Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
Week 16: Chapter 15 — A Word to Single Parents and the Larger Family
Read Chapter 15 of Shepherding a Child's Heart. Primary Scripture: Psalm 68:5-6; Galatians 6:2.
Previewing Week 16 of Shepherding a Child's Heart
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 17-week guide when you’re ready.
Tripp closes the book by speaking to those who parent in particularly challenging circumstances — and to the community of believers called to surround them. This chapter calls the whole church into the work of shepherding children.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Tripp addresses single parents with pastoral care and theological honesty. He acknowledges the extraordinary demands of single parenting while insisting that the biblical calling — to shepherd the heart — does not change. How is the community of faith called to help bear that weight with single parents?
2.He appeals to Psalm 68:5, where God himself is called 'a father to the fatherless.' What is the significance of this title for single-parent families? How does it offer genuine hope, not just comfort?
3.Galatians 6:2 calls believers to 'bear one another's burdens.' In what practical ways can your church or small group come alongside parents — especially those parenting alone — to share the weight of shepherding children?
a.What are the specific burdens that single parents carry that two-parent families often don't recognize?
b.What concrete steps could your group take to be more intentional in supporting them?