As Christian parents, the Bible must be the center of our children's education. Kevin Swanson (an Orthodox Presbyterian pastor in Colorado) has made it his mission to help parents train their kids to be faithful and diligent readers of God's Word. The Book of Psalms: The Heart of the Word represents his ongoing effort and is an excellent introduction to family worship.
Four volumes lead readers through Psalms 1-119; a forthcoming fifth volume will complete the study. Each section centers on one Psalm, which appears in the King James Version. Reading the Psalm aloud is followed by several sections: How do we feel in the recitation of this Psalm?, What does this Psalm say?, How do we apply this Psalm?, and How does this Psalm teach us to worship God?
After each section is read to the family, review questions cover the Psalm itself and Swanson's commentary, and family discussion questions trigger self-examination and reflection. The format is easy—parents read the Psalm and commentary, each capable family member takes a turn answering questions; the content often is not, as it brings sin and shortcomings to light.
The section How do we feel in the recitation of this Psalm? isn't a touchy-feely reader response approach to understanding God's Word. Swanson simply reveals how the Psalm should make us feel, and what our emotional reaction should be, not to the text, but to Christ Himself. This is a Christ-centered commentary, and the reader's attention is frequently turned toward Him.
Family worship is sadly neglected. Swanson aims to bring it back, and The Book of Psalms is just one offering to help families recover devotional home worship. More than Sunday sermons are needed if we're to raise children who walk by God's Law, and this two-volume guide presents an easy-to-follow systematized approach to help you build a Gospel-centered family.
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
here.
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
here.
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