| Preface | xi |
| Foreword | xiii |
| Introduction | xv |
| Authority | xvii |
| Shepherding | xix |
| The Centrality of the Gospel | xix |
| Internalization of the Gospel | xx |
| Mutuality as People under God | xxi |
| Part 1 | Foundations for Biblical Childrearing | |
| 1 | Getting to the Heart of Behavior | 3 |
| 2 | Your Child's Development: Shaping Influences | 9 |
| Shaping Influences | 10 |
| Mistakes in Understanding Shaping Influences | 15 |
| 3 | Your Child's Development: Godward Orientation | 19 |
| Godward Orientation | 20 |
| Implications for Childrearing | 23 |
| The Importance of Godward Orientation | 24 |
| Summary | 25 |
| 4 | You're in Charge | 28 |
| Confusion about Authority | 28 |
| Called to Be in Charge | 29 |
| Called to Obedience | 31 |
| Parenting Defined | 33 |
| Summary | 37 |
| 5 | Examining Your Goals | 41 |
| Unbiblical Goals | 42 |
| The Biblical Warning Against Cultural Influence | 47 |
| Mixed Signals | 48 |
| 6 | Reworking Your Goals | 51 |
| Rethinking Unbiblical Goals | 51 |
| Objections Answered | 57 |
| 7 | Discarding Unbiblical Methods | 60 |
| Unbiblical Methods | 61 |
| Evaluating Unbiblical Methods | 68 |
| 8 | Embracing Biblical Methods: Communication | 73 |
| Communication is Dialogue, Not Monologue | 75 |
| Focus on Understanding | 76 |
| 9 | Embracing Biblical Methods: Types of Communication | 83 |
| Types of Communication | 84 |
| Summary | 91 |
| 10 | Embracing Biblical Methods: A Life of Communication | 93 |
| A Life of Communication | 93 |
| Shepherding the Heart | 94 |
| Counting the Cost | 94 |
| Counting the Blessings of Paying the Cost | 96 |
| Is It Worth the Cost? | 100 |
| 11 | Embracing Biblical Methods: The Rod | 103 |
| The Rationale Behind the Rod | 104 |
| What is the Rod? | 108 |
| Distortions of the Rod | 110 |
| Common Objections to the Rod | 112 |
| The Fruit of the Rod | 114 |
| The Best of Both | 116 |
| 12 | Embracing Biblical Methods: Appeal to the Conscience | 118 |
| Appealing to the Conscience | 118 |
| Correcting with A Central Focus on Redemption | 123 |
| 13 | Shepherding the Heart Summarized | 126 |
| Part 2 | Shepherding Through the Stages of Childhood | |
| 14 | Infancy to Childhood: Training Objectives | 131 |
| Primary Characteristic--Change | 131 |
| Understanding Authority | 133 |
| Circle of Blessing | 135 |
| Honoring | |
| Defined | 136 |
| Obedience Defined | 138 |
| Call for Consistency | 139 |
| Process of Appeal | 140 |
| The Importance of Example | 142 |
| Shepherding Your Children in Godly Attitudes | 143 |
| Benefits of Learning to be Under Authority | 144 |
| Save Time--Do It Right | 145 |
| 15 | Infancy to Childhood: Training Procedures | 147 |
| The "When" of Spanking | 149 |
| The "How" of Spanking | 150 |
| The "Why" of Spanking | 153 |
| Frequently Asked Questions | 154 |
| 16 | Childhood: Training Objectives | 162 |
| Childhood | 162 |
| Three-Pronged Tool of Diagnosis | 166 |
| 17 | Childhood: Training Procedures | 172 |
| Addressing the Heart | 173 |
| Appealing to the Conscience | 174 |
| Developing Character | 176 |
| Interpreting Behavior in Character Terms | 181 |
| A Long-Term Vision | 182 |
| 18 | Teenagers: Training Objectives | 184 |
| Signs of the Times | 185 |
| Rebellion | 186 |
| Three Foundations for Life | 187 |
| 19 | Teenagers: Training Procedures | 198 |
| Internalization of the Gospel | 198 |
| Shepherding the Internalization of the Gospel | 200 |
| Developing A Shepherding Relationship with Teens | 201 |
| Scripture Index | 213 |