# data[].attributes.description
Most teenagers think that being a Christian means doing the right thing. But figuring out what the right thing is can be a challenge. This book will guide your students through Gods Word and help them figure out what God really wants from them.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Understanding the Mindset and Values of 18-25 Year Olds

# data[].attributes.description
The life stage of 18-25-year-olds is completely different than it was in previous eras. In just one generation, we see contrasts that used to take two to three generations to surface. This massive shift has created frustration with older generations. Parents recognize this is a completely different world and struggle to relate. Others throw their arms up in bewilderment, assuming theyll never understand. And many church leaders wish theyd just grow up. In this book, Chuck Bomar brings understanding, comfort, and direction to all of this. Youll learn: -how the development of higher education has caused much of the separation between generations -the irreversible ways in which this generation has been impacted and how todays college-aged person differs from the typical thoughts and values of older generations -the five major pursuits of college-aged people and why they pursue these areas Through profiles of college-aged people and testimonies of parents, youll explore in-depth issues college-age people face, how they process through them, and what influences their decisions so you can effectively minister to them.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
465 Provocative Questions to Get Teenagers Talking

# data[].attributes.description
Ask away . . . and get your students talking with these provocative questions. Would You Rather . . .? gives you 465 stimulating either-or questions that will get your students talking, laughing, debating, and thinking.  Questions like Would You Rather . . . watch a soap opera or make fun of one? . . . be gossiped about or lied to? . . .get shot from a cannon or walk a high wire? . . . make a child cry or kick a puppy? . . . attend the Last Supper or discover Jesus' empty tomb? You can use these questions anywhere, anytime -- when you want to break the ice, spark a discussion, build community, get kids to wrestle with spiritual issues, or just have fun.  And the convenient size makes it easy to stick in your pocket or in the glove compartment of your car. This is one resource you'll want for every member of your ministry team!

# data[].attributes.description
Culture expert and veteran youth pastor, Mark Matlock, will help you line your familys story up with Gods story in the world around you, helping you raise wise children who have the character, values, and mission that allows them to go out into the real world and live out a real faith. The Raising Wise Children ebook explores such issues as:  Helping your child make decisions  The importance of failure  Knowing Gods story for your family  Changing the story your family is in  The pursuit of wisdom, and much more God has placed us here to interact with and represent him to the world by engaging with the culturenot retreating from it. Rather than trying to isolate your children from the world or draw lines that keep them from truly engaging in the world God calls us to help and heal, you can learn how to lead your family towards an integrated life where your story and Gods story come together to make a difference in the world around you.

# data[].attributes.description
"The book of Romans is rich with spiritual wisdom. By studying Pauls letter to the Romans, your students will explore everything from new life in Christ to how to live a life like Jesus.Through engaging activities and thought-provoking questions that get right to the heart of Romans, your students will see that even though Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, the instructions also apply to them. In 30 studies, your students will find practical applications for their life as they explore the concepts of:  Righteousness Faith Salvation Sacrifice Freedom Friendships, and much moreWritten with the busy youth worker in mind, Studies on the Go: Romans provides Scriptural depth and substance to be tackled in a manageable time frame. The questions are real, down-to-earth, and straight to the point to get students quickly into Romans so they can hear Gods word on a practical level. Designed for Sunday school classes, youth groups, and small groups, this curriculum is guaranteed to get your students excited about and engaged with the Bible."

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Roll Up Your Sleeves and Change the World

# data[].attributes.description
Just look around and youll be reminded that our world is broken. People are hurting and dying every day. But it can change. God wants you to help change the world for the better. Zach Hunter is not that different from you. Hes a teenager who likes to listen to music and hang out with his friends. But hes also committed to ending modern-day slavery and helping address other issues facing our world. Zach believes that your generation can be the one to change things and this book will help you find tangible ways that you can be the generation of change. In the process, Zach hopes youll discover Gods love for you and for people who are suffering.Inside youll find stories about real people who are doing amazing things to change the world around them. As you read, you may discover the thing youre passionate about changing, and youll find ideas that will help you do just that. Read about people who are:    Feeding the hungry    Healing the sick    Providing clean water for the thirsty    Clothing the poor    Housing the homeless    Protecting human rights    Taking the Bible to new people    Improving the environmentDont just sit there wondering why our world is so messed up. Get up and be the generation of change.

# data[].attributes.name
The Student Leadership Training Manual for Youth Workers

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Everything You Need to Disciple Your Kids in Leadership Skills

# data[].attributes.description
As profound, as relevant, as funny as you are . . . teenagers still listen to each other more than to an adult youth worker.You may grimace, but you cant deny it--students talking to each other usually means more to them than adults talking to them.The Student Leadership Training Manual helps you equip your senior highers for leading their peers and taking charge of as much of the ministry as they want or are able--helping and evangelizing their peers . . . organizing ministry teams . . . planning and executing their own youth ministry programming.Here are 31 training sessions for discipling student leaders in a small-group setting--sessions that start in the Bible and reach deep into teenagers experience . . . ready for you to implement a clear and effective program that trains your students for higher levels of leadership, regardless of where they are now.Plus 24 pages just for you, a veritable primer on how to cultivate student leadership:The role of adultsAuthority vs. responsibilitySetting student leaders up for successTeaching students not just the whats, but the whys and howsHelping them discover their spiritual giftednessPerfect for youth workers, CE directors, associate pastors, and small-group leaders--anyone who works with a youth groups core kids.

# data[].attributes.name
A Parent's Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis

# data[].attributes.description
Youve seen it on the news too many times to count. School shootings, adolescent addictions, bullying, eating disorders, depression and suicide, cutting, pregnancy. There is no lack of bad news to be told about teenagers today. Maybe you believe that will never happen to my child. And maybe it wont. But crises arent always the stories that make the evening news. The spectrum of crises an adolescent may face can range from something as (seemingly harmless) as getting caught cheating on a test to dealing with the breakdown of the family, to acting out and getting in trouble with the law. And the reality is that someone they know will likely experience some kind of crisisand that can affect your teen significantly. Either way, when a crisis affects your teen, wouldnt you want to be prepared?Rich Van Pelt and Jim Hancock, both of whom have raised teenagers into adulthood and have spent decades in youth ministry and crisis management, bring together their expertise and insight to help you identify and understand what a crisis is and how you can help your teen live and grow through it. Inside, youll find practical responses for issues like:  Suicidal thoughts or behavior Accidents Cheating Death (of a friend or loved one) Divorce Eating disorders Hazing Pregnancy Sexual abuse Sexual identity confusion Substance abuse or addiction And more...In addition to learning appropriate responses to crises, youll learn how to prevent some of these issues, and how to get professionals involved when necessary.Whatever it is your teen is dealing with, your influence in their life is still the most important one. So be prepared to walk them through their crisis with wisdom, compassion, and the tools to help them heal.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Nine Biblical Principles That Mark Healthy Youth Ministries

# data[].attributes.description
Mike Yaconelli composes his thoughts and passions regarding the nine core realities of youth ministry: veracity (youth ministry must expose students to the life-giving truth of Jesus Christ), authenticity (authentic youth workers will draw young people to Jesus Christ), audacity (youth ministry must push students, parents, and the church outside their comfort zones), sanctuary (youth ministry must provide a safe place for students), diversity (youth ministry must challenge young people to embrace diversity), humility (youth ministry should be clothed in humility), intimacy (our relationship with Jesus is our youth ministry), mystery (youth ministry must foster mystery, rediscover astonishment, and leave room for unanswered questions), and creativity (youth ministry must free students and youth workers to discover and express their God-given creativity). As an added resource, each member of the CORETM seminar team, including authors and speakers such as Laurie Polich, Efrem Smith, Marv Penner, Duffy Robbins, contributes sidebars throughout the book responding to Mikes thoughts.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Learning to Create a Community of Faith in a Culture of Change

# data[].attributes.description
Whats Going on Out There?Author Steve Taylor takes trips to the edge of the church envelope and sends us back what hes finding inside the emerging church around the globe. From the revival of ancient spiritual practices to the rise of multimedia, each of his posts sketches a view of the body of Christ in wild flux. Topics include: birth; pilgrimage; community; creativity; DJing; and leading and following.

# data[].attributes.description
Anger is a regular part of every middle school girls world. Often times, this anger can appear as open aggression where girls bully one another, or they can unhealthily suppress their anger. But there are godly and appropriate ways students can respond to situations that make them angry. Deal With It gives youth leaders the tools to help middle school girls deal with their anger. Through activities that include reading and responding to stories about Maria, a fictional teen, students will learn to recognize their anger and find healthy ways to express their emotions.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
One Student's Guide to Serving God and Saving the Planet

