4 MAT Book Review Assignment
Willy Puati
DMSN 610: Family Discipleship
October 2, 2022
Contents
Abstract .....................................................................................................................................1
Concrete Response ................................................................................................................... 2
Reflection ................................................................................................................................... 3
Action .........................................................................................................................................4
Bibliography................................................................................................................................6
ii
1
Abstract
Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp is a book that leads the focus on
discipling on the heart of a child instead of focusing on their behavior. Tripp and Tripp consider
that “Formative instruction helps to understand that behavior comes from heart attitudes.”1
This book takes a particular approach to parents; the best of it is the fact that it utilizes the
scripture, which is the key that focuses on parental strategies to assess the motive behind a
child’s
Behavior. By reading this book, one can quickly reflect on the scripture of Matthew 15:18, “But
Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart.”2
Although it is likely that most parents desire what is best for their children and want them
to follow Christian values and teachings. Parents often focus on correcting the behavior, which is
symptoms, instead of knowing their children's hearts from where the behavior comes from. Tedd
and Maggie Tripp offer a statement based on Proverbs 4:23 that explains the importance of
addressing the correction of the heart’s attitude: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life. All our hopes, dreams, and desires gush from the heart. Every drive for
meaning and significance originates in the heart. Our behavior flows from the heart. It is not
caused by circumstances or by our interactions with other people. The heart with its passions and
desires is the wellspring of life.”3 As children are guided through formative instruction to weigh
their desires from a Biblical perspective, parents will begin to see a change manifest in their
children. Children need to be able to connect what the Bible says and how to apply the word to
1 Tedd Tripp and Margy Tripp, instructing a Child’s Heart, Wapwallopen: Shepherd Press, 2008), 58.
2 Bible, King James Version.
3 Ibid, 51
2
their lives. The authors explain, “There is an internal dimension to faith: the Spirit of God
working in the heart. We as parents cannot produce that, but we can provide the formative
instruction necessary for children to make the connections between Biblical words and their
daily reality.”4
Parents must lead their children by applying the truths of God’s Word in their everyday
lives. In doing so, children will come to understand and apply Biblical principles to their lives
and choices. They will recognize that “the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping is the
principle that God gives for understanding consequences”5 good and evil. Children not given the
formative instruction of using the Bible to correct the heart are left to find edits from worldly
ways; the authors explain: “In the absence of formative biblical instruction, secular formative
instructors take over. Our hearts are quickly captivated by the hollow and deceptive. The
philosophies of a godless culture (Col. 2:8).”6 Parents must be aware of the dangers their children
will face without Biblical formative instruction. Also, parents must lead by example by shining
the light of Jesus into their children’s lives. Children follow the education given to them, and it
has lifelong effects on the position of their hearts and the choices they make. Then they will not
depart from what they were taught.
Concrete Response
I left my parents' home earlier when I was thirteen years old to live far away from my
uncle’s house. My uncle was not a Christian, nor her wife. I knew some Biblical truths from
school and word of mouth. In my uncle’s family, there was no prayer or Bible study. I Grew up
with one of my cousins; we were boys in that house. He was the elder, and I was the younger.
4 Tedd Tripp and Margy Tripp, instructing a Child’s Heart, Wapwallopen: Shepherd Press, 2008, 49
5 Bible, King James Version
6 Ibid.
3
My cousin’s heart was tuned to evil by his deeds. He was the troublemaker in the house and the
neighborhood. Nobody could speak a few good things about him. He caused much pain to many
people through his behavior and character. My uncle used different pedagogic methods to redress
without success. I could tell I was the most admired young boy in the neighborhood, my uncle
was proud of me, and everybody was testifying about my good behavior.
Still, I was lost without Christ. I realize we were born with idols in our hearts, and idols
direct our reactions toward circumstances in our hearts. By the grace of God, I met with one of
my schoolmates, the first person to tell me about salvation through Jesus Christ. I couldn’t resist
the power of his words which crushed my heart with a fire that I remember passing all day with
tears and trembling. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior; I became the First newborn
of my entire family. I brought Christ to my mother, siblings, and some cousins with many
persecutions. My cousin now still resists receiving Jesus. He is the one that persecuted me the
most. Formative instruction is a powerful revelation that can help assess the individual and
establish the right approach to bring people to God. God’s grace is still the most potent
component that we will still rely on.
Reflection
Instructing a Child’s Heart is the recommended book for every parent that expects to raise
their children to God’s standard. It will bring about a hard truth to many Christian parents who
will read it; they will realize that their parenting style is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
Modern-day Christian homes have become overrun by worldly discipline and teaching. Societies
Established customs on how to discipline children have infiltrated many Christian families.
4
This book offers a guide for parents to lead their children through practical Biblical
instructions. However, the Authors did not provide helpful steps that a parent could take in
engaging their children in formative education. Adding a valuable set of application methods at
the end of each chapter or at least a list of essential activities parents could do with their children
and getting them involved would be a plus to this beautiful gift. This book would provide
practical help to any Christian household where parents are looking for a way to address the core
issue of their children’s behavior. It begins with the authors explaining and emphasizing the
importance of parents being the primary influence on their child’s life in chapter one; this topic
makes sense since it is one of the essential things that all parents must recognize to disciple their
children. In addition to being a valuable tool for parents at home, this book may prove to be an
excellent study for parents in a small group or a church parenting class if there was a study guide
to go along with it.
Action
Evermore, I thank God for the Authors of this marvelous book, and the first action I took was to
buy a copy of this book on Amazon for myself and the church. I started to assert people's
behavior with a different approach than before. I have another understanding of people's
reactions, and I have become more compassionate than judging them. I am focused on the heart;
the more forgiving I became, the more I started not to be frustrated or hurt by people's reactions,
behaviors, and words, which I understood as symptoms. My judgment became different, and I
felt this change in myself. I have decided to control my own heart through my behavior, words,
and reactions effectively. I started evaluating my heart and raising prayers request for Holy ghost
intervention because I want to lead by being a model and leveraging all I have learned. There is a
promise in Ezekiel that God can change one’s heart to a new one. I recognize the importance of
5
the Family Bible study that my wife and I are implementing according to our schedules so that
our lives can be influenced by the word of God and provide more opportunities for our daughter
to acquire wisdom and grace from it. Because we will reap only what we sow. I corrected my
understanding of the discipline and started immediately using it accordingly.
