Bumps, Babies and the Gospel: Preparing Your Heart for Parenting

by Sarah Dargue

Parenting is perhaps the most all-consuming, life altering role you will ever undertake. Getting your heart ready for what is about to happen is perhaps one of the most important things you can do.

In Bumps, Babies and the Gospel, Sarah Dargue will take you through the book of Colossians and help you to see that there is no better preparation for having a baby and beginning the parenting journey, than what we are offered in Christ Himself. This book is the prenatal class you need above all — else a prenatal class for your heart.

Genres: Parenting, Christian

112 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Sarah is married to David and mum to Toby, Emily and Sam. They live in the North East of England, where they love serving their church family in Newcastle, being a stone’s throw from the coast and getting stuck into anything creative when time allows.

Reviews

[Brennan Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! The author did a great job teaching new moms and all believers the book of Colossians. So much practical application to soo to be and new moms and setting them up for being gospel centered parents.

[Scarlett Trotman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bumps, Babies and the Gospel by Sarah Dargue was exactly what I needed—a short, refreshing, and Jesus-focused read. I gave it five stars because it was both encouraging and to the point, without unnecessary fluff.

What I especially loved was hearing from a British author, which felt relatable and down-to-earth. So many parenting books can feel overwhelming or drawn out, but this one struck the perfect balance, offering biblical encouragement and practical wisdom in a way that was easy to digest. It was the perfect read as I prepare for my second baby, reminding me to keep my focus on Jesus in the midst of motherhood.

I’d highly recommend this to any Christian mum, whether expecting or in the thick of raising little ones. It’s a beautiful reminder of God’s presence and grace in the everyday moments of parenting.

[Sarah Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful walk through Colossians for expecting (and new!) parents. A perfect, accessible guide to preparing your heart for a little one when it’s easy to get caught up in preparing physically. This is one I plan to revisit.

[Tommy Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, little book that I will recommend to expecting couples, fathers, and mothers.

[Abigail McNutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A note to my followers: I am not currently expecting, although I am soon to be an auntie and would love to be a mother one day. I thought this would be a helpful read to better inform me on the topic of gospel-driven parenting, which it did. I think now is the time for me to start really rooting myself in the gospel, not simply for the one day someday that I become a parent, but because as this book helpfully points out the biggest change in my life has already happened: I've gone from dead in my sins to alive in Christ. In Him - the firstborn, creator, sustainer, and the goal of creation - I am alive, forgiven and triumphant. One day I may be given the gift of becoming a mother, but my identity will always be found in Christ.

"Our ability to parent God's way begins, matures and ends with living the cross-centred life. And ultimately the biggest gift you'll ever give your child is showing them the wonder of the cross, as you marvel at it yourself."

I enjoyed that the focus was on preparing the heart and not on practical preparation (although there were some practical tips too). I found the breakdown of the three cultural philosophical traps ('1-Click', 'Am I measuring up?' and 'This is who I am') to be particularly enlightening as I already spot this on social media and in conversations with different people. I also appreciated the different creative suggestions of practically instilling the word during the 'newborn' season, some of which I can cultivate now. It has also made me reflect on how I can actively be an encouragement to those in my community who are new parents - to love them, serve them and feed them God's word - particularly as my brother and sister-in-law are approaching this season.

This would be a good book for me to revisit if and when the time comes for me to be a mother. Especially as the discussion questions with your spouse at the end of each chapter opens up doors of communication about parenting and the gospel.

[Elanor Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but biblically-focussed, Dargue's book offers a brief look through Colossians, applying biblical truths to the season of pregnancy and new parenthood. Throughout, she clearly explains scriptural principles while applying them to a specific setting, without stretching or misreading biblical commands. Most helpfully, the book has a good balance of biblical explanation mingled with practical suggestions or personal anecdotes, making it both truthful and relatable.

The book is intended to be read as a sort of study/devotional for expecting parents, so I imagine that's why it's so short (just over 100 quite small pages). Personally, reading this myself, without the busyness of preparing for a child's arrival, I found that the chapters were a tad cursory, with the Colossians sections each a little too short and choppy to fully dig in to the Word. If you're already familiar with Colossians, it's easy enough to follow along, but otherwise I recommend reading this with a Bible in hand. I expect, also, if you're reading this with your spouse, then your discussions together would help provide some of the depth this short book is missing.

One final thought: I really appreciated how this book on pregnancy and parenthood was written with parents of both sexes in mind. While certain sections are slightly more geared towards women, the majority of the book is relevant to both mothers- and fathers-to-be. There were a few sections I found slightly frustrating, such as where she quotes Courtney Reissig describing motherhood as "a call to death," but for the most part the book was balanced, describing the challenges for both parents.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that I would suggest to any Christian who is expecting their first baby. Really helped my husband and I discuss things that we didn't even think to talk about (ways to continue our quiet time when the baby is here, what support we need, how to keep Christ in the center of our lives when everything is about to shift dramatically). We thoroughly enjoyed reading this together every night before we would go to bed.

But the last chapter is a bit of a flop, if I'm being honest. Every chapter is hitting at the core of our human, sinful hearts, and how to keep Christ centered. Every chapter is going through Colossians. But then the last chapter just doesn't do...any of that. Yes, the topic of the last chapter is important, don't get me wrong. But it just seemed out of nowhere and very off-tone from the rest of the book. My husband and I both agreed that it was a bit disappointing. We were excited to go through our last discussion questions and maybe end off with a prayer but nope. The book just kinda ends.

