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The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently
University apologist, director, and popular speaker Alex McFarland has spent the last two decades answering questions about Christian worldview and the Bible from children, teens, and parents. In The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity , he summarizes questions today’s children and teens are asking about God, the Bible, and the problem of evil.
Alex’s experiences have taught him that how adults answer questions about God is as important as, if not more important than, what kids ask. He provides parents with teaching strategies that will help them reach their children intellectually and spiritually. Today’s kids and teens are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward truth. Alex comes alongside parents and gives them tools to effectively answer not only their children’s toughest academic questions but also the questions that plague their hearts.
Alex’s experiences have taught him that how adults answer questions about God is as important as, if not more important than, what kids ask. He provides parents with teaching strategies that will help them reach their children intellectually and spiritually. Today’s kids and teens are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward truth. Alex comes alongside parents and gives them tools to effectively answer not only their children’s toughest academic questions but also the questions that plague their hearts.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
34 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 26, 2013
I have been looking for a book like this for a few months now. My kiddo is about to be 6 and has been asking a lot of questions, why did Jesus have to die? When can I get baptized? I will say, truthfully a few questions had me stumped. I would answer to the best of my ability, but I wasn't as confident as I should have been. Having read The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity by Alex McFarland, I will say, it has offered me a lot of things to think about, and given me the direction I need to go to be able to speak confidently when it's needed on these subjects.
This book drew me in. While reading this book, I broke one of my reading rules, I highlighted, the pages. The pages now looks like a neon yellow, stripped zebras. I only highlight school books, and only when I wanted to remember the important things for a test...well, this was for a far more important subject.
Alex McFarland was able to present his book with humor and many personal stories on how this book came to be. I also enjoyed the quotes that were presented before each chapter. They were fitting. The chapters flowed together and they touched on some hard topics, even for some adults. However, the subjects were brought down to a level (not dumb-down by any means, I want to make that clear), so that a parent could discuss it with a child. It was very easy to understand what was being presented. Everything discussed in each chapter was also backed up by scripture. Not one or two verses, many, and they were brought from every portion of the Bible.
It was great to see/read about the comparisons between things of the Old Testament and the New Testament. How the time of Joseph and then of Moses was so important to the time of Jesus thousands of years later and that of the crucifixion. The Key Concept section with the Question Recap and the Hope Filled Answer was a nice addition to each chapter. It helped bring the chapter all together.
Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest opinion.
This book drew me in. While reading this book, I broke one of my reading rules, I highlighted, the pages. The pages now looks like a neon yellow, stripped zebras. I only highlight school books, and only when I wanted to remember the important things for a test...well, this was for a far more important subject.
Alex McFarland was able to present his book with humor and many personal stories on how this book came to be. I also enjoyed the quotes that were presented before each chapter. They were fitting. The chapters flowed together and they touched on some hard topics, even for some adults. However, the subjects were brought down to a level (not dumb-down by any means, I want to make that clear), so that a parent could discuss it with a child. It was very easy to understand what was being presented. Everything discussed in each chapter was also backed up by scripture. Not one or two verses, many, and they were brought from every portion of the Bible.
It was great to see/read about the comparisons between things of the Old Testament and the New Testament. How the time of Joseph and then of Moses was so important to the time of Jesus thousands of years later and that of the crucifixion. The Key Concept section with the Question Recap and the Hope Filled Answer was a nice addition to each chapter. It helped bring the chapter all together.
Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 1, 2018
I bought this book at a Christian Apologetics conference. I don't have kids. I don't know any kids. That said, I do plan on having kids some day, and I thought this book would help me better prepare to answer the questions they will have about Christianity. Honestly, though. A lot of these questions are asked by adults as well. If you're not equipped to defend your faith and answer the tough questions (or even if you are, like me, but want to keep training), then this book is for you. You'll learn how to answer all kinds of questions both children and adults will ask you. Alex McFarland did an outstanding job with this book, and I would like to read it again soon.
January 18, 2021
I didn't read this book the way I was supposed to. It is meant for the parent to read beforehand as a prep tool for conversations with their kids. I read it out loud to my kids, but I skipped portions of it. It was a great way to start conversations with the kids, and it was fun to hear them chime in.
I was curious how Alex McFarland would handle things. I have a well-studied opinion on how to handle the topics that McFarland covers, and each time, I was pleased with his approach. I don't recall having any major concerns, and hardly any minor ones (maybe none).
I was curious how Alex McFarland would handle things. I have a well-studied opinion on how to handle the topics that McFarland covers, and each time, I was pleased with his approach. I don't recall having any major concerns, and hardly any minor ones (maybe none).
