Ministering to teenagers can sometimes seem like an impossible task of trying to nail the proverbial jelly of an ever changing youth culture to the unmovable wall of biblical truth. It’s easy to get lost in the ocean of books and articles tailored to the specific needs of teenagers, or attempting to crack the code to the enigma of the teenage mind. Honestly, we need more youth pastors who will give themselves to Scriptures and in turn give the Scriptures to their students. So, when it comes to student ministry there is no more helpful and important book than the Bible. If that’s true, then next in line to the Bible, today’s youth pastor ought to fill his shelf with books that help to interpret, decipher, and explain the message of the Bible. Instead of being a glorified candy tossing babysitter, or a hipster with a serious case of man-child syndrome, we need youth pastors who are committed to being serious students of the word and theology. That being said, once you’ve lined your shelf with Bible study tools, commentaries and theologies, there are a few other books that might help you along in your mission to guide the students entrusted to your care for the glory of God. Here’s a list of just eight:
O how I wish DeYoung’s book was around when I was a teenager. I would have spent far less time trying to discern the will of God for my life and more time walking in it. The alternative title on the front cover pretty much sums up what this book is all about and gives you a taste of the author’s whit and humour: How to make decisions without dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random Bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc. The bottom line is that youth have been trained to look for extraordinary means of God’s guidance that may not always come and to ignore the ordinary means (things like using your brain, reading the word, and seeking wise counsel). Too many students spend their lives “tinkering” in fear in the valley of indecision instead of walking in the confidence that God’s word brings to those who read it. “Yes, God has a specific plan for our lives.” says DeYoung, “And yes, we can be assured that He works things for our good in Christ Jesus. And yes, looking back we will often be able to trace God’s hand in bringing us to where we are. But while we are free to ask God for wisdom, He does not burden us with the task of divining His will of direction for our lives ahead of time.”(p.24).
This book is thoroughly biblical, practical, and liberating.
This is an excellent addition to Zondervan’s KNOW Series and extremely helpful for students. Youth, especially those in their final years of high school, can often ask some really big and important questions. Many of them are trying to sort out what they believe and more importantly why they believe it. Oliphint teaches apologetics and theology at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, but also has a background in youth ministry. In the book he takes on some of the most important and challenging questions people have asked: Why believe in the Bible? Why believe in God? Why believe in God in the face of modern science? Why believe in Christianity alone? Oliphint gives compelling and persuasive answers and does so in a style that is easy enough for most students to grasp.
It’s arguable that there is likely no single topic on which teenagers have accommodated to the thinking of the culture and become lost in the fog than on dating. The church has not necessarily responded well and in some instances invented a culture of its own that, while being far more wholesome, still lacks a firm biblical footing or clear understanding of how the gospel redeems and informs sex and relationships. Hiestand and Thomas do a wonderful job of connecting sex to the gospel and show it to be, not only a God given gift to humanity, but a powerful display of the love of Christ for his bride and the communion that we have with him. Again and again they will challenge your assumptions and show you how much of your thinking with regard to dating is a result of sipping the cultural drinking water. They call God’s people to a high standard of purity and honour in every category of human relationships. The book is also full of practical guidance for those engaged in “dating friendships” and singles. This book cuts through much of the confusion with biblical clarity.
If you spend any amount of time talking to teenagers, you might discover a few common themes. In general, teenagers want to know that their life is going to count for something, they value authenticity, many of them are thinking globally and they want to be sure that they are a part of something that is bigger than them. When David Platt wrote Radical, he didn’t have teenagers in mind primarily, yet this book has made an incredible impact on students who dare to read it’s pages. Platt starts off by introducing readers to how he became disenchanted with his past successes in achieving an evangelical version of the American dream. It wasn’t long before he came head to head with Jesus’ call to radical-lay-down-your-life pick-up-you-cross type of obedience. The call seemed like something completely foreign to everything he knew. In page after page Platt lays out the demands of Jesus and challenges our cultural assumptions while calling readers to authentic New Testament Christianity. Interestingly enough, despite the title, Platt doesn’t short change the ordinary means and does a great job at connecting them to the radical purpose of God. Every student I’ve gone through this book with has been deeply impacted and is committed to serving in amazing ways.
This is the first book that I recommend that is about youth ministry proper. In the grand scheme of things, youth ministry as we know it today is still a relatively recent experiment, and an experiment that some would describe as a failure. Though I’m not ready to give up on youth ministry, I do believe that it needs a reformation. Today’s youth workers are wrestling with a disturbingly large dropout rate, a variety of difficulties that attend a generation that has been abandoned by the generations before, what Christian Smith calls moralistic therapeutic deism, and so much more. The contributors to this volume seek to etch out the foundational building blocks of healthy “gospel centred” youth ministry. They then offer a wealth of insight into how the theological principles can be fleshed out in your youth ministry and then how they move students in the mission of God. Each chapter is divided into two sections: the first hashes out the theory and theology while the second takes account of practical considerations.
Whether you realize it or not, peer pressure, codependency, and the fear of man is a significant issue that faces us all to some degree. When it comes to teenagers, this is largely where they live. Most teens want nothing more than to be cool, to be popular, valued, and accepted and they will do almost anything to get it. Fear of what people will think, or do, stops many teens dead in their tracks when it comes to living the Christian life. Nobody is more thorough, more biblical, and helpful than Ed Welch when it comes to addressing this particular issue. He does a wonderful job at taking something we all struggle with and enveloping it in the world and thought of the Bible. The Bible speaks clearly about these things, but perhaps we’ve missed it because we’re thinking about them in different terms. Welch speaks of them within the context of worship and desire. He shows readers how the fear of God frees us up to stop using people and to love them instead. This is an excellent book to put in the hands of your leaders and parents. Welch also has a simplified version of this book that is geared toward teens.
Paul Tripp is one of my favourite authors and this is one of his best books. Despite all the frustrations, challenges, and painful realities that come with being a parent of a teenager, Tripp encourages parents to consider the teen years as precious years that present many unique opportunities for growth and development—an age of opportunity—that should not be wasted, but cherished with gospel care. I’ve always said that being a parent of a teenager can feel like one of the most unforgiving and difficult jobs on earth, and nobody should have to do it alone. Tripp knows teenagers and he knows parenting well, but more importantly, he’s steeped in solid biblical wisdom. Tripp is a sure guide through the teenage years and very practical. As a youth pastor, I believe partnering with and equipping parents is vital. You would do well to prepare yourself to answer the hard questions and to help and resource parents as best as you can. Books like this will go a long way in that direction.
Discipling students can be hard and sometime can even feel a bit awkward. This is one of the reasons why I love going through books with students; it gives you something to talk about. Getting students, especially junior high boys, to read anything can feel like a scene out of The Miracle Worker. I love Bunyan’s book and there’s a reason why it has been a number one seller since it first came into print. Unfortunately the language of the original edition sounds a little bit archaic making this little gem less accessible than Bunyan originally intended. For that reason I was happy to see the new Crossway edition with updated english by C. J. Lovik. Teens love reading stories and the beautiful pictures by Mike Wimmer provide some nice eye candy. All of the quotes and allusions to the Bible are referenced in the footnotes at the bottom of the page which means you can sit down with your Bible open as you and the teenager across from you discuss the various twists and turns of Christian’s journey to the Celestial City. The book is enjoyable and immensely practical. It’s a wonderful tool in the hands of a youth worker who wants to help young pilgrims along the way.
This is really just a short list and there were so many great books that I couldn’t mention for the sake of time. I have found that these are the ones that I keep going back to. Feel free to point out some of your favourites in the comments below.