Deciding what you believe can be hard, especially when you’re not entirely sure what your faith is even all about. My Faith works as a reference guide to break down who God is, what the Bible says and why we believe it, how to handle doubts and questions, and what it actually means to be a Christian. With over seventy short chapters that cover twelve major topics, you’ll find honesty, understanding, advice, and wisdom to help you navigate your questions and make a decision on your own.
Middle school comes with a lot of challenges, and one of the biggest can be figuring out what you believe—and why. After all, being a Christian is hard sometimes, and it’s even harder when you suddenly have questions and doubts you never had before. Thankfully, this book has answers on things like why God wants a relationship with us, what the Bible actually tells us (and exactly why people believe what it says), what to do when you have those doubts or make a “mistake,” and what exactly being a Christian means for your life. There are also some tips and ideas on finding your own connection with God and applying what you personally believe to your life—helping you navigate middle school more confidently.
My Faith:
<ul>
<li>is written by two youth specialists with over forty combined years of experience dealing with the issues today’s preteens and young adults face every day</li>
<li>contains stories from the authors that add honesty—and where appropriate, humor—to the topics being discussed</li>
<li>can be used as a reference guide on specific topics or read straight through for a wider experience</li>
<li>provides a biblical yet candid approach</li>
<li>is also ideal for anyone dealing with teenagers in a mentoring, teaching, or leadership environment</li>
</ul>

My Faith (Middle School Survival Series)

Children's Books

Oestreicher, Mark

Johnston, Kurt

Religions

Zonderkidz

Families can be complicated, and this reference guide is here to help you get through whatever issue you might face—from frustrations with your parents to what to do if your family is breaking apart from divorce, or even if there’s been abuse in your home. With seventy-five short chapters that cover almost twenty major topics, there’s plenty of understanding, advice, and wisdom to help you navigate issues with your family AND strengthen the bonds that matter most.
Middle school is tough, and figuring out who you are during this time can sometimes mean more issues with your family members—from not feeling understood to wondering why you can’t have a little more freedom and trust now that you’re not a little kid anymore. And maybe your family itself is changing in ways you never thought could happen. In this book, everything from dealing with small frustrations to dating, getting more privacy, handling issues with siblings, and what to do when a parent lets you down or even hurts you physically is discussed and explored, giving you advice and ideas on how to navigate the issues in your family today.
My Family: 
<ul>
<li>is written by two youth specialists with over forty combined years of experience dealing with the issues today’s preteens and young adults face every day</li>
<li>contains stories from the authors that add honesty—and where appropriate, humor—to the topics being discussed</li>
<li>can be used as a reference guide on specific topics or read straight through for a wider experience</li>
<li>provides a biblical yet candid approach</li>
<li>is also ideal for anyone dealing with teenagers in a mentoring, teaching, or leadership environment</li>
</ul>

My Family (Middle School Survival Series)

Don’t worry, My Friends, from the Middle School Survival Series, will give you all the tips and secrets you need to make the most of your friendships. In the pages of this book, you’ll find helpful friendship tips like:• what you can learn about friendships from the Bible• ways to be a good friend• how to deal with conflict and other tough stuff• how to make friends, and moreFrom piles of homework to understanding the variety of “interesting” people working at your school to dealing with the new challenges of changing for gymclass in front of everyone, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed.That’s why in My School, from the Middle School Survival Series, we will tackle the things that weigh heavily on middle school students just like you. This book will address important middle school issues like:• Dealing with bullies, jocks, nerds, and every other category of student you encounter• Revealing the truth behind the urban legends of middle school• Pop quizzes, tardiness, and other survival tips

My Friends (Middle School Survival Series)

Teen & Young Adult

Literature & Fiction

Middle school is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns; it’s exhilarating and scary all at the same time! From piles of homework, to understanding the variety of “interesting” people working at your school, and dealing with the new challenges of changing for gym class in front of everyone, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. That’s why in My School, from the Middle School Survival Series, we will tackle the things that weigh heavily on middle school students just like you. This book will address important middle school issues like: dealing with bullies, jocks, nerds, and every other category of student you encounter revealing the truth behind the urban legends of middle school pop quizzes, tardiness, and other survival tips This book is filled with short and easy-to-read tips, along with funny stories from the authors (who, believe it or not, used to be middle school morons!), and quotes and questions from students just like you. After reading My School, you’ll be able to walk the halls like the confident student you want to be.

My School (Middle School Survival Series)

Religion & Spirituality

Zondervan/Youth Specialties

Book by Johnston, Kurt, Edwards, Katie

Go Team: 101 Ideas to Energize Youth Ministry Volunteers

Edwards, Katie

Group Pub Inc

We've never met a youth worker who wanted to be ineffective. Why would anybody enter the turbulent world of youth ministry unless they wanted to make a difference! But where to start, what to do, and how do you know if your efforts really are effective? In The 9: Best Practices for Youth Ministry, Kurt Johnston and Tim Levert unwrap nine characteristics of effective youth ministry. They specifically tackle this vital question: "What can churches and youth groups do to keep students from walking away from church after high school?" This book takes an up-close look at some "best practices" discovered in an extensive study led by leaders from seven different denominations. Researchers surveyed more than 6,000 lead pastors, youth pastors, paid and volunteer youth workers, parents, and teenagers who have found success in creating ministry settings that foster long-term Christ-followers, not just youth group attendees-and they found some solid, real-world answers. So, what are these nine practices? We're glad you asked! 1. Nurture Your Own Soul 2. Build an Awareness of God's Active Presence 3. Encourage Personal Spiritual Growth 4. Foster a Sense of Evangelistic Urgency 5. Increase the Congregation's Appreciation of Students 6. Provide Opportunities for Relationships 7. Develop Confident, Competent, and Committed Adult Leaders 8. Consistently Value Families 9. Create Contextualized Programs and Events This isn't a textbook-it's a practical guide for anyone who works with teenagers in a local church setting. If you're committed to effective, real-world youth ministry, this book will help you build, lead, and support the cause of helping teenagers own their faith and maintain that faith once they graduate from high school.

