Download or read book Teaching Teenagers in a Post Christian World written by Jake Kircher and published by . This book was released on 2014-09-01 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Youth workers are in a tough spot these days. On the one hand, we're finding that teenagers who have little to no church background and Bible literacy tend to be hyper tolerant of all religious views except for Christianity. On the other hand, students who grew up in the church and have heard all of the "right answers" are still struggling to articulate their beliefs and live them out day to day.When these two realities combine in youth ministry, they can make teaching teenagers about spiritual things an infuriating experience. It can feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall.It's been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So maybe it's time we try something different when it comes to teaching theology to our students. That's the hopeful change that Teaching Teenagers in a Post-Christian World addresses.As a follow-up to Brock Morgan's exceptional Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World, this book will help you shift from being a content dispenser to a conversation cultivator. It's time we stop treating teenagers like consumers--even when we really believe in what we're selling. Instead, let's create learning environments that lead to faith exploration and ownership.

Download or read book Storify written by Rachel Blom and published by . This book was released on 2015-10-21 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The gospel is the most powerful, life-changing message the Church has to offer the next generation. So why do so many young people seem uninterested in receiving it? Why are we finding that even many "churched" youth are gospel illiterate, as if they've never listened to the hours of teaching we know they've received? Why do so many youth walk out of the Church when they walk out of high school? Could it really be as simple as a failure to communicate in the way our young people learn best? Inspiring speaker and veteran youth worker Rachel Blom is exploring our current faith landscape, the learning styles of the postmodern teenager, and the power of story. The result? An invitation to re-examine the way we're communicating the greatest story ever told.

Download or read book This Changes Everything written by Jaquelle Crowe and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My name is Jaquelle, and I'm a teenager. I like football movies, sushi, and dark chocolate. But the biggest, most crucial, most significant thing about me is that my life's task is to follow Jesus. He is the One who changed my life. That's what this book is about. It's for teenagers eager to reject the status quo and low standards our culture sets for us. It's for those of us who don't want to spend the adolescent years slacking off, but rather standing out and digging deep into what Jesus says about following him. This book will help you see how the truth about God changes everything—our relationships, our time, our sin, our habits, and more—freeing us to live joyful, obedient, and Christ-exalting lives, even while we're young.

Download or read book Resilient written by Valerie Bell and published by Awana Clubs International. This book was released on 2019-12-10 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As new research continues to show, the cultural gap between secularism and the convictional Church continues to widen. KidMin and youth leaders are asking, "Are we adequately discipling today's kids to lead the future of the church in a culture that's becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel?" For many, the answer is "no," and a new conversation around making Resilient disciples is emerging. Resilient is an honest calling to ask robust questions about the future; it is a timely conversation in the midst of changing cultural landscapes; and it's a love letter to KidMin leaders and disciple makers to walk this road of child discipleship together. Resilient Child Discipleship focuses on three key areas, essential for shaping long-term faith: Belonging - Highly relational ministry led by a loving and caring adult Believing - Deeply Scriptural ministry rooted in the truth of God's Word and the power of the gospel Becoming - Truly experiential ministry, designed to move kids from simulation to real-world application of faith-based living Resilient equips you with an innovative, biblical and proven child discipleship philosophy to build your ministry around - plus practical questions to equip you and your team! Inspires and facilitates the crucial conversation of our time that will shape the future of the church Loaded with content to help your pastor cast vision and elevate the importance of children's ministry Helps cut through the clutter of the many responsibilities of KidMin to get to the most essential and effective aspects of children's ministry that most influence long-term discipleship into adulthood Child discipleship is the leading factor when shaping the future of your church The culture is changing so rapidly and radically that the future is likely to look far different than the world we know today. The children's ministry community has new conversations to explore as we prepare today's kids to lead the fearless future of the church.

Download or read book How to Reach the West Again written by Timothy J Keller and published by . This book was released on 2020-03-10 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christianity is declining in the West. Churches in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe are closing their doors at an accelerating rate. How will the church respond? In this short but sweeping manifesto, New York Times bestselling author and pastor Timothy Keller argues that this decline should prompt us to rethink evangelism from the ground up. Using the early church as our guide, churches and individual Christians must examine ourselves, our culture, and Scripture to work toward a new missionary encounter with Western culture that will make the gospel both attractive and credible to a new generation.

