Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have by Natasha Crain {A Book Review}

** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

You already know the world is becoming an increasingly secular place that will undoubtedly challenge your child's faith in Jesus. But do you know specifically what those faith challenges are, how to effectively talk with your child about them, and what that means for you as a Christian parent on a day-to-day basis?

If your answer is "no," you're not alone. Many Christian parents feel the same.

But here's the good news: Talking with Your Kids about Jesus will give you the confidence you need to have the conversations that matter most in today's skeptical world. In a friendly, parent-to-parent voice, Natasha Crain will walk you through essential topics on Jesus's identity, teachings, death, and resurrection. Each chapter clearly explains what skeptics are saying and provides a concise, easy-to-understand response you can discuss with your child (one that can be tailored for any age).

Chapters are sequenced in a curriculum-oriented way to provide a cumulative learning experience, making this book a flexible resource for use in multiple settings: homes, church classes, youth groups, small groups, private Christian schools, and homeschools. Every chapter has a step-by-step conversation guide with discussion questions and tips, and content is readily adaptable for use with kids of any age.

Natasha Crain is a national speaker, author, and blogger who is passionate about equipping Christian parents to raise their kids with an understanding of how to make a case for and defend their faith in an increasingly secular world. In addition to Talking with Your Kids about Jesus, she has authored two other apologetics books for parents: Keeping Your Kids on God's Side and Talking with Your Kids about God. Natasha's articles have been featured in the Focus on the Family magazine and the Christian Research Journal, and she's been interviewed on radio shows across the country. She has an MBA from UCLA and a certificate in Christian apologetics from Biola University. A former marketing executive and adjunct professor, Natasha lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. She writes at www.natashacrain.com.

As a Christian mom, if there is one thing I want to be sure to instill in my children it is a strong sense of faith. And as such, I want them to not just know about Jesus, but to understand what it all means. I want them to ask the questions they have and really explore their own faith so that they are better able to stand by it and defend it. There is power in knowledge and understanding. There is power in questions.

But what about those questions that I'm just now sure how to answer in a way that kids will understand? What do we do about those? The new book by Natasha Crain, Talking With Your Kids About Jesus is a fantastic tool to help us do that. It breaks down 30 conversations that are important for all to hear... many being those tough questions that kids might ask. The book is broken down into 5 parts: The Identity of Jesus, The Teachings of Jesus, The Death of Jesus, The Resurrection of Jesus and The Difference Jesus makes. Within each part, various questions are asked such as, 'How can Jesus Be Both God and Human?', 'Did Jesus die willingly?', 'What historical evidence is there for Jesus's resurrection?', and 'What does it mean to be saved?'... just to name a few. These are so often that we as adults- even knowing the answers- have a hard time wrapping our minds around and therefor struggle to explain. Each question is then broken down and explained. We are given key points to be sure to address and a conversation guide that offers ways to open, advance and apply the conversation. It gives US as parents both a better understanding, and a way to approach the topic with our kids too.

Overall, this is a great resource and one that is going to be a welcome addition to any Christian household. If you're struggling to answer the tough questions with your kids- or just want to be better prepared to address these more confusing aspects of Christianity- this is certainly one to check out.