August 19, 2013
In The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity, Alex McFarland has written an excellent resource to guide parents in answering the difficult questions your children may ask about Christianity and their faith in Jesus Christ. As we all know, children love to discover and ask questions in order to comprehend the reason and meaning behind important concepts. Alex McFarland has written this book to encouraged parents that they should be their children’s sole source for any questions that their children will have. He strongly advocates to parents to make sure that they pause before answering their questions. Parents need to try and understand why their children is asking this particular question and what event has influenced them to bring this up. Your kids may be asking a question that goes much deeper than the surface question asked. For instance, Alex stated, “Let’s say your child comes to you and asks, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” This seems like a straightforward theological question, right? But what if Grandma had been ill and has just passed away? The real question your child is asking may be, “Why did God allow Grandma to die. I prayed for her. Why didn’t He answer my prayer?” This is a much personal issue” (Page 8). This book will tackle the challenging inquiries that your children may ask at some point about faith in God. A critical point that Alex made was allowing our children the freedom to ask questions without parents just giving a full on lecture. Parents should focus on a having a dialogue conversation with our kids.
The book comprises of questions about “God, Jesus, the Trinity and the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the Church, and questions parents ask and my question to you”. Some of the questions are, “Why does God allow evil?, Why does God allow suffering?, How do we know that God loves us?, Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?, When is Jesus coming back?, When I pray, who is listening – God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?, Are the miracles in the Bible true?, Why are Christians such hypocrites?, Questions parents ask”, and many more questions about Christianity. Each chapter begins with a quotation, key concepts feature, and information to assist parents in answering the chapter’s question.
I vastly liked the story about eight year old, Lewis and a conversation that he had with his mother. Lewis asked his mother, “What is sex?” and she responded by discussing the differences between men and women and how they fall in love and then how babies occur. All Lewis wanted to know was how to mark a school form, M or F. Just as a side note, this book doesn’t discuss that topic because this book is more aimed at Christianity type questions. Alex McFarland shared this story as an illustration to not respond to our children’s questions with too much details and to answer their questions age appropriately. Another example would be if your kids ask about when Jesus is coming back, you may not need to go into the whole theological behind the book of Revelations and the pre- and post-tribulation rapture period. They may be looking for a more simple answer to their question. If they are wanting to go deeper and they are still asking questions, then feel free to respond with more in depth answers. He also addressed that it’s okay to admit to your children if you don’t know the answer to a question. But it’s important to tell your kids, we will find out the answer together and this might mean asking a pastor, a youth group leader, or another ministry key leader their question. I think this part of the book was especially beneficial to parents and it was a great reminder to parents to use discernment when answering some of their children’s questions and to answer them on their children’s maturity level.
One of my favorite questions was, “How do we know that God loves us?”. Parents are advised to always display unconditional love in their homes and to their children. As parents, we obviously know that our children will make mistakes and they will need grace, to be accepted, and loved unconditionally like Christ loves them. The most incredible tangible way that Christ has shown His children the He loves them was by sending this only Son to die for our countless sins. Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for our sins and it’s viral to share this message with your children. If you have younger children, Alex suggested planting a seed and watching it grow will help your children to understand patience and how their love and obedience are like the seeds growing. When we study the word of God and follow His word, we will see fruit manifested in our lives. Alex McFarland has travelled the world, teaching the word of God and he has seen that many young people have no clue that God loves them even when they sin. When we commit sins, we can choose to repent and ask for His forgiveness, and then to turn away from our sins. He also stated that if your child is struggling with low self-esteem and feeling unloved, help your child to reach out to others and develop ways, they can be a blessing to others and show others that they are loved and wanted.
I immensely loved how Alex McFarland crafted a few projects to assist parents in describing important concepts on the principles of God’s character. I really enjoyed the aspects of the sugar test and how it represented God’s standard for purity, a decaying apple to explain that everything decays, and planting a plant and letting your kids watch it grow and witness how the plant seeds grow and this is how as Christian’s we are supposed to bear fruit. There are many more special tangible projects presented in this book to help younger children grasp the ideas of Christianity.
I would recommend this magnificent book to every single parent, whether your child is younger or even a teenager. It is written for all ages in any parenting stages and it will be a very beneficial resource to guide parents in answering their children’s questions about Christianity. I would also recommend this book to people who one day hope to be parents, grandparents, as well as, pastors, kids or youth group leaders, and anyone who works with children. I learnt a remarkable lot about parenting and responding to our children’s most problematic questions regarding their personal faith in Christ. I will also like to say, that I’m only twenty-three and not married or a parent yet so I haven’t personally been asked or had to respond to some of the questions conversed in this book. I felt like this book has influenced me and it has assisted me so whenever I enter that stage of my life, I can already be a little prepared to answer whatever questions my kids may ask about Christianity. I immeasurably loved the chapter dedicated to the questions that parents ask. This chapter gave parents verses and information concerning sexual immorality, homosexuality, abortion, greed, money, materialism, drugs, drinking alcohol, people who commit suicide, and many more serious topics. This book is a brilliant foundation resource that will assist many parents confused on how to answer their children’s innumerable questions. I appreciate Alex McFarland on taking the considerable time in writing this book in order to lead parents in replying to their child’s questions. If you’re looking for a book on how to answer your children’s perplexing questions, then you definably need to read this one!
“Tyndale House Publishers/ Focus on the Family has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.”
