Don't Lose Momentum: A Summer Youth Ministry Reading Plan

The Truth Is

I recently released my book on apologetics. However, I wrote this specifically for youth leaders and parents as a resource to not only be more knowledgeable about some of the basic and most fundamental pieces of evidence for the Christian faith; but also as a guide to engage in regular conversations with your students about matters of faith, truth, doubt, and others. It is a great tool for teaching apologetics to parents in a church class or small group setting.

Admittedly, I am a little bias, but I believe it serves as a great next step from your study of Advocates.

Naming the Elephant

When it comes to exploring worldviews, James Sire has been the gold standard for more than 30 years. Recently Dr. Sire had the privilege of finally meeting Jesus face-to-face, but he left with us some incredible and timeless resources. Naming the Elephant walks through what a worldview is, how they are formed, and what they mean for culture and the individual.

Fools Talk

Christianity Today's 2016 book of the year for apologetics and evangelism is a must-read for anyone interested in crafting productive conversations about truth and the Christian faith. Os Guinness offers a comprehensive take on the art and power of creative persuasion. Rather than a cookie-cutter approach to sharing one's faith, Guinness offers thoughts and ideas that avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, he argues that since everyone is unique, we ought to tailor our conversations based on who we are talking to.

Faith Formation in a Secular World: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness

In western culture, we are obsessed with youthfulness—an obsession that has infiltrated the church. Andrew Root, a professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota, argues that believing in a youthful spirit will save the church falls far short of ensuring continued attendance and a faith commitment from our students. Instead, Root dives deeper into the phenomenon of moralistic therapeutic deism and the rise of the "nones" and offers a slightly different take on why youth are driven from the church rather than to it and what the solution ought to be.

Andrew Root has some fascinating insight into youth culture that many often sidestep. Whether or not you agree, this book is worth the read if only to engage in the conversation on another level and from a different perspective.

The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults

I picked this book on a whim at last year's NYWC. Brain development has always fascinated me, but I am more of the creative type. Science was never my best subject, so usually, these books intimidate me or bore me to tears. However, I plowed through the nearly 400 pages of Dr. Jensen's research. This book presents the latest findings in neuroscience and how some of the most prominent issues in the lives of teens are directly related to the development of their brain. Some of the information she presented I already had a cursory knowledge, but Dr. Jensen guides you through her research not just as a doctor, but also as a mom, a neighbor, and a teacher. Her stories and insight gave me instant compassion and empathy for my students in class, those I visit on the road—heck, even my kids.