Download or read book 4 Views on Talking to Teenagers about Sex written by and published by . This book was released on 2018-12-20 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sex is essential and awkward, divine and messy, seemingly simple and yet often incredible complex. It's no wonder we as youth workers often struggle with how best to approach this vast but critical topic with teenagers-and sometimes avoid bringing it up altogether. 4 Views on Talking to Teenagers About Sex reflects the thoughts, experiences, and practical advice of four in-the-trenches youth workers, who have spent years having these conversations with the teenagers in their ministries. Representing an array of viewpoints, these writers don't agree on everything-but they all know that our conversations with teens about sex must speak to God's design, avoid shame, and go far beyond any one instance of "the talk." Here you'll find tips on how to engage in honest conversation, what topics to approach, and how to help youth reflect on and behave according to sexual ethics that honor God, themselves, and others-in their teen years, and through all of the phases of adulthood to come. This book won't attempt to give you all the answers, but it will fuel your thoughts, challenge you, and encourage you to continue these essential conversations with the youth in your ministry.Mark Oestreicher is a partner in The Youth Cartel, which provides resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers, and is the author of many books for youth workers, parents, and teenagers. Twitter: @markosbeard. Jen Bradbury serves as the minister of youth and family at Atonement Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois. Jen is the author of books including The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe about Jesus, and is the assistant director of Arbor Research Group, where she has led many national studies. Jake Kircher is a pastor, author, and speaker who has been in ministry for fifteen-plus years. He is the author of the THINK curriculum as well as Teaching Teenagers in a Post-Christian World. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as @jakekircher. Jonathan McKee is the president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of books including The Teen's Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide and offers free resources and training for youth workers at TheSource4YM.com. Joel Stepanek is the director of resource development for Life Teen International, a youth ministry speaker, and the author of books including True North: A Roadmap for Discernment.

Download or read book Love Riot written by Sara Barratt and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2020-05-05 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Young people are walking away from the church and those still in the church often struggle with indifference about their faith. But it doesn't have to be this way. It's time for a revolution, a holy uprising. A riot. With passion and authenticity, teen author Sara Barratt calls on her generation to reject apathy and embrace a daring, costly faith. Not content with safe religion that demands nothing of us, Sara shows teens how they can stop giving in to the status quo and devote themselves fully to Christ, following him no matter what their friends do or the culture around them does. She challenges them to give everything over--their comfort zones, their time, their loyalties, their pride--and discover that in losing control they are gaining the life that was meant for them all along. Love Riot is a battle cry from one teen to another to embrace a life of wholehearted commitment and relentless abandon for Christ . . . no matter the cost.

Download or read book Let No One Despise You written by Tony Beard and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-05-12 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paul wrote to Timothy instructing him to not be despised for his youth. But isn't that at least a little like what the church does to its youth today? Perhaps the church does not despise its youth, but isn't it at least a little dismissive of them? Instead of being integrated into the body of the church, youth are being entertained and occupied. What happens when they become young adults? The church has not prepared the next generation of Christians for their emerging adulthood years. Millennials and Gen Zers should be stepping into greater leadership and service roles in the church but are instead walking away from it altogether. Those who remain have been ill-prepared to endure in a post-Christendom society. There is a simple three-part message young adult Christians need to hear: Youth is no obstacle to Christ; the world is an enemy of God; and the best way to respond to this world is love. This message encourages young adults to commit to following Jesus now, prepares them for pushback they may face because of it, and instructs them on essential and practical ways to live in light of this hostility.

Download or read book Modern Manners written by Dorothea Johnson and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2013-10-29 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the world-renowned etiquette expert and her granddaughter, Liv Tyler, an elegant guide to 21st-century manners and etiquette for professionals who want to be confident and successful in the business and social arenas. Developing good etiquette and manners is an important investment in your future. They allow you to feel at ease in any situation--and give you the polish and confidence to become a leader. Etiquette expert Dorothea Johnson's essential dos and don'ts address both 21st-century and classic questions, including: * acing job interviews * giving confident handshakes * making conversation * proper business attire and meeting protocol * e-mail etiquette, including what to post--or not--on social media * how to deal with rude cell phone users * conducting a meeting at a restaurant * attending business or social events * table manners With style, wit, and delightful commentary throughout from her granddaughter, Liv Tyler, on everything from being a good guest to finding a balance with technology, Modern Manners is the must-have guide to ensure your success.

Download or read book Making Disciples in a Post Christian World written by John M. Haselton ThD and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2023-09-01 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book reviews the history of disciplemaking from the church fathers to today. It suggests solutions to overcoming our society’s resistance to the gospel.

Download or read book Think written by Jake Kircher and published by . This book was released on 2014-09-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today's teenagers won't accept merely being told information or the party line. They want to wrestle and explore--they want to be contributors and help develop their own set of beliefs. So rather than leave this process of exploration until their young adult years, a time when many of them will have left the Church, what if we purposefully came alongside our teens and helped them explore and own their beliefs while they're still teenagers? That's what THINK is all about.THINK, Volume 1: Culture explores six divisive cultural topics from a biblical perspective: science versus creation, tattoos, alcohol and drugs, media, abortion, and tolerance/absolute truth. THINK is different from other curriculums because the goal is not to teach teens the correct answers. Instead, the intention is to invite your youth into a discussion with Christ, the Bible, and other people (including their peers, leaders, and parents) that will result in the best sort of spiritual wrestling match.We can't continue to spoon-feed our youth the answers they "need" to survive college or be a good person. Instead, we have to make the shift toward helping them own biblically informed views and opinions. THINK will deepen and personalize teens' faith and give them the tools and resources they need to engage issues from a biblical perspective.THINK, Volume 1: Culture includes:A detailed overview of how to use THINK, as well a short leader video to frame your thinking6 lessons that each contain--A leader's guide with a list of resources and Scripture passages you can use to prepareSample emails to parents Social media blurbs to promote the topics with your teenagersMultiple options to start and end each lessonThorough discussion guides with multiple questions and resources for each Scripture and subtopicA handout (which you can revise so it better fits your group) that will help teens continue exploring the topic on their ownA short video that provides insights and tips for how to facilitate the discussion of each lesson

