Also by this author: Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World, Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World, The Christian Manifesto: Jesus’ Life-Changing Words from the Sermon on the Plain
Published by Good Book Company on September 1, 2024
Genres: Children's
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Excite kids about how great it is to be a Christian with this beautifully illustrated treasury of theological truths. Can be used devotionally.
Going from A to Z, kids will learn about the amazing things that are true of us if we know Christ. For example:
A is for Adoption - we are children of God, part of his beloved family.
B is for Branch - we are connected to Jesus, the vine, and he gives us life and all we need.
C is for Citizen - we have a place in heaven, which is where we are heading.Each letter teaches children about an aspect of our identity in Christ using Bible verses and clear engaging teaching by Alistair Begg. Reflection questions and prayers are included, making it possible to use this resource devotionally, such as for bedtime devotions or morning baskets. It can also be used as a kind of catechism, summarizing some of the Bible's truths about being a Christian. The alphabet format makes these theological truths easy to remember. Can be read to kids 4+ or read by kids 7+.
Children will be invited to praise, thank, and worship Jesus as they grow more excited about all the incredible blessings that come with being his friend.
This picture book teaches kids about what it means to be a Christian. It goes through the alphabet from A to Z, introducing different concepts, such as Christians being adopted, forgiven, light, new creations, pilgrims, sent, upheld, and victorious. Each letter has a double-page spread devoted to it, and the first page features an illustration for that theme, along with a Bible verse. The next page includes a page-length devotional from Alistair Begg.
The illustrations from Emma Skerratt are beautiful and creative, and I really enjoyed them. Each illustration shows a letter and represents the associated idea in some way, like when the trail on a map shapes the letter ‘P’ for ‘pilgrim.’ With each devotional reading, Begg starts out by asking a question that relates to the concept, such as, “What is the longest journey you’ve ever been on, and where were you going?” After that, he explains that day’s word, its connection to Scripture, and what it means for the Christian life. Each devotional ends with questions that families can discuss together, along with an example prayer.
The devotional readings are all simple and kid-friendly. Begg uses short sentences and explains unfamiliar words, and he also gives concrete examples to help kids understand abstract ideas. However, even with this simplified approach, he still delves into deep theological concepts. Some adults will find that they are learning new things along with their children.
At the end of the book, all of the alphabet letter illustrations and words appear together. The author challenges kids to remember what all of the letters represent, and encourages them to memorize the verses that go with each letter. On the publisher’s website, there are additional free resources available to use with this book, including a printable poster of the letters and worksheets for each lesson.
C is for Christian: An A-Z Treasury of Who We Are in Christ is a wonderful resource. I would recommend this for Christian families and Sunday school contexts, and it is also suitable for proficient readers to work through on their own. This would make a great gift for a child who is a new believer, or who has just experienced another spiritual milestone. I also appreciate how ecumenical this book is. This covers basic, foundational information about what it means to be a Christian without getting into specific denominational beliefs, and it is appropriate for a broad audience.
