You were never meant to parent alone! Our church is dedicated to ministry not just to kids, but to entire families, starting with you as the parent. Below are some of our go-to, favorite resources that we point families to for all the struggles of parenting life. At the top of the page, you will find resources related to our 9 core insights. At the bottom, you will find general parenting resources. If you would like more personal advice or just a listening ear, feel free to reach out to our Pastor for Youth and Families, Matthew Geary at matthew@covenantsharon.org.
Kids Resources
SPROUTS
Preschool
Goal: “I can help others”
Curriculum
We will be looking at Jesus’ Ministry, the parables he taught, and how to share God’s love with others. The focus is on following the example of Jesus. He loved others and helped them in many ways, which we can do, too. The application is answering the question of how we can be like Jesus and help others (hungry, poor, sad, etc.), including the best way we can help others, which is to share God’s love with them, just as Jesus did.
Recommended Books
SEEDLINGS
K-2nd Grade
Goal: Everyone is made in God’s image
Curriculum
We will learn through 3 main groups of lessons, including Jesus’ Ministry, Jesus’ Parables, and God’s Love. The focus of each lesson is on every type of person being made in the image of God, even those who are different from we are or who are not considered part of our “group.” The application is that everyone should be treated with love and kindness, as Jesus treated everyone, and that we want to share Jesus with everyone because everyone is made in God’s image.
Recommended Books
God Made Me and You by Shai Linne
SAPLINGS
3rd-5th Grade
Goal: “Because God loves me, I should love others”
Curriculum
God’s Grace in the Law
Sometimes Christians can make it all about the rules. In our study of the 10 Commandments this semester, we will learn why God’s rules are not only gracious but the best way to live and love.
Recommended Books
Youth Resources
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Goal: “Do to others as you would have them do to you”
Curriculum
This semester we are exploring Radically Different: A Student’s Guide to Community.
This curriculum will guide your student through the theology of relationships in the Gospel narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration as well as through the practical questions of what it looks like to be a part of community even when it is hard. As always we will be mainly discussing and doing activities together in class with an expectation that students are doing weekly Bible study homework as assigned.
Recommended Books
This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years by Jaquelle Crowe
HIGH SCHOOL
Goal: Empathy, listening well, and asking good questions
Curriculum
On Sunday evenings your high schoolers will be discussing portions of the book of Deuteronomy asking the question how does God love his people in this book and how does their love exhibit God’s love to the nations. We will be exploring practical questions such as, “Is it better to speak up or listen when someone else shares a view I disagree with?” and “How can I practically love people in my school who are different from me?”
Recommended Books
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Timothy Lane and Paul David Trip
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Security in God’s Love Resource
Life Application ResourcesGeneral Resources
PARENTING
Sticky Faith: Everyday ideas to build lasting faith in your kids
Kara Powell/Chap Clark
These two have done the research on what it takes to build opportunities for lasting faith in our kids. It is God who does the work, but we have a role to play. Powell and Clark help parents see what that role could look like practically in your kids’ everyday life.
Growing With: Every parents’ guide to helping teenagers and young adults thrive in their faith, family, and future
Kara Powell/Steven Argue
For parents of teenagers, this book gives wise counsel and spiritual encouragement to parents who struggle with how to make that shift from parenting kids to parenting teenagers. You cannot parent teens and young adults the same way you did your kids and this book reveals what that change looks like and how to cope with some of those hard changes.
The Family Discipleship Podcast
Join hosts Adam Griffin, Cassie Bryant, and Chelsea Griffin as they cover topics from “Talking with Your Kids about the Trinity” to “Who Gets to Influence My Kids.” Through such a grace-oriented perspective, you will get to learn not from experts, but from imperfect parents who make the same mistakes we do, but want to share the wisdom from those mistakes with us. Guest appearances on the show include Matt Chandler, Jen Wilkin, and Trillia Newbell
EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
What am I feeling?
John Gottman
Parents can read this simple book to help understand their own parenting style in regards to emotion and what steps they can take to guide their children in emotionally healthy ways
What am I feeling?
Josh and Christi Straub
This kids book helps your child understand the importance of naming their emotions and developing empathy and self-control all through a simple story based in a biblical framework.
THEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
The Ology
Marty Machowski
A brilliantly developed systematic theology for young readers. If you’re looking for a book your child can read from 1st grade to 5th grade and continue to learn new concepts about God and his Word, this book is for you and your child.
Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and learning the greatness of God
Bruce Ware
For parents of kids 6 to 14, this day-by-day chapter book, allows parents and kids to talk about key concepts in theology in a way they understand.
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
God Made All of Me
Justin and Lindsey Holcomb
For your 2 to 8 year old children, this best selling book teaches kids how to not be ashamed of their bodies while protecting the parts God made most special. Based on a great theology of Creation, this storytelling book is a great foundation for kids to learn about their own sexuality.
Angry Birds and Killer Bees: talking to your kids about sex
Todd Bowman
It’s hard to talk with your kids about sex. But with the culture around us, it’s better they here from you than anywhere else. This short book gives you simple ways to think about how and when to begin the conversation with your kids about this beautiful, God-given gift.
For 6-10 year olds, this devotional has 7 biblically based lessons on human sexuality that is a great tool for parents walking through the preteen years and preparing their children for the changes ahead.
Sex+Christian Parents
You should be the authority on sex in your household. If you aren’t something else will be for your kids. On this podcast, Jason Soucinek and Thomas Anderson interview folks like Sam Alberry, Sean McDowell, and Kara Powell who are passionate about equipping parents to have regular conversations about sex with their kids. You are not in this alone!