The book comprises of questions about “God, Jesus, the Trinity and the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the Church, and questions parents ask and my question to you”. Some of the questions are, “Why does God allow evil?, Why does God allow suffering?, How do we know that God loves us?, Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?, When is Jesus coming back?, When I pray, who is listening – God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?, Are the miracles in the Bible true?, Why are Christians such hypocrites?, Questions parents ask”, and many more questions about Christianity. Each chapter begins with a quotation, key concepts feature, and information to assist parents in answering the chapter’s question.
I vastly liked the story about eight year old, Lewis and a conversation that he had with his mother. Lewis asked his mother, “What is sex?” and she responded by discussing the differences between men and women and how they fall in love and then how babies occur. All Lewis wanted to know was how to mark a school form, M or F. Just as a side note, this book doesn’t discuss that topic because this book is more aimed at Christianity type questions. Alex McFarland shared this story as an illustration to not respond to our children’s questions with too much details and to answer their questions age appropriately. Another example would be if your kids ask about when Jesus is coming back, you may not need to go into the whole theological behind the book of Revelations and the pre- and post-tribulation rapture period. They may be looking for a more simple answer to their question. If they are wanting to go deeper and they are still asking questions, then feel free to respond with more in depth answers. He also addressed that it’s okay to admit to your children if you don’t know the answer to a question. But it’s important to tell your kids, we will find out the answer together and this might mean asking a pastor, a youth group leader, or another ministry key leader their question. I think this part of the book was especially beneficial to parents and it was a great reminder to parents to use discernment when answering some of their children’s questions and to answer them on their children’s maturity level.
One of my favorite questions was, “How do we know that God loves us?”. Parents are advised to always display unconditional love in their homes and to their children. As parents, we obviously know that our children will make mistakes and they will need grace, to be accepted, and loved unconditionally like Christ loves them. The most incredible tangible way that Christ has shown His children the He loves them was by sending this only Son to die for our countless sins. Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for our sins and it’s viral to share this message with your children. If you have younger children, Alex suggested planting a seed and watching it grow will help your children to understand patience and how their love and obedience are like the seeds growing. When we study the word of God and follow His word, we will see fruit manifested in our lives. Alex McFarland has travelled the world, teaching the word of God and he has seen that many young people have no clue that God loves them even when they sin. When we commit sins, we can choose to repent and ask for His forgiveness, and then to turn away from our sins. He also stated that if your child is struggling with low self-esteem and feeling unloved, help your child to reach out to others and develop ways, they can be a blessing to others and show others that they are loved and wanted.
I immensely loved how Alex McFarland crafted a few projects to assist parents in describing important concepts on the principles of God’s character. I really enjoyed the aspects of the sugar test and how it represented God’s standard for purity, a decaying apple to explain that everything decays, and planting a plant and letting your kids watch it grow and witness how the plant seeds grow and this is how as Christian’s we are supposed to bear fruit. There are many more special tangible projects presented in this book to help younger children grasp the ideas of Christianity.
I would recommend this magnificent book to every single parent, whether your child is younger or even a teenager. It is written for all ages in any parenting stages and it will be a very beneficial resource to guide parents in answering their children’s questions about Christianity. I would also recommend this book to people who one day hope to be parents, grandparents, as well as, pastors, kids or youth group leaders, and anyone who works with children. I learnt a remarkable lot about parenting and responding to our children’s most problematic questions regarding their personal faith in Christ. I will also like to say, that I’m only twenty-three and not married or a parent yet so I haven’t personally been asked or had to respond to some of the questions conversed in this book. I felt like this book has influenced me and it has assisted me so whenever I enter that stage of my life, I can already be a little prepared to answer whatever questions my kids may ask about Christianity. I immeasurably loved the chapter dedicated to the questions that parents ask. This chapter gave parents verses and information concerning sexual immorality, homosexuality, abortion, greed, money, materialism, drugs, drinking alcohol, people who commit suicide, and many more serious topics. This book is a brilliant foundation resource that will assist many parents confused on how to answer their children’s innumerable questions. I appreciate Alex McFarland on taking the considerable time in writing this book in order to lead parents in replying to their child’s questions. If you’re looking for a book on how to answer your children’s perplexing questions, then you definably need to read this one!
“Tyndale House Publishers/ Focus on the Family has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.”
October 28, 2024
Originally I wasn’t going to leave any review/rating and just wanted it on my ‘read’ shelf for my own personal reference, but I need to leave a star review after reading the passages on evolution and science.
It was incredibly baffling to read the author stumble around a topic he clearly doesn’t understand, and even more troubling that he believes children should be the same.
Some of the questions are generally theological things children may ask (Why does God allow evil/suffering?), but most of the questions seemed to be worded in a certain way to receive a certain answer. Some other questions I felt could’ve been replaced with tougher, more frequently asked questions from kids/teens.
My 1 star is more to reflect the misinformation on how evolution works and how damaging that can be for kids to believe.
It was incredibly baffling to read the author stumble around a topic he clearly doesn’t understand, and even more troubling that he believes children should be the same.
