Books published by publisher Zondervan/Youth Specialties

Navigating today’s world is hard—not only as a teenager, but as a Christian. Youthwalk tackles topics like insecurity, intolerance, peer pressure, racism, and depression, connecting biblical truth to real-life issues. And with six months of devotions and supplemental information on each subject, you can explore God’s truth on the issues you face and put that knowledge to work in your life and the world around you.Every day, we face issues that are hard to deal with—from feeling unsecure due to recent school shootings, encountering prejudice in our community, dealing with depression or loneliness, and more. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or even powerless. But there is a way forward. In this edition of Youthwalk, twenty-six issues are explored and broken down. Each topic begins with an introductory page, followed by five devotional readings—one for each weekday—that breaks down the subject in different ways. And each devotion includes:an opening reading to help you think about the topica Bible reference that points to what the Bible says about ita breakdown of what that passage means todayand an application to your life.Each day’s reading is short and easy to work into your routine, helping you find answers to your most-pressing questions and problems.Youthwalk:can be used as a traditional devotional or used as an encouraging reference on certain topics when you need guidance and comfortis great for teens 13 to 18has informational pages—such as little-known facts, real-life stories, and attributes of God—that work alongside each weeks’ topic to provide more detail and application to the individual readings

In the Wisdom On … series, you’ll find case studies, personal inventories, interactive activities, and helpful insights from the book of Proverbs, which will show you what wise living looks like. Wisdom On … Friends, Dating, and Relationships shows how wisdom plays a part in nearly every decision we make. In this book students will learn how to gain more wisdom and apply it to every aspect of their relationships―from being a good friend to dating relationships to handling conflict. They’ll find the stories and lessons in this book will help them become wise in their relationships. Wisdom On … Making Good Decisions examines how teens get to make a lot of decisions in their lives― even decisions that can have a big impact on their future. There’s no “magic” formula to getting it right. Making good decisions takes wisdom, and in this book students will learn how to gain more wisdom and put it to use in the choices they make.

“If I only had known what could happen, I would have made a different choice!!!” A decade in a crisis pregnancy center, counseling both Christian and non-Christian teens…speaking to millions of students through the years…counseling and answering the letters of thousands of teens…Pam Stenzel has heard this statement over and over and over again. From kids like you. Sex Has a Price Tag rejoices that, indeed, sex is glorious. Sex is God-given. But sex outside of God’s boundary is behavior that has far-reaching consequences. Outside a monogamous marriage it has a price tag of incalculable costs. Here are real testimonies, encouragement, and advice about: abstinence vs consequences Biblical definitions and examples physical diseases and emotional disaster examination of urges taboo subjects including masturbation advice on where to go for help avoiding sexual activity and awkward situations dealing with friends, parents…and your self-respect Sex Has a Price Tag is brutally frank but totally sympathetic, written to girls and guys. Here are searing personal testimonies, medical stats, and practical solutions; encouragement in the form of Biblical examples, support and networking options, innovative alternatives to dating situations, and creating journaling. There are sources and links for seeking help. Sex Has a Price Tag is life-affirming, and is a life-saver.

As a companion to the bestselling NIV Revolution Bible or as a way to jumpstart your devotional time, Revolution Devotional contains 90 readings written specifically for teen guys, which look at the big questions, issues, and decisions in our world and then connect the Bible to what you are facing today.The world we live in is often in need of bold, revolutionary voices … and this devotional can help you make yours heard in your school, your town, and beyond. Each day’s reading breaks down a character trait that will assist you in developing the skills to stand up for what is important, as well as understand why your voice matters to God. There is also a challenge to put those skills into action, and fun facts and ideas that relate to the topic. Plus, since every devotion was written with guys 13 to 18 in mind, the words and ideas actually apply to things you’re going through and see happening around you, like environmental care, peer pressure, drug and alcohol use, relationships, and how to approach social media.Revolution Devotional:contains 90 conversational and easy-to-read devotions written by guys for guysconnects God’s Word to the real issues in your lifehelps you sharpen your character and decide what kind of man you want to be known as

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: 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 daycontains stories from the authors that add honesty—and where appropriate, humor—to the topics being discussedcan be used as a reference guide on specific topics or read straight through for a wider experienceprovides a biblical yet candid approachis also ideal for anyone dealing with teenagers in a mentoring, teaching, or leadership environment

