SEASONAL IDEA - Fall/Winter 99
 

resources for effective youth ministry
 

Seasonal Idea!


 
    Anytime is a perfect time for teens to read good books!  Books also make excellent gifts for teens - and all of us, so, we will look at a number of books teens will enjoy reading - to learn from and to just enjoy!  Consider challenging your youth group to read books for a certain period of time and have a special party at the end for all who do.  Set a certain number of books in each category - ie. three devotionals, three biographies or autobiographies, three fiction/mystery, a particular number of books in the Bible . . . perhaps Psalms, Proverbs and John and one or two books to little kids.  As the teens finish a book they will need to fill out a simple form - keep it simple so they will stay with the program - remember the goal of encouraging teens to read is to help them develop - or conitnue to develop a love for reading and an opportunity to learn as well.  The form would include the book title, Author, number of pages type of book and brief account of why they liked or didn’t like the book.  Consider recommending specific books - any reviewed in ATYD would be excellent.

    Reading is fun and is an important discipline to get into the habit to do, let’s encourage our teens to make time for reading good books a priority throughout their lives!

In My Father’s House
A Thousand Shall Fall
Say To This Mountain
Author - Bodie Thoene
Publisher - Bethany House Publishers

    I enjoy reading a good fictional novel from time to time, but my favorite type of fiction is historical fiction, possibly because history was always one of my favorite classes at school.  In the "Shiloh Legacy" books we are taken back to the end of World War 1 and to the difficulties faced with prejudice, poverty and the crash of the stock market as we follow the lives of four men returning from the war.

 Favorite Features:


    When I can read a book, learn more about history, enjoy the time spent reading and most importantly be challenged in my walk with God - then that is a book I feel very confident in recommending to others!  These books tell the beginning of the story from "The Zion Chronicles" continue.  Extremely well done Bodie and Bethany House Publishers!


 

Too Many Secrets - a Jennie McGrady Mystery
Author - Patricia Rushford
Publisher - Bethany House

 Favorite Features:


    "Too Many Secrets" is a book teen girls will enjoy and even learn a few things from.  It is well written and would create an interest in the reader to read the entire series.  Nicely done Patricia and Bethany House!


 

In Your Dreams - Sierra Jensen Series
Author - Robin Jones Gunn
Publisher - Bethany House & Focus on the Family

 Favorite Features:


    "In Your Dreams" is another book teen girls will enjoy, learn from and relate to as it addresses sibling issues and friendship.  This is also well written and would encourage the reader to read the entire series.  Nicely done Robin, Bethany and Focus on the Family.


 

My American Adventure
Author - Amy Burritt
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing

 Favorite Features:


    Amy had an opportunity not many teens have to take a year and travel with her family to all 50 states - she was able to meet some of the Governors and had all of them sign her shirt.  Teens should find the book interesting.  Nicely done Amy and Zondervan Publishing!

My Extreme Dream Journal
Author - Amy Burritt
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing

 Favorite Features:


    Amy made this book based on a notebook her dad challenged her to keep.  If we have no goal we will be certain of not accomplishing it.  Dreams and goals are important for all of us and this resource will help teens learn how to set and accomplish goals for their own lives.  Nicely done Amy and Zondervan Publishing.


 

Never Lick A Moving Blender!
Author - Marvin Phillips
Publisher - Howard Publishing
Illustrator - Kristen Myers

    Laughter is a gift from God - one many of us use too infrequently.  This resource uses humor to help us learn important lessons to "motivate and encourage" us in our walk with God.  I’ve said it before in previous issues of "About the Children’s Department" and "About the Youth Department" and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but it is vitally important that pastors, teachers, helpers and parents spend time studying their Bible and reading good books to "motivate and encourage" them in their walk with God and to set the example for teens to do the same.  There are so many excellent resources available - this book is one of them.

 Favorite Features:


    I highly recommend this book as it is one that will challenge and encourage you as you read and apply what you learn to your day-in-day-out life.  Very well done Marvin, Kristin and Howard Publishing!


 

Awesome God - Getting to Know Him
Authors - Neil Anderson & Rich Miller
Publisher - Harvest House

Radical Image! - God Can Change Your Life
Authors - Neil Anderson, Robert Saucy & Dave Parks
Publisher - Harvest House

    One of the most important things we can do for our youth - after they put their trust in Christ - is to help them learn and understand who they are in Christ and how that knowledge impacts their daily relationship with God.  Teens and adults who truly understand they truth of who they are in Christ will be able to live a life of joy that glorifies God.  These two books are excellent tools to help teens understand this truth.

 Favorite Features:


    These books are excellent resources for teens to help them learn Who God Is and how to grow in their day in day out relationship with Him.  Very nicely done Neil, Robert, Dave Rich and Harvest House!


