Biblical
Grandparenting: Exploring God’s Design, Culture’s Messages and Disciple-Making
Methods to Pass Faith to Future Generations
Author Josh Mulvilhill interviewed 25 evangelical
grandparents from five different states to discover how they saw their role of
grandparent and how they influenced the spiritual development of their
grandchildren. Surprisingly, only 24 percent of those interviewed saw
themselves as having a responsibility to influence their grandchildren’s
spirituality.
Despite the Bible clearly stating that older people are
to teach the younger, most of those interviewed saw themselves simply as
encouragers, supporters or loving friends to their grandchildren. They were content
to let parents and Sunday schools do the job of molding the faith of their
offspring.
Biblical
Grandparenting is divided into four parts: Getting Started, God’s Design,
Culture’s Messages and Discipleship Methods. I liked the book’s charts, which summarize
chapter findings, such as “The Culture’s View of Grandparenting,” “A Brief
History of Grandparenthood in America” and “Discipling Grandchildren.” Some listings
include responses of parents identified by first names.
A most valuable chapter
offers eight spiritual practices to impact grandchildren, such as asking
questions and blessing them verbally. These practices would, in fact, be
helpful to parents as well as grandparents.
Mulvihill wrote this book as a doctoral thesis, but it is
most readable. He summarizes his research results in a final chapter and
challenges pastors and church leaders to do more to equip grandparents to take
their biblical role in passing on the faith.
Appendixes list the interview questions Mulvihill used
along with summaries of demographic data. And the book includes extensive notes
and bibliography.
If you’re a grandparent, this book is for you.
Grandchildren grow up before you know it, and the time to touch their lives for
Christ is now.
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