Since Eugene Peterson first wrote this spiritual formation classic nearly forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by its call to deeper discipleship. As a society, we are still obsessed with the immediate; new technologies have only intensified our quest for the quick fix. But Peterson's time-tested prescription for discipleship remains the same—a long obedience in the same direction.

Following Jesus in this way requires a deepening life of prayer, and throughout history Christians have learned to pray from the Psalms. Peterson finds encouragement for today's pilgrims in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), sung by travelers on their way to worship in Jerusalem. With his prophetic and pastoral wisdom, Peterson shows how the psalms teach us to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community, and blessing.

Spring '21

Recommended FLS textbook for Youth and Family Ministry course taught by Dr. Jason Holt.

Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues that affect parents and their teenage children during the often-chaotic adolescent years. With wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, he shows parents how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication and learn and grow with their teens.

Limited Quantity Available

Spring '26

Required FLBC textbook for Introduction to Family Ministry course taught by Mrs. Michelle Olson.
Students will need this and How to Get Your Teen to Talk to You OR Give Them Jesus and The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Spring '25

Required FLBC textbook for Introduction to Family Ministry course taught by Mrs. Michelle Olson.
Students will need this and How to Get Your Teen to Talk to You OR Give Them Jesus and The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Spring '24

Recommended FLBC textbook for Introduction to Family Ministry course taught by Mrs. Michelle Olson.

Spring '22

Recommended FLBC textbook for Introduction to Family Ministry course taught by Dr. Jason Holt.

Spring '20

Recommended FLBC textbook for Introduction to Family Ministry course taught by Dr. Jason Holt.

An honest look into the challenges and joys of ministering to youth along with practical helps for both the volunteer and professional youth worker alike, this book will encourage you to understand yourself better as a leader, work more confidently with your students, and embrace the privilege of seeing kids, parents, and entire families grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Free downloadable study guide available.

While most youth pastors are being regularly evaluated (or even scrutinized) for what they’re doing right now in the youth group, the reality is that the most important thing they are doing won’t actually be evident until much later. That’s because the biggest challenge for any youth ministry is helping teens embrace a whole-hearted devotion to God that lasts far beyond their years in the youth room. Unfortunately, much of youth ministry seems to be designed on the model of setting teenagers up for a “date” with God—a delightful evening that involves music, laughter, food, and light conversation. But what scripture calls us to is not a “one-night stand” with God, but a lifelong love of God that endures.Youth ministry educator and veteran, Duffy Robbins, offers youth workers a blueprint for building that kind of faith in teenagers. In this concise book, ideal for busy youth workers, they’ll be equipped to build a youth ministry that instills that lasting faith in its students.

Spring '21

Recommended FLS textbook for Youth and Family Ministry course taught by Dr. Jason Holt.

Who was Jesus? A good man? A lunatic? God? There's little question that he actually lived. An award-winning legal journalist with a knack for asking tough questions decided to investigate Jesus for himself. As an atheist, Strobel felt certain his findings would bring Christianity's claims about Jesus tumbling down. He was in for the surprise of his life. What will your verdict be? Adapted for youth in this condensed edition.

In Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture Walt Mueller, founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, helps us to navigate the troubling and confusing terrain of teen worldviews so that we can effectively and compassionately pass along good news: our God is their God, our Savior can be their Savior.

Beginning with an introduction to Eutychus, the young man at the center of a tragic and miraculous event recorded in Acts 20 and who is a paradigm of adolescent development, this book examines what Lutheran theology adds to the field of youth ministry that isn't found elsewhere.

Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men offers nearly 100 devotions for teen boys on relevant topics, such as anxiety, bullying, purity, and more.

Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Women offers nearly 100 devotions for teen girls on relevant topics, such as anxiety, bullying, purity, and more.

This book study introduces practical, thought-provoking ideas for family ministry in the congregation. Topics include: Why Family Ministry?, The Marriage Connection, Defining Family, Getting Started: A Blueprint for 57 Congregational Family Ministry, Relationships: Dealing with Marriage and Each Person’s Role in the Family, Touchpoints: Identifying Opportunities to Minister with Families, Generations, GRANDparenting, Passing on the Faith, Family Ministry Celebrations, Building a Support Network.

There are five stages of grief. God gives you eight gifts to get through them.

Grief can make you feel as if there is no way out. But before you give in, know that that is not true. Your loss and pain do not have the last word, Jesus does.

In Getting Through Grief for Youth: Eight Biblical Gifts for Living with Loss, young adults will look to the Word to wrestle and watch as God's promise to make all things new and His promise of life transform their hope.

Ideal for giving to new believers, small group members, or in a counseling situation, this handy booklet gives practical helps for establishing a time of daily meditation.

You’ve got questions about gender and sexuality. Big questions. Questions that aren’t easily answered.

• Is gender binary or fluid?
• What does the Bible say about transitioning?
• How do I respond to people whose physical body doesn’t match their declared gender?
• What does it mean to use the correct pronouns?
• How can I share the Gospel with someone who is transgender?

This little book, geared toward youth, gives you the answers you need to approach these questions from a godly, loving perspective.

