Resources
CDS
See the Morning - Chris Tomlin
See The Morning is everything you loved about Arriving and all that you have come to expect from Chris Tomlin. This new CD will help draw people into a time of worship with it's singable songs and relatable, yet intensely God-focused lyrics.Check it out!
DVDS
Every Young Man's Battle
Based on the book by Stephen Arterburn, this DVD Featuring some biblical strategies for gaining victory over temptation. I'ts a hard-hitting resource challenges adolescents to choose a life of purity amid the seductive imagery that assails them. This DVD is watchable for teens (ie. not too cheesy or lame) and a bit less stringent, less borderline legalistic when compared to the book.Check it out!
BOOKS
FOR THE CURIOUS - Can God be Trusted? Faith & the Challenge of Evil
by John Stackhouse, Jr. This is an excellent, work on the Problem of Evil. The problem of evil is this: If God is totally powerful (ominpotent) and totally good/loving (omnibenevolent), why does evil and suffering exist in the world? Stackhouse's treatment of this is readable and his challenge called "the problem of good" is an especially helpful insight.Check it out!
FOR THE CURIOUS - Why Believe? Reason and Mystery as Pointers to God
by C. Stephen Evans. AA book that takes all evidence into consideration for the existence of a personal God and for the divinity of Jesus and weighs it against all evidence against it (a cumulative case argument). Very honest, no-nonsense work that covers the major questions of the genuinely curious.Check it out!
FOR THE CURIOUS - Jesus with Dirty Feet
by Don Everts. This is a short book—just over a 100 pages—filled with 8 extended poems written in ‘beat’ style. It’s for those who may have heard ‘a gospel presentation’ but need to be reintroduced to the person of Jesus and the essentials of following him but in a fresh, creative fashion. Some of the poem titles include: “Christianity: Smelly Fishermen,” “Prayer: Blue-collar spirituality,” and “Salvation: Grassy Feast.”Check it out!
GROWING IN CHRIST - Experiencing God (Youth Edition)
by Henry Blackaby & Claude V. King. Still one of the most helpful guides to being in tune to the will of God. Biblically rich and immensely practical, Blackaby and King provide a great context under which to learn HOW to spend quality time with the Lord that will encourage faith to action.Check it out!
GROWTH IN CHRIST - My First Thirty Quiet Times
by Ty Saltzgiver. Ty, a Young Life Leader who has worked with students for decades, has sold close to a million of these. Why? I believe because it offers the new believer a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand introduction to the major tenets of follwing Christ. It's tone is conversational, it's chalked full of appropriate biblical passages, and it's laden with helpful anaolgies for a young believer to better grasp some difficult biblical concepts. (You can purchase the book by clicking "Check it Out").Check it out!
RESOURCE - Know What You Believe
by Paul E. Little. Biblical direction organized around the following topics: The Bible, God, Jesus Christ, Christ's Death, Man and Sin, The Holy Spirit, The Church, Angels-Satan-Demons, Salvation, Things to Come. All in about 130 pages--really helpful resource.Check it out!
PARENTAL RESOURCE - Parenting Adolescents
by Kevin Huggins. I've read some great material on adolecents: From Paul Tripp's "Age of Opportunity" to various Dobson texts. I am convinced that Huggins' work is the most practically helpful and biblically insightful book I have read regarding parents and adolescents. I highly recommend it for any parent who has kids who are adolsecents or is ABOUT to have kids who are adolescents. (It is out of print, but you can buy it used from half.com - click on "Check it Out").Check it out!
FURTHER GROWTH - Ruthless Trust
by Brennan Manning. A very influential author in my own life regarding matters of grace and trust. In this work, Brennan explores the core of following Christ--TRUST. Full of inspirational stories, deep ponderings, and biblical direction in the midst of hard times.Check it out!
Further Growth - The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life
by Os Guiness. Os Guiness, a writer of great depth, explores the issue of God calling us to Himself and how that entails vocational calling. Not a step-by-step guidebook, Os draws upon centuries of Christian thought on this issue and forces the reader to work and pray through hard questions. Has been inestimably valuable in determining calling in my own life.Check it out!
Novel: Till We Have Faces
by C.S. Lewis. A re-working of the classical myth of Cupid and Pysche, Lewis called this his favorite among all his fictional works. Some great insights into the big-picture calling of the Christian life -- dying to self for the one who has wooed us to Himself.Check it out!
WEBSITES
GROWING IN CHRIST - IVPress Bible Studies
If you want a helpful companion to guide you through books of the Bible, look no further. Just pick a book and follow my lead. Click "Check it out" below. Then after the final backslash type in the book of the Bible you wish to study. (Ex: ivpress.com/bible/john). Be flexible and try a couple times--for Philippians type in phil; for Leviticus type in lev.Check it out!
GROWING IN CHRIST - Daily Devos
Good way to mix up time along with Christ. Topical Bible Studies--each day's study includes real-life stories. You can also pull up an old study from Archives. YouthforChrist provides their longstanding Daily Devos in a new format--based around 3-story Evangelism. In doing this, the studies help the individual think and pray in a more kingdom-centered manner.Check it out!
GROWING IN CHRIST - Method-X
Stuck in the same rut in your prayer-life? This student website is extremely helpful with regard to creative praying, reflection, understanding how God has wired you, and even a little learning from the saints of the past.Check it out!
QUESTIONS - Christian Apologetics
carm.org is the most helpful site I've come across for answering questions about Christianity, the Bible, other religions & sects, and the like. Gives both biblical and extrabiblical (historical, scientific, literary proof) evidences for faith in Christ.Check it out!
QUESTIONS - blueletter Bible Study Tools
Trying to find a verse or wondering where exactly is that verse about Jesus being the only way to God? Just type in the word and push a button on blueletterbible.org. Commentaries, maps, outlines, and more can be found here on this non-flashy website.Check it out!
QUESTIONS - Mark Cahill's Evangelism Website
Mark is a dynamic, challenging speaker many of us had the privelege to hear at Challenge '06. The best part of this site is for those who answer: "No" to the Question Mark Poses when you open the page.Check it out!
ISSUES - xxxchurch.com
For young men & women who struggle with looking at "xxx"/shady/youknowwhati'mtalkingabout stuff online. The best part of this page--even more than tje incredibly sweet the music and graphics--is the free accountability resource. Click on X3 Watch, grab a brother and sister in Christ with whom you'll commit to being accountible, and pick the free choice.Check it out!
ISSUES - Hopenet
Just a super-cool youth site that addresses everything from music you like to issues with which teens tend to struggle. Most of it is written by teens. I think the Ladies will especially dig it.Check it out!
PARENTS - troubledwith.com
For you parents if your out there. Struggling how to deal with pressing issues that your teen is going through--rebellion, dating, eating disorers, internet issues, and the like? This Focus on the Family Website has helpful articles that are topically organized. Admittedly, for a broader, more foundational approach that will be a foundation for addressing all of these issues--see "Parenting Adolescents" in the Book Section.Check it out!
ABSURD - larknews.com
A satrical look at Evangelical Christianity and its bizarre subculture today--but it's written by Evangelicals (we can always make fun of ourselves!!). Remember to laugh before you grow angry that this site exists solely to poke fun. The test for "How Evangelical Are You?" will provide good times & laughs for the whole fam.Check it out!