The 9: Best Practices for Youth Ministry

Levert, Tim

Simply Youth Ministry

Here's an incredible resource that you can use to make an incredible challenge to your students. Give them a copy of 10-Minute Moments - Smart Stuff, and ask them to give God 10 minutes a day, for one month, to see if the book of Proverbs can't make a difference in their life. In this installment of the 10-Minute Moments series, students will get short but focused daily devotions that look at the life-giving words found in Proverbs, aka "The Smart Stuff." Part devotional and part journal, it's a non-threatening way for them to crack open their Bible and start to see how God's love letter applies to their lives today. Get 'em a copy and let God do the rest.

10 Minute Moments: Smart Stuff: Exploring Proverbs Ten Minutes at a Time

Group, Publishing

Do you ever get tired of that comatose-like state your junior highers slip into as soon as you start your lesson time? We thought so, which is why we created these Active Bible Studies. Each lesson is based on a teachable passage, features clear lesson plans, fun activities that tie in to each lesson, discussion questions and more. It is truly a turnkey resource for when you need to include a Bible study for small groups, camp, meetings, retreats, or whatever else you program demands. And each lesson is specifically designed to help junior highers apply God’s word to everyday life. Topics include:
<ul>
<li>Armor of God</li>
<li>Experiencing Time with God</li>
<li>Get Below the Surface</li>
<li>God’s View vs. the World’s View [Girls Only]</li>
<li>Local &amp; Global Missions</li>
<li>A Letter to the Philippians</li>
<li>Shhhhh! The Power of Actions Over Words</li>
<li>Board Game</li>
<li>Once Upon a Parable</li>
<li>A Not-So-Random Act of Kindness</li>
<li>Praying for One Another</li>
<li>The Last Days of Jesus</li>
<li>Encouragement Jar</li>
<li>Power Up [Geared for Guys]</li>
<li>Picture Perfect</li>
<li>God’s View vs. the World’s View [Guys Only]</li>
<li>Grab Bag</li>
<li>Becoming God’s Girl</li>
<li>Got Fruit?</li>
<li>Spend It. Save It. Give It Back.</li>
 Each lesson is editable and customizable, so you can use it "as is" or tear it apart and build your own monster from it! On the CD-ROM you’ll find:<li>Leader guides and student handouts</li>
<li>Promotional ecard, postcard, poster, and desktop background</li>
<li>Editable letter from youth worker &amp; editable postcard</li>
<li>Student journals</li>
<li>T-shirt and sticker designs</li>
</ul>

Junior High: Active Bible Studies

Group Publishing

A BOOK FOR GUYS While this book doesn’t claim to unlock the deep, unfathomable mysteries of the female mind, it will give tons of helpful insights into what makes teenage girls tick. And who better to lead you on this adventure than Katie Edwards, a teenage girl herself once, and now a youth worker with tons of girl-brain-decoding experience. Her trusty sidekick on this expedition is Kurt Johnston, whose sidebars chime in with extra info. With short, easy to digest essays on a variety of topics, it’s perfect for teenage guys trying to figure out that special girl (or the girl they wish was that special girl), youth workers and parents alike. Topics include:<ul>
<li>The World of Girls</li> <li>Being Friends With a Girl</li> <li>What Girls are Looking For In a Guy</li> <li>I know my gender can be confusing at times…just go with it.</li> <li>And many, many more</li>
</ul>

99 Thoughts about Girls: For Guys' Eyes Only

What does it take to succeed in junior high ministry? A limitless string of ideas for dynamic, energetic games? An attention span only slightly longer than your students? A high tolerance level for intense body odors? OK, it takes more than that, as Kurt Johnston has discovered after more than two decades of working with junior highers. He's dug deep into his ministry toolbox to compile 99 thoughts, tips, tricks and tidbits that will encourage, equip, and excite you on your journey—whether you're a seasoned, full-time youth pastor or a freshly minted volunteer. Here's the simple truth: Whenever junior highers are being connected to caring adults who love Jesus, good ministry will be the result. The rest is icing on the cake. (We just happen to be big fans of icing.) Use this book to explore several major themes that are relevant to every youth worker connected to junior high ministry:
<ul>
<li>Programming, teaching, and staying creative</li> <li>Understanding adolescent development</li> <li>Leading a ministry and building a team</li> <li>Partnering with parents</li>
</ul>
 You'll find yourself regularly returning to 99 Thoughts About Junior High Ministry for inspiration, ideas, and insights as you progress through your ministry journey. Even if you never develop that high tolerance for intense body odors.

99 Thoughts about Junior High Ministry: Tips, Tricks & Tidbits for Working with Young Teenagers

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Books by Johnston, Kurt