Download or read book Wide Awake in God s World written by Graham D. Stanton and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-10-08 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an expressivist culture, effective engagement must acknowledge teenagers' freedom to choose their own spiritual path. Yet, in an evangelical theology, faithful formation must hold on to biblical authority. As we seek to engage young people with the Bible, key questions need to be explored. Such questions include: how can pedagogical freedom be affirmed without undermining theological authority; and how can authority be asserted without diminishing personal freedom? This study explores a freedom-authority dialectic in theological dialogue with the educational philosophy of Maxine Greene. Greene's reflection on the arts and the imagination are brought into conversation with insights from Charles Taylor, Garret Green, and Nicholas Wolterstorff. As a work of practical theology, the book concludes with a framework to shape the purpose, content, and values for Bible engagement in contemporary youth ministry.

Download or read book Lost Teens Lost Faith written by Derek Bird and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2016-01-14 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Commonly, previous generations of Christian culture emphasize issues that were pertinent to them, and they teach key doctrinal concepts while neglecting that which is essential to the healthy development of a Christian teen. In his book, Bird encourages a balanced approach while exploring faith issues most relevant to teens as they approach the years when theyre forced to grapple with enormous decisions. More specifically, he uncovers an innovative way to think about Gods purpose for an individuals life (which has the potential to not only affect the way teens approach life, but may also challenge parents and leaders to re-prioritize their own schedules), and then goes on to uncover a biblically based model for understanding Gods will, which happens to be conveniently situated at the center of his purpose for humanity. At a time when its more common for a teen to walk away from the faith than it is for them to remain engaged, Lost Teens, Lost Faith provides relevant dialogue generated out of Birds experience and his deep desire to see the reversal of this tragic trend. What he uncovers and passes along provides parents with the necessary foundation to lead their children through some of lifes greatest challenges. Birds scripturally inspired ideas give parents and teens a framework to begin a conversation of eternal importance.

Download or read book Rooting Your Teen in the Faith written by Kim Cameron-Smith and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2023-01-03 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While Catholic teens drifting away from the Faith is unfortunately an increasingly common occurrence, it’s not inevitable. We as parents are uniquely qualified to lead our teens to a relationship with Christ. During the difficult teenage years, parents — not youth ministers, teachers, or parish programs — play a pivotal role in our children’s faith development. In Rooting Your Teen in the Faith, family coach, catechist, author, and mom Kim Cameron-Smith empowers parents to shepherd their teens, guiding them to discover their mission, deepen their faith, and discern the truth about their identity and purpose. There is no perfect blueprint for evangelizing teenagers, but there is the right relationship: the parent-child bond. If we lean into our call to lead, inspire, free, and transform our children, by the end of the teenage years, they will be equipped to respond to God’s movements in their lives.

Download or read book Almost Christian written by Kenda Creasy Dean and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-07-16 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the National Study of Youth and Religion--the same invaluable data as its predecessor, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers--Kenda Creasy Dean's compelling new book, Almost Christian, investigates why American teenagers are at once so positive about Christianity and at the same time so apathetic about genuine religious practice. In Soul Searching, Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton found that American teenagers have embraced a "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism"--a hodgepodge of banal, self-serving, feel-good beliefs that bears little resemblance to traditional Christianity. But far from faulting teens, Dean places the blame for this theological watering down squarely on the churches themselves. Instead of proclaiming a God who calls believers to lives of love, service and sacrifice, churches offer instead a bargain religion, easy to use, easy to forget, offering little and demanding less. But what is to be done? In order to produce ardent young Christians, Dean argues, churches must rediscover their sense of mission and model an understanding of being Christian as not something you do for yourself, but something that calls you to share God's love, in word and deed, with others. Dean found that the most committed young Christians shared four important traits: they could tell a personal and powerful story about God; they belonged to a significant faith community; they exhibited a sense of vocation; and they possessed a profound sense of hope. Based on these findings, Dean proposes an approach to Christian education that places the idea of mission at its core and offers a wealth of concrete suggestions for inspiring teens to live more authentically engaged Christian lives. Persuasively and accessibly written, Almost Christian is a wake up call no one concerned about the future of Christianity in America can afford to ignore.

Download or read book Teenagers Are People Too written by Joyce Meyer and published by FaithWords. This book was released on 2008-12-14 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using the Bible as the ultimate guide toward the goal of spiritual and emotional maturity, #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer teaches teens how to deal with emotional pain, loneliness, temptation, and relationships.

Download or read book Teaching Teenagers how to Defend the Christian Faith written by Robert Lee Swanger and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 550 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: