Alastair Begg has written a book on the alphabet. The foundation of language and, thus, society. Yes, that alphabet.
But of course, he doesn’t just write any ol’ book about the alphabet. He writes a theological book on the alphabet for children.
If you were to describe a squirrel or your best friend in one single word, could you do it? No, not really. These words need to call for more words to describe them. It is the same with the word “Christian.” What is a Christian? If you call yourself a Christian, how would you describe yourself? In this book, Begg gives you 26 words that complete this sentence: “A Christian is….”
This book is “an A to Z of what a Christian is.”
For those of you who might not know, Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and the Bible teacher at Truth For Life.
This is a book for somewhat older children. At least those who can sit still (at least for a brief few minutes). Each letter receives its own page, and each page begins with a question and an illustration. Imagine how a sermon might begin with this question, “Which country are you a citizen of?” Then an explanation of what it means to be a citizen of a country, even if you travel out of that country, how you represent that country, etc. This gets tied into how Christians are citizens of heaven, which “will make a difference to how we speak and how we behave. We will speak kind words like Jesus, and we will act like Jesus. This will also make a difference to how we think about this world. This world is not our real home.”
Then the main point is brought out: C is for Citizen. Begg offers a few questions and then gives a prayer.
If this were a sermon, it would be a very short one (so, perhaps more like a devotional). But hopefully you can see how this works. This isn’t a book you would read through in one sitting with your kids. Instead, use it as a morning devotional to explain what a Christian is and how we ought to live as followers of the King.
There is some repetition in the book. One person might see this as a negative while someone else will see it as reinforcing some of the related points. For example: C is for Citizen, E is for Example, and I is for Imitator. In each of these we represent Jesus. We are citizens of heaven and ought to live and imitate our King. He is our example. Connected with what Begg writes, I understand Begg to mean that as we actively imitate Jesus we stand as examples for him in front of others. So I think these letters represent aspects of the single theme of being God’s image-bearers.
Each letter is connected with a Bible verse, grounding the explanation in the Bible itself.
One may quibble about letters and what they could stand for (see X is for Loved), but I dare you to try to come up with a better word that begins with an X. (Begg uses the example of one who writes xoxo at the end of a letter for kisses and hugs as a segue into God’s love for us.)
Recommended?
This is an easy way to get some important features of Christianity into your kids. Begg offers your children strong theology without overwhelming them. He never tells them to “do better” or to “be better,” but he does tell them that belonging to Jesus gives them their worth.
Lagniappe
- Author: Alastair Begg
- Illustrator: Emma Skerratt
- Reading Age: 5-9 years
- Hardcover: 64 pages
- Publisher: The Good Book Company (September 2024)
Find it on Amazon and the Good Book Company!
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from The Good Book Company. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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