?When we guide our children in God's ways and give them our love, attention, care, and time, they will be changed. So Tricia Goyer, a co-author of Faith That Sticks: 5 Real-Life Ways to Disciple Your Preteen says... So you've heard of this book, you've heard of the buzz, but the real question is, is Faith That Sticks worth it? Can this book actually help you disciple when you feel like your world and their world is going in a million directions? If you're deep in the trenches of Christian motherhood trying to build a vibrant faith in your child, I know how skeptical you can be of another parenting book that promises a magical formula. Today I'm doing a full review of Faith That Sticks to see if it delivers. We'll unpack its five strategies for building a faith that lasts, and you absolutely have to stick around to the end because I'm going to show you the single most important page in this entire book, which gives you a clear guide for the most important conversation you will ever have with your child. This book says the challenge of parenting preteens include dealing with their fluctuating emotions, navigating disciplinary situations, and managing their desire for independence while maintaining traditions and expectations. It's a huge responsibility that can feed mom guilt and anxiety. But here's what you need to hear. You are not alone, and you do not need a seminary degree to do this. The authors remind us, as parents, we are responsible to give our children every opportunity to know God and to understand the good news found in the truth of God's Word. You just need a roadmap, and I believe this book is that roadmap, and I'm going to show you why. The book I'm reviewing today is Faith That Sticks: 5 Real-Life Ways to Disciple Your Preteen. It's written by Tricia Goyer and Leslie Nunnery, two moms who have clearly been in the trenches and understand the realities of Christian parenting. They know that parents of preteens don't need more guilt or another complicated program, especially when facing potential motherhood burnout. What we need is permission to be imperfect and a plan for intentional parenting. And that's what makes this book such a breath of fresh air. It doesn't ask you to add a dozen new things to your to-do list. Instead, its big promise is that it offers parenting hacks to transform the things you're already doing into moments of discipleship. The entire framework is built around five simple, powerful, real-life building blocks family relationships, prayer, Bible reading, conversations, and service and as I mentioned, it all leads to that one crucial conversation. So stay to the end and I'll tell you exactly what that is Let's get into one of the first building blocks this book proposes, which is very important. It's family relationships. What I love about their approach is the emphasis on this as part of their foundation. You can have the most dynamic family Bible study and the most eloquent prayers, but the book rightly argues that if the relational soil of your home is hard and rocky, the seeds of faith will have a very difficult time taking root. This is where so many of us get it backwards. We focus on behavior modification instead of heart transformation. Jesus said in Luke chapter 6, "A good man brings forth good things out of the good stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." The book positions discipleship as a shepherding of a heart toward God, which can only happen in the context of a secure grace-filled relationship. This secure relationship is what makes it possible to have the kind of world-changing conversation that I'm going to tell you about. So what does the book suggest this looks like practically? Well, first, making one-on-one time a necessity, not a luxury. Second, creating simple family rhythms and traditions. And third, learning to apologize. When you go to your child and say, "I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?" You are modeling the gospel. If they experience your love as a tangible, secure reality, that relationship becomes the safe place where they can wrestle with their own faith Along with that foundation of relationship, the book introduces the building block prayer. If relationship is the foundation, prayer is the lifeline. The book points out that when children are young, it's easy to pray with them about the little things, but it is important that we keep the habit alive as they become The goal the author sets is to move prayer from being a special event to being our first response. One of the most valuable things this book does is demystify prayer. It takes it out of the religious duty category and puts it into the real-life relationship category. This looks like praying in the car after a conflict. Your preteen world is a minefield of social anxiety. The book encourages that instead of just saying, "Oh, you'll be fine," we can say, "That sounds really hard. Let's pray about it right now." This validates your preteen's feelings and teaches them to bring their biggest fears to God. This life of prayer points them to the God that they will know personally. And I'm gonna give you the exact page in the book where this conversation is explained, the most important conversation you can have with your preteen. By weaving these tiny moments of prayer throughout our day, we're giving our preteen the tools to build their own personal prayer life that will become a lifeline long after they've left our home All right, let's talk about this book's approach to the next building block, getting your kids into the Bible. This book frames getting your kids into the Bible as a compass for