and mothers.
• How and why to teach children manners.
• How to show children the Scriptures in a way that takes root in the heart.
• How to teach with a quiet, gentle spirit, as God teaches us.
• How to intercede effectively in prayer for our children.
About the Author
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a well-known South African writer, teacher, and pastor. More than 2 million copies of his books have been sold, and his name is mentioned among the other great leaders of the past such as Charles Spurgeon, T. Austin-Sparks, George Muller, D.L. Moody, and more.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1887
498 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Murray
1,293 books559 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 9, 2015
There are some books that never leave you the same. In college 'The Ragamuffin Gospel' did that for me. A few years ago 'The Search for Significance' met me where I was at and left me changed. Now this book has met me and changed me. As a father I have been incredibly challenged by my role as a parent and the plan God has for families. It is not an easy book to read. It's definitely not Spurgeon, but I had to get to a quiet place to be able to really concentrate. Also early on there were some concepts that I wasn't sure I agreed with that got fleshed out further on in the book. The 52 readings are a nice size though and you need these small chunks to really be able to chew on what he is putting forth. It is a book you must really work hard at, but is totally worth the effort for the rich Biblical teaching and the challenge and inspiration.
August 1, 2019
July 2017: Highly recommend. Will be returning to this one very often. Started it on kindle but was so profited by it that I bought a hard copy as well.
July 2019: Still a favorite. A covenantal perspective on raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
July 2019: Still a favorite. A covenantal perspective on raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
December 29, 2019
Contains some nuggets of wisdom on parenting, but also espouses enough odd views so that I would not be able to recommend this book.
Odd views:
1. Covenant theology. Though not "odd" per se, he does allow his particular viewpoint to shape the entire book, limiting the value for those who may not share his perspective.
2. He states that God's primary vehicle to build a people for himself is the family, not the church (p. 27).
3. He supports strange standards -- no card playing or dancing (p. 54).
4. He believes that parents are responsible, not just for the behavior of their children, but their salvation as well (p. 115).
5. Sabbatarianism (pp. 168-173).
At the same time, he has some wonderful advice for parents. He challenges us that God wants to use our children for the advancement of his kingdom, that he has entrusted them to us for a time, and that we must train them for his glory.
- "We may count most confidently on the Father, who has entrusted the child to us, to give the grace to train" (p. 58).
- "It is only in a life of pure and whole-hearted devotion, in which selfishness and worldliness are crucified, and our lives lived for God, that we can really train children for heaven!" (p. 90).
- "It is only the heart that gains the heart" (p. 105).
- "I think with shame that much which I reprove in them, is only the reflection of what they have seen in me" (p. 114).
- My favorite quote: "Your child is God's schoolmaster to bring you ever nearer to Christ" (p. 125).
- "God looks upon him as His; he has only been lent and entrusted to me to train. The child is indeed not mine but the Lord's" (p. 157).
Odd views:
1. Covenant theology. Though not "odd" per se, he does allow his particular viewpoint to shape the entire book, limiting the value for those who may not share his perspective.
2. He states that God's primary vehicle to build a people for himself is the family, not the church (p. 27).
3. He supports strange standards -- no card playing or dancing (p. 54).
4. He believes that parents are responsible, not just for the behavior of their children, but their salvation as well (p. 115).
5. Sabbatarianism (pp. 168-173).
At the same time, he has some wonderful advice for parents. He challenges us that God wants to use our children for the advancement of his kingdom, that he has entrusted them to us for a time, and that we must train them for his glory.
- "We may count most confidently on the Father, who has entrusted the child to us, to give the grace to train" (p. 58).
- "It is only in a life of pure and whole-hearted devotion, in which selfishness and worldliness are crucified, and our lives lived for God, that we can really train children for heaven!" (p. 90).
- "It is only the heart that gains the heart" (p. 105).
- "I think with shame that much which I reprove in them, is only the reflection of what they have seen in me" (p. 114).
- My favorite quote: "Your child is God's schoolmaster to bring you ever nearer to Christ" (p. 125).
- "God looks upon him as His; he has only been lent and entrusted to me to train. The child is indeed not mine but the Lord's" (p. 157).
