May 13, 2009

Take Time to Focus on Family This Summer

5 Min Read

School is almost out, and summertime is just around the corner. While taking a break from the hustle and bustle of a regular routine and the busyness of life, it can be easy to take a break from our biblical studies as well.

Amidst the vacations and relaxation this summer, take some time to focus on your family's foundation. We need to be aware of this now more than ever as we live in a time of much uncertainty. From dating and marriage to teenagers to family worship and growth, here are some great resources for a summer study.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, brothers Alex and Brett Harris weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact.

The Family at Church by Joel Beeke

Joel Beeke provides practical guidance on two important areas of family life: how we should prepare our families for public worship and how and why we should implement prayer meetings.

Fathers and Sons Hold Fast in a Broken World by Douglas Bond

Douglas Bond gives a ramped-up call for young men to prepare for stalwart leadership in the family, church, and culture. This book is a frank discussion of the cultural topics that a young man must biblically master if he is to be the winsome, servant leader of the rising generation.

Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd & Margy Tripp

Instructing a child's heart is essential to shepherding a child's heart. The Tripps show you how to provide your children with a consistent, persuasive, biblical framework for understanding the world God has made and their place in it.

The Intimate Marriage (Book, DVD, CD) by R.C. Sproul

R.C. Sproul shows that if we follow God's principles, marriage can be a celebration of joyous intimacy and one of life's greatest delights. He examines not only the theology of marriage but also its sociology and psychology.

Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade

In this collection of family devotions based on the Shorter Catechism, Starr Meade provides a superb and imaginative resource that parents can rely on to help them teach the historic Christian doctrines of faith to their children.

With One Voice by Alex & Marni Chediak

Alex and Marni Chediak show that it is more important to become a certain type of person than it is to find a certain type of person. They offer wise guidance in how we should go about choosing a partner.

Other Resources:

A Biblical Guide to Love, Sex, and Marriage by Derek & Rosemary Thomas

Bound for Glory (Book, DVD) by R.C. Sproul Jr.

The Case for Family Worship by George Hamond

Christian Marriage (CD) by R.C. Sproul

Family Practice by R.C. Sproul Jr.

Family Religion by Matthew Henry

Family Worship by Joel Beeke

The Family Worship Book by Terry Johnson

Fathers and Sons Stand Fast in the Way of Truth by Douglas Bond

Tending Your Garden by Denise Sproul

Thoughts on Family Worship by James Alexander

Training Up Children (CD) by R.C. Sproul Jr.


"The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart."
—John Calvin

_"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls."
_(Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)