McGuffey's Readers. Public school. Family prayers. In the 1800s, these were primary-and successful-strategies by which children learned to become Christians. Sunday school was developed simply to support Christian education at home and in school. Despite a radically changed culture, many churches still rely on the nineteenth-century model to encourage Christian discipleship. In Growing Up Christian and the accompanying discussion guide, C. Ellis Nelson explores why these strategies are inadequate for the twenty-first century and offers practical, specific guidance for congregations who wish to nurture disciples of Christ more effectively.