Homegrown Disciples: Parenting Rhythms for Drawing Your Kids into Life with God

by David Sunde

Teach what you know, reproduce who you are, and trust that God is at work in your family’s journey.

Christian parents long to instill a lasting faith in our children, but the challenge of balancing spiritual teaching with academic, extracurricular, and social demands can be overwhelming. Many feel inadequate or unqualified to lead their children spiritually. In Homegrown Disciples, David Sunde offers seven rhythms to help disciplemaking parents know God better, experience him more fully, and leverage their faith for the benefit of their children.

Find out how to reproduce a living faith in your kids’ lives through the seven rhythms of apprenticing, renewal, hospitality, community, compassion, generosity, and gratitude.

Learn how
Experience God’s presence and grace through the highs and lows of raising children,Create a nurturing environment where faith can grow naturally,Use everyday interactions to reveal God’s heart and truth to your children,Embrace the idea that both you and your children are learning and growing together in faith.

Genres: Parenting

192 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

David Sunde was diagnosed early with an insatiable appetite for the interesting, which is how a kid from a working-class San Francisco church ended up pastoring four congregations, planting a fifth, and earning a doctorate in semiotics — the study of how signs and stories shape us. He's the author of "Homegrown Disciples" and "Small-Batch Disciplemaking" (NavPress), books that frame faith as something to be played more than worked — practiced alongside others willing to fumble through the song together.
The son of an immigrant, he was raised in a small church where the Body of Christ looked quietly miraculous. He's been married to Laurel — choral director turned nurse practitioner — for thirty years. Their grown kids, Bjorn and Annika, live close in Austin, along with their daughter-in-law, Clara. Two dogs patrol the premises with more enthusiasm than strategy.

Reviews

[Rick LaPlante · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I raised our kids, now long-grown, in "a Christian household." I wish we'd had this book to help. David is a deep-thinking man of faith and a creative writer who shares both first-person stories and inspired suggestions to his readers. And his style makes for an easy read.

Note: I received an ARC for an objective review.

[Kerri Rocco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read for Every Parent!
I highly recommend this book to every parent, whether you’re just starting your parenting journey or in the thick of it. It’s filled with godly wisdom and practical, real-life advice that speaks straight to the heart. The content is rich in depth, yet incredibly easy to read and apply. David Sunde’s writing style is both relatable and inspiring, making you feel challenged in the best way. This would be a fantastic choice for a small group study or book club. Encouraging, insightful, and deeply meaningful! Don't miss it!

[Rachel Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has sound advice for any parent trying to raise their children in faith. Our children are our first ministry and this book gives practical applications for how to direct our children in what matters most. Highly recommend as a must read for any and all parents.

[Heather Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homegrown Disciples is an excellent guide for parents who want to intentionally cultivate their children’s faith while growing in their own.