Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God

It's been a few years since I've read it. Need to read it again! That should tell you how good it is!

Family Driven Faith has helped several families I know grow back together, and blossom. The changes in their families has been amazing. For some it has taken time, for others positive changes have begun almost immediately. I have not found any book which has helped bring families together like this one.

Multiple studies have shown that over 80% of all teens that are active in evangelical American churches have completely abandoned Christianity by their 2nd year of college. What's the problem? How do we solve it? Voddie Baucham has a simple and Bible-based answer: Our children are falling away because we are asking the church to do what God designed the family to accomplish. What does he mean by that statement? At one time Christian worship, teaching, & ministry was primarily a function of the family. It was considered normal for families to sing hymns together daily, for the father to systematically teach the Bible daily, to pray daily, for the family to look for ways to minister and reach out to others. The family as a unit was the cornerstone, the basic building block of Christ's Kingdom here on earth. Today, however, it is far different. The center of most children's religious interaction, worship and learning is the church, from nursery to teen youth group. Although well intentioned, it is a poor substitute for family driven faith. This book is a well-written introduction to the concept of family driven faith. It has chapters on the importance of the marriage bond, family worship, family teaching and education, and what a family centered, family integrated church can look like compared to the ordinary evangelical church of today. Voddie is passionate but humble, vocal but not argumentative about his vision for families and for churches. If you have children, this book is must reading if you desire to see your children (and your grandchildren) walking faithfully with God all their lives.

If you are a Christian parent, there are three books I'd highly recommend you read: 1) Revolutionary Parenting: What the Research Shows Really Works by George Barna 2) Family Driven Faith (this book) 3) Premeditated Parenting - Foundational Christian Parenting [Toddlers-Preteens] by Steve Nelson Kids are growing up in Christian homes and then leaving the faith or at best being 'lukewarm'. Barna's book gives a high level view of the problem and some of the practices of parents who aren't allowing this to happen. Steve Nelson's book gives very practical parenting advice for parents of pre-teen kids. This book fits right in the middle. The author gives compelling arguments for family devotional times, for home education, and for a different view of the church's role in the lives of our kids. Instead of segregating our families by age, he strongly advocates an integrated model. It has become the accepted model in our society to pawn off the raising of our kids onto school teachers, coaches, Sunday school teachers, and youth group leaders. This book (along with the others) is a strong call for Christian parents to take that responsibility back!

Baucham does a great job of thinking outside the box. He points out that the "box" we have been using (Youth ministries and Sunday Schools) while not inherently bad, are not biblically chartered. The bible clearly directs parents to teach God's word to their kids. With kids leaving the faith in droves upon High School graduation, we should probably invest in doing what the bible tells us to do before we try to find a different way to get the job done. After reading this book, I am inspired to step up as a dad and lead my family in Bible study, worship and devotions. It is frustrating to think of the resistance that this teaching is bound to get. People are very attached to "the box". Voddie's prescription requires an massive shift in mindset. I think all Christian parents and church leaders ought to give this book an honest read, then reconcile their resistance with scripture.

I bought the book, met the author, had it signed, and read this book cover2cover n less than 24 hours. This book is a wake up call to the believer and the church to reclaim our young people. As parents we cannot continue to pass the buck on our children's very souls. We have been taught to let others educate and entertain our children. This is unfortunately the attitude when it comes to our children's spiritual lives....let the church do it. The author does a brilliant job of showing from scripture and stats that this is the duty and privilege of parents to disciple their children and when this does not happen our children suffer for it, our communities suffer for it, and the very life of our country suffers for it. This book was used of God to show my family where we have failed our own children and how that it is never 2 late to change. One will not be disappointed with this book, there is no sugar coating on this message, and only read this if you are prepared to take an honest look at your home life and church life and ready 2 make changes. BLESSINGS!!!