October 9, 2025
50 chapters, goes through scripture relating to parenting/family/children from Gen to New Testament. great for reading devotionally and meditatively, especially with the prayers at the end of each chapter.
the good:
- very helpful and encouraging content. prayers especially helped posture me towards God in humility and praise as a parent
- loved discussion of training the will of the child to love to do the Fathers will (more than simply obedience, delight in the law of the lord)
- appreciated the hard truths of coming to terms with the need to be humbly aware of my own sin and failings as a parent and bring those to the Lord in confession and prayer
- wonderful emphasis on the parents need to demonstrate/model all things to the child: heart for the Lord, faith in Him that results in obedience, delight in his law, spirit of joyfulness, love and patience, godly discipline, consistency and steadfastness in judgement , repentance and humility
- ch 49 and 50 are the best (50 is a good summary/conclusion)
the stuff i didn’t love:
- heavy emphasis on expecting the faith of children (almost as a result of parents obedience? although he’d say a result of Gods promise, he also seems to say the parents disobedience or lack of faith negates/abrogates/limits that promise’s effectiveness)
- heavy on disqualification of elders/deacons who have unbelieving children (definitely made me think through this more, not sure i’d go as far as he does making a blanket statement disqualifying in all instances)
- format of going through the bible picking verses relating to the topic is cool in theory, but at times felt like just a tool to talk about topics and less actual exegesis of the referenced verses.
overall, i took a long time to read this mostly because each chapter was convicting and worth pondering and trying to apply in what i do personally, how i love my kids, and how i pray to God. read it.
the good:
- very helpful and encouraging content. prayers especially helped posture me towards God in humility and praise as a parent
- loved discussion of training the will of the child to love to do the Fathers will (more than simply obedience, delight in the law of the lord)
- appreciated the hard truths of coming to terms with the need to be humbly aware of my own sin and failings as a parent and bring those to the Lord in confession and prayer
- wonderful emphasis on the parents need to demonstrate/model all things to the child: heart for the Lord, faith in Him that results in obedience, delight in his law, spirit of joyfulness, love and patience, godly discipline, consistency and steadfastness in judgement , repentance and humility
- ch 49 and 50 are the best (50 is a good summary/conclusion)
the stuff i didn’t love:
- heavy emphasis on expecting the faith of children (almost as a result of parents obedience? although he’d say a result of Gods promise, he also seems to say the parents disobedience or lack of faith negates/abrogates/limits that promise’s effectiveness)
- heavy on disqualification of elders/deacons who have unbelieving children (definitely made me think through this more, not sure i’d go as far as he does making a blanket statement disqualifying in all instances)
- format of going through the bible picking verses relating to the topic is cool in theory, but at times felt like just a tool to talk about topics and less actual exegesis of the referenced verses.
overall, i took a long time to read this mostly because each chapter was convicting and worth pondering and trying to apply in what i do personally, how i love my kids, and how i pray to God. read it.
June 26, 2020
It was hit or miss. Some of these devotionals on Christian parenting were gold. Others were questionable in its exegesis and theology (in my opinion which could absolutely be wrong). Overall I liked this book, and it was helpful for my parenting and refreshing to read someone who lived primarily in the 1800’s.
April 20, 2023
Very good book - devotional/thought provoking, biblical view on parenting.
I had minor theological disagreements with the author, but the book is really good altogether.
I had minor theological disagreements with the author, but the book is really good altogether.
December 18, 2018
The format is 50 short chapters each picking up a mention of children in scripture, ordered by biblical sequence and each ending with a prayer. It is a good enough idea and works well at the start, but then breaks down particularly when hitting the New Testament. There are some great insights, but the structure leads to repetitiveness and verbiage when nothing really suits, yet a verse must thereby be included. In a sense the book might have been designed as weekly readings for parents?
There seems to be two main ideas that are well proved albeit repetitively - firstly that God's plan for his own includes their children (an interesting adjustment to the competitive argument between salvation for individuals v community) and secondly that the key to your children's faith is your own full commitment. Therefore the book hardly justifies its title, doesn't address properly the issues for today and the format doesn't work for the theme.
However of course this book dates from circa 1900 and the issues and cultural divide - even inside Christianity are very great. There are also other issues - for some reason - perhaps too short a sentences, the prose does not flow and the use of Authorised Version makes tough reading. Nevertheless there is the kernel of significant truth within and the whole thing is crying out for an abridged reconstitution with modern commentary - perhaps, "God's plan for family, with Andrew Murray's teaching" by ' some modern author.'
There seems to be two main ideas that are well proved albeit repetitively - firstly that God's plan for his own includes their children (an interesting adjustment to the competitive argument between salvation for individuals v community) and secondly that the key to your children's faith is your own full commitment. Therefore the book hardly justifies its title, doesn't address properly the issues for today and the format doesn't work for the theme.