Some of the questions are generally theological things children may ask (Why does God allow evil/suffering?), but most of the questions seemed to be worded in a certain way to receive a certain answer. Some other questions I felt could’ve been replaced with tougher, more frequently asked questions from kids/teens.
My 1 star is more to reflect the misinformation on how evolution works and how damaging that can be for kids to believe.
March 5, 2020
I really struggled with the format of this book, and I couldn’t tell who the author wrote it for. The title indicated it’s for parents, but the tone felt forcefully playful like an awkward youth leader trying to be cool, and the depth was pretty shallow, often leaving me wondering what had been taught.
I like the concept of a “start here if you’re new to apologetics and your kid is asking hard questions” premise. I’m just not sure this hit the mark.
I like the concept of a “start here if you’re new to apologetics and your kid is asking hard questions” premise. I’m just not sure this hit the mark.
August 2, 2013
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.]
Although I am not yet a parent, this is the sort of book that I read from time to time both with the goal of being better equipped at answering the questions of younger people in my own conversations with them as well as preparing myself for that serious responsibility if and when the time and opportunity for marriage and family should arise in my life. Given the seriousness of the responsibility of parenthood, a responsibility this book takes seriously, it ought to be of no surprise that modeling and explaining our faith should be a matter of the highest importance to those of us who are Christians. Despite our imperfections, we should all be visible Christians with the Spirit of God working in our lives and creating new lives within us.
Many of the questions in this book (there are 23 questions in total: 21 being spoken of as from children and teenagers, one chapter dealing with a variety of questions that parents ask (questions about what to say about money or sexual immorality or what subjects are dealt with in the Bible of relevance for today), and one very serious question (what will your family legacy be?) that the author asks the parents (and others) who are reading this book, are questions that I have asked of myself, of God, or of other people (like my own parents). Before giving the questions, the author seeks to give the reader a crash course on theology (some of the theological language of this book may be a challenge), as well as developing the confidence and competence to answer biblical questions wisely in an age appropriate way. The questions asked are solid ones and often very difficult ones to answer (why does God allow evil, why does God allow suffering, why is God so unfair, how do we know God loves us, why doesn’t God make our lives easy, is Jesus really God, did Jesus ever sin, why did Jesus have to die on the cross, why is Jesus the only way to heaven, when is Jesus coming back, how can God be the only God if there is also Jesus, when I pray, who is listening–God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, will the Holy Spirit leave me if I keep sinning, is the Bible really the word of God, are the miracles in the Bible true, how can I understand the Bible, this guy at school says the Bible contradicts itself–is that true, why are Christians such hypocrites, why do Christians judge everyone, if church is boring, why do I have to go, why don’t most churches care about pollution and global warming), and the author gives the answers his best college effort from a Protestant and mostly dispensational perspective.
Nevertheless, those whose biblical knowledge is more profound and more consistent than the author will find both a great deal to appreciate (the answer to the question on stewardship on the Bible, including the environmental benefits of the Sabbath, is a great one–too bad the author doesn’t believe the biblical Sabbath should be kept), as well as a great deal to frustrate. For every time that the author deals graciously with a difficult matter (seeking to avoid political disagreement between people who hold various eschatalogical views on end-time prophecy, seeking to deal with the sometimes controversial issue of whether it is okay for Christians to drink), there are at least a couple of times where the author makes ad hominem attacks on those who point out the inconsistencies and controversies of the Trinity (which the author here assumes as valid and glosses over rather superficially), or makes false dilemmas about interpretational worldviews (pitting evolution against youth earth creationism without showing any alternatives to either view), or uses an eisegetical method to deal with clean and unclean meats, or just flat out makes invalid claims (like the claim that the apostles changed their worship from the Sabbath to Sunday) without any biblical warrant. These errors are serious ones, and they put any godly parent who wishes to use this book in the position of having to sift the wheat from the chaff, the valid and useful insights about how our troubles are often due to the fallen and rebellious state of man and the sin nature (or human nature as some of us call it) that we all share as a result of mankind’s rebellion from the clear biases and errors of interpretation that the author has.
As a result, while this book does contain many quotations from scripture and at times biblical answers, much of this book shows the author to be a thorough Hellenistic Christian in the mold of Augustine and others like him, rather than a genuine biblical Christian. At times the author seems to equivocate within the text, talking about God’s judgment and the biblical doctrine of resurrections while also espousing an unbiblical belief in the immortal soul. Perhaps the author is unaware of the tensions or contradictions within his own worldview. Nevertheless, despite the book’s many and serious flaws of interpretation that spring from his own religious worldview and his incomplete and inconsistent biblical understanding, this book is a serious attempt to deal with genuine and serious biblical questions from young people, and contains much of worth, if much that is sadly unbiblical, despite the author’s best attempts at presenting biblical Christianity as best as he can.
Although I am not yet a parent, this is the sort of book that I read from time to time both with the goal of being better equipped at answering the questions of younger people in my own conversations with them as well as preparing myself for that serious responsibility if and when the time and opportunity for marriage and family should arise in my life. Given the seriousness of the responsibility of parenthood, a responsibility this book takes seriously, it ought to be of no surprise that modeling and explaining our faith should be a matter of the highest importance to those of us who are Christians. Despite our imperfections, we should all be visible Christians with the Spirit of God working in our lives and creating new lives within us.