All in all, still a great read and it's not like we regret reading it at all. The last chapter was just a bit of a let down.

[Jessica Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

💛 Book Review 💛

I finished this little book today at my doctor’s visit. For such a short book, each chapter is brimming with gospel truths to prepare your heart for parenthood.

Sarah Dargue walks you through the book of Colossians as a pre-natal class for your heart that points you to what you need most: Christ himself.

Each chapter has questions at the end to discuss with your spouse, helpful action steps and prayer prompts, and reflections on how the gospel impacts different areas of parenthood. Dargue is honest and raw about the difficulties of parenting, both physical and spiritual. This isn’t a quick fix, rose-colored glasses type of book. It’s real, honest, genuine, with both encouragement and conviction.

Overall, my heart was warmed by the gospel and challenged to pursue holiness, all the while relying on Christ for strength, joy, and grace as I walk into this new season of life with my husband in just a few short weeks.

[Joanna Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

When recommending books to first time expecting moms, it’s often books about motherhood, in a sense what it will be like after birth. It’s helpful but often times it’s abstract. I rarely find books for first time moms that will be helpful for their current season, being pregnant and the preparation for motherhood. This book is for that—not abstract but not all practical and still biblical (study on book of Colossians). Helpful that it has some questions for self-evaluation or as a group discussion.

[Saundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book at my baby shower and I consider it a “must read” while in early parenting. I finished reading it when my baby was four months old. With these months where I see my physical and emotional weaknesses, I was both encouraged and convicted as Colossians could guide me to new places in my relationship with Christ in the midst of the joys of first smiles and lows of sleepless nights. It was an incredibly Gospel-filled, practical read that I could apply to these moments. I read a chapter daily and they were the perfect length for this season.

[Rebekah Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preordered this book when it came out in 2020 and I can’t believe it’s been sitting on my shelf for 5 YEARS before I finally read it!! This book is a gem, presenting the gospel as it applies to new motherhood & parenting and helping discern what is important about baby prep and what isn’t as much. I would recommend this book to anyone with littles, whether pregnant or not, first kid or not. Prepping for baby #3 and this was just the encouragement my heart needed for both my two children and the one growing inside. If you’re at all interested, read this book!!

[Lucy Rycroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful book for considering the impact that parenthood will have on your heart. Written both for mums and dads (to be), and equally relevant to adoptive as well as birth parents, the book leads us through Colossians, applying each section to our new role as parents, often going against the prevailing culture of what parenthood should look like.

There were some minor sections on servitude within marriage that didn't sit right with me, theologically, hence the 4 stars, not 5.

[Evan Staffieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... My wife and I read through this book as first time parents and we are so glad we did!

Once we started, we were hooked! For such a small little book – just over 100 pages – this packs a punch!

Full of scripture, depth, and gospel truth for new parents who seek to please God in their parenting, and pregnancy!

Highly recommend to all Christian parents out there in the world seeking rest for their weary, anxious souls.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to give as a gift at a baby shower and wanted to read it before I gifted it. And man do I wish I had this for when I was preparing to be a mom! There is so much encouragement that also doesn’t sugar coat the reality of new parenthood. I also loved that it wasn’t just for moms but for couples. The chapters and questions spurred on thoughtful consideration of how to prepare for this new journey.
I read it in a few hours so it is a great quick read too!

[Brianna Smith Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book walking through gospel truth from Colossians and how it might apply to the stages of pregnancy and new parenthood. It includes discussion questions for parents to think through together and some really practical tips on how to center yourself on the word and on Jesus in pregnancy and postpartum.

[Cathy Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any parents-to-be.

[Seth Channell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic Christian truth applied to expecting parents. Would be a great resource to give to expecting parents.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll definitely be returning to my highlights in this book. Would make a great baby shower gift too for Christian couples who are expecting their first child.

[Heather McCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short read that gives practical and encouraging information for new or soon-to-be moms and dads.

[Christy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick pre-read before gifting to a new mom. Short, simple, and very practical.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad to know of a book that doesn't just dive to the nitty-gritty of parenting but promise to prepare your heart on this chapter of a married couple. It might let you peek on some scary stuff of parenthood but gives you assurance and comfort that your not alone. The Scriptures may not have in mind the topic of preparing for parenting, but it has loads of principles soon to be parents can look up to. Bumps, Babies and the Gospel from 10 Publishing got you covered.

Yes the basic idea of this book is on preparing would be parents by equipping their with truths from the Scriptures.  Sarah Dargue wrote this book in an approachable and light reading vibe. She grounds this book on the book of Colossians which intrigued me on how it will unfold as I read the book.

The opening salvo of the book is strong and promising. It's delightful read. It got me from a few chapters. There are some great highlights here and there, but as you finish the book you might feel that something is a bit lacking.

Bumps, Babies and the Gospel lacks illustrations that will connect to the readers and to the principles it drew out of Colossians. I enjoyed how the author discussing passages from that book of the Bible. Nevertheless because of the it leaves the book completely "souless" to what the book is trying to say. It's a short book and that another advantage to it that people won't get overwelmed and won't eat away their time. The book could have invest more in personal stories. The guided questions at the end of the chapter doesn't even help the book drive the lessons it's trying to deliver.

Bumps, Babies and the Gospel anchors itself to a good biblical principles discussion. However, when it comes to the practical application, I can't find a connection. The treatment of the book of Colossians is good and I have no qualms about it. That alone merits this book.

My verdict:

4 out of 5

(Review copy of this book was provided by 10 Publishing.)