However of course this book dates from circa 1900 and the issues and cultural divide - even inside Christianity are very great. There are also other issues - for some reason - perhaps too short a sentences, the prose does not flow and the use of Authorised Version makes tough reading. Nevertheless there is the kernel of significant truth within and the whole thing is crying out for an abridged reconstitution with modern commentary - perhaps, "God's plan for family, with Andrew Murray's teaching" by ' some modern author.'
June 14, 2020
I only read 32 of the 50 chapters but wanted to abandon it in the first few. It’s filled with sentence after sentence of trite common sense. (“The earthly father must see the Father in heaven as his model and guide.”)
Over and over, the author also states a belief in children’s salvations that as a whole goes against Scripture. It seems Murray believes it is completely up to the parents whether their child becomes saved or not. One example is from chapter 46, “There are other parents who do rule themselves and do seek to rule their children and still have failed. The cause for their failure is deeper: they lack true faith and consecration.”
Perhaps if I had read the rest of the book, he would have clarified to align with Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Over and over, the author also states a belief in children’s salvations that as a whole goes against Scripture. It seems Murray believes it is completely up to the parents whether their child becomes saved or not. One example is from chapter 46, “There are other parents who do rule themselves and do seek to rule their children and still have failed. The cause for their failure is deeper: they lack true faith and consecration.”
Perhaps if I had read the rest of the book, he would have clarified to align with Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
April 28, 2014
I have read Many books! This is top 3 in books I have read! This is a must read. Easy! Encouraging. Blunt. Bold. Promising. Rewarding. I would recommend this to everyone and anyone!
This is hands down the best parenting book I have ever read. I would recommend this to all my friends who are parents. I will keep this book and reread through often. It's a type of book you can learn from in just one chapter. Chew on one chapter a day! It's not a devotional, but it could be!
Get this book!
This is hands down the best parenting book I have ever read. I would recommend this to all my friends who are parents. I will keep this book and reread through often. It's a type of book you can learn from in just one chapter. Chew on one chapter a day! It's not a devotional, but it could be!
Get this book!
December 13, 2008
In a world where many times Biblical parenting is sadly neglected and rarely handed down this is a great tool for reestablishing standards to that end.
But remember- parenting is never just better information.
But parenting as hands on ministry!
But remember- parenting is never just better information.
But parenting as hands on ministry!
December 21, 2008
THE VERY BEST book on child-rearing for Christian parents!!! (Outside Scripture of course; but Murray's book brings It all together based on COVENANT!)
December 4, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Aneko Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
I must freely consent that I am not a parent, and so to some extent I come to this book as a preparation for a difficult task rather than someone who has children and is looking for godly advice on rearing them. This has not stopped me from reading and reviewing books on parenting in the past [1], but I feel it needs to be said because the subject will likely have an urgency for many readers that it does not possess for me and I feel it necessary to state that at the outset. What this book does, and does very well, is present an extremely rigorous view of what God expects out of parents in order to raise godly children for His Kingdom, and it is expressed in such a way that induces the conscientious and sensitive parent to reflect on their own walk with God and the effects of their own lives and their own behaviors on the ability of their children to grow up as godly sons and daughters and commit to their own relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Few readers, whether they have their own children or not, will be able to read this book without feeling both a heavy challenge and duty of responsibility, but also a sense of reflection on their own upbringing.
This book adopts as its structure a very common form, specifically that of a devotional with 52 chapters. Each chapter is labeled under a day (although this is likely to be a weekly devotional given its format) with a title and a verse or short passage, along with a discussion of the given topic with a thoughtful exegesis of a biblical story and a closing prayer for parents (both fathers and mothers) as they reflect on the God-given duty of parenting. Devotionals are an extremely common format for contemporary writings, and there are many devotionals that have a similar format to that of Murray's [2]. What elevates Murray's devotional above the norm is a set of qualities that any writer would do well to remember when writing on biblical topics. For one, he takes his subject very seriously--there is no doubt that Murray has done some soul searching on the failure of nominally Christian households to raise godly offspring obedient to God, and he takes the biblical stories and injunctions related to parenting very seriously. He also does not feel it necessary to cram his advice into extremely short discussions as is common, instead expanding out those reflections to the point where they are often the length of a serious blog entry. This book may be imagined as a late 19th or early 20th century example of a serious blogger with a weekly series on parenting over the course of a year--I would read that blog, and if you would read that blog as well, you will likely enjoy this book as well.
