Best Discipleship Resources: Tools to Foster Faith and Spiritual Growth

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a child in possession of a sin nature must be in want of a mother seeking the Lord and shaping his spiritual formation.”

That may be a slight misquote of Jane Austen. . .but if possible, the principle holds even more true than the original!

Helping children grow in their faith starts with providing them the right tools and guidance. Enjoy this list of my favorite resources that not only teach biblical truths but also help kids develop a personal relationship with God in ways that fit their age and understanding! I’ve also included some of my favorite books and resources for moms as we seek to grow spiritually and in our parenting practice. (If you want to skip the long list, feel free to simply check out my Amazon list!) Join me in my journey to nurture lasting faith and spiritual growth in myself and my children!
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Discipleship Resources for Kids:

Our current top favorite resource comes from Lithos Kids and is an illustrated version of Pilgrim’s Progress for kids. There are three parts to the story, and we love all three (two parts are John Bunyan’s original story, and the third part is a continuation written by the Lithos Kids team). Our children beg to read these books every day. 😊

Also from Lithos Kids is The Kingdom of God Storybook Bible. This is by far my favorite children’s Bible; it has beautiful illustrations and captivates our children’s attention without adding any extrabiblical commentary or thoughts (something most other children’s Bibles have which I’m not a big fan of). This Bible specifically focuses on God’s covenant promises and how everything that happens is for the advancement of God’s kingdom. (Lithos Kids also publishes The Parables of Jesus and The Wisdom of God (focused on Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes) if you’re interested.)

I’ve loved using a short catechism with my kids to teach them the fundamentals of the faith. These wonderful books also include suggested verses (in ESV) and hymns to memorize, as well as creeds of the faith.

The next series that our families love is the Tales that Tell the Truth series. This series now has 15 books, and teaches children God’s truths from different Bible passages, from Genesis to the cross to James to Revelation.

I also love The Story of God books. They survey different aspects of God’s character across the vista of the Biblical story, and they emphasize key truths for children to know about the God who knows and loves them. And, they’re absolutely beautiful!

Marty Machowski is an incredible author with a gift for connecting kids with the truths of the Bible in a very easy-to-understand way. We especially love his larger books, which are essentially mini-devotionals for kids.

Machowski also has a new set of devotionals to be used for Easter and Christmas, as well as a series of chapter books, the Redemption Tales, intended for older children that also focuses on the truths of the gospel.

Resources for Moms:

My very favorite resources for moms is Abbie Halberstadt’s three-book series. Her books focus on rejecting culturally accepted standards and mediocre motherhood, and accepting the calling that the Lord places on our lives when He gives us the job title “mom”. Though it is hard, it is absolutely worth it—and Abbie’s books are a wonderful encouragement to that fact. As a mom of 10, she reminds us that the marks that motherhood leaves on our bodies and souls are the evidence of the sanctification that God works in us for His perfect will.

JC Ryle (a preacher and writer in the late 1800s) wrote a wonderfully short book called The Duties of Parents. This little manual shares Biblical wisdom in short order, and reminds parents what our job is as believers raising the next generation of soldiers for Christ.

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer equips moms to empower their kids with the Biblical truths that counter cultural lies. Ferrer helps you understand the lies the culture is telling your children, and gives you the resources to help them make their own decisions that align with Scripture. She also has a second book, the Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality, if your kids are older.

Finally, while these are not specifically geared toward worldview and discipleship, the Moms on Call series gives new moms very practical tools and tips as they are immersed in the new world of motherhood. The books cover everything from breastfeeding to infant sleep to first aid to toddler tantrums and more. They are bullet point style and can easily be used as reference books when you encounter different issues rather than as a straight read-through. Written by nurse practitioners, these are very practically helpful books!

I have endless book recommendations, so if you get through all these and need more (or want recommendations for specific topics, holidays, issues, etc.), please reach out!!