Early Training in God's Word

Starr Meade, Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds (P&R, 2013)  I’ll just go ahead and sound like the bad Christian here. I often cringe at the thought of family devotions. It’s the combination of talking the kids into it, disciplining their behavior during (which majorly involves the skill to stay on topic), and the cheese-factor of many of the devotions we have tried. Doing family devotions sounds so ideal--spending quality-time teaching your children some nice little lesson from Scripture. But life isn’t ideal, and neither is the drama taught in God’s Word. That’s why I love Mead’s approach. I am already a fan of Starr Mead from her book of family devotions based on the Westminster Catechism, Training Hearts, Teaching Minds, as well as her two books for children 8 and up, God’s Mighty Acts in Creation, and God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation. I love the idea of teaching my children about God’s Word through the great catechisms. So naturally, I was excited about Comforting Hearts, a family devotional based on the Heidelberg Catechism. I have found that my favorite time to do a devotion with the kids is during dinner. We are already gathered together around the table, enjoying one another’s company. Why not make our conversation a little more intentional toward the end of the meal? And Meade does all the work for you—cheese free! She begins each week with two or more of the questions and answers from the catechism, and has a devotion each day of the week that further explains the answers, along with accompanying Scripture. I love the brevity of the lessons because my kids are more encouraged to ask their own questions and Matt and I can take the conversation from there. It is also easier for them to remember the one main teaching each day. I’m actually amazed at how succinct Meade writes while also giving such theologically sound lessons. How does she do it? I love teaching through the great catechisms that godly men have faithfully labored through because they summarize the teaching of Scripture so well. The Heidelberg Catechism does this, while also seeming to ask the very follow-up questions that my kids would. For example, Question 9 asks, “But doesn’t God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what we are unable to do?” (Loc. 204). Meade continues with the question in her own illustration:

Would a fifth-grade teacher require her students to do high school math homework when she’s never taught them how to do it? Would a ten-year-old’s parents require their child to drive to the store to pick up milk when he’s too young to have a license? Then why would God require in his law what we are unable to do? Is that fair? (Loc. 213).

Meade then explains the difference in that God did originally create man with the full ability to obey his law, and how Adam and Eve’s sin effected the rest of humanity. Both the Catechism and the book are broken down into three sections to help us understand our sin and misery, how we are saved from it, and how to live in a way that gives God thanks. Meade delivers the gospel presentation in the very first week of the study. I especially appreciate the detail explaining the Apostles Creed, since I am also going through Mark Johnston’s book with the kiddos this summer. There are also great sections on the sacraments, the ten commandments, and the Lord’s prayer. The title of this book is so fitting, because that is exactly what the catechism and Starr Meade do. She introduces her book assuring us that our children will suffer in life and there isn’t much we can do about it.

They will face temptations and long to give in. They will confront the horrors of a fallen world and question all that they have been taught. They will know disappointment; they will feel grief so profound that it consumes their desire to go on living; and they will ache with the weariness of staying strong day by day in the face of grinding routine. Why would we think that, in such demanding circumstances, our children will be able to live in the comfort God’s Word provides if they have not trained for it? (25).

Meade explains how training in the truths of God’s Word through the catechism helps prepare our children for real life. These truths will be rehearsed and treasured, comforting our children’s hearts to draw from in those very difficult times, and training them for a life of righteousness for eternity. And the book benefits more than the children. Having read through it independently for review, I am excited to take it day by day in devotion with the family. It’s one of those books where you could end the study and flip right back to page one for another time around. Teaching. Comforting. *Thanks to Netgalley and P&R for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.