There is a lot to appreciate about this book. Murray shows himself aware of many of the delicate balances related to Christian parenting. There is the sense of great responsibility and duty for obedience to God, but also the recognition that love is to be shown and extended, and that parents are to be understanding and gentle towards the thoughtlessness of children so that they are not provoked to wrath even as they seek to guide children along the right way through their words and through their examples. Murray talks about some matters at length, including the need for parents to have their own relationships right with God, the way in which God's blessings and promises were given to believer and to their households, and the way that fathers and mothers struggle with their own faith and their own behavior in the context of being loving parents and recognizing the ways that their own faults and weaknesses are often exhibited in their children's behavior. Murray also includes, thoughtfully, a chapter on the widow's children which ought to be a comfort to those women who are single women not by choice and worried that they cannot fulfill the biblical mandate as parents. This is a book that both comforts and challenges the reader, and on those grounds it ought to be of great value for contemporary Christian parents, and those who for one reason or another find it profitable and worthwhile to reflect upon biblical parenting.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
I must freely consent that I am not a parent, and so to some extent I come to this book as a preparation for a difficult task rather than someone who has children and is looking for godly advice on rearing them. This has not stopped me from reading and reviewing books on parenting in the past [1], but I feel it needs to be said because the subject will likely have an urgency for many readers that it does not possess for me and I feel it necessary to state that at the outset. What this book does, and does very well, is present an extremely rigorous view of what God expects out of parents in order to raise godly children for His Kingdom, and it is expressed in such a way that induces the conscientious and sensitive parent to reflect on their own walk with God and the effects of their own lives and their own behaviors on the ability of their children to grow up as godly sons and daughters and commit to their own relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Few readers, whether they have their own children or not, will be able to read this book without feeling both a heavy challenge and duty of responsibility, but also a sense of reflection on their own upbringing.
This book adopts as its structure a very common form, specifically that of a devotional with 52 chapters. Each chapter is labeled under a day (although this is likely to be a weekly devotional given its format) with a title and a verse or short passage, along with a discussion of the given topic with a thoughtful exegesis of a biblical story and a closing prayer for parents (both fathers and mothers) as they reflect on the God-given duty of parenting. Devotionals are an extremely common format for contemporary writings, and there are many devotionals that have a similar format to that of Murray's [2]. What elevates Murray's devotional above the norm is a set of qualities that any writer would do well to remember when writing on biblical topics. For one, he takes his subject very seriously--there is no doubt that Murray has done some soul searching on the failure of nominally Christian households to raise godly offspring obedient to God, and he takes the biblical stories and injunctions related to parenting very seriously. He also does not feel it necessary to cram his advice into extremely short discussions as is common, instead expanding out those reflections to the point where they are often the length of a serious blog entry. This book may be imagined as a late 19th or early 20th century example of a serious blogger with a weekly series on parenting over the course of a year--I would read that blog, and if you would read that blog as well, you will likely enjoy this book as well.
There is a lot to appreciate about this book. Murray shows himself aware of many of the delicate balances related to Christian parenting. There is the sense of great responsibility and duty for obedience to God, but also the recognition that love is to be shown and extended, and that parents are to be understanding and gentle towards the thoughtlessness of children so that they are not provoked to wrath even as they seek to guide children along the right way through their words and through their examples. Murray talks about some matters at length, including the need for parents to have their own relationships right with God, the way in which God's blessings and promises were given to believer and to their households, and the way that fathers and mothers struggle with their own faith and their own behavior in the context of being loving parents and recognizing the ways that their own faults and weaknesses are often exhibited in their children's behavior. Murray also includes, thoughtfully, a chapter on the widow's children which ought to be a comfort to those women who are single women not by choice and worried that they cannot fulfill the biblical mandate as parents. This is a book that both comforts and challenges the reader, and on those grounds it ought to be of great value for contemporary Christian parents, and those who for one reason or another find it profitable and worthwhile to reflect upon biblical parenting.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
September 15, 2023
I couldn't even finish the book. It's really a 2.5. I read it halfway.
What I liked about the book:
- The emphasis on how as Christian parents we have a huge responsibility of teach our children good vs. bad, manners & respect, but most of all who Christ is & how we can live for him.
- The only chapter I liked was the chapter on why parents fail and how to avoid failure
- Full of scripture!
