Books For A Christ Centered Home

I recently received a letter from a dear friend that had a question about parenting books. Here is a copy of my letter with the books that I have suggested. I would like you all to comment on what books you have found helpful for raising children to the glory of God!

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There are a million parenting books out there, but very few that are based in the Word of God. I can recommend a few and give a couple of comments. All of these should be able to be purchased via RHB. I would suggest ordering from them since they are a non profit book seller. If they do not have them on the website, call and ask for Steve. Tell him that you are a friend of mine.

*Raising Children God's Way by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
This book is new, but is from some sermons that were preached a number of years ago. His style is good and he shows the importance of a godly home (one chapter will not apply. It is on unbelievers in the home.)
* Shepherding a Child's Heart by Paul Tripp.
This book is the must have for learning to use the Word of God as the means of Discipline instead of your own thoughts. It helps to show how using Scripture when disciplining connects the discipline to God and not to your own authority.
The Duties of Parents by Jacobus Koelman.
This book was first published in 1679, but is timeless. It was translated from Dutch in 2003. It discusses the reason God has designed parenting all the way to various promises that parents can claim for their children. There are good discussions on how to train them in godliness as well and giving Christian instruction in the home.
Christian Living in the Home by Jay E Adams.
This book is helpful in more areas than just parenting. It gives concise chapters on husbands, wives, leadership, submission, and other areas as well. It is important to look at child rearing in the scope of all of the Scriptures and this book does this for you.
The Christian Father At Home by WC Brownlee.
This book is another classic. It was written in 1837 originally. This book shows that the father's NUMBER ONE duty is to show the way of salvation to his children. The book helps fathers to discuss, demonstrate, and model what a sinner redeemed by grace looks like. (This is where the rubber hits the road, so to speak, many dads can talk the talk, but are they living out a life of redemption applied in their home? Many do not.)
Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker.
This book is an arrangement of the book of Proverbs into sections that are applicable to Christian parenting. It is worth having just because the work of categorizing Proverbs is done for you. (I would not start here though).
* Help to Domestic Happiness by John Angell James.
This is another Nate-classic. He also deals with a lot of other issues in the home, but look at chapters 5 and 6 especially. This book also has the old-school oddety of a chapter for servants in the home. James also writes a book just for women that is really good as well called Female Piety.
Of Domestical Duties by William Gouge. This is another classic, but needs to be updates with current illustrations. If you are not used to reading old writing, save this one for later. I LOVE it, but it is hard even for a reader of the Puritans. Someone has put it online, but the format is super ugly. It can found here.
Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman.
This is a really new book. It was recently on James Dobson's show (so they tell me). It takes a biblical counseling approach to parenting and also gives the 'rebuke the children with the Word' approach. Many people forget that we have no authority over our children just because they are our offspring, but because God has entrusted us to raise them to his glory and honor! (Lydia just finished this one and liked it a lot.)
Praise Her in the Gates by Nancy Wilson.
This book is especially for women. It shows the importance of being a godly mother as well as how to train your children in many biblical virtues. I have profited from a lot that the Wilsons have penned.
* Standing on the Promises by Douglas Wilson.
This book shows the importance of building a Christian culture in the home. Children will not be raised to honor the Lord Jesus in a home that is Sunday-Christian at best. Wilson helps to fight against this while aiding in the rearing of covenant children. The cover says, " The norm for faithful members of the covenant is that their children will follow them in their faithfulness. Unless we reestablish faithful Christian culture in countless homes, we will never reestablish it anywhere."

I hope that this helps. I am sure that others will come to mind and I can send them off. This list may seem to be overwhelming, but I think that they are all reasonable reads. I have starred the three that I would begin with. I will also put this list on PRESBYTERIAN THOUGHTS to see what some of my readers can come up with.

With humility and for Christ's Honor,
Nate