Download the front matter and first chapter of REAL by Daniel Darling.

Why do the children of believers sometimes struggle to develop authentic faith? Is it the parenting, the church, the systems? Or could it be that a background in the church provides its own unique set of struggles?

Intended for second-(or third- or fourth-) generation Christian adults, REAL pulls open the curtains and offers an introspective look at what the Bible says to those who’ve grown up in the faith, answering questions they’ve long been afraid to voice.

Penned by Daniel Darling—a confessed recovering churchaholic and now an author, pastor, and father—REAL offers second-generation Christians a lifeline to personal intimacy with God, a biblical mandate to take ownership of their faith, and grace-based tips on continuing a legacy of faith.

Daniel Darling is senior pastor of Gages Lake Bible Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has written several books, including iFaith and Teen People of the Bible (nominated for a Gold Medallion Award), and regularly writes for print and digital media outlets (Crosswalk.com; Patheos.com). His blog, danieldarling.com, is a go-to place for weekly interviews with leading evangelical leaders and substantive spiritual and cultural commentary.  He has also guest-blogged for Michael Hyatt and others.