Books

Starr has authored several books, all for children or teens and their families. Her strength is in telling stories and in communicating substantive doctrinal teaching in a way children can understand. Any of these books can be ordered from Westminster Theological Seminary's bookstore wtsbooks.com or from amazon.com.

Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism

If, as Paul wrote to Timothy, the church is 'the pillar and support of the truth', then each generation of Christians must make sure that the next has a clear understanding of what that truth is. A catechism is a simple, concise way to communicate all the basic truths of the Christian faith, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism is one of the very best. In Training Hearts, Teaching Minds, Starr Meade provides, for each answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, six days worth of short devotionals explaining the catechism answer and the Bible passages where that concept is found. The book is intended for families with elementary school or junior high age children to read together.

"The supply of practical guides to the catechism for passing the faith on to our covenant children falls short of the demand. Starr Meade helps to close that significant gap. I heartily recommend this book."
- Michael S. Horton, J. G. Machen Professor, Westminster Seminary California

Grandpa's Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption

When Marc asks Grandpa if he has ever been in a war, Grandpa answers that he is in one right now. That's how Grandpa begins telling Marc and Amy stories of the war between Satan and God. Using the carved figures he has in his box, Grandpa starts with the Garden of Eden and moves through the Bible, telling its stories as episodes in the one big story of redemption. As Grandpa tells it, Satan keeps trying to thwart God's purpose to have people who will be his own people, but God consistently overcomes every obstacle to accomplishing his plans. Grandpa's Box contains forty-one Bible stories, told in chronological order, and highlighting the character of God as it is revealed in each particular story.

Keeping Holiday

Each year, Dylan delights in his family's vacation to Holiday, and wishes it could last all year. When he finds a flyer asking, "Would you like to keep Holiday?" he follows its directions to a bigger and better Holiday than the one his family has always visited. Eager to explore it, he learns that entering the real Holiday requires authorization by the Founder. Thus begins Dylan's quest to enter and keep the real Holiday, a quest which evolves, as he learns more about the Founder, into a quest to know the Founder for his own sake. Keeping Holiday blends fantasy and allegory in a fresh look at the wonder of the Incarnation and of each 'mini-Christmas' that occurs when God finds a lost sinner.

"Read Keeping Holiday if you're weary of it being 'always winter and never Christmas.' Told with skill, imagination, and theologically informed conviction, this book will delight readers."
- Douglas Bond, author of Hostage Lands and Hold Fast in a Broken World

Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book

In this book, parents and children alike will discover the Almighty God in Scripture. Ninety beautifully illustrated Bible stories are retold, emphasizing specific truths about God's character rather than human models for behavior. Stories proceed in chronological order, making clear the overall 'big story' of God accomplishing salvation for his people. A short separate feature called 'As For Me and My House' follows each story, providing parents with additional ideas for discussion or activities.

God's Mighty Acts in Creation

Using the six days of creation described in Genesis 1, this book looks at the many things we can learn about God from his creation. Using metaphors taken from Nature (God is a Rock; Jesus is the Light of the World; Jesus is the Lamb of God), examples of how God rules what he has made (Aaron's rod buds; lions don't eat Daniel), and demonstrations of God's power and wisdom in the things we see around us, these short devotionals teach us a way to see more of the wonder of who God is through the things he has created. Designed for families to read together, each reading includes additional discussion and activity ideas.

God's Mighty Acts in Salvation

This book is a series of meditations for children and their families on the subject of justification by faith alone. It uses Paul's epistle to the Galatians as a springboard, explaining the main points and the key issues in a way children can understand. This book's short devotionals and additional discussion ideas provide a way for parents to be sure their school age children have clearly understood the Biblical gospel.

The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study: A Survey of the Bible

This set of workbooks for junior high and early high school students was written to provide a Bible course for home school students. The set surveys the entire Bible, giving helpful background information and then getting the student into the Scripture itself. Written in workbook format with a separate answer key, the course is designed so that students can work through it on their own. Students who have completed this set will have read highlights from every book in the Bible and will have a grasp on how all the parts fit together to make one Bible. The set includes two volumes for the Old Testament, two volumes for the New Testament, and a fifth volume as the answer key.