A Young Man’s Guide to Making Right Choices

A Young Man's Guide to Making Right Choices: Your Life God's Way by Jim George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Fresh. Challenging.

Elizabeth George has been encouraging and challenging women for years and now we get great resources from her husband to use with our sons. Just like the teen girl's series, this book for teen boys is Biblical and applicable. It walks a guy through making decisions about sleep, reading God's Word, how to treat family, clothing, speech, and more. Each chapter is interactive and sends you to God's Word to find the final answer rather than just relying on a man's opinion.

I like the down to earth approach of this book. It meets teen guys where they are rather than expect them to get things together before they pursue growing in their walk with Christ. I personally think this book has a lot of appeal for young men, too, because it's not just reading - it's interactive with questions and things to do now to apply what they are reading. While this book is probably targeted for teens between 14 and 17, I think any teen boy from 7th through 12th grade will benefit from this book. It is great for individual use but also perfect for mentoring or Bible study groups. It is easy to use and relevant to today's teens. And what makes it even better is that you could split guys and girls and to the girls study on choices with the girls while the guys go through this book!

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This ARC copy was provided by Harvest House but the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley

Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Convicting. Encouraging. Challenging.

I always approach books on this topic with a bit of anxiety - wondering if I will walk away with more questions than when I begun. However, this book ranks first in the several I have read on this topic because it not only answered all my questions, but did so with great clarity. McKinley does not beat around the bush and present pages of lengthy explanation, rather he takes you back to Scripture for the answers. This book is a 140 page handbook for those who are willing to ask themselves the hard question of: "Am I really a Christian?".

Despite the sober subject and deep content, Mike helps ease the tension with his sprinkling of humor throughout the book. At first this may seem out of place, but as you read you feel as if you are having a personal conversation with a trusted mentor. He also provides great word pictures that take some difficult concepts and make them so much easier to understand. The book is also hands-on and interactive due to the "How To Respond" section at the end of each chapter. It is a good blend of book and Bible study combined into one cover and is suitable for individual or group use as well as appropriate for both teens and adults.

I was convicted and encouraged by this book. It helped me see some weak areas of my life and direct me to passages in the Bible that helped me determine my answer to the question: Am I Really a Christian? Whether you can answer that question without thinking about it or not, I highly recommend this book. Anyone who reads it will walk away benefiting from it...it's just that they may not benefit from it as they first expected. It's short, it's easy to read, founded on the Bible, and Christ centered. It is a great stand-alone read or a fabulous follow-up read to Because He Loves my, or Living the Cross Centered Life, or books of like kind.

Am I Really a Christian? is more than what meets the eye at first glance. This is a "really should read" book that packs quite a punch.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Wheaton IL¬—Some stats indicate that nearly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Mike McKinley has noticed a concerning trend: There are far too many people who think that they are Christians, but aren’t actually in Christ. He likens it to people who claim to be “huge Yankees fans” but don’t watch games, don’t know the lineup, or the stats, and only ride the team’s glory around playoff time for the exciting World Series victory.
In Am I Really a Christian?, McKinley argues that there is much at stake in the decision to follow Christ, and it is crucial to know where you stand and what it means for your life.
McKinley writes with a genuine love and concern for those in the church. He asks tough questions in order to plead with readers who may not be running the race marked out in God’s Word to change course. Emphasizing the importance that Jesus and Paul placed on this issue, McKinley guides readers through Scripture to show what the Bible says about genuine faith.

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The review copies were courtesy of Crossway and Amazon.com. The opinion expressed is strictly my own.

Where Was God When…? by Mike Calhoun & Ric Garland

Where Was God When?

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Relevant. Straight-forward. Personal. Hands-on.

Ric Garland and Mike Calhoun join forces to give us a book that addresses 8 attributes of God - omniscience, immutability, faithfulness, sovereignty, love, wisdom, omnipresence, and mercy/justice - through the lens of hard questions like "Where was God when...?". Not only do they probe hard questions but do so in a teen-relevant approach that is easy to understand without being watered down and vague.

I appreciated this book for how relevant it is to the youth of today. Where Was God When...? doesn't just offer opinions but truth from the Word of God and hands-on application of how each attribute can and will change a person's life. I liked the straight-forward chapters that are short and filled with not just theory, but also with personal stories from the lives of the authors and others.

Not only will teens benefit from this book, but also adults looking how to answer the hard questions for teens or even for themselves. If you want to understand God's sovereignty, or faithfulness, or any of the other 6 attributes without reading a very long theology text, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults both.

A Young Woman & A Young Man After God’s Own Heart by Jim & Elizabeth George

Welcome to Day 4 of the After God’s Own Heart post series!

A Young Woman After God's Own Heart: A Teen's Guide to Friends, Faith, Family, and the Future by Elizabeth George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

The classic book for women - A Woman After God's Own Heart now in format for teen girls of all ages! This book is the perfect Bible Study or simply a pleasure read for a teen girl who desires to know more about Jesus or grow in her relationship with Jesus. While this book is packed full of Biblical truth, sound advice, and practical application, it is also a fun book to read as Elizabeth has fun with 12 to 16 year old girls.