 

If I Could Ask God One Question
Author - Greg Johnson
Publisher - Bethany House

    Teens - like many of us - have lots of questions about God, the Bible and what it means to live the Christian life, and while the Bible absolutely has all the answers, sometimes it helps to know where to find those answers.  This book has 80 common questions and the Scripture answers to help teens learn what God has to say about their questions.

 Favorite Features:


    This book is an excellent resource for teens to utilize as a devotional or as a reference book for when specific questions come along.  I like that there are Scripture answers for each question to help teens see how the Bible really does have all the answers.  Very well done Greg and Bethany House!


 

So Who Says I Have To Act My Age?
Author - Kevin Johnson
Publisher - Bethany House

    It can be tough to grow up - there are so many things to learn and such important decisions to make - all of which will impact the rest of our lives.  In this book, Kevin presents 45 devotionals for teens to help them think through these major decisions and learn God’s perspective as well.

 Favorite Features:


    This is another excellent devotional to help teens think about the choices they make and will be making and why it matters that they make wise decisions based on God’s Word.  Very nicely done Kevin and Bethany House!


 

One Step Closer - A Guided Tour of the Spiritual Life
Author - David Edwards
Publisher - Howard Publishing

    Teens - and in reality, all of us - are looking for something in our life that is real.  This book is a powerful tool to help teens and even adults "come one step closer to God".  As it says in the introduction, this book is "not just a book to be read, it’s a book to be used".

 Favorite Features:


    I would recommend this book for teens who want to be serious about being real in their walk with God.  I especially like the emphasis on the truth that we can really trust God, He wants us to have joy and will help us make good choices.  Extremely well done Dave and Howard Publishing - I would truly look forward to additional resources from Dave!


 

Left Behind
Tribulation Force
Nicolae
Soul Harvest
Apollyon
Authors - Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins
Publisher - Tyndale

    Teens and adults often wonder what the future holds - with recent happenings around the world we may wonder more at this time in history than at any other time before us.  The Bible clearly tells us what will happen - just not when.  These books communicate in a truly moving and powerful way what will happen when Jesus comes back for His own and help us understand a bit more how things may actually happen during that time.

 Favorite Features:

    I highly recommend these books as they are exciting to read, but more importantly these books challenge and encourage us to be watching and ready when Jesus does come back and encourages us to not grow weary watching for Him, because He will return for us!  Extremely well written Tim, Jerry and Tyndale!


 

Bruce & Stan’s Guide to the End of the World
Authors -Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
Publisher - Harvest House

    People have always been curious about end times . . . what will happen?  When will it happen?  What signs are true that we can believe are genuine signs for the end of the world?  In this book, Bruce and Stan explain prophecy and end times so teens and all of us can understand.

 Favorite Features:


    Most of us wonder about end times . . . this book is an excellent resource to explain and answer questions so we can have a better understanding of what the Bible says about the end of time - and the beginning of forever.  I recommend this book especially for teens.  Parents and teachers would also benefit from reading this book and then talking with their teens.  Extremely well done Bruce, Stan and Harvest House!


 

Vienna Prelude
Prague Counterpoint
Munich Signature
Jerusalem Interlude
Danzig Passage
Warsaw Requiem
 

The Gates of Zion
A Daugther of Zion
The Return to Zion
A Light In Zion
The Key to Zion

Authors - Brock and Bodie Thoene
Publisher - Bethany House Publishers

These books continue the stories begun in the "Shiloh Legacy" books and covers the time of World War II and the return of the Jewish people to their land in Israel.  While the characters in these stories are not real - although they are extremely believable - the setting and time were real, this is the reason I enjoy reading historical fiction!

 Favorite Features:


    I highly recommend these books as they will challange and encourage the reader at the same time as teach the reader about some extremely difficult and trying times in our history - without being history books!  Extremely well done Brock, Bodie and Bethany House Publishers!


 

    There are so many excellent books for teens to read, any book reviewed in "About the Youth Department" would make an excellent selection to give and read, but there are some truly outstanding books and if you had to select only a few books to read, the following would be my higest recommendations.

The Left Behind Series of books
The Shiloh Legacy Series of books
The Zion Covenant Series of books
The Gates of Zion Series of books
Bruce & Stan’s Guide to the End of the World

    While I am recommending 10 books in the children’s area, my list for the youth is a "top five" as four of the five are series of books.  Each of these books are extremely well written and either take a look at our history and what happened or look at the future and what is yet to take place - these books are sure to generate conversation between parents and their children and teachers and their students.  I highly recommend these books as a basis to build a strong library at home and church - one youth will want to read!
 
 


Table of Contents

 
About The Youth Department - Volume 2, Edition 1
Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Jan. 2 2000
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda atdfreemansr@earthlink.net