In Reaching Your Child's Heart, Juan and Jeanine Sanchez encourage parents from their gospel-shaped perspective that children don't need perfect parents, they need a perfect Savior.
Raising children can feel overwhelming as you try to navigate the many voices telling you what to do and not to do, but God has already given you everything you need to be faithful parents! Even though you may be exhausted and discouraged, take heart from the simple, biblical principles shared by Juan and Jeanine Sanchez that will point you to Jesus as your guide and helper as you seek to shepherd your children through every age and stage of growth.
As they share their own journey of parenting five children, the authors highlight the importance of a team-based approach of parenting together. They emphasize focusing on children's hearts, rather than behavior modification, and illustrate how daily faithfulness in the routine cares of life is never a waste of time.
AUTHORS
Juan Sanchez, MDiv, ThM, PhD, serves as senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, TX and is a council member of The Gospel Coalition, cofounder and president of Coalicin, and an associate professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored numerous books, including 1 Peter for You and The Leadership Formula and is the coauthor of Reaching Your Child's Heart. Juan is married to Jeanine, and they have five adult daughters.
Jeanine Sanchez teaches English and writing to children and teaches the Bible to women. When not in the classroom, Jeanine enjoys reading, hospitality, watching Florida football, and spending time with her adult children and her grandchildren. She is the coauthor of Reaching Your Child's Heart.
"The book you have in your hands is a combination of biblical wisdom and genuine humility cultivated by years of trial and error learning to parent under God's hand. I love that the book begins by reminding you to pray and ends by emphasizing the need to trust in the Lord with all your heart rather than relying on your own understanding of your child's heart. Read this book and put it to work!"
Miguel NÂÂ ez, Professor of Pastoral Leadership, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; senior pastor, International Baptist Church of Santo Domingo; president, Wisdom and Integrity Ministries
"Juan and Jeanine Sanchez outline a biblical and theological framework of practical, gospel-oriented principles for parenting. Each chapter is followed by helpful discussion questions, giving an interactive opportunity for parents to assess and apply these biblical principles in their own families. We highly recommend Reaching Your Child's Heart as a very accessible, practical, biblically sound framework for parenting."
David and Sally Michael, Executive Director, Truth78; author; director of publishing and training; Truth78
"I first heard Juan and Jeanine talk about these parenting principles when I was a member at High Pointe Baptist, where Juan serves as senior pastor. Both my wife and I were tremendously blessed by the simple way in which they demystified parenting for us, and we still apply their advice with our kids to this day."
Giancarlo Montemayor, Vice President of Global Publishing, Lifeway Christian Resources
"Nothing in the Christian life is as challenging or as rewarding as raising children from infancy to new life and maturity in the Lord. I have had the privilege of watching Juan and Jeanine Sanchez apply godly principles of parenting to their own children, and their gentleness, wisdom, and patience had a profound effect on our family at a key stage in our parenting. Now they have blessed a new generation of parents with that wise and gentle tone in this excellent book! Every chapter is saturated with biblical truth and practical wisdom, mingled with a conversational tone that makes it appealing. I wholeheartedly endorse this book as a rich treasure that I will pass on as my standard recommendation for parents for years to come!"
Andrew M. Davis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Durham, NC; author
"I'm so glad Juan and Jeanine wrote this book! Reaching Your Child's Heart establishes a firm, biblical foundation for godly parenting and provides a wealth of advice on how to live it out. Not formulaic but eminently practical, the book doesn't stir up guilt but gives the hope of the gospel. Full of helpful illustrations, these seasoned parents walk alongside you with good counsel for the various challenges of parenting in the different stages of your children's lives. Read this book and use the insightful questions to discuss with your spouse and other parents in your church. Whether you're a new parent or have teenagers, it will equip you to shepherd your children, pointing them to Christ."
Keri Folmar, Author of The Good Portion: Scripture for Every Woman and Delighting in the Word Bible studies; cohost of Priscilla Talk podcast
"In reading this book, you will sit with a kind, warm husband and wife who have walked some miles before you and aren't afraid to show you their scars, so you can gain confidence that parenting is not about your gifting, family tree, or children´s attributes but is about the grace provided in the gospel."
Aixa de LÂpez, Author; speaker
"After establishing a solidly biblical and gospel-centric foundation, Juan and Jeanine masterfully bring principles to practice through personal examples and humble transparency. They consider themselves travelers with youÃsinners parenting sinners, all in need of heart transformation. Anyone in the parenting years will find this book to be a helpful resource that leaves the reader full of hope."
Jack and Mary Delk, Parents and grandparents; Jack is the former pastor of counseling at Bethlehem Baptist Church
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This book reads like a really good chat over a hot cup of coffee with a wise couple who has been through years of parenting and takes the time to sit with you to answer your questions and encourage you. In a book filled with "how to’s” of instructing and correcting children, the Sanchezes also remind parents of the "why's" -- that our parenting is not just for the purpose of having well-behaved children, but it's to reach their hearts. Their practical tips for parenting throughout the various stages of childhood include real stories from their own parenting journey that will inspire you to faithfulness. Read this book with your spouse or with your mom's group and spend time thinking about and discussing your answers to the questions from the Talking Together sections at the end of each chapter. Then pass this helpful parenting resource on to other parents in your life!