Many of the questions in this book (there are 23 questions in total: 21 being spoken of as from children and teenagers, one chapter dealing with a variety of questions that parents ask (questions about what to say about money or sexual immorality or what subjects are dealt with in the Bible of relevance for today), and one very serious question (what will your family legacy be?) that the author asks the parents (and others) who are reading this book, are questions that I have asked of myself, of God, or of other people (like my own parents). Before giving the questions, the author seeks to give the reader a crash course on theology (some of the theological language of this book may be a challenge), as well as developing the confidence and competence to answer biblical questions wisely in an age appropriate way. The questions asked are solid ones and often very difficult ones to answer (why does God allow evil, why does God allow suffering, why is God so unfair, how do we know God loves us, why doesn’t God make our lives easy, is Jesus really God, did Jesus ever sin, why did Jesus have to die on the cross, why is Jesus the only way to heaven, when is Jesus coming back, how can God be the only God if there is also Jesus, when I pray, who is listening–God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, will the Holy Spirit leave me if I keep sinning, is the Bible really the word of God, are the miracles in the Bible true, how can I understand the Bible, this guy at school says the Bible contradicts itself–is that true, why are Christians such hypocrites, why do Christians judge everyone, if church is boring, why do I have to go, why don’t most churches care about pollution and global warming), and the author gives the answers his best college effort from a Protestant and mostly dispensational perspective.
Nevertheless, those whose biblical knowledge is more profound and more consistent than the author will find both a great deal to appreciate (the answer to the question on stewardship on the Bible, including the environmental benefits of the Sabbath, is a great one–too bad the author doesn’t believe the biblical Sabbath should be kept), as well as a great deal to frustrate. For every time that the author deals graciously with a difficult matter (seeking to avoid political disagreement between people who hold various eschatalogical views on end-time prophecy, seeking to deal with the sometimes controversial issue of whether it is okay for Christians to drink), there are at least a couple of times where the author makes ad hominem attacks on those who point out the inconsistencies and controversies of the Trinity (which the author here assumes as valid and glosses over rather superficially), or makes false dilemmas about interpretational worldviews (pitting evolution against youth earth creationism without showing any alternatives to either view), or uses an eisegetical method to deal with clean and unclean meats, or just flat out makes invalid claims (like the claim that the apostles changed their worship from the Sabbath to Sunday) without any biblical warrant. These errors are serious ones, and they put any godly parent who wishes to use this book in the position of having to sift the wheat from the chaff, the valid and useful insights about how our troubles are often due to the fallen and rebellious state of man and the sin nature (or human nature as some of us call it) that we all share as a result of mankind’s rebellion from the clear biases and errors of interpretation that the author has.
As a result, while this book does contain many quotations from scripture and at times biblical answers, much of this book shows the author to be a thorough Hellenistic Christian in the mold of Augustine and others like him, rather than a genuine biblical Christian. At times the author seems to equivocate within the text, talking about God’s judgment and the biblical doctrine of resurrections while also espousing an unbiblical belief in the immortal soul. Perhaps the author is unaware of the tensions or contradictions within his own worldview. Nevertheless, despite the book’s many and serious flaws of interpretation that spring from his own religious worldview and his incomplete and inconsistent biblical understanding, this book is a serious attempt to deal with genuine and serious biblical questions from young people, and contains much of worth, if much that is sadly unbiblical, despite the author’s best attempts at presenting biblical Christianity as best as he can.
July 10, 2019
His answers to the questions posed were good and had supporting scripture but I found the arrangement of the book disjointed with so many small sections mixed into the flow of each chapter.
August 12, 2013
The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently by Alex McFarland is a great resource to have in your home. Like the title implies there are 21 questions that all kids will ask- I have been asked many of them- but there are also more questions mixed in there. And these answers are not just for your kids but for other adults as well. I don't agree with McFarland on every answer that he gives but he gives a good foundation for you to start from. Every answer starts with the scripture to answer it and then builds from there with character and event references and sometimes his own opinion. And depending on the age of the child or the depth of the question they ask, this book gives you foundations for the "long, drawn out, in depth answer" or the "short and sweet" answer. With every chapter the author directs you back to the Bible and in the last chapter reminds you that that's where all the answers are- the Bible. It would be a great thing to take away from this book that although it is a great resource that I do highly recommend, the ultimate answers are in the Bible. For these questions and for others. McFarland simply points you in the right direction.
On Good Reads, I gave this book 4 stars out of 5 simply because I do feel that at times the authors opinion is a stronger statement in the answers than the Biblical resources. But it is few compared to the many Biblical answers and it is always in the going further in depth sections. I also realize that there are readers who will not by a book written by an author of another denomination (let's face it people there is really only one church and that is God's church) but this book is non-denominational and I can't find where there is really a huge discrepancy to make a big deal over. And if you find one, then don't use that section simply look in the Bible yourself for an answer that goes more with what you think.