Thoroughly researched, this easy-to-use handbook is designed to help parents, teachers, pastors, and youth workers guide today’s young people through the minefields of adolescence. From simple challenges to major crises, this book will equip adults to help youth cope with situations involving emotional issues, abuse, addictions, family issues, disorders, sexual issues, and much more.

Question-and-answer format takes the key questions youth have and replies with biblical, straightforward answers from the Bible and research from journals and books by respected Christian authors.

Discover:
• who you are to Jesus
• how much He loves you
• how to live out your faith
Grow in your faith as you read and reflect over nine weeks on:
• True!
• Trust!
• Act!
Theme Bible verse: Psalm 25:5
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.
Use for personal daily devotions or in a group setting.

Free Downloadable Study Guide available at http://www.ctainc.com
With suggestions for six sessions for youth, each activity page includes a list of what you need, a description of what you do, and comments or questions you can use to encourage discussion at the conclusion of the activity.

Eight succinct chapters show how mentoring took place in the Bible—with Old Testament and New Testament figures—and how to apply these lessons today.

Outreach doesn’t have to be difficult. Jesus shows us how to live out our faith in small ways. Do you ever get tongue-tied talking about your faith? All of us struggle sometimes to find the right words. If you truly desire to make an emotional connection, focus on personal interactions instead. Share Life! resources encourage Christians to focus on things we do rather than words we say, so that others may see the love of Christ in us. Show people the abundant life you have in Jesus instead of telling them about it. After all, actions speak louder than words. Each lesson walks readers through a Gospel of John narrative, and includes practical ideas to put into action immediately. 48 pages paperback.

Give Share Life! gifts to all the members in your congregation to encourage and teach them to live out their faith. They also make great gifts for mission trip or service project volunteers.

Recent studies show that 40-50 percent of kids connected to a youth group throughout their senior year fail to stick with their faith in college. With the extensive research of Fuller Youth Institute, this book presents youth workers with both a theological/philosophical framework and practical programming ideas to encourage development of long-term faith in teenagers and assist in graduates’ transition to college.

With humor and style, Guy Doud addresses teens' common struggles—friendships, parents, peer pressure, school, addictions, sex, and more—and gives godly advice, answers, and hope.

Featuring the teachings of Martin Luther in bright, engaging illustrations in a graphic novel style, this book gives students an engaging way to learn faith basics such as the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed. Recommended for middle school students and older. Available in Spanish by special order.

Challenges students to question society's popular ideas about the ultimate issues of life, including the purpose of everything, the relative value of human and animal life, a standard for decisions about right and wrong, and being acceptable to God. A helpful resource for youth ministers and teachers who work with high school and college students. Includes discussion questions with each chapter.

32 pg. devotional journaling experience that will challenge youth and young adults to integrate the reading of Scriptures, journaling, and planning, through an interaction conversation (with God) as they explore their own identity in Christ. Eight weeks of challenge, affirmation, reflection, and action will help them grow and assure them of Christ's everlasting love for them. Useful individually or in a group setting, this experience provides opportunities to engage teens fully as they reflect and learn about their true identity in Christ.

Book measures - 5-1/2"" X 8-1/2""

English Standard Version

Teens are asking many questions, and there are many wrong answers to those questions. This book uses God's Word to answer questions teens are asking. Topics include the reliability of Scripture, science and faith, school and home life, and government.

How weak can faith be before it's not faith anymore? How do I know when I’m doing enough good works? This book contains answers to many questions teens are asking and answers them with God's Word.

A collection of questions and answers about topics concerning young people today, such as dating, sex, enemies, coworkers, parents, friends, siblings, and teammates. Each answer deals with the subject honestly and is rooted in God's Word.

An all-around resource for developing a biblical philosophy of ministry, encouraging leadership, planning events, leading Bible studies, outreach, fundraising, and more. Includes reproducible pages.

Youth workers often end up serving as crisis managers due to family break-ups, substance abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, cutting, suicide, or gun violence. With experience and expertise from the authors as well as biblical advice for each stage of crisis, learn how to respond quickly and effectively, bringing hope and healing.

Available only as a PDF from Seminary Hill Press.

“Youth ministry that doesn’t last a lifetime doesn’t matter very much.”

The real criteria for evaluating youth ministry is this question: Are we consistently introducing teenagers to Jesus and then discipling them into believers who will, for a lifetime, love God, love people, and make disciples for the glory of God?

Everyone who evaluates youth ministry needs to ask a new set of questions. The issue really is not: How is our youth group doing today? Instead, the core question is: How will our youth group be doing for a lifetime?

Most youth pastors love King Jesus supremely and do their work tirelessly. But by employing a sixty-year-old model of youth ministry, the great majority of church teenagers are not becoming world-changing disciples as adults.

Is the church willing to give up comfortable youth ministry for a radically new model that is likely to lead many more teenagers to lifetime faith?

SIT 2024
Recommended SIT textbook for Session C.
Youth/Family Ministry Workshops (Pr. Jordan Langness)

Reminder: Select one recommended resource per session to link to your reflective essay.

Spring '21

Required FLS textbook for Youth and Family Ministry course taught by Dr. Jason Holt.