May 2024 Book Club Recommendations

May 06, 2024

Our goal in the Foundation Worldview Book Club is to provide resources for you to have meaningful, literature-based worldview discussions with the children God has placed in your care. We work hard to choose books with insightful, truth-based themes. However, we know that our subscribers will have different convictions about the content they allow in their homes, churches, and classrooms. We encourage you to read the recommended books ahead of time, to ensure that the content fits within the framework you have already established in your ministry context. Please also note that by recommending a certain book, Foundation Worldview is not endorsing every work published by a particular author. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, Foundation Worldview will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book for Adults

The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes

Nancy Pearcey

Does Christianity teach a “toxic” version of masculinity? Are all traits of traditional masculinity harmful to society? Professor Nancy Pearcey tackles these and many other sweeping claims with clarity, sociological research, and compassion. This is a book that all Christian parents will want to read.

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Book for Children Ages 8-12

How Can I Be Sure What’s Right and Wrong?

Chris Morphew

Can I be certain of right and wrong? Is it all subjective? Should God tell us how to be good, or can we figure it out ourselves? What about when there is no right answer or when we disagree on the best course of action?

Chris Morphew, a Christian Studies teacher and school chaplain, guides 9-13-year-olds through morality questions in this lively book. He argues that there is right and wrong and that God provides solid answers.

Question 1 - Why doesn’t it work for us to just decide on our own or with a group what is right and what is wrong?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how our beliefs will always clash with the beliefs of others and the beliefs of a certain society or group will change from one generation to another. If right and wrong are based on the beliefs of each person or group, then right and wrong aren’t actually real. They are just based on emotions (preferences).

Question 2 - On page 36, the author says, “Before you can figure out whether someone is a ‘good’ person or a ‘bad’ person, first you need to know what a person is for - what our purpose is. How would the idea of being a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ person change if being strong and dominant was a human’s purpose versus being a person who loves God and others?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the first belief would lead people to focus on themselves, trying to put others down, while the second belief would lead to people seeking what was best for others.

Question 3 - After reading pages 46-48, ask, “How does believing that humans deserve equal rights line up with or contradict different worldviews?”

Discussion Guide - Discuss how this belief aligns with the teaching that all humans bear God’s image. Yet, it contradicts the belief that humans have no purpose and got here accidentally.

Bonus Question - If your child has gone through Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum or Foundation Careful Thinking Curriculum, ask, “What is the difference between claims made about pineapples not belonging on pizza and claims made about whether or not to let an infant live?”

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the first statement is a subjective (preference/feeling) claim while the second one is an objective (truth) claim.

Book for Children Ages 4-7

The King and the Dragon

James Shrimpton

This story, written in the form of a poem, walks little ones through the overarching story of the gospel. The illustrations will capture children’s imaginations, while the storyline will help parents engage in gospel-centered discussions with their children.

Question 1 - Why was the King the best king the world had ever known?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the King made the world and everyone in it. He knew best what they needed. Connect this to God, our Creator, who is the true and best King.

Question 2 - Why wasn’t it enough for the knight just to beat the dragon?

Discussion Guide - The dragon’s poison was still in the people. Connect this to sin. It wasn’t enough for Jesus to defeat Satan. Because we have inherited Adam’s sin, Jesus also needed to defeat the power and punishment of sin.

Question 3 - What is the King’s desire for His children?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the King wanted His children to become like the Knight. Connect this to the Spirit’s work in the life of the Chrisitan. As we seek God through His Word, the Holy Spirit conforms us more to the image of Jesus.

Bonus Question - If your children have gone through Foundation Attributes of God Curriculum, ask, “In this story, what attributes of God do we see that He alone possesses? What attributes do we see that He kindly invites us to reflect?”

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the story portrays God’s self-sufficiency and omnipotence. Then, discuss how it also shows God’s mercy, grace, and love. To remind your children of these attributes, you can review several of the curriculum games for these attributes.

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