To You and Your Children: Examining the Biblical Doctrine of Covenant Succession

Covenant nurture of Christian children must begin with God's promises about covenant succession.

Look Inside the Book

Scripture promises that God's people "shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them" (Is. 65:22-23) and that Christ "will turn...the hearts of the children to their fathers" (Mal.4:6). Acts 2:39 sums it all up: "The promise is to you and your children."

Yet Christian parents today face a disturbing exodus of their children from the Church to the world. Why is this? What is the place of children within the faith? What do the promises mean? Recognizing that this subject is fraught with difficulty and grief, the twelve contributors to this volume seek to address the hard questions and lay a biblical foundation of hope for our children.

This collection of essays, edited by Benjamin K. Wikner, includes detailed exegetical and historical studies, reflections on our current culture, andd practical applications of the Bible's teaching on these matters. It features contributions from Douglas Wilson, Tim Bayly, Joel Beltz, David Hagopian, Douglas Jones, Robert S. Rayburn, and others, with a foreword by R.C. Sproul, Jr.

What People Are Saying:

"Most of the readers of this book will be, in the providence of God, an ancestor for tens of thousands of people. Pray for them. Ask God for them." -Douglas Wilson, pastor and contributor

"There is not one parent who has not failed at various points.... The connection between the behavior of a child and his parents is unavoidable. The sooner we acknowledge this the sooner we can deal with the problem." -Randy Booth, pastor in Nagadoches, Texas

"The fact is that if we deny the possibility of a faithful nurture of covenant children, we have embraced a way of thinking that must prove fatal to our entire understanding of salvation and the gospel." -Rob Rayburn, pastor in Tacoma, Washington

"The covenant home is ready-made as an institution of multiple generations; the church is called to express that same image.... Both institutions should express a model resembling the familial fabric of the covenant, showing a mutual dependence." -Mark Sumpter, pastor