"Most contemporary young people operate far enough from Moses' moral compass that it never occurs to them that "OMG" ("oh my God," in teenspeak) has anything to do with the Ten Commandments, much less that it breaks one of them. After all, the phrase is a nearly ubiquitous adolescent throw-away line...Yet Christians should hear the phrase "oh my God" differently. Youth ministers, parents, teachers--anyone who has ever loved an adolescent--know that "OMG" can be a prayer, a plea, a petition, a note of praise, or an unbidden entreaty that escapes our lips as we seek Christ for the young people we love." from the book

Using six lens the authors detail current practices and tease out underlying questions as youth ministry becomes more self-consciously aligned with practical theology.

Contributors include: Kenda Creasy Dean, Mike Carotta, Roland Martinson, Rodger Nishioka, Don Richter, Dayle Gillespie Rounds, and Amy Scott Vaughn.

Tested with churches across the United States, this new undated curriculum received high marks from users for layout, ease of planning and teaching, clear life application message, and youth enjoyment. The series will include sixteen topical studies for grades 6-8. Each book has 7 sessions with new studies released each quarter. Each quarter, one release focuses on a life issue and the other release focuses on a faith issue.

The highly graphic, slimline Student Book provides youth with helpful information about the topic, questions related to the session and their lives, practical help for next steps, a key Scripture or important quotation, and a challenge for the week. The Leader Guide includes step-by-step plans for seven sessions, plus a retreat model, a worship service, and a field trip or service project.
-- Cliques, belonging
-- Cheating and lying, choices
-- Sex and partying, self-control
-- Appearance, true beauty
-- Positive peer pressure

Knight's textbook surveys the philosophies and philosophic issues relevant to Christian education. Teachers, students of education, and other readers will find this book a "helpful guide for analyzing educational purposes and practices in the light of their basic beliefs."

Besides investigating the relationship between philosophy and education and discussing how philosophies have affected contemporary practices in the classroom, Knight offers a Christian approach to philosophy and relates such an approach to educational practices.

Philosophy and Education is divided into three sections. Part I deals with basic concepts in philosophy and the relationship between philosophy and education. Part II is a survey of how traditional and modern philosophies have faced the basic philosophic questions and what that has meant for educational practice. Part III discusses the necessity of developing a personal philosophy of education, one possible approach to a Christian philosophy, and some of the ramifications of such a philosophy for educational practice in Christian schools.

This accessible introduction to the broad scope of Christian education focuses on its practice in the local church. Two leading experts argue that Christian education encompasses all of the intentional practices of the local church, including worship, mission, sacraments, and teaching. They explore Christian education not only as a field of study but as a vital congregational ministry, showing how congregations can engage in discipleship and formation for spiritual growth. The book features exercises and other pedagogical devices and includes reflection questions and suggestions for further reading.

Read the Introduction

Does your congregation want to raise more mission-minded children? Here are practical plans with reproducible activities and outlines for classroom and service experiences for children ages 3 to 12.

Carolyn Brown offers great "how to" plans that churches can build into their current programs. She includes: a hands-on enrichment curriculum for grades 1-5; over a year of monthly service projects for preschoolers; mini-workshops for teachers; and newsletters blurbs about the program.

"Carolyn Brown has written a 'must read' book for all parents and teachers. I know of no other book that presents so clearly, helpfully, and persuasively Jesus' mandate to raise children to "love our neighbors as ourselves." More than a mandate, it offers dozens of doable, practical suggestions for each age group and grade level. I will recommend this book to every teacher and parent in my church."
--Rev. Dr. Donald L. Griggs, author of Teaching Today's Teacher to Teach published by Abingdon Press (item #9780687049547)

From the Circuit Rider review: "Teachers, parents, Sunday school teachers, and church preschool teachers are all very familiar with the importance of teaching children to share, to take turns, to say "please" and "thank you," and to not hurt others' feelings. Veteran Christian educator Carolyn Brown puts this important formation into the larger context of the mission of the church. How do our children grow in compassion? How can we lead them to leave the world better than they found it? How do we raise mission-minded children?" (Click here to read the entire review.)