Let’s Read: Keeping Your Children’s Ministry On Mission: Practical Strategies For Discipling The Next Generation by Jared Kennedy

Given that Christians are people of the Good Book—Scripture—I think that it is fair to say that Christians should generally be people of books. This is not to say every Christian must be reading a mountain of books every year. Rather, Christians should be people who read steadily—whether quickly or slowly. We should continually be renewing our mind with both Scripture and other written materials that will help us to better understand Scripture (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23).

At the Irish Baptist College we recognise that not everyone is a reader. For this reason we have established an initiative entitled Let’s Read with the aim of encouraging Christians to read trustworthy books in manageable chunks. Periodically we will invite you to read through a book over a period of months and during that time we will post a monthly reflection on the blog to encourage further contemplation on what is being read.

Our next book is Keeping Your Children’s Ministry On Mission: Practical Strategies For Discipling The Next Generation by Jared Kennedy. Jared is the managing editor of Gospel-Centered Family.

Over the course of their time at the College students receive lectures on Children’s and Youth Ministry. Perhaps working with children excites you or maybe it terrifies you, perhaps you think that you’re too old, or  maybe too inexperienced. Whether you’re a pastor, a youth and children’s worker or a church member, I want to encourage you to pick up this book. We all come in to contact with the children in our churches so why not seek to be better equipped to disciple the next generation?

One Monday per month a reflection will be posted on this blog. For ease of reference here is the proposed schedule:

November: Read Introduction and Chapters 1–2, pp. 13–49 (reflection posted on Monday 6th November)

December: Read Chapters 3–4, pp. 53–88 (reflection posted on Monday 4th December)

January: Read Chapters 5–7, pp. 91–138 (reflection posted on Monday 15th January)

February: Read Chapters 8–9, pp. 145–180 (reflection posted on Monday 5th Feb)

March: Read Chapter 10, pp. 183–200 (reflection posted on Monday 4th March)

Participants are also invited to share striking quotes or personal reflections from the book on social media using #LetsRead to connect with each other.

Happy Reading!