**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. **
***This review first appeared on my blog at www.hentownmama.com***
On Good Reads, I gave this book 4 stars out of 5 simply because I do feel that at times the authors opinion is a stronger statement in the answers than the Biblical resources. But it is few compared to the many Biblical answers and it is always in the going further in depth sections. I also realize that there are readers who will not by a book written by an author of another denomination (let's face it people there is really only one church and that is God's church) but this book is non-denominational and I can't find where there is really a huge discrepancy to make a big deal over. And if you find one, then don't use that section simply look in the Bible yourself for an answer that goes more with what you think.
**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. **
***This review first appeared on my blog at www.hentownmama.com***
November 26, 2013
This book endeavors to answers twenty-one questions about Christianity that the author believes are difficult, and have a high possibility that your child might ask you one day. One chapter is devoted to each question. Every query is gone over in detail. Each chapter includes a “Key Concepts” section that is a recap of the question. There are also one or more boxes in each chapter that give more in-depth information about the subject being covered.
The author does a good job of finding scripture to support his answers. He also brings in interesting experiences he or others have had. The book emphasizes that is it important to try to answer your children’s questions. Ignoring hard questions may cause a child to start doubting how real Christianity is. This book attempts to be a resource that parents can use in answering the difficult questions.
Your child might not ask all of the questions contained in this book, but you may find yourself being asked some of them. I didn’t agree with all of the conclusions the author made, but this is still a useful instrument in a parent’s toolbox. I think this book would be a good resource for parents, anyone who works with youth, and those who might have some unanswered questions about Christianity. This books gets four stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Tyndale Blog Network (Tyndale House Publishers) for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
My blog: http://fushiacat.wordpress.com/2013/1...
Author's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revalexmcfar...
Author Information:
http://www.alexmcfarland.com
The author does a good job of finding scripture to support his answers. He also brings in interesting experiences he or others have had. The book emphasizes that is it important to try to answer your children’s questions. Ignoring hard questions may cause a child to start doubting how real Christianity is. This book attempts to be a resource that parents can use in answering the difficult questions.
Your child might not ask all of the questions contained in this book, but you may find yourself being asked some of them. I didn’t agree with all of the conclusions the author made, but this is still a useful instrument in a parent’s toolbox. I think this book would be a good resource for parents, anyone who works with youth, and those who might have some unanswered questions about Christianity. This books gets four stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Tyndale Blog Network (Tyndale House Publishers) for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
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August 5, 2013
The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently by Alex McFarland
This book is an excellent resource for parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers and anyone who has asked or had children who have asked the tough questions about God. This is an excellent way to study and learn where to find the answers in the Bible and how to answer these questions. It is a good resource including good explanations and verses to help you to learn and equip yourselves for the inevitable questions that will or have been asked. I love how Alex McFarland says this isn't a book to read verbatim to answer your children but is a way to be ready for those questions. He wants you to delve into maybe why they are asking a question so you know what is motivating the child. Is it curiosity or something that has happened to cause them to question such as loss. It is a very informative and plain language book that helps in your quest to be able to help your children and others when it comes to questions about God and Christianity.
I would recommend this book for all households and church libraries. I wish I had this book when my children were younger and asking these questions.
This book is one that I would even think about giving to young adults and adults if they have questions like Why does God allow evil? I found when reading this book that many of the questions were ones that we all at one time or another have asked and this is a good study book to help you with those questions. I think this would be a good book to use in new Christian homes and bible studies.
I would give this book 5 stars and hope that everyone would read and put in the home and church libraries. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for providing me this free copy of the book for my honest review.
This book is an excellent resource for parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers and anyone who has asked or had children who have asked the tough questions about God. This is an excellent way to study and learn where to find the answers in the Bible and how to answer these questions. It is a good resource including good explanations and verses to help you to learn and equip yourselves for the inevitable questions that will or have been asked. I love how Alex McFarland says this isn't a book to read verbatim to answer your children but is a way to be ready for those questions. He wants you to delve into maybe why they are asking a question so you know what is motivating the child. Is it curiosity or something that has happened to cause them to question such as loss. It is a very informative and plain language book that helps in your quest to be able to help your children and others when it comes to questions about God and Christianity.
I would recommend this book for all households and church libraries. I wish I had this book when my children were younger and asking these questions.
This book is one that I would even think about giving to young adults and adults if they have questions like Why does God allow evil? I found when reading this book that many of the questions were ones that we all at one time or another have asked and this is a good study book to help you with those questions. I think this would be a good book to use in new Christian homes and bible studies.
I would give this book 5 stars and hope that everyone would read and put in the home and church libraries. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for providing me this free copy of the book for my honest review.
August 1, 2013
During the years I was raising my children, they did come & ask difficult questions about Christianity, faith & the church. Some questions were easier to answer than others. There were times I had to respond, "I don't know but I will look for the answer & let you know." Every parent needs to know that their children will ask questions. And every parent needs to know that they are fully capable of giving an answer whether or not they are a theologian.
