Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Foundations for Biblical Childrearing and Heart-Level Parenting

Sep 11, 2026

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Shepherding a Child’s Heart presents a biblical framework for parenting that prioritizes the heart behind children’s behavior. The work argues that focusing only on external conduct overlooks inner idols, gospel needs, and God’s glory. Through foundations and stage-based guidance, it explores development influences, goal-setting, communication, discipline (“the rod”), conscience appeal, and summarizes shepherding the heart for lasting spiritual change in children and parents.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages243

Reading Time10 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to First Edition

Foreword

Introduction

Part 1 : Foundations for Biblical Childrearing

Getting to the Heart of Behavior

Your Child’s Development: Shaping Influences

Your Child’s Development: Godward Orientation

You’re in Charge

Examining Your Goals

Reworking Your Goals

Discarding Unbiblical Methods

Embracing Biblical Methods: Communication

Embracing Biblical Methods: Types of Communication

Embracing Biblical Methods: A Life of Communication

Embracing Biblical Methods: The Rod

Embracing Biblical Methods: Appeal to the Conscience

Shepherding the Heart Summarized

Part 2 : Shepherding Through the Stages of Childhood

Infancy to Childhood: Training Objectives

Infancy to Childhood: Training Procedures

Childhood: Training Objectives

Childhood: Training Procedures

Teenagers: Training Objectives

Teenagers: Training Procedures

Shepherding Helps

Scripture Index

Mission

Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) Shepherdinga Child’s Heart Tedd Tripp Shepherd Press Wapwallopen, PA Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) Table of Contents Preface to the Second Edition Preface to First Edition Foreword Introduction Part 1 : Foundations for Biblical Childrearing 1 : Getting to the Heart of Behavior 2 : Your Child’s Development: Shaping Influences 3 : Your Child’s Development: Godward Orientation 4 : You’re in Charge 5: Examining Your Goals 6 : Reworking Your Goals 7: Discarding Unbiblical Methods 8 : Embracing Biblical Methods: Communication 9 : Embracing Biblical Methods: Types of Communication 10: Embracing Biblical Methods: A Life of Communication 11: Embracing Biblical Methods: The Rod 12: Embracing Biblical Methods: Appeal to the Conscience 13: Shepherding the Heart Summarized Part 2 : Shepherding Through the Stages of Childhood 14: Infancy to Childhood: Training Objectives 15: Infancy to Childhood: Training Procedures 16: Childhood: Training Objectives 17: Childhood: Training Procedures 18: Teenagers: Training Objectives 19:Teenagers:Training Procedures Shepherding Helps Scripture Index Mission Info Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) Preface to the Second Edition In the ten years since Shepherding a Child’s Heart was published I have taught the material in this book hundreds of times . I have conversed with scores of young people who are in the throes of childrearing. These opportunities have left me more and more convinced of some biblical underpinnings that are essential for making sense of the childrearing task. God is concerned with the heart—the well-spring of life (Proverbs 4 : 23) . Parents tend to focus on the externals of behavior rather than the internal overflow of the heart. We tend to worry more about the“what” of behavior than the “why”. Accordingly, most of us spend an enormous amount of energy in controlling and constraining behavior. To the degree and extent to which our focus is on behavior, we miss the heart. When we miss the heart, we miss the subtle idols of the heart. Romans 1 makes it clear that all human beings are worshipers; either we worship and serve God, or we make an exchange and worship and serve substitutes for God—created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1 : 18-25) . When parenting short-circuits to behavior we miss the opportunity to help our kids understand that straying behavior displays a straying heart. Our kids are always serving something, either God or a substitute for God—an idol of the heart. When we miss the heart, we miss the gospel. If the goal of parenting is no more profound than securing appropriate behavior, we will never help our children understand the internal things, the heart issues, that push and pull behavior. Those internal issues: self-love, rebellion, anger, bitterness, envy, and pride of the heart show our children how profoundly they need grace . If the problem with children is deeper than inappropriate behavior, if the problem is the Downloaded from [https://www.studycrux.com](https://www.studycrux.com) overflow of the heart, then the need for grace is established. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life and died as an infinite sacrifice so that children (and their parents) can be forgiven, transformed, liberated and empowered to love God and love others . When we miss the heart, we miss the glory of God. The need of children (or adults) who have fallen into various forms of personal idolatry is not only to tear down the high places of the alien gods, but to enthrone God. Children are spring-loaded for worship. One of the most important callings God has given parents is to display the greatness, goo

FAQs

Why does the book emphasize the heart rather than only external behavior?

It teaches that behavior control without addressing the heart misses the internal motives, idols, and spiritual needs driving a child’s actions.

How does the book explain the spiritual problem underlying misbehavior?

It describes every person as a worshiper, serving either God or substitutes, so straying behavior reflects a straying heart that needs grace.

What parenting methods does the book cover?

It outlines biblical approaches including communication, different types of communication, living communication, discipline (“the rod”), and appeals to conscience.

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Ophelia