Saddleback Church

Life can be hard, especially when you're in middle school. It also can be hard to understand what your faith is all about—and keep it strong when you face the trials and temptations that come along with being a teenager. My Faith will give you all the tips and secrets you need to really grasp your faith and keep hold of it. You'll get the inside scoop on things like God's story, the Bible, faith and doubt, church, and what it means to be a Christian. This book is filled with short and fun-to-read devotional-style pointers along with humorous stories from the authors. Plus there are quotes and questions from students just like you. After reading My Faith, you'll be ready to face the challenges of middle school with a strong faith.

The trusted choice for students and seekers updated for the 21st century! Featuring a brand new 180 day Guided Tour of the Bible from Philip Yancey, the revised NIV Student Bible still boasts the original features that made it a classic. It includes Yancey's and Tim Stafford's highlights, insights, book introductions and overviews, a cutting-edge subject guide, the popular 3-track Scripture reading plan, and much more.

Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battles between good and evil—what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, written in 1949 by C.S. Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia. For the past fifty years, The Chronicles of Narnia have transcended the fantasy genre to become part of the canon of classic literature. Each of the seven books is a masterpiece, drawing the reader into a land where magic meets reality, and the result is a fictional world whose scope has fascinated generations.

Zach Hunter may only be fifteen, but he’s taking on issues that affect the world—and he’s making a change. Find out how Zach is working to end slavery, and how you can make a change in the things you see wrong with our world.

Hank Hangegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, brings his straightforward style to address crucial questions for students ranging from middle school through college undergraduates. Chapters include answers about Real Life (money, conflict, media, jobs, friends, dating); Sex (pornography, homosexuality, purity); Friends Needing Help (drugs, alcohol, attitudes, parents, unhealthy relationships); Christianity (the basics); and Other Religions (Wicca, Buddhism, Mormonism, Islam, atheism, etc.).

Who was Jesus? A good man? A lunatic? God? There's little question that he actually lived. But miracles? Rising from the dead? Some of the stories you hear about him sound like just that—stories. A reasonable person would never believe them, let alone the claim that he's the only way to God! But a reasonable person would also make sure that he or she understood the facts before jumping to conclusions. That's why Lee Strobel, 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 clear claims about Jesus tumbling down like a house of cards. Join him as he retraced his journey from skepticism to faith. You'll consult expert testimony as you sift through the truths of history, science psychiatry, literature, and religion. Like Strobel, you'll be amazed at the evidence—how strong it is, and what it says. The facts are in. What will be your verdict in The Case for Christ?

Leadership isn't always easy, but Doug Fields can help you move from feelings of shock, fear, and confusion to feelings of confidence, effectiveness, and comfort. Within these pages are tools to help you and your friends get the most out of the time you spend together.

Here's some of what you'll get: Learn how Jesus led others, figure out how to be more helpful to everyone, Discover the secrets of getting others involved, learn how to listen better, and deepen your own faith by helping others.

Included are practical tips that allow you to test drive leadership ideas and figure out what works best for you. So relax and dive in! All leaders are learners, and while being a student leader isn't easy, it's a great way to serve others and grow in your faith.

Adolescence-it's a turbulent time for parents and teens. Your child's changing temperament and behaviors can be upsetting for the entire family. Dr. Townsend offers biblical principles for handling disrespect and irresponsibility, establishing healthy limits, realistic consequences, and more. Features a discussion on moodiness, school problems, and aggression, along with your own attitudes, conflicts and obstacles.

Making a difference in the lives of teenagers is much more than pizza and video games. In fact, veteran youth worker, Ron Hutchcraft, says that working with teens today is more like cross-cultural ministry...or fighting in a battle. Hutchcraft's passion is to reach young people in both categories-and to show adults how urgent the mission is. Combining plenty of illustrations and examples of effective methods, this book gives an up close look at the world of today's teenager.

Recommended by Shaun Blakeney