Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful: A Biblical Vision for Education in the Church

by Gary A. Parrett, S. Steve Kang, J.I. Packer

Why does the church teach? And what should it teach? In recent years, traditional Sunday school and education programs have declined in influence and effectiveness. Education in the church is often sidelined by other competing priorities, and our efforts become haphazard and random. As a result, many Christians have not learned the fundamental doctrinal content of the faith. As a response, a growing number of church ministries have moved toward an emphasis on Christian spiritual formation. But churches must hold together education and formation, the teaching of the faith and the forming of the faithful. In this comprehensive text, Gary Parrett and Steve Kang attend to both the content and process of educational and formational ministries. They set forth a thoroughly biblical vision for intentional teaching of the Christian faith, with a holistic concern for what and whom is taught as well as how and why. Fully apprised of developments in educational theory and pedagogy, Parrett and Kang propose a core curriculum for recovering the full scope of Christian proclamation and reinvigorating the teaching ministry of the church. Their vision has implications not merely for catechesis, but for preaching, worship, children's and youth ministry, and much more. The body of Christ can become all that God intends it to be, through intentional practices that foster personal and corporate formation. Here is guidance for individuals and congregations on that journey.

Genres: Education, Theology, Church, Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Academic

461 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2009

Reviews

[Christian Brewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book detailing the task of Christian education. There were various disagreements, but all-in-all it’s worth reading. The thing that knocks it to 3 stars is the length. Could’ve been about 130 pp shorter.

[John Yelverton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but for every good point that the author makes, there are an equal number of bad points with more charts and tables than a chemistry text book. The hymns composed by the author at the end of each chapter was also an indulgence of ego which pushed me over the edge into the disliked the book category.

[Kevin V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book surely offers a helpful vision for all that must go into the careful, thoughtful, and biblical planning of a Christian Education program. Along the way, the authors articulate many insightful suggestions toward the ultimate goal of worshiping God and maturing the believer within the corporate church. This is commendable.

However, the book falls short in at least two areas. First, the book is altogether too wordy and long to be accessible for many who are involved in CE formation. Accordingly, it could be half its length and twice as impactful. Along this same line, the authors offer far too many tables and charts of info. While these attempt to offer simple descriptions of the thinking that goes into CE formation, many of these tables are stuffed and bursting at the seams with info and material. They are simply not helpful in simplifying the work. Instead, they bog the reader down and distract from the topic at hand.

Second, the authors, in an attempt to be both faithful to historic practices and relevant to emerging church practices and ideas, weave together an often convoluted vision for the work and goal of the church. While trying to keep one foot planted in the practices of the past, they too often stretch a second foot awkwardly into the new, the creative, the fashionable, and the trendy. Thus, the result is a formation for Christian worship and teaching that is not consistent with the convictions of any church holding faithfully to the regulative principle of worship.

[Luke Schmeltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parrett and Kang set out a holistic view of Christian formation, informed by the historic Protestant faith and by educational theory. Built on the Gospel, the church is to form its people into maturity in mind and heart and life, and the catechisms of the faith are valuable resources to that end. My only major problem with this book is it’s length; I think they could have done the some work with less graphs and 100 less pages.

[Amanda]

I don’t know how to rate this book. It was average. It was one of the required texts for a class I am taking. There were some good things in this book, but it was wordy. I was already familiar with a lot of the content in this book, so maybe it would be more beneficial for someone else. I do think if the authors could shorten it by 100 or so pages it would have helped. I also didn’t need the songs and reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall very helpful. I had to read it pretty quickly for an assignment but I'll definitely come back to it and go through it more slowly.

Good for anyone in teaching ministry.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent text. I have used it for several courses at the seminary where I teach pastoral and practical theology courses revolving around the subject of catechesis.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book on education ministry which means it is a book on what education ministry is, namely: discipleship. It is comprehensive in nature and I would say an absolute necessity for anyone who is involved in any form of education ministry and wants to stay faithful to the scriptures. I especially like how Parrett not only derives his conclusions from directly from the scriptures, he also goes through church history to show you how it has been done in the past.

Dr. Gary Parrett's lectures for the class that uses this book are available free online if you search for them.

[Ian Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few parts of it were too "mystical" and the word "experience" may have been overused. Overall - very helpful. Who knew there's so much to learn about learning.