This book examines what Lutheran theology adds to the whole field of youth ministry that isn't found elsewhere. It begins with an introduction to Eutychus, who is a paradigm of adolescent development.

Two preachers look at the practical issues of getting to the heart of the biblical text, controlling content so you say what you mean to say, and delivering sermons in a way that keeps people awake.

Teaching youth can be challenging and is often difficult. You need to know your subject but more importantly know your students. Do you like young people? Would you want to teach Bible lessons from the viewpoint of a teenager and encourage their faith? This forty-eight-lesson guide helps you focus as a religious teacher to youth. Youth Track identifies stories about young people in the Bible, including related scripture references for those stories. It presents suggested thoughts and current-day questions to involve your students. This is not a cookie-cutter guide but a solid place to start, since teaching kids can be hard work. Although this guide was written as a series of weekly lessons, it is also appropriate in other situations. Select just the New Testament stories for a shorter period. At special times of the year such as Christmas or Easter, use the stories about those celebrations. If you know your students, pick stories that you can relate to their day-to-day lives. Youth are very special. With the help of this guide, use your abilities, your knowledge, and your experiences in whatever way you can to encourage their Christian growth and faith.

For centuries women, youth, and the poor have been seen as objects of Christian ministry, but rarely as those who do ministry themselves. This is so much the case that in some quarters today ministry and mission are bad words, reeking of older and paternalistic models of Christian "service." In this challenging book, Cheryl Sanders demonstrates how mission can be updated. Far from being regressive or irrelevant in a multicultural, nonpatriarchal world, Christian mission can come alive when it is not just ministry to but ministry by marginalized groups seeking justice. Ministry at the Margins is an important Christian ethicist's rousing call to "find grace to articulate a theology of inclusion and to establish inclusive practices and multicultural perspectives that harmonize with the gospel we preach and honor the Christ we proclaim." Essential reading for pastors, church leaders, students, urban missionaries, and campus ministers.

Jesus talks about children often, and we quote him time after time. But are we correctly understanding the position of children as Jesus intended? In this thorough, nontechnical summary, Dr. Strange provides a wealth of cultural background that often challenges popular assumptions. Within this framework he also discusses key Bible passages, looking especially at the role Jesus ascribes to children in his Kingdom and in relation to church membership, baptism, and the Eucharist. He draws from the many sources available on the position of children in the ancient world, the writings of the New Testament, and the early church. The author concludes by encouraging us to be passionately involved with children and to imitate them in our adult discipleship, motivated by the example of Jesus himself. Anyone involved in children's ministry, in education, or with an interest in the doctrinal position of children in the church will find this book of interest and value.

Here is a commentary that doesn't read like a commentary but like letters from a good friend. Here is the exciting truth of the New Testament Scriptures wrapped in the warm, personal style of one of America's best-loved Bible teachers. Study the first half of the New Testament, from Matthew through Galatians, in digestible sections that emphasize personal application as well as biblical content. And be spiritually enriched as have hundreds of thousands of other pastors, teachers, and students of the Word who have benefited from this best-selling series with over 2 million copies in print. Dr. Warren Wiersbe brings the people, places, history, and teachings of the New Testament to life in the pages of The Bible Exposition Commentary. This first volume is a compilation of the following books: and Be Loyal Matthew Be Dynamic Acts 1-12 Be Diligent Mark Be Daring Acts 13-28 Be Compassionate Luke 1-13 Be Right Romans Be Courageous Luke 14-24 Be Wise 1 Corinthians Be Alive John 1-12 Be Encouraged 2 Corinthians Be Transformed John 13-21 Be Free Galatians

Young people have been leaving the church for several decades and are largely absent from many of our congregations. Most young people have no desire to embrace a church perceived as old fashioned, but remain interested in spirituality. How can young people be empowered to follow Jesus in a relevant and new way that is responsive to the challenges of the current context? How can real hope and opportunity be realised so that the next generation will approach faith without a Christendom mindset? By examining the influences of the past, exploring the stories of those young people who have been partaking in church and by considering the views of those not connected to Church, this book offers insights, theology, practical application and some hope for the future. Those charged with responsibility are encouraged to seriously consider passing on the baton to young people now for the sake of the future. Like it or not, the destiny of the church is in their hands.