2014 by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www . bakerpublishinggroup . com
Ebook edition created 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6399-5
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations identified RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Dual Identity
Mom? Why do people die? What is adultery? As a mother of seven children who range in age from toddler to adult, Im always interested in grace-filled, Bible-based answers to the tough questions of this life. Elyse and Jessica do a beautiful job of balancing truth with grace, while offering parents practical, solid answers to topics that many parents cringe over. Ill be looking at this great guide again and again, not because it contains all the answers, but because the authors humbly point parents back to the only source of truth thats ever existed: the Bible.
Heidi St. John, author and speaker
I love this book! I will recommend it again and again. It is street-level theology for children that drips with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Parents, read it, live with it, share it daily with your children, and not only will they learn and grow, you will, too.
Paul David Tripp, president, Paul Tripp Ministries
These hard questions arent randomchildren wonder about these issues, and they impact our everyday lives. Now talking about these questions doesnt have to be overwhelming for lack of resources. Im so thankful for Elyse and Jessicas hard work, precision, and focus on Christ in this book.
Gloria Furman, author of Glimpses of Grace and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full
Jessica and Elyse have done it againoffering the good news of the gospel to moms and dads overwhelmed by their inadequacy. This is a scripturally rooted and profoundly wise guide for parents who desire to weave gospel truths into the answers to their kids toughest questions. I highly recommend this book. It takes the pressure off parents to have all the perfect answers, reveals the radical nature of Gods grace, and weaves the scarlet thread of redemption through every answer.
Jeannie Cunnion, MSW, author of Parenting the Wholehearted Child
Elyse and Jessica have written a must-have book for parents and those involved with ministry to children. It provides helpful, gracious, wise, and faithful answers to some of the most difficult questions children can ask about the Christian faith. My wife and I use this book with our daughters, and we are thankful for the work that went into it and the heart behind it.
Justin S. Holcomb, Episcopal priest, seminary professor, and coauthor of Rid of My Disgrace : Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault and Is It My Fault ? Hope and Healing for Those Suffering Domestic Violence
Martin Luther once said he measured his ability as a preacher by his ability to communicate the gospel to the young. This book is filled with such gospel truth, so simply articulated. No one has helped me connect the gospel to parenting more than Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson.
J.D. Greear, PhD, author of Ready to Launch : Jesus - Centered Parenting in a Child - Centered World and Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
When I have a tough parenting question, Elyse and Jessica are my go-to friendsnot because they have it all together, but because I know that their wisdom will be driven by none other than the gospel. This book is just what I need, and its just what you need, too!
Kimm Crandall, mother of four and author of Christ in the Chaos : How the Gospel Changes Motherhood
This is a great book to help answer the big theological questions of little children.
Pastor Mark Driscoll
To all the moms and dads who are trying to reconcile the heartache and brokenness of this world with what they know about their loving God.
Elyse
To my gospel community: Cody, Kei, Wayne, Keri, Mark, Katie, Anthony, Phoenix, and Derek, I couldnt have done this without you. You all taught me what true community looks like during the process of writing a book.
Jessica
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Introduction
1. Parenting Is More Than Room and Board
2. What Is Sin?
3. Why Do People Die?
Suicide
4. Who Is Satan? What Is Hell?
What About Demons?
Judgment and Hell
5. Why Do People Get Divorced?
Adultery
Marriage to an Unbeliever
Are There Other Biblical Grounds for Divorce?
6. Why Does the Bible Say That? Difficult Bible Stories
When Your Children Doubt
Homosexuality
Sexual Abuse
Pornography
8. Why Does God Let Natural Disasters Happen?
9. Why Do People Fight and Kill?
Violence in the Home
War
Terrorism
10. The Good News That Should Always Be Shared
Recommended Resources for Further Study
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Authors
Back Cover
Introduction
T hank you for taking time to pick up this book and for loving your family the way you do. I know there are plenty of other demands on your time, and reading a book about answering your childrens hard questions might not top the list, but your interest tells me that you want to help them as they face daily contradictions, depravity, and destruction around them.
You dont need me to tell you that we live in a world of great suffering and deep rebellion against God. This is the reality todaybut it isnt all that different from the world children were born into two thousand years ago in Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome. In fact, in many ways our world isnt as bad as theirs. While we might not be happy about the direction our communities are headed, we do have laws that serve to protect many of us. So take courage. The words of Scripture that brought hope to our ancient brothers and sisters are the same words that can help us as we search for answers today.
Some Answers Before We Really Begin
This Isnt a Script
Although we will emphasize throughout this book that it is not to be used like a script, we want to underscore it here. The importance of knowing each of your children and how to talk to them in language they understand is crucial, especially when youre trying to answer difficult questions. So, while we will suggest ways to discuss each topic (for three different age groups), make sure to speak to your child in his or her own language. In addition, the Holy Spirit may guide your conversation in a completely different direction, and we want you to be open to this. Again, this isn t a script .
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