Most of us were handed a definition of grandparenting we never thought to question.
Be fun. Spoil them a little. Stay out of the way.
It sounds harmless enough. But somewhere between the birthday cards and the holiday visits, a quieter question settles in: Is that really all this season is for?
Josh Mulvihill asked that question—and went looking for answers in Scripture. He spent a year reading the Bible cover to cover, cataloging every passage that speaks to grandparents. What he found should stop every Christian grandparent in their tracks: the Bible contains hundreds of references to the role. God designed it on purpose. And His design looks nothing like the script our culture handed us.
Culture says you're an extra—someone to fill in around the edges. The Bible says you're a disciple-maker with a role no one else can fill. After parents, grandparents have more potential spiritual influence in a child's life than any other person. Not a peer. Not a teacher. Not even a pastor.
That's not a burden. That's an invitation.
Biblical Grandparenting will show you what God actually says about the role—and what to do about it. You'll discover where your own grandparenting style fits among four common approaches, what separates grandparents who pass on faith from those who don't, and eight practical discipleship methods you can start using with your grandchildren this week.
This is the most comprehensive resource on Christian grandparenting available. It began as Mulvihill's doctoral research, but don't let that scare you—the opening section walks you through the essentials in plain language, and the practical chapters are built from real interviews with real grandparents. Pairs well with the Grandparenting Matters training, a natural next step for going deeper.
In this book you'll find:
- God's design for grandparents — ten biblical themes, drawn from hundreds of Scripture references, that define the role
- A history lesson worth learning — how American culture quietly redefined grandparents from authority figures to companions, and why the church absorbed it without noticing
- Where you stand today — the four approaches Christian grandparents take (encouraging voice, supportive partner, loving friend, disciple-maker), and what each one produces
- What the research revealed — including the finding that three out of four Christian grandparents operate closer to cultural norms than biblical ones
- Eight discipleship methods — prayer, blessing, intentional meals, telling God-stories, sharing the Gospel, and more, drawn from interviews with grandparents who are actually doing it
- The difference it makes — a sobering look at why some families see their children and grandchildren walk away from the faith, and others don't
Whether you're a brand-new grandparent wanting to start right, or years in and wondering if you've been aiming at the wrong target, this book will give you a vision worth the rest of your life.
"I give my highest endorsement to this much-needed book... I hope it will be widely read, discussed, and responded to in ways that change the very fabric of this country and the grandparenting culture." —Valerie Bell, CEO, Awana
"This is a landmark book for church leaders and grandparents alike." —Larry Fowler, Founder, Legacy Coalition
Ready to put the practical methods into action? One of the eight methods Mulvihill identifies is asking questions that open spiritual conversation. Let's Talk Cards offer a natural starting point for those conversations. For the prayer chapter, where prayer scored 100% among surveyed grandparents, Let's Pray Cards help you pray Scripture with and for your grandchildren.
For church leaders, explore Equipping Grandparents, the companion volume by Josh Mulvihill focused on equipping grandparents through the local church.