I liked the fun approach of this book to deep issues in a young woman's heart. It addresses the basics of her Christian life in an easy to understand presentation. Elizabeth probes deep without being overwhelming and she encourages hand-in-hand with her challenges to young woman. I especially like how this book can be used for a teen girl while her mother goes through the original version - a fun way to learn together!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

This young woman’s version of Elizabeth George’s bestselling book A Woman After God’s Own Heart® shares the intentions and blessings of God’s heart with teen girls. On this journey they discover His priorities for their lives—including prayer, submission, faithfulness, and joy—and how to embrace those priorities in daily life.

Elizabeth’s mentor style, the “Heart Response” messages of reflection, and the age–significant themes make this an excellent book for groups or for personal study. And best of all, girls will discover that God is a faithful, caring, and loving presence during this exciting and sometimes difficult time in their lives.

To read an excerpt, click here.

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A Young Man After God's Own Heart: Turn Your Life into an Extreme Adventure by Jim George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Just as it's counterpart - A Young Woman After God's Own Heart is encouraging for teen girls - so this book is to teen guys. In this book Jim George has given us a teen companion to his original: A Man After God's Own Heart. This book is easy to read for any age teen guy and very practical to their every day life.

I appreciate this book due to it's Biblical truth and accuracy while being extremely relevant to a young guy's life. It shoots straight while focusing on the heart issues he deals with every day. While intended more for a believing teen, it would be could for those seeking to understand the Christian faith as well. This is a great book to use individually for 12 to 16-year-old guys, in one-on-one discipleship settings, or as a group Bible study. It would also make a great study for Father and Son to work through together using the adult version, too!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Jim George, author of A Man After God’s Own Heart (more than 74,000 copies sold), takes older teenagers on a radical journey of faith. Through God’s extreme wisdom and powerful insights from the life of warrior and leader King David, readers will—

* get on track with right priorities
* discover God’s amazing will
* live God through their actions
* gear up for serving the Lord
* build meaningful friendships

Young men will discover biblical principles that blaze a trail to godly living. A Young Man After God’s Own Heart helps guys grow into men who honor God in all they do. Great for Sunday school, youth group studies, and individual reading.

To read an excerpt, click here.

A Young Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices by Elizabeth George

A Young Woman's Guide to Making Right Choices: Your Life God's Way by Elizabeth George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors due to her sound Biblical content combined with practical and daily application. In this book she continues that Biblical and practical content in a fun, upbeat, and youth-focused way.

Each chapter in the book opens with an excerpt about a girl named Hannah and her story builds through out the book. In a very godly and appropriate way, Elizabeth talks to teen girls about the choices they face every day and how to make choices that glorify God. The book overall is easy and fun to read with great questions that can be discussed in a group or used alone for journaling prompts.

While this book is probably best for 13 to 16 year-olds, it could be used by any age teen girl or in any teen girl group setting. It makes for a great group Bible study when the girls read the first half of the chapter and then work through the questions and Scripture as a group.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Elizabeth George, author of A Young Woman After God’s Own Heart (more than 230,000 copies sold), offers another life–changing teen book—A Young Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices.

TodayÂ’s teens are bombarded with choices about attitudes, behaviors, friends, clothes, finances, and college. And with the rise of alcohol, drugs, sexual issues, and crime, they must make serious decisions daily.

Bible teacher Elizabeth George takes teens through the step–by–step process of making decisions that are life–affirming, godly, and wise in areas that include—

* managing emotions
* improving relationships
* developing confidence
* living in the center of GodÂ’s will
* avoiding trouble and bad situations

Teens will discover checkpoints to use as guides for making decisions, and they will learn to take the long view when considering consequences. Young women will also realize the tremendous wisdom, guidance, and answers available in GodÂ’s Word.

What Makes You Unique by C.J. Carleton

What Makes You Unique: Discover the Truth or Believe the Lie by C.J. Carleton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This Bible study book is like a wonderful chat with a dear friend. C.J. makes teen girls who work their way through this book feel like they are her best friend as they dig into God's Word and learn more about the One who IS their best friend.

I really appreciated how this was more than just a "fill-in-the-blank" study guide. C.J. walks teen girls through some things in each chapter and then leaves them with a few probing questions and thoughts along with a passage to dig into. It's just the right amount of help with the right amount of challenge for a teen girl!

If you have a daughter, granddaughter, or know a girl between 13 and 18 I would recommend you consider this book as your next gift for her!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Why am I here? What is God’s plan for my life? Why did God make me the way I am? These are questions that everyone asks at some point in life, but especially teenagers. The teen years are a roller coaster---friends, boys, peer pressure, parents---where do you turn?
This book is written especially for teen girls who are searching for answers about life: girls who struggle with the desire to be themselves and the fear of being different. In particular, it is for Christian girls who want to know how to be unique in a world that praises conformity and who want to be Christ-like in a culture that is quick to label Christian teens as self-centered snobs or geeks.

Join Cj Carleton for a heart-to-heart talk about what it means to be a young Christian woman in today’s world. She draws from Scripture, her personal experiences growing up, and her years of working with teen girls just like you to help you build a firm foundation for your life in the truth of Christ and the Word of God. Let her challenge you through journaling and self-discovery. Get ready to learn about yourself and fulfill God’s purpose for His unique creation---you!

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This review copy was provided courtesy of C.J. Carleton and the opinion expressed is my own. You can buy a copy of this book through her blog.