Connecting Church & Home: A Grace-Based Partnership

By Tim Kimmel

A child who sees grace lived out in front of him at home and at church is much more inclined toward staying committed to a relationship with God into adulthood. In Connecting Church & Home Tim Kimmel gives a vital message to church ministry leaders and parents equally, making this a must-read for all involved in sharing faith with the next generation. Kimmel gives a comprehensive strategy to churches for family ministry as well as a plan for parents seeking to pass their faith to the next generation. He shares valuable tools for the local church to use to build strong family ministry. The Family Ministry Map, created by Kimmel, is explained in details as well as examples of the program put into practice given in this book. He also teaches parents how to translate every part of ministry they are exposed to at church into spiritual training at home. Readers of Grace-Based Parenting will find this new book a great follow-up to assist in transfering every part of their faith into the lives of their children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Randall House
• Release date: Feb 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781614840688

Tim Kimmel

Dr. Tim Kimmel is one of America’s top advocates speaking for the family. He is the Executive Director of the non-profit ministry Family Matters, whose goal is to build great family relationships by educating, equipping and encouraging parents for every age and stage of life. Tim conducts conferences across the country on the unique pressures that confront today’s families. He has authored many books including: Little House on the Freeway (selling over 700,000 copies; Multnomah) and the Gold Medallion winning bestseller Grace Based Parenting (100,000 copies; Thomas Nelson). He lives with his family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Reviews for Connecting Church & Home

[foof2you · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

One word sums up this book and that is GRACE! If you don't believe in grace and what it can do for you, don't read this book. My only problem with this book and it is a big one is that it seems to be a sales pitch for Mr. Kimmel's other books and web sites that he is involved with. When I read a book I want to read it. I don't want to be sold a bunch of other products. Put your web site and other info on a back page, if I like your book then I'll look up your web page and get more information.The first part was great then it became one big sales pitch. I've read other books by Mr. Kimmel and was looking forward to reading this one.

[megcamp · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While this book covers a topic I believe is essential (grace-based parenting), I felt much of the time life I was reading a commercial for the other books and tools offered by the author's ministry. I am sure that there are some church leaders (and parents) who will want to read more of these materials, but it came across as a catalog rather than pointing me to the work of the Holy Spirit in me as a parent and church volunteer. The whole feel of grace described in this book felt absent even as the author described everyone else's attempts at parenting (and Christian books about parenting) as being insufficient. I totally disagree, and have read some over and over that spell out better than this one the manner in which we as parents should approach our children's hearts. There are gems hidden in this book. I simply wish that the author came across as more humble and grace-filled.

[rosenectur · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've enjoyed this book a lot. Having heard about Grace based-parenting I was afraid it was going to be a lot of feel good, gushy type stuff. It was actually filled with pretty good advice. (Though he could have spent less time on the problems. I think if you are reading the book you already know the problems church children's ministries are facing. You pick up a book like this to find answers not to delve into the problems more.) That aside, once he gets going with the napkin illustration the book is pretty good. And I like that he gives you lot of resources at the end because this is a book about ideas to apply those ideas you will need resources and curriculum.

[deusvitae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A treatise for ministry through the prism of grace.The author's main premise is the necessity for grace to saturate every and all relationship(s). He sets forth how this works in the home among parents and children and then extends the image to relationships within the church. Much of the discussion centers on how to develop grace-based ministry and how that looks in practice.The author's understanding of grace is solid; his application of how grace looks in real life in terms of affirming inner needs, freedom, and character development is excellent; valuing, empowering, freeing, and aiming disciples is an excellent construct. As with all resources there are some things one might disagree with and some things that may not be very beneficial or effective in one's unique context, but the general principles of grace in the family and the church is of great importance. Worth consideration.

[ftaylor_45 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A typical book decrying the problem and yet not doing a great job of explaining a solution. Grace is important. That was kind of the takeaway that I received from this book.