Our family enjoyed reading this book and its balance between practical application and theological foundations. Many parenting books are either too pragmatic or too "heady;" this one seemed to hit both elements in an accessible way. We especially enjoyed the personal stories of triumphs and failures in parenting, and the chapters on different ages were particularly helpful. If we had one critique of the book it is evident that the authors have a family of girls. Our family has three teen/pre-teen boys, and some of the practical application seemed that it wouldn't quite work as well in our context. It's a small thing, but one that we noticed as we read and discussed how these principles would work with our children. I highly recommend this resource to any current or future parents, and for grandparents who may find themselves raising their grandchildren or trying to support their adult children in the parenting journey.
The message of faithful parenting rings throughout the pages of this book. Whether you have an infant in the home or grown kids, this book is a helpful and encouraging read. As a Christian parent, I was reminded time and time again that my children do not need a perfect parent (what a relief!), but rather, they need a "humble, faithful, patient, repentant, and loving parent." Juan and Jeanine help Christian parents look to Jesus for guidance in filling up our children's "bucket." Be watchful dear saint. The enemy does not want you to read this book because it points to Jesus and God's Word in every chapter. If you want to parent with eternity in mind, read this book. If you want to "parent today how you want to live tomorrow," read this book. From personal stories, charts, advice, age specific encouragements, and failures, you will find yourself laughing and crying by the end of this book. You may think "I don't have time" but as the authors encourage the reader "you should wisely use every moment you have with your children." Reading a book that stirs your affections for both our Heavenly Father and our children is a wise use of time. Read it with your spouse, a mentor, or a friend. You, and your children, will be thankful.
I am so glad that I came across this book and had the chance to read it. It is a must read for parents at any phase of the child-rearing stages. It is also a great read for grandparents and teachers. Shepherding a child's heart is one of those most important jobs a parent can have. The authors have done a great job including wonderful parenting principles, as-well-as discussion starters and stories that will warm the heart while raising up this next generation of children.
Most parenting books take the approach of trying to convince the reader that their particular style of parenting is the best way to raise successful children. However, in Reaching Your Child’s Heart the Sanchezes look at parenting from a uniquely biblical point of view. They spend a large portion of their book building a scriptural foundation for our role and responsibility as parents that is both encouraging and challenge. Yet, their book is not dry and clinical. They interweave their own parenting journey with biblical wisdom and make the reader feel like a friend joining them for coffee at the kitchen table while the kids all play in the next room. The questions included at the end of each chapter serve as a useful diagnostic tool for the reader to prayerfully consider ways to improve their relationship with both their children and with our Heavenly Father. As a parent I wish I had had this book available to me when my children were small, and I definitely plan to put it into the hands of my adult children who are raising my grandkids. If you are a parent at any stage, you need this book.
As a parent, navigating the complex world of child-rearing can often feel like sailing through uncharted waters. With so much advice and information available, it's easy to become overwhelmed and unsure of which direction to take. In "Reaching Your Child's Heart," the authors offer a beacon of clarity amidst the storms that can come in while parenting, providing a comprehensive guide to raising children with confidence and competence. One of the most commendable aspects of this book is its emphasis on practicality. Rather than getting lost in abstract theories or unreachable ideals, the authors ground their advice in real-world scenarios and actionable parenting principles and strategies. Whether it's managing tantrums, setting boundaries, or fostering healthy communication, each principle is accompanied by concrete steps that parents can implement immediately. This practical approach not only makes the advice more accessible but also increases the likelihood of success in applying it to daily parenting challenges. No matter what stage you are parenting in, this book is a must read!
As a Christian and as a pastor, I find that I'm often the most discouraged in my efforts to raise my children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. It takes so much wisdom to know how to love and care for and train them, especially in this day and age! My goal is to raise them to be worshippers of God in Christ, insofar as it depends upon me. Yet, it's another kind of difficult to not know how to do this! Especially in the early years, I remember being discouraged particularly by my own lack of knowledge of how to parent biblically. But this book offers practical help and biblical hope for raising godly offspring! I have found this book particularly unique in its biblical-theological approach to the topic. I was challenged by the personal emphasis on being an example of faith to your children, and by the regular reminders of prayer as providing fuel for our ministry to our kids. I pray this book would be widely read, and that it might be a benefit particularly to you as you consider its truths!
Most parenting books take the approach of trying to convince the reader that their particular style of parenting is the best way to raise successful children. However, in Reaching Your Child’s Heart the Sanchezes look at parenting from a uniquely biblical point of view. They spend a large portion of their book building a scriptural foundation for our role and responsibility as parents that is both encouraging and challenge. Yet, their book is not dry and clinical. They interweave their own parenting journey with biblical wisdom and make the reader feel like a friend joining them for coffee at the kitchen table while the kids all play in the next room. The questions included at the end of each chapter serve as a useful diagnostic tool for the reader to prayerfully consider ways to improve their relationship with both their children and with our Heavenly Father. As a parent I wish I had had this book available to me when my children were small, and I definitely plan to put it into the hands of my adult children who are raising my grandkids. If you are a parent at any stage, you need this book.
