How Should We View Our Children in the Church?

Cultivating Biblical Godliness

by Joel R. Beeke

How should we as parents view our children in the church as we are tasked with bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? How should we as congregants view the children in our churches, whom we have a solemn responsibility to evangelize and instruct? In this booklet Joel R. Beeke discusses theological and practical foundations for raising and nurturing children in light of the covenant of grace.

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Audiobook, Parenting, Christianity

37 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Dr. Joel R. Beeke serves as President and Professor of Systematic Theology, Church History, and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been in the ministry since 1978 and has served as a pastor of his current church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, since 1986. He is also editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited fifty books and contributed over fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. His Ph.D. (1988) from Westminster Theological Seminary is in Reformation and Post-Reformation Theology. He is frequently called upon to lecture at Reformed seminaries and to speak at conferences around the world. He and his wife, Mary, have three children: Calvin, Esther, and Lydia.

Reviews

[Gabie Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and short read on the Reformed view of children and covenant theology. I appreciated Beeke's warm and yet challenging tone to parents. This is great primer for those seeking encouragement in giving the gospel to our covenant children. My only critique is that I was hoping for Beeke to touch upon the duties of church members, church officers, and ministers towards the children of the church. I think it would've been a great addition and appropriate for the title of the book.

[Zachary Cowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, Beeke is always helpful on this subject. I did hope this book addressed more, but you can’t have it all with a book this short.

[Anita Deacon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic overview, some really good bits about prayer and trust.
However, I continue to take issue with these half-hearted reformies who seem to still have a foot in the ol Baptist camp. There is a focus on children needing their own Come to Jesus saving faith moment that I just don’t see in Scripture, and which doesn’t jive with my experience watching dozens of covenant children grow up. For the overwhelming majority it is a gradual growing up into faith, rather than a coming to faith. To focus on conversion is extremely unhelpful, I think. Several sentences had me double checking the audiobook to make sure it hadn’t suddenly switch to a John MacArthur sermon.
Also I need to read more Kuyper but I suspect he has mischaracterized his teaching on infant baptism. At the very least he paints a false dichotomy between assuming your children are saved and growing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

[Kennedy Froebe]

Was expecting and hoping for more thoughts on the church body and children for those who aren’t parents. A good but very brief overview of a covenantal view on children and children’s baptism. A good place to start if you’re curious on your convictions about these things, thankful for the scriptures to consider. As well as the mention of multiple views with a diagram that helps. A lot of great encouragements to parents. Christ exalting.

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booklet is part of a series by Beeke on Cultivating Biblical Godliness and covers how children should be seen in the church. It is an excellent, short resource that provides clear scriptural guidance on how children are a part of the church and how parents needs to devote themselves to the raising up of their children in a God-fearing home. The quick reference is something I'll probably come back to and use as a springboard to further study in the future.

[Jessica Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a little book on how to think about children in the Lord’s Day gathering with the Church. Still, a very good encouragement for Christian parents.

[Daniel Chepkauskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but I’m not convinced of Paedo-Baptism.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very solid counsel to parents and to churches in our responsibility to kids. I also really need to figure out this whole baptism thing... the quality arguments for Paedobaptism just continue to pile up.

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good pamphlet, probably would have been better in print. Definitely want to read his full book.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Highly recommend, love Dr. Beeke’s simplicity yet profound and biblical insight in communicating.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the “Cultivating Biblical Godliness” series. Presents a clear summary of the balance between the presumptive inherited faith that prompts covenantal paedobaptism with the necessity for regeneration in all believers, even children of the covenant. Some good encouragements and practical reminders for parents. Would make a great small gift for parents at an infant baptism.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars because Dr. Beeke denounced the Kuyperian notion of Presumptive Regeneration but then went on to say things that leaned a bit towards that direction. It could be that I misunderstood his stance. I wish he would’ve elaborated a bit more on that issue. Other than that, I think this was very encouraging and provided many healthy warnings.

[Eliézer Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an excerpt of the larger book Parenting by God's Promises, this booklet packs a lot for parents to think and pray over. The amount of Scripture citations alone force you to stop, look them up, see how they connect, and enrich his arguments. Please do not skip the Scripture citations. Stop and look them up! Then pray as you read, be convicted, but also be encouraged.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really short book on covenant children. I read it during lunch today. It would be a great introduction for understanding infant baptism & parenting in the Reformed tradition.

Favorite quote: With covenant benefits also come covenant responsibilities.

[Shannon McGarvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read on childrens place in the church. A great reminder to be fervent, but not desperate, in prayer for their souls.

[Courtney Shevchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always appreciate Mr Beeke's child training insight. This was a good, quick read.

[Brit Chhangur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short booklet, a good shot-in-the-arm read!

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful little booklet that emphasizes the crucial role that Christian parents play in their children’s lives and leading them to a a right understanding of their need for Christ.

[Hector Barrowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Will read again.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short and very sweet :)