In his book, "the 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity & how to answer them confidently", Alex McFarland has compiled the questions & the answers. It is a wonderful resource which makes it possible for every parent to give solid, biblical answers to the questions that their children will raise. Some that he addresses include:
Why does God allow suffering?
Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross?
When I pray, who is listening?
Are the miracles in the Bible true?
Why are Christians such hypocrites?
In addition to the questions and answers, the author also gives discussion pointers and activity ideas that will help your children to grasp the answers & concepts.
In a world where there will be many voices vying for the attention of our children, may the voice of truth be the one they remember. May that truth come from parents that are equipped & ready. This is a great resource for anyone that works with children & youth as well.
Children are like wet cement. Any word that falls on them makes an impact. -- Dr. Haim Ginott, Between Parent and Child
(quoted on page 1)
I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers. I was not required to give a review but rather opted to give one as I found it to be a wonderful resource.
In his book, "the 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity & how to answer them confidently", Alex McFarland has compiled the questions & the answers. It is a wonderful resource which makes it possible for every parent to give solid, biblical answers to the questions that their children will raise. Some that he addresses include:
Why does God allow suffering?
Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross?
When I pray, who is listening?
Are the miracles in the Bible true?
Why are Christians such hypocrites?
In addition to the questions and answers, the author also gives discussion pointers and activity ideas that will help your children to grasp the answers & concepts.
In a world where there will be many voices vying for the attention of our children, may the voice of truth be the one they remember. May that truth come from parents that are equipped & ready. This is a great resource for anyone that works with children & youth as well.
Children are like wet cement. Any word that falls on them makes an impact. -- Dr. Haim Ginott, Between Parent and Child
(quoted on page 1)
I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers. I was not required to give a review but rather opted to give one as I found it to be a wonderful resource.
March 27, 2014
Our children love to play “Stump the Parents” by asking us progressively harder questions. They are seeking answers and attempting to understand life’s complexities. Dad and Mom, we should not fear their questions, even when the answers elude us. We have an opportunity to investigate alongside our children. Good reference material helps in the research, and Alex McFarland compiles a wealth of information in his book, "The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity".
McFarland does an excellent job including scripture and scripture references to connect his answers to the Bible. He writes, “Above the fray of human perspective and changing opinions, the Bible presents the mind of God and eternal truth…” (page 162). Rather than accept McFarland’s answers at face value, the reader can meditate on the Scripture for himself, and draw personal conclusions. My confidence in the message is higher when the author provides the sources for his statements.
I chose to cover the material by reading one question (chapter) each morning as part of my devotions. I left behind highlighted sections and personal notes which will benefit me when I review a specific topic. I have a spot reserved on my shelf for "The 21 Toughest Questions", beside my well-worn copy of Josh McDowell’s "Evidence that Demands a Verdict".
Building disciples of our children is a privilege weighted down with responsibility. Standing ready with answers as they develop their faith is paramount. Parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders—are we ready with those answers? We better be, or the flow of questions may stop.
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of "The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity" to facilitate this review.
McFarland does an excellent job including scripture and scripture references to connect his answers to the Bible. He writes, “Above the fray of human perspective and changing opinions, the Bible presents the mind of God and eternal truth…” (page 162). Rather than accept McFarland’s answers at face value, the reader can meditate on the Scripture for himself, and draw personal conclusions. My confidence in the message is higher when the author provides the sources for his statements.
I chose to cover the material by reading one question (chapter) each morning as part of my devotions. I left behind highlighted sections and personal notes which will benefit me when I review a specific topic. I have a spot reserved on my shelf for "The 21 Toughest Questions", beside my well-worn copy of Josh McDowell’s "Evidence that Demands a Verdict".
Building disciples of our children is a privilege weighted down with responsibility. Standing ready with answers as they develop their faith is paramount. Parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders—are we ready with those answers? We better be, or the flow of questions may stop.
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of "The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity" to facilitate this review.
August 9, 2013
As a parent, or an adult in church, you are going to get asked tough questions by kids. It would be best to ask yourself a question before that happens, "Where do I go to find answers?" Alex McFarland offers help for this question so that you can answer more questions in The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity: & How to Answer Them Confidently.
He begins by saying this is not a go to book where you can search the table of contents and get the answer immediately. Instead, it is to help steer you in the right direction to find answers on your own. To be precise, it is to steer you to the Bible, where you will be able to find the answer to the 21 questions he outlines. He adds that there will be other questions, but the guidelines he offers will help you seek answers to those, too.
He covers many of the top questions children ask, including: how can God exist in three persons and be only one God, who do I pray to, why do Christians judge and is the Bible true? With each of the questions, he touches on the surface, and directs you to go to God and the Bible to go deeper.
The book tends to focus more on younger children, so you might have to change the presentation before you use it to help teens, but it gives a good place to start. I recommend it for parents, and anyone else who might be asked questions about Christianity.
I received a copy from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my review.
He begins by saying this is not a go to book where you can search the table of contents and get the answer immediately. Instead, it is to help steer you in the right direction to find answers on your own. To be precise, it is to steer you to the Bible, where you will be able to find the answer to the 21 questions he outlines. He adds that there will be other questions, but the guidelines he offers will help you seek answers to those, too.
