Growing in Two Families: Living God's Way in the Home and at Church (Beeke and Smalley, eds.)

Description

What do the home and the church have in common? In Growing in Two Families, we see that both were instituted by God to multiply His image bearers. To be sure, the domestic sphere and the ecclesiastical sphere are distinct, each having its own authority, domain, and means. The family originated with creation, and the church springs from Christ’s redeeming work. Nevertheless, they both, in their respective ways, are instrumental in raising up a godly people who reflect the beauty of the Lord. Contributors include Michael P. V. Barrett, Joel R. Beeke, Gerald M. Bilkes, Hensworth W. C. Jonas, Jonathan L. Master, Stephen G. Myers, and Richard D. Phillips.

Contents

Preface

Part 1: Growing in the Christian Family

1. The Struggle of Marriage and the Mercy of the Savior —Hensworth W. C. Jonas
2. The Puritans on Marriage and Child-Rearing: The Teaching of William Gouge —Joel R. Beeke
3. Parenting as a Prophet, Priest, and King in Your Home —Richard D. Phillips
4. Growing in Family Worship —Richard D. Phillips
5. Honoring Your Parents: The Path to a Good Life —Hensworth W. C. Jonas

Part 2: Growing in the Church as God’s Family

6. A Great Mystery: Christ, the Church, and Marriage —Stephen G. Myers
7. Entering God’s Family: Regeneration, Repentance, and Faith —Gerald M. Bilkes
8. Living in God’s Family by Faith: Lessons from Abraham —Michael P. V. Barrett
9. Spending Eternity with Christ and the Living Church Family —Jonathan L. Master

Editors and Contributors

Endorsements

“This book is a rare find. It is immensely practical and soundly doctrinal at the same time. It is difficult to find books like this in the twenty-first century that address the interplay between both the church and the family in one volume. Growing in Two Families sets the record straight, revealing God’s beautiful, integrated design for the church and the family. God is a family man through and through. Unfortunately, most religious leaders in the twenty-first century have ignored this. This book reminds me of the many volumes released in the Reformation and Puritan eras that sought to recover the doctrine of the family in their generation. Now, these contemporary authors are serving our generation in the same way. Heed the authors in this book, and you will find refreshment for your two families.”
—Scott T. Brown, president of Church & Family Life (churchandfamilylife.com) and pastor at Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina

“This well-written and stimulating book gives us a vital key to order the family and the church. In the Christian family, the authors show us that following God’s way is what gives birth to a happy marriage and fruitful parenting. In the church family, they show us again that true spirituality is when Christ is at the center and God’s Word and Spirit are truly honored. Use this helpful book, packed with God-honoring wisdom, like a plumb line to ensure that you are growing in both families in an upright and godly way!”
—Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church and founding chancellor of the African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia

About the Authors

Michael P. V. Barrett (PhD, Bob Jones University) is senior research professor of the Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and a minister in the Heritage Reformed Congregations.

Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) served as president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary from 1995 to 2023 and now serves as its chancellor and professor of homiletics and systematic theology. He is a minister of the Heritage Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Gerald M. Bilkes (PhD, Princeton Seminary) is vice president and professor of homiletics and biblical studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and a minister of the Free Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Hensworth W. C. Jonas (EdD, University of the Cumberlands) is executive director of the East Caribbean Baptist Mission (ECBM), presiding elder of the ECBM Circuit of Churches in Antigua and Barbuda, resident pastor of Central Baptist Church, and superintendent of the ECBM Baptist Schools.

Jonathan L. Master (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has served as a pastor in several congregations.

Stephen G. Myers (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is professor of systematic and historical theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and has served as a minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Richard D. Phillips (DD, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary) is senior minister at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, and an adjunct professor at Westminster Theological Seminary.