At a glance: this is a 15-week study and discussion guide for Boundaries with Kids by Henry Cloud & John Townsend, with 121 questions organized by reading assignment. Week 1 is free to read, with no card required.
Boundaries with Kids by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend is a practical, biblically grounded guide to raising children who take responsibility for their own actions, emotions, and lives. Building on the landmark principles of their bestselling Boundaries, Cloud and Townsend argue that loving parents are not permissive parents — they are parents who clearly define where they end and their children begin, who attach consequences to behavior, and who consistently hold their children accountable. The book's central thesis is that character is not formed by protecting children from reality, but by exposing them to the natural and logical consequences of their choices in an environment of warmth, structure, and grace. Drawing on decades of clinical work with families, the authors show how the same biblical principles of respect, stewardship, and self-control that govern healthy adult relationships are the very principles children need to internalize before they leave home.
To get the most from this guide, read the assigned chapter before your group meets (or before your personal study time). After reading, spend a few minutes journaling your honest reactions — where did you feel convicted? Where did you feel relieved? Where did you feel confused? Then work through the discussion questions, either with your group or alone. The questions are designed to move from comprehension ("What is the author actually saying?") to personal application ("Where do I see this in my home?") to deeper reflection ("What does this reveal about my own character formation?"). You do not need a theology degree to benefit — just a willingness to be honest about what is and isn't working in your family.
By the end of this study, you should expect three things: a clearer understanding of what healthy boundaries actually are (and are not), a practical set of tools you can begin using in your home this week, and a renewed confidence that the hard work of loving your children with both grace and truth is deeply, thoroughly biblical. Parenting with boundaries is not a technique — it is a reflection of how God himself parents his children, and these weeks together should leave you more in awe of that reality, not less.