He covers many of the top questions children ask, including: how can God exist in three persons and be only one God, who do I pray to, why do Christians judge and is the Bible true? With each of the questions, he touches on the surface, and directs you to go to God and the Bible to go deeper.
The book tends to focus more on younger children, so you might have to change the presentation before you use it to help teens, but it gives a good place to start. I recommend it for parents, and anyone else who might be asked questions about Christianity.
I received a copy from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my review.
August 18, 2013
Kids can ask you the TOUGHEST questions. About Life. People. God. What is a parent to do? How do you answer the question, "Why is God so unfair?". Do you know how to talk to your child about Jesus life? Do you understand the Bible enough to answer your child’s questions?
Alex McFarland gives parents the tools to answer the tough questions kids will have as they learn to walk by faith in today’s modern world. Every chapter he highlights Key Concepts for parents to think about and Hope-Filled answers that can be used to answer their children’s questions.
This book is definitely written from a Protestant Trinitarian viewpoint. And although I personally did not relate with some of the doctrinal viewpoints presented in this book, I did appreciate the principles used to answer the questions. I also like how he includes scripture references. This gave me the opportunity to compare his ideas with the words from the scriptures; a very important thing to teach children!
Overall, I recommend this book for the traditional, Protestant-Trinitarian Christian. If you do not know the answers already it’s going to be a helpful resource in your parenting library. If you are Oneness or any other -ness, then you’re going to have to throw out a large portion of this book.Alex Mcfarland
Alex McFarland gives parents the tools to answer the tough questions kids will have as they learn to walk by faith in today’s modern world. Every chapter he highlights Key Concepts for parents to think about and Hope-Filled answers that can be used to answer their children’s questions.
This book is definitely written from a Protestant Trinitarian viewpoint. And although I personally did not relate with some of the doctrinal viewpoints presented in this book, I did appreciate the principles used to answer the questions. I also like how he includes scripture references. This gave me the opportunity to compare his ideas with the words from the scriptures; a very important thing to teach children!
Overall, I recommend this book for the traditional, Protestant-Trinitarian Christian. If you do not know the answers already it’s going to be a helpful resource in your parenting library. If you are Oneness or any other -ness, then you’re going to have to throw out a large portion of this book.Alex Mcfarland
March 8, 2014
I give it 3.5 stars, so I rounded up.
What I liked: It helps answer faith questions for teens and adults. I used it to answer questions that my 14 year old daughter had and also an adult friend.
This book is a good resource, but not one that I could just pick up and read the whole way through. Instead, I've used it to look up specific hard questions. Each section title is a tough question followed by the answer, which is backed by Scripture.
Some questions the books helps answer are:
--Why do bad things happen to good people?
--How can a loving God let people go to Hell?
--Is Jesus real?
What I didn’t like: The layout/flow in each section is annoying -- You get to reading about a tough question and then it is interrupted with a box of related text, so you have to skip the box to continue reading. The boxes interrupt the reader’s flow. The boxes have good information in them, but why stick them in the middle of text? It just makes reading harder and more confusing.
Some of the author’s explanations are a little advanced and might not translate well to younger children.
Overall: Good resource. I am glad I have it in my library because it has come in handy! I could only give it 3.5 stars, though, because of flow.
What I liked: It helps answer faith questions for teens and adults. I used it to answer questions that my 14 year old daughter had and also an adult friend.
This book is a good resource, but not one that I could just pick up and read the whole way through. Instead, I've used it to look up specific hard questions. Each section title is a tough question followed by the answer, which is backed by Scripture.
Some questions the books helps answer are:
--Why do bad things happen to good people?
--How can a loving God let people go to Hell?
--Is Jesus real?
What I didn’t like: The layout/flow in each section is annoying -- You get to reading about a tough question and then it is interrupted with a box of related text, so you have to skip the box to continue reading. The boxes interrupt the reader’s flow. The boxes have good information in them, but why stick them in the middle of text? It just makes reading harder and more confusing.
Some of the author’s explanations are a little advanced and might not translate well to younger children.
Overall: Good resource. I am glad I have it in my library because it has come in handy! I could only give it 3.5 stars, though, because of flow.
September 3, 2015
This book has really helped me better explain things to my 6 year old. We go to an amazing church so he has a much better understanding than I did at his age so he has a lot more questions than I was prepared for this early on. I actually heard the author speak at my church....he has a way of explaining things in a clear and concise manner and hearing him speak made me pick up the book. This book remains on my nightstand to refer to. Great for the born again adult Christian as well.
August 29, 2013
I found this book to be a great tool to answer the hard questions kids (and adults) have about the why's of our faith. Alex did a great job answering these questions without dumbing down the answers, and he always backed them up with scripture.
You can read more of my TBN review on my blog.
http://www.yankeeburrowcreations.com/...
Debbi
You can read more of my TBN review on my blog.
http://www.yankeeburrowcreations.com/...
Debbi
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