[dianerupp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book surprised me. I was not thinking it would be very applicable to me as just a church member. But it is applicable to everyone not just church leaders or leaders of family ministries. Tim Kimmel stresses the need for God's grace in all forms of relationships and ministries. Even the "road map" that he has developed and explains can be used for a family or another ministry not just a family ministry. I definitely recommend that Christians read this book. We so need to remember and trust the grace of God.

[rswright_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The title, Connecting Church & Home, caught my attention immediately. As a pastor, I am committed to this aspect of life among the community of believers. As I read the beginnings of the book I was encouraged by what I read. This book is not anything new but it is another book to remind both families and the church of its role in the discipleship of children. After starting well, the book disappoints in finishing well. There is a lot of talk about Grace, but there is no clear explanation (that I could see) regarding just exactly what the Gospel is & is not. There was only vague references to faith and nothing regarding repentance of sin. The Gospel seemed to be assumed throughout the book. I also agree with others that have expressed their disappointment in the 'advertisement' for the model & curriculum that Dr. Kimmel overtly promotes throughout the book. I am thankful for another voice regarding church & family, but there are other books I would recommend regarding this matter.

[moses917_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In recent years one of the biggest debates in the marketplace of ideas within the church is the question of how when it comes to family ministry. How does the church minister and meets the spiritual needs of the family. As their area variety of different views and methodologies on how this should be done (ref. Perspectives on Family Ministry) author Dr. Tim Kimmel in this new book “Connecting Church & Home” offers up his own perspective. Dr. Tim Kimmel is the founder and Executive Director of Family Matters whose goal is to see families transformed by God’s grace into instruments of restoration and reformation by equipping families for every age and stage of life.The author in the first part of the book drags out onto the floor what he finds to be the crippling church paradigm that so many within the church have abdicated the spiritual education of the their children to the professions at the church. Being a youth pastor for many years I found the author’s words to ring true as he challenges the church to review this method of partnership between the family and church. As Kimmel states the consequences are young people are leaving the church in large numbers, parents are disconnected, churches are overwhelmed, and children are growing up without an example of God’s grace in the home.In turn Tim Kimmel offers up his own comprehensive strategy to churches for family ministry as well as a plan for parents seeking to promote generational faithfulness to their children. He lays out a plan called grace-based parenting between churches and parents. Kimmel suggests that grace is the missing element as the role of a parent is to connect the heart of their child in such a way that prepares the child to more easily connect to the heart of God.“Strong churches don’t make strong families. Strong families make strong churches.” – Dr. Tim KimmelKimmel’s book does the job of shedding light on the problem I don’t think he is the final word on the resolution but offers up a very usable option. I recommend this book to parents and church leaders alike as it is a short but concise easy read that strikes at the heart of the issues facing the church and home today.own.

[jen_smucker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"A grace-based family ministry and and a grace-based family parenting relationship can be summarized in one sentence: 'Treating others the way God treats us.'." Being a parent in a family with five children, I was looking forward to reading this book. I hoped to gain insight and new ideas for raising my family. Unfortunately, although the book is well-written and easy to read, I did not find much depth to Mr. Kimmel's insights. He brings to light very good points as far as what it means to be grace-based, but as he started delving further into the doings of a family who supposedly are trying but falling short, I started to wonder just what it was that they (we) are doing that is so wrong. Grace is a heart attitude and it is a way of life, but it seemed that Mr. Kimmel was downplaying the significance of the action steps most families take (Prayer, Bible, Church and Christian Living per chapter 5) and almost seemed to imply that these steps, while noble, still fall short of his recipe for grace. I did like the Starbucks analogy, however. Maybe I will re-read this book a little more carefully.

[pastor0clint · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very thought provoking with excellent resource. I thought Dr. Kimmel did a very nice job in presenting truth and grace in a balanced way. I think his insights on the word, wonder and the work needed in our lives, the life of the church and seen through Jesus was great. I also thought "Welcome to Family Land" was a great insight, stimulating ideas for how the church can come along side families.

[nirrad_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought Dr. Kimmel did a good job laying out this topic, I thought he used good resources to back his position. Keeping church and family together is a great idea, and one I try to practice with my family.