# data[].attributes.description
Youve probably heard the story of the garden of Edenthe paradise that God created for humans to live in. There was plenty of room for everyone, there were trees and flowers and plenty of food. When you look out your window today you dont see the paradise God intended for us. This world is crowded, polluted, and headed for trouble. But its not hopeless. Emma Sleeth is only sixteen, and shes working hard to save our planet. She believes that were called by God to protect the resources that he gave us, and she wants to help you learn how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Shes speaking out to her generation in the hopes that you will be the ones who can end global warming and restore our world to the paradise that God desires for us. In It's Easy Being Green youll learn how to honor God in the choices you make and youll begin to understand the impact those choices have on the environment. Emma will help you see how you can make a difference at school, around the house, and all over the world as you make choices about everything from transportation to food to clothes. Imagine the kind of paradise you can help to create for the next generationfor your future children! Join Emma on the quest to serve God by saving the planet.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Lactose Free for Those Who Can't Stand Cheesy Skits

# data[].attributes.description
Ive watched the Skit Guys for more than 10 years; Eddie and Tommy are storytellers. They were telling stories before storytelling was all the rage. In their latest book, the Skit Guys let us peek inside their incredibly creative minds.-Allen Jackson, New Orleans SeminaryWhen it comes to skits, the Skit Guys have the corner market on the good stuff. They are engaging, thought provoking and hilarious without being cheesy or cliche. Their unique style is clean, clever, clear, and ... funny! You cant go wrong with these two. -Darren Whitehead, Director of Next Gen Ministries, Willow Creek Community ChurchIve been in student ministry for over 30 years, and the Skit Guys are pretty much the greatest skit guys ever. Heres another resource from the chimerical minds of Eddie and Tommy that will help us youth workers in the trenches. This book will aid you greatly in your continuous pursuit of excellence in the world of drama. In other words, buy this freaking book!-Bob Johns, First Woodway, Waco, Texas (the guy that gave them their first gig)35 CHEESE-FREE SKITSIf youre looking for fun and creative ways to involve your students in learning, you can stop looking. Skits That Teach provides you and your students everything you need to act out funny and compelling skits with total confidence.Search by topic or by group size to find the perfect comedic or dramatic sketch to help illustrate a point or just start a dialogue. The Skit Guys, Eddie James and Tommy Woodard, have tested these skits on teenagers around the country, and theyve brought together some of the best for this great resource. Plus they give you everything you need for each skitoverview, characters, location, Scripture reference, props, direction pointers, and a complete script.The Skit Guys avoid the cheesy dialogues and scenes typically found in Christian dramas and instead bring fun characters, witty scripts, and entertaining situations to their skits, all categorized by: Skits for Idiots (it would take an idiot not to be able to do them right!) Monologues Duets/Ensembles Comedy Drama Scripture ReadingsTHE SKIT GUYS are Eddie James and Tommy Woodard, two high school friends who love to communicate Gods Word in dynamic and captivating ways through the use of drama, teaching, and comedy. Theyve been involved in various ministries and impacting lives for more than a decade. The duo has written numerous dramas, plays, and humorous skits that cover a wide variety of topics.Theyre the authors of Instant Skits along with their own Skit Guys resources. Eddie James has coauthored four volumes of the Videos That Teach series with Doug Fields.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
450 Intriguing Questions Guaranteed to Get Teenagers Talking

# data[].attributes.description
Have you ever. . .? -Thought you were going to die? (When? Where? What brought you through it? - Been a teacher's pet? (What grade? How did you feel?) - Had a miracle happen to you? (What happened? Who did you tell?) - Said something you didn't mean just to be polite? (Why did you do it? What situation would cause you to do it again?) Inside are 442 more zingers like these, that nudge your kids' memories and get them talking -- perfect for launching small-group discussion, building community, getting a laugh and triggering hard thinking about situations and people that matter most to teenagers. Keep Have You Ever . . .? handy -- stick it in your pocket, your backpack, your car's glove box -- because you'll never know when you need a leading question to get conversation rolling with an individual or a group.

# data[].attributes.name
Camps, Retreats, Missions, and Service Ideas

# data[].attributes.description
Nearly 200 ideas for planning meaningful, memorable experiences for your kids! -Camps & Retreats . . . The drive up the mountain . . . The opening talk . . . The outdoor activities . . . The closing fireside -- here's a lodgeful of ideas for organizing successful camps and retreats. - Missions . . . Because even foreign mission work can start within our own borders, you'll find dozens of ideas for helping overseas missionaries right here at home. A used-Bible drive, a scavenger hunt for missionary supplies -- activities like these not only benefit missionaries, but also help your kids understand the personal, local aspects of mission work. - Service . . . Expose your students to others' needs! Inside you'll find ways to help children, the community at large, the elderly, the poor and homeless, shut-ins, and the sick and disabled Whether you're a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp -- Camps, Retreats, Missions, & Service Ideas is your storehouse of proven, youth-group tested ideas.