What I didn't like:
- The way it was written. It was written in 1887
- I found some chapters repetitive
- It was mainly focused on what a father should do. Towards the end it got into mothers, but I didn't even read it 😂
What I liked about the book:
- The emphasis on how as Christian parents we have a huge responsibility of teach our children good vs. bad, manners & respect, but most of all who Christ is & how we can live for him.
- The only chapter I liked was the chapter on why parents fail and how to avoid failure
- Full of scripture!
What I didn't like:
- The way it was written. It was written in 1887
- I found some chapters repetitive
- It was mainly focused on what a father should do. Towards the end it got into mothers, but I didn't even read it 😂
April 28, 2018
Provoking to good works in parenting
Murray does an excellent job of exhorting Christian parents to view their earthly duties of raising children in light of its eternal value. I found the writings tremendously encouraging and challenging, as may be evidenced by the copious number of highlighted passages I've shared. Although I am still reading and praying through some bits that I'm not sure I agree are biblical, I'd overall recommend the book for the prayers that end each chapter if nothing else - and there's a good deal else from which to learn!
Murray does an excellent job of exhorting Christian parents to view their earthly duties of raising children in light of its eternal value. I found the writings tremendously encouraging and challenging, as may be evidenced by the copious number of highlighted passages I've shared. Although I am still reading and praying through some bits that I'm not sure I agree are biblical, I'd overall recommend the book for the prayers that end each chapter if nothing else - and there's a good deal else from which to learn!
May 10, 2019
Great book on Christian parenting
This book is full of insights and teachings on blessed duty of rraising children in the wat of the Lord. The author brilliantly labors the point from the Bible on how God views each family as a unit, and that what He says to the parents, He says to their children. Furthermore , the author highlights some of the faith inspired and practical ways parents can employ to win over their kids for the Lord.
This book is full of insights and teachings on blessed duty of rraising children in the wat of the Lord. The author brilliantly labors the point from the Bible on how God views each family as a unit, and that what He says to the parents, He says to their children. Furthermore , the author highlights some of the faith inspired and practical ways parents can employ to win over their kids for the Lord.
February 22, 2022
This book is an amazing resource for parents to wrestle with the holy call to be parents. How to guide our children well, as well as reflect on the ways we can become a barrier to our children so as to be conscientious of them and guard against them. I read one chapter every week for a year with a friend and that gave ample time for digestion and contemplation with God to refocus myself on what He wanted me to do with the truths shared.
November 7, 2020
This book was like boot camp for Christian parents. Andrew Murray was firm and straightforward about how scriptures encourage parents to teach and raise their kids in the ways of the Lord. Honestly, I want to read it again.
June 7, 2019
You could read this book for free on Google Play Books provided by Aneko Press.
52 daily devotional with pray materials about how to raise children as Christian parents.
52 daily devotional with pray materials about how to raise children as Christian parents.
September 30, 2023
A fantastic, must read for every Christian parent!!
October 14, 2023
Slow going, repetitive, a bit of hard work, stretching some verses to a point where I don't think it was the Biblical writers intention or meaning. Stopped with a quarter to go.
January 29, 2026
Very useful traits to remember and live a live in Christ as well as for our children. I loved the second part!
August 25, 2021
Very good book
October 20, 2018
I imagine when an author sets out to write a work of Christian non-fiction, their heart is set on teaching and impacting their audience in some life-altering way. But, depending on the book, we readers experience varied levels of engagement and connection with the material. Some books completely miss the mark, right? Have you ever read a book, just to check it off your list? You slog through the material because you're in a book club, or a class, or someone recommended it. But it doesn't speak to you especially.
Frankly there are other books we read that totally rub us the wrong way, but we keep reading anyway, partly because of a morbid curiosity ("Can this really be as bad as I suspect?"), or a private pleasure in critiquing the material, or maybe even a hope that if I just keep on a little longer, it will improve.
Then, there are books that merely say what we want to hear. All good things, mind you. But preaching to the choir. "Amen, brother, Hallelujah." Reminding us afresh of a truth we'd lost sight of. Or saying it better than we could say it ourselves. We even read books like this with someone else in mind, imagining how some third party could benefit from the material.
And then, finally, the most blessed of books--one that hits the mark. A book that acts as an instructor, a mentor. One that opens our eyes to something we've never considered before. These are the books we dig deeply into. And in spite of the work they take to digest (or perhaps because of it), these are the books we cherish the most. They change our lives!
The Children for Christ by Andrew Murray is just such a book in my life. Mike and I are reading it aloud together a couple of chapters a week after we get the kids tucked into bed. And even though I have been raised on "Covenant Theology" all my life, this book is blowing my mind. I am understanding the blessings of God's covenant for our children in a way I never have before. Not every chapter is theologically flawless, but there is so much helpful content and the theological differences we find have made for lively discussion. But the meat of the book has informed my prayers and my attitude toward my family like nothing else.
~Jen
P.S. Incidentally, one book summary recommended this book as appropriate for family devotions. I would suggest it instead as an adult devotion for parents.
Frankly there are other books we read that totally rub us the wrong way, but we keep reading anyway, partly because of a morbid curiosity ("Can this really be as bad as I suspect?"), or a private pleasure in critiquing the material, or maybe even a hope that if I just keep on a little longer, it will improve.
Then, there are books that merely say what we want to hear. All good things, mind you. But preaching to the choir. "Amen, brother, Hallelujah." Reminding us afresh of a truth we'd lost sight of. Or saying it better than we could say it ourselves. We even read books like this with someone else in mind, imagining how some third party could benefit from the material.
And then, finally, the most blessed of books--one that hits the mark. A book that acts as an instructor, a mentor. One that opens our eyes to something we've never considered before. These are the books we dig deeply into. And in spite of the work they take to digest (or perhaps because of it), these are the books we cherish the most. They change our lives!
The Children for Christ by Andrew Murray is just such a book in my life. Mike and I are reading it aloud together a couple of chapters a week after we get the kids tucked into bed. And even though I have been raised on "Covenant Theology" all my life, this book is blowing my mind. I am understanding the blessings of God's covenant for our children in a way I never have before. Not every chapter is theologically flawless, but there is so much helpful content and the theological differences we find have made for lively discussion. But the meat of the book has informed my prayers and my attitude toward my family like nothing else.
~Jen
P.S. Incidentally, one book summary recommended this book as appropriate for family devotions. I would suggest it instead as an adult devotion for parents.
October 21, 2014
I enjoyed the book but wished it could have been a bit more concise. I read from an older edition entitled "The Children for Christ", so maybe the newer one is different.
This book has 52 readings and I've been chipping away at it for about a year. The readings are adapted from sermons the author gave on baptism Sundays at his church, and they serve up solid food for thought regarding covenantal Christian parenting. It helped me see more of the value in training my children, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in them, and being more devoted, both to trusting God with my children and to working faithfully to raise them in the faith.
I marked many good quotes, but this one sums up much of the book well:
"My duty is never measured by what I feel it within my power to do, but by what God's grace makes possible for me."
Also "It is one of the highest honors God has for the believing parent, that He has made him the minister of His holy Word to his children"
and "The child wants to trust; the Word wants to be trusted; let your unfeigned faith bring them into contact."
This book has 52 readings and I've been chipping away at it for about a year. The readings are adapted from sermons the author gave on baptism Sundays at his church, and they serve up solid food for thought regarding covenantal Christian parenting. It helped me see more of the value in training my children, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in them, and being more devoted, both to trusting God with my children and to working faithfully to raise them in the faith.
I marked many good quotes, but this one sums up much of the book well:
"My duty is never measured by what I feel it within my power to do, but by what God's grace makes possible for me."
Also "It is one of the highest honors God has for the believing parent, that He has made him the minister of His holy Word to his children"
and "The child wants to trust; the Word wants to be trusted; let your unfeigned faith bring them into contact."
February 15, 2017
This timeless parenting book is divided into short gospel saturated chapters that can easily be used as a daily devotion to provoke and inspire our faith for parenting. Murray doesn't just give us his wisdom, but he gives us the biblical knowledge we need to grow our own. By going into scriptural depth he takes us on a Journey into Gods covenant plan for families, like a good bible study, where you want to chew then savor every word, while thanking God for having the answers we need. If I had to choose one parenting book It would be between this one and J.C. Ryle's The Duties of Parents, Both are priceless to me.
November 29, 2008
This book has some great gems and some other things that are more easily discarded. Some things will stand out to different people but I think it's worth reading for yourself. Just separate the wheat from the tares.
December 29, 2011
I really liked this book although as usual there were a few points with which I disagreed mainly in the chapter focusing on Job who was a fearful parent, which is decidedly not good.
November 8, 2012
If I could, I would give this book 10 stars. This book gives valuable insight to the spiritual teaching and nurturing of our children.
June 14, 2013
I love this book and its one I will be reading over and over again.
February 28, 2013
the best book on parenting I have ever come across.
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