I found this audiobook to be an easy ready and the narration was great. It was full of practical and helpful suggestions on the how and why of family discipleship and is a great starting point for those feeling lost on this topic.

A really good book, great reminder that discipleship starts at home.

I think I would have taken more from it as a written book rather than an audio book.

I'm always on the look out for interactive ways to engage my toddler up to my school aged children and I felt this book was more written for older children with a focus on teaching Biblical truths. I would have been interested in more practical ways of engaging with prayer and worship as well.

Overall, a good book which will leave you wanting to explore further how to better pursue family discipleship.

"Family Discipleship That Works" is a creative and deeply encouraging guide for parents who want to live out their faith in a way that impacts their family for generations. This book stands out for its unique approach to viewing discipleship through the lens of theater and storytelling, reminding readers that they are playing an important role in God’s grand production.

Right from the start, the author takes a refreshing approach by lifting the heavy burdens of shame, guilt, and unrealistic expectations off of parents' shoulders. Instead, they inspire hope and cultivate realistic expectations, making discipleship feel like an exciting opportunity rather than a daunting task.

The book is filled with engaging and memorable tools, like the “Old, New, Borrowed, Blue” and “Follow the Leader” improv games, which provide fun ways to tie discipleship ideas into fun games. These improv games could help parents teach the ideas from the chapters to their children an to connect faith with creativity, spontaneity, and joy, making it a natural part of family rhythms.

One of the most profound takeaways is the invitation to read the Bible as a drama to be performed, rather than just as historical information or a story to believe. This perspective transforms how families engage with Scripture, encouraging them to live out its truths actively and intentionally. It’s a powerful reminder that faith is not just something to learn about but something to embody.

The inclusion of thoughtful reflection questions at the end of each chapter helps readers internalize and apply the material in practical ways, ensuring it becomes more than just theory.

"Family Discipleship That Works" is a great read for families who want to embrace their role in God’s story with creativity, joy, and purpose.

In Family Discipleship That Works, Brian Dembowczyk provides a practical and insightful guide for Christian parents seeking to cultivate a faith-filled environment in their homes. With a focus on shaping children into individuals who know, love, and act like Jesus, this book goes beyond theoretical principles, offering tangible strategies and wisdom for everyday family life.

Dembowczyk’s approach is rooted in the belief that discipleship starts at home. He emphasizes that parents—not church programs or children's ministries—are the primary spiritual influencers in their children's lives. This foundational idea runs throughout the book, making it a rallying cry for parents to embrace their role as both educators and models of faith. Rather than advocating for an overbearing or legalistic approach to discipleship, the book offers a balanced perspective that encourages grace, consistency, and relational connection.

I have a real issue with books that I finish and think "That could have (should have) been a blog post". That's what I felt about this book. Yes, it was clever how the author went back through the history of American concern about the lack of discipleship happening in families, but I felt like the book was kind of lacking in practical application.
Live like Jesus in front of your kids, learn how to read your Bible well so you can teach them about it properly. That pretty much sums up the book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very uplifting and encouraging for me. Instead of giving you a ton of things that make it seem impossible, you find you're already on the right track and it reassures you. There were definitely a few new ways of describing things that I loved and will use myself. I definitely recommend this book as a "beginner's guide" to discipleship and integrating faith into your life [as parents]. 

Personal Notes and Quotes:

I love the part where he talks about the "sheep versus goats." It wasn't the actions that made them sheep and goats. God didn't all of the sudden change them to be sheep and goats at that time, they were ALWAYS sheep and goats. They always had been. It's talking about how you can figure out which is which by their fruit. I wouldn't mix up an apple and an orange tree because we know the colors and the insides of their fruit. We aren't choosing actions in order to change our sheepness or goatness. We are choosing actions based on living like Jesus. 

"Faithful imitation of Jesus requires improvising in ways that are true to the gospel and relatable to our culture."

"Mission is at the heart of the drama. We are rooted in Christ and called to imitate Him in a way that fits our cultural context and relates to our audience."

I received an Advanced Listener Copy Audiobook of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you to the NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced audio copy of Family Discipleship That Works by Brian Dembowczyk in exchange for my honest review.

This audiobook was a quick listen and held very practical applications to help guide my family into discipleship. So many times we think about generations of long ago that “did it better”, whereas the author points out, they may not have. This book has encouraged me to start right where we are, to model Jesus and to apply ourselves. Each chapter has application questions and I will be utilizing them to move forward.

This is one of those books that is better suited to a written format than audiobook because there are checklists and ideas to review in each chapter. I definitely would have gotten more out of it if I had taken notes while listening. It also is one of those parenting books that it would have been more helpful to read when my children were younger because now they have ingrained habits that we are trying to break and it will be a whole lot harder to course correct. The good news is that you actually get applicable strategies in this book which is in alarmingly short supply in most parenting books. There are so many points that it becomes a bit overwhelming and the author reminds the reader to get back to basics and start with one or two strategies to get the ball rolling again. Overall both enjoyable and helpful.

This book is incredibly practical and approachable in style. It offers foundations for understanding family discipleship alongside recommendation to live it out with your family. Good text for ministry leaders.

As a mom of four, my husband and I are always looking for parenting books to help teach our kids to be like Jesus. And learn as we teach them. This book is absolutely fantastic!!! I loved every page. Every family should have this on their bookshelf.