Introduction: Growing Up

Look at a photo of yourself as a little kid. Tiny shoes. Chubby cheeks. Maybe a missing front tooth. Now stand next to a doorframe and see how tall you are. You’ve grown a lot. And you’re not done yet.

Somewhere between about ages 9 and 14, most guys notice that growing up starts to speed up. Your body begins to change. Your feelings can get bigger and harder to figure out. You start getting more freedom, and more responsibility. You start wondering what you’ll do with your life.

That can feel exciting. It can also feel strange, awkward or even a little scary. All of that is normal.

Here’s the most important thing to know: growing up is part of God’s good design. Nothing about it surprises Him. He planned it. And He’s with you through every change.

The apostle John wrote a letter to Christians of every age, and he had a special word for the young men:

“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

— 1 John 2:14 (BSB)

Strong. Full of God’s Word. Winning against evil. That’s what John saw in the young men who followed Jesus. And that’s what God wants to grow in you.

In Book 1, you learned who you are: a son of the King, with strength under control. In Book 2, you learned to be faithful. Now, in Book 3, you’ll learn what it means to grow up as a son of the King.

What’s in this book

• Week 1 — Feelings. Anger, sadness, pressure, grief, and why real men talk about what’s going on inside.
• Week 2 — Your Body and Growing Up. How God designed your body, and the changes that come as you grow.
• Week 3 — Wise Choices. Crushes, money, the crowd, dares and danger, and a pure heart.
• Week 4 — Calling. Your gifts, the work God gives you, and what He might be calling you to do.
• Week 5 — Mentors and Finishing Well. Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, and a man who was still strong at eighty-five.

At the end of each week, you’ll meet another real man from history who trusted God, some of them new, and one you’ve met before. You can read their whole stories in the Brave for God books.

How each day works

Every day takes about five to ten minutes and has five parts: the verse, the teaching, Think about it, Try this and a prayer. Add your own words to the prayers!

A special note about Week 2

Week 2 talks about how your body changes as you grow up. Some of it might feel a bit awkward to read, and that’s okay! It’s a great week to read with your dad, grandpa, an uncle or another man you trust, or with your mom. Every day that week ends by encouraging you to take your questions to him, because the men who love you went through all of this too, and they want to help.

If you haven’t read Books 1 and 2, that’s okay! You can start right here.

For parents, grandparents and leaders

Book 3 of Sons of the King is about growing up for boys aged 9 to 12, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible. As in the earlier books, it builds character through the men of the Bible and does not teach adult roles.

Week 2 speaks openly and age-appropriately about puberty. It covers:

• growth spurts and comparing with other guys
• the voice changing, and body and facial hair
• the growth of the private parts, and erections and wet dreams, briefly and simply, as normal and nothing to be ashamed of (Day 10)
• sweat, body odor and hygiene
• hormones, strength and changing moods

It frames all of this as God’s good design, and it deliberately leaves questions about sex and reproduction to parents. Each day of that week sends boys back to a parent or trusted man with their questions, and Day 12 repeats a simple body-safety message. We strongly encourage reading Week 2 together, especially Day 10. It may open the door to conversations you’ll be glad to have.

Day 6 is about grief, and Day 14 is about crushes; both encourage boys to talk openly with their parents.