When you hear the word disciple, you may envision people who spend all day praying and converting the masses. Or individuals who have a natural holiness deep inside. The truth is, being a follower of Jesus isn’t a job for the perfect or the Christian elite—it’s something anyone can and should be. (And even the original twelve disciples were far from perfect!) This thirty-day devotional looks at the traits real, very humandisciples have, using Scripture, first-person comments from teens, and questions that help you think about your own disciple experiences.When you think of Peter, John, Matthew, and even Paul, they seem to be heroes for Jesus—the ones we’re supposed to emulate and be more like. After all, Jesus handpicked them to be his followers and ambassadors on earth, and trusted them with everything when he left, so they must have been really holy men, right?But if you read the Gospels and Acts closely, you’ll notice the men Jesus called into his ministry were often clueless, selfish, afraid, and brash, and made a lot of mistakes during their time as disciples. In other words, they were very human. Just like you. This 30-day devotional peels back the holy veneer and explores the character traits that mark all disciples—things like fear, boldness, doubt, laziness, weakness, sensitivity, brokenness, alienation, hunger, immaturity, strength, and preparedness—and uses Scripture, real-world examples, and questions with space to journal to help you see these “negative” qualities actually qualify you to follow Jesus. Because discipleship isn’t something from the first century, and Jesus is calling you to follow him today.Devotion:can be used for personal study or in a group settingis ideal for teens and young adultscontains short readings, with full Scripture passages included, that you can take with you anywherebreaks down the real truth behind Scripture to show how it applies to your life today

If you’ve ever watched a dog chew on a bone, you’ve probably noticed how hard she concentrates on it—turning it over, getting a stronger grip, digging her teeth into it. She knows that the best meat is at the center of the bone, so she keeps chewing until she gets to the really good stuff. Believe it or not, that’s not too different than what it means to meditate. Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. Chew on This provides you with something to chew on that will take you deeper—to the really good stuff. The more you chew on Scripture, the more you allow it to nourish you and give you strength. But even more than that, it draws you closer to the God who created you and wants to be in a relationship with you. During this month long devotional, you’ll walk through guided meditations, journaling opportunities, Scripture to chew on, and questions for reflection. All these experiences will help you discover Christ in your everyday life and grow closer to God. Take a big bite and chew on God’s Word for a while. See how good the “good stuff” inside can really be.

In My Changes, you’ll discover the reasons behind a lot of your changes, and get tips on how to survive all of them. You’ll find valuable insights on changes happening in your body, your brain and thoughts, your identity, your emotions, your gender, and more.After reading the books in the Middle School Survival Series, you’ll be ready to take on the rest of middle school with the confidence and knowledge youneed to survive (and thrive) as a young teen.

We usually think of Bible characters as dressed with their Sunday best―lookin’ good, smelling of accomplishment, and holding the posture of unshakeable faith. We marvel at these “flawless saints” while thinking, “Wow! I’m not worthy!” Hey, not so fast. Believe it or not, the most celebrated people in the Bible were plagued by doubt, bad decisions, and less than perfect reputations. In a word, most were losers! And yet, God had plans that would take them beyond their humble, imperfect lives and dub them proud members of the “losers” club. Losers Club is a real-life look at famous Bible figures such as Moses, Solomon, David, Thomas, Rahab, and others. Each vignette reveals people who struggle with weak faith, confusion, and frustration―people very much like you and me! These stories will help you connect with these flawed heroes, find encouragement in their stories, and get inspired by God’s love and care for “losers.”

Everyone has secrets. Some you might whisper into a friend’s ear, while others may stay locked inside you for years…maybe even forever. It’s those secrets that you tuck away that eventually control you. You may think you’re okay, but really, your secrets can be tearing you apart from the inside out. Secret Survivors tells the compelling, true stories of people who have lived through painful secrets—things that they kept to themselves until they could no longer bear the pain alone. As you read their stories, you’ll be drawn into their journeys towards healing, and you’ll understand why it’s so important to share your secret with someone else in order to start your own healing process. Read the stories of people, who as teens and young adults, dealt with issues like: •Date rape •Physical abuse •Cutting •Pornography addiction •Eating disorders •Incest •Drug and alcohol addiction •Abortion You may find a story that sounds similar to your own secret pain, or you may learn more about secrets that a friend or family member is dealing with. Whether your own story is represented in these pages or not, you’ll feel a connection to the people in these stories, because we all have some kind of pain tucked away. But you don’t have to feel alone in your pain anymore. After you read the stories of these survivors, you’ll find the strength you need to share your own secret and start healing your heart and soul.

Just look around and you'll be reminded that our world is broken. People are hurting and dying every day. But it can change. God wants you to help change the world for the better. Zach Hunter is not that different from you. He's a teenager who likes to listen to music and hang out with his friends. But he's also committed to ending modern-day slavery and helping address other issues facing our world. Zach believes that your generation can be the one to change things ---and this book will help you find tangible ways that you can be the generation of change. In the process, Zach hopes you'll discover God's love for you and for people who are suffering. Inside you'll find stories about real people who are doing amazing things to change the world around them. As you read, you may discover the thing you're passionate about changing, and you'll find ideas that will help you do just that. Read about people who are: * Feeding the hungry * Healing the sick * Providing clean water for the thirsty * Clothing the poor * Housing the homeless * Protecting human rights * Taking the Bible to new people * Improving the environment Don't just sit there wondering why our world is so messed up. Get up and be the generation of change.