raising children in the faith. Here's a liberating truth that the authors emphasize that I found so freeing: Consistency is more important than perfection when it comes to Bible study. The goal is not to check a box, but to connect with the living God through His Word. As the book states, the simplicity of opening the Bible, dedicating time to read, and being open to discussing and discovering together is powerful. So how does the book suggest we make the Bible reading relational? The authors explain that connecting preteens with the Bible requires intentionality and creativity. By making connections between scripture and everyday life, navigating tough topics with openness, and engaging in practical and interactive activities, You as a parent can foster a deep and lasting interest in the Bible. The book offers a powerful shift in questioning. Instead of asking just, "What did you learn?" it suggests asking, "What does that tell us about God?" Followed by, "So what does that mean for us today?" When your child asks hard questions, the book encourages you not to panic. Instead, say, "That is a great question. Let's try to find the answer together." This shows them that faith isn't afraid of questions. This shift from rigid duty to relational discovery is one of the most valuable takeaways. The next building block the book covers is the bridge between our preteen's world and our world, between their heart and God's. And I'm talking about conversation. To disciple a preteen, we have to listen more than we lecture. And the authors make a strong case for creating connection through conversation. And that brings me back to what I've been wanting to share with you. The most important page and the most important conversation you can have, in my opinion, it's found on page 115 of this book. And it exactly lays out how to have a conversation about the gospel with your preteen. This book isn't just about fostering a let's all get along mentality. Its ultimate aim is to guide your child to a born-again experience that will change them forever. A true faith journey cannot begin until a person is a new creation in Christ Jesus. On page 115 of this book, it gives the exact word, the framework, lovingly and clearly explaining the gospel, bridging the gap between everyday life and their need for a savior. It helps you build a bridge to their heart that can bear the weight of their heaviest, most important questions We've reviewed this book's take on relationship, prayer, scripture, and conversation. This final building block is one that takes all the internal work and puts it into action. The book calls this the expression of our faith, which is service. Once a heart has been captured by God's grace, the very grace you can explain using that on page 115 of the book, the authors argue that that service becomes the natural overflow. Why is service so critical in this framework? Because it forces us to look outside of ourselves, of our needs. The preteen years are incredibly self-focused, and the book presents a service as a antidote. When our kids serve, they learn compassion and empathy. This book takes the abstract biblical truth to love your neighbor and makes it a concrete, tangible experience. This book offers simple ideas. Start small at home. Look for needs in the community. Partner with your local church. It also wisely advises debriefing afterwards by asking, "Where did you see God at work?" These conversations help them connect the experience back to God's heart. We're showing our preteen what it means to follow a savior, Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve. So we've looked at the five building blocks from Faith That Sticks: 5 Real Ways to Disciple Your Preteen, a relationship, lifeline of prayer, compass of the Bible, bridge of conversation, and the expression of service. But the real magic of this book is what happens when you put them all together. They create a culture in your home where the gospel isn't just another subject, but a reality your child experiences. So to answer the big question , is faith that sticks worth it? My answer is a wholehearted yes. This book's ultimate goal is to help you guide your child toward a true born-again experience, a moment where they become a new creation in Christ. That is the game changer, and that is what makes faith that sticks. So faith mom, here is my honest encouragement. Don't just watch this video and move on. If you are raising a preteen, a middle schooler, or even just want to understand that season better, I highly recommend you order Faith That Sticks: Five Real-Life Ways to Disciple Your Preteen. There is a link in the description. This book is practical, encouraging, and gospel-centered. It gives you real-life ways to talk about faith, pray with your child, open Scripture, serve together, build relationships, and to create a home where faith is part of everyday life. And remember, you do not have to do everything perfectly. You just need a faithful next step. So grab the book, read it slowly, highlight what speaks to you, and ask God, "Lord, what is one way I can lead my family closer to you this week?" Because, Mom, you are not just managing the middle school years. You are planting seeds of faith, and by God's grace, those seeds can grow into a faith that sticks. Thank you so much for watching. If this review was helpful, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more conversations about faith and family. You are not alone on this journey. You can do this because God is with you, and He is strengthening you. Until next time, be an amazing mom raising amazing kids for the glory of God
