Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware

May 29th, 2009

Ware, Bruce A. Big Truths for Young Hearts. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2009. 234 pp. $15.99. Purchase at Westminster Books.

Introduction

Bruce A. Ware currently serves as the president of the Evangelical Theological Society (2009) and is professor of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is well known for his work in answering the challeng of Open Theism in his books God’s Lesser Glory and God’s Greater Glory as well as his work on the Trinity in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The present book was born out of nightly conversations with his two daughters while they would be getting ready for bed.  It was during this time, as well as on their yearly road trip, that Bruce and his wife would teach their girls about the magnificent glory of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  He would not shy away from the “tough” doctrines like the Trinity or God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.  Rather, he would challenge his girls to seek the answers to his tough questions in the Scriptures.  These conversations are the basis for this book.

Synopsis

Big Truths for Young Hearts is divided into 10 chapters with six sub-chapters in each.  As in most systematic theology books, you begin with the Bible in chapter one and conclude with the end times in chapter 10.  Along the way, you will discuss and study the Trinity, God as Creator, our sinful human nature, the work of the person of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, soteriology (matters of salvation), and the bride of Christ, that is, the church.

There are “Questions for Thought” at the end of each sub-chapter along with a memory verse for your child to memorize. Because of the format of the book, you can take as long as you want to read through it and study it together as a family or on your own. The subtitle of the book suggests that this book is both for parents who want to teach their children about the things of God as well as for those who you “babes in Christ” wanting to learn for themselves about the greatness of God.  In other words, this book is for children and adults.

Recommendation

Bruce A. Ware has done Christian parents and new believers an enormous favor when in writing Big Truths for Young Hearts. This book belongs on the shelf of every Christian parent as well as every new believer. This book was born out of a father’s love for his God and his two daughters.  However, it can be used in a myriad of ways and need not be labeled as for children only.

For example, instead of sitting down with your child and reading Wayne Grudem or giving a new believer a copy of Wayne Grudem, you can hand them Bruce Ware.  This resource makes a perfect first introduction into the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.  It makes  an excellent companion to your  family worship or even your home school material.  It can also be used in your church’s children’s ministry or perhaps a New Believer’s class.