# data[].attributes.description
The Digging Deeper series is designed to meet the needs of students today who are looking for spiritual depth. Created with the needs of busy youth workers in mind, each session comes with guides for just about every age and settingmiddle school, younger high school, older high school, college, a coffee house setting, and a talk, as well as a guided personal study for the leader. As each study digs into a book of the Bible, your students will spend time deep in Gods Word on their own and will share eye-opening revelations with each other during the interactive discussions. Your students will walk away from each study with a greater sense of what it means to follow Christ in their everyday lives, and a greater appreciation for Gods Word. Includes CD-ROM.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
31 Biblical Devotions into the Heart of Christ

# data[].attributes.description
If youve ever watched a dog chew on a bone, youve probably noticed how hard she concentrates on itturning it over, getting a stronger grip, digging her teeth into it. She knows that the best meat is at the center of the bone, so she keeps chewing until she gets to the really good stuff. Believe it or not, thats not too different than what it means to meditate. Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. Chew on This provides you with something to chew on that will take you deeperto the really good stuff. The more you chew on Scripture, the more you allow it to nourish you and give you strength. But even more than that, it draws you closer to the God who created you and wants to be in a relationship with you. During this month long devotional, youll walk through guided meditations, journaling opportunities, Scripture to chew on, and questions for reflection. All these experiences will help you discover Christ in your everyday life and grow closer to God. Take a big bite and chew on Gods Word for a while. See how good the good stuff inside can really be.

# data[].attributes.description
Inside Wisdom On...Growing in Christ, youll find biblical principles and practical tips to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. Youll even be challenged to think about what it means to be a godly person, even if you decide to be something other than a missionary or a pastor when you grow up. Youll discover how wisdom can not only help keep your faith alive, but help it grow.

# data[].attributes.description
Designed for middle schoolers, Deeper Bible studies provide you with a unique and effective tool for your students. Use in large or small groups to help communicate Gods truth in a way that connects with young teens and shows them what faith can look like in their everyday lives. Choose will help students learn about temptation, the Holy Spirits power to help, and what God desires from them. Pray helps students understand and participate in meaningful prayer with the creator of the universe.  Theyll find that not only does God listen; he cares. Stick shows students what God says about friendships and helps them find and be great friends. Trust will help you teach your students who Jesus is and what it looks like to trust him on a deeper level. With questions that meet the developmental and spiritual needs of early adolescents, youll find that your students engage in the Deeper studies and really grasp the lessons.

# data[].attributes.description
Contemplative Youth Ministry is refreshing rain for dry youth workers and barren youth ministries. More than the same old youth ministry tips and tricks, it gives principles and practices to soak in Gods grace, love, and power. I wish I had read it 15 years ago. - Kara Powell, Ph.D., executive director, Center for Youth Ministry and Family Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary Mark invites readers to be encountered by the presence of Jesus who is always near. This book is transparent about the challenges that churches and families face as they desire to be effective in youth ministry. The book is filled with the honest stories of different kinds of youth ministries representing the breadth of Christianity in the United States. I heartily endorse Contemplative Youth Ministry as a rich encounter with the souls of youth and adults whose lives have been transformed by our very present God. - Bill Kees, director of youth ministries, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Mark Yaconelli not only reminds us of some of the long-forgotten pathways of faith, he shares with us how it actually looks when men and women who love God practice it with young people. I especially appreciate Marks optimism in his perspective of todays kids, for his insights are grounded in Gods view of them. - Chap Clark, Ph.D., associate professor of youth, family, and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary Mark Yaconelli was experimenting with contemplative youth ministry practices before contemplative youth ministry practices became cool. This book has about it the unique air of authenticity. He shares with us in these pages his own journey as a youth worker who actually believes that Gods still small voice speaks louder than the roaring windstorm of our busy youth ministry calendars. Its a book about creating for our students places of silence and opening up spaces for God to speak. - Duffy Robbins, professor of youth ministry, Eastern University; author of Enjoy the Silence and This Way to Youth Ministry Mark Yaconelli has emerged as one of youth ministrys most provocative voices in the wilderness, calling us back to our theological taproots: The contemplative practices that bind our lives to the life of Christ. If Marks research has taught us anything, its that these practices do not cause youth ministry to take fl ight into a spiritual never-never land; rather they anchor young peopleand their churchesin the fertile soil of Christian tradition, in the nitty-gritty of daily life, and in the explosive transformation that awaits us when we wait upon God. - Kenda Creasy Dean, parent, pastor, and professor of youth, Princeton Theological Seminary; author of Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church