The raising children is mingled with joy and sorrow, ease and effort, visible and unseen rewards, and with keeping the right perspective that it is unto the Lord. Mount Vernon seeks to be a faithful partner with all those who are responsible for raising children.
The church being "God's household" is a fitting image (1 Timothy 3:15). As rebellious sinners we were all once orphaned from God the Father. But by His grace shown to us through Jesus Christ, we are adopted as His sons and daughters. As God's family, we are given spiritual fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters in the local church. This spiritual family exists, in part, to equip earthly fathers and mothers (married, divorced, single, or just guardians) to raise their children to fear, love, and obey "the LORD with all (their) heart and soul" (Deut. 10:12).
Below are some resources we use and encourage in our Partnering with Parents.
Fighter Verse
This is our monthly Scripture memory verse used for children and adults to help us fight the fight of faith.
December Church-wide Verse
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.
John 10:27-30 (ESV)
Resources
Below you'll find recommended resources for families, parents, and children's ministry works. Click on the titles to learn more.
Books
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts
Gospel-centered Family: Becoming The Parents God Wants You to Be by Tim Chester and Ed Moll
Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce Ware
Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism by Starr Meade
Leading Little Ones to God: A Child's Book of Bible Teaching by Marian Schoolland
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos
ESV Children's Bible published by Crossway
My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God's Words in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt
Teach Them Diligently: How to Use The Scriptures in Child Training by Lou Priolo
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp
Parenting by The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child by John Rosemond
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
Truth and Grace Memory Books by Tom Ascol
17 Things My Kids Taught Me About God: Parables of Spiritual Sight by Mack Stiles
Don't Make Me Count to Three: A Mom's Look at Heart-Oriented Discipline by Ginger Plowman
Our Home Is Like a Little Church by Bobby Gilles and Lindsey Blair
40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert Plummer (Resource for children's ministry teachers)
Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church: A Guide for Ministry by Michael Lawrence (Resource for children's ministry teachers)
Ministries/Websites
Children Desiring God (A ministry of Desiring God)
Praise Factory (Children's Curriculum from Capital Hill Baptist Church)
NEXT (Focusing on the next generation conference)
Give Me An Answer: High School Conference (Sponsored by Southern Seminary)
Music/Audio
To Be Like Jesus CD by Sovereign Grace
Awesome God CD by Sovereign Grace
Seeds Family Worship CDs by Extreme Writers Music
Storiez by Shai Linne