Books published by publisher Zondervan/Youth Specialties

Every heart feels wonder. Every heart knows fear. Every heart aches with longing. Awed, we whisper, “Thank you.” Frightened, we cry, “Mercy.” Yearning we plead, “Show me the way.” Because the truth is, no matter who you are, every heart needs prayer. This is a prayer book. A book to seduce, cajole, entice, and encourage your heart into prayer. More than a book to be read, this is a book to be explored. It is a book of stories, divine poetry, holy verses, mystical inspirations, prayerful imaginings, meditative practices, and spiritual exercises that seek to uncover the hidden communication between you and God. As you read and explore more about love, longing, fear, suffering, compassion, rest, reflection, passion, wonder, and gratitude you’ll be invited to discover prayer within the various moods, attitudes, and experiences that we human beings often find ourselves in. It’s a book to be used, flipped through, tested, experimented with, and then set aside. It is a book that asks you time after time to stop and listen, turn and welcome the silent love of God. The hope of this book isn’t to teach you anything. The point of this book is to encourage you to give yourself to God—your anger, your fear, your gratitude, your curiosity—your real self to the real God, because then (and only then) will your heart find peace (even in the midst of wonder, fear, and longing). Because every heart needs prayer.

You've read about historical U.S. figures in school textbooks. Maybe you've even seen a mini-series or movie about some of the leaders of America's past. But right now you're living in the midst of history in the making. You are watching a man with an unlikely story become one of the most important people in American politics today. It doesn't matter whether you've heard him speak, or even whether or not you agree with his politics. The life of Barack Obama is an inspirational story for anyone who has ever felt abandoned, alone, different, or who has wanted to do great things and make a difference in the world. Learn about the life-shaping experiences Barack Obama faced as he: * was raised by a single mom and his grandparents * rose to the top of his class at Harvard law * accepted a faith that gives his life deeper meaning * left a lucrative career in law to work in public service In 1967 Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke out about the state of our country and its leadership, saying, 'We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.' Barack Obama was only six-years-old when that speech took place, and forty years later he stood in the place where Abraham Lincoln once stood, and announced he was running for President because of what Dr. King called the 'fierce urgency of now.' He recognized a country once again in turmoil and a nation looking for something different---something better. As you read about the life of Barack Obama you'll be encouraged, inspired, and challenged to look at the world around you and see how you can take your own improbable journey to change it.

Is Jesus really the Son of God, the Messiah? Lee Strobel wasn't so sure. So, he decided to use his award-winning journalistic skills to investigate Jesus and prove once and for all if all the claims about him are true. The Case for Christ Student Edition adapts Strobel’s New York Times bestselling book to present hard-hitting findings as well as Lee’s journey from skepticism to belief in an easy-to-follow manner so you can make a decision about Jesus for yourself.The Case for Christ Student Edition:Written for children ages 12 and olderPresents the arguments for and against Christianity teens and young adults often ask and encounter so they can see the real factsUses logic and solid information to examine why Christians believe what they doCan also be used in the classroom, in group studies, or as part of a religious studies or comparison classContains infographics and charts to make the facts clearPairs well with The Case for a Creator Student Edition, The Case for Faith Student Edition, The Case for the Real Jesus Student Edition, and The Case for Miracles Student EditionLee Strobel’s research provides:Scientific data, expert testimonies and interviewsCross-religious comparisonsHistorical and archeological proofs he discovered during his investigationThe conclusion he finally came to about Christianity that changed his life foreverThere's historical proof a guy named Jesus walked on the earth but was he really performing miracles? Did he actually rise from the dead? And was he truly the prophesied savior he claimed to be? Lee Strobel found it all hard to believe, and his doubts led him to ask the tough questions and dig into the real evidence to see if the Bible's claims and Jesus's words were true.

In The Case for a Creator—Student Edition, best-selling author and former atheist Lee Strobel and popular writer Jane Vogel take younger readers on a remarkable investigation into the origin of the universe, interviewing many of the world’s most renown scientists and following the evidence wherever it leads.Their findings—presented in the third blockbuster “Case” book student edition—offer the most compelling scientific proof ever for intelligent design. Perfect for youth groups and young people eager to rebut the Darwinian and naturalistic views taught so commonly in schools.

Prepare yourself for an eye-opening, no-punches-pulled investigation into eight of the toughest objections to Christianity. The answers will prove whether or not Jesus is who he says he is and if heaven is for real, leading you to a life-changing decision in your current case for or against Christianity.Like you, as a student, Lee Strobel asked the same tough questions you face about God, about Jesus, about science, and about Christianity. Why is there suffering? Doesn’t science disprove miracles? What about hell—and the millions who’ve never heard of Jesus? Is heaven for real? Is God unjust?So what convinced Lee Strobel—an atheist investigative journalist turned faith-filled Christian—that Jesus is real?Join Lee in this fascinating journey of discovery. If you’re an atheist or just aren’t sure about Jesus, these stories will turn your whole world upside down. If you’re already a Christian, you’ll gain powerful insights that will reshape your understanding of the Bible and affect your life of faith like never before.

Let’s face it—continuing to find a good source of daily devotions, let alone being focused enough for real spiritual refreshment, is almost impossible. But we all know time with God is important. The good news is, there is a way to work true connection with God into your daily life; you just need a Bible, twenty minutes a day, and a quiet place to practice lectio divina, which is rereading a passage of Scripture over and over so God can speak to you through it. And Enjoy the Silence is the perfect place to learn this amazing practice.Have you ever picked up the Bible and thought, “I’m reading this passage, but it really doesn’t connect with me”? Or tried to start a prayer routine and gradually found yourself sleeping in or watching TV instead because talking to God felt too much like a one-way conversation every time? If so, it’s not because God doesn’t want to speak with you—it’s exactly the opposite. And one way to not only find a personal connection to the Bible but also feel God’s presence is through lectio divina. Enjoy the Silence contains simple exercises that guide you through this ancient process of reading Scripture, meditating on it, listening to what God is telling you, and then responding to the verses or passage you just read. It also contains tips for finding the best places to read and ways to continue your journey into the Bible and with God himself.Enjoy the Silence:contains a 30-day guided reading plan to jumpstart your deeper relationship with Godexplains the process of lectio divina and how to best integrate it into your busy lifehas the day’s Scripture and helpful prompts in one place, so you can simply pick up your device and startis perfect for teens, young adults, and anyone looking for a new devotional experience

Things are finally getting better for Laura Duffy. Kind of.Despite nursing a broken jaw, Laura is finding a good balance between God, friends, school, and family. But something is happening at Panama Beach High School that is going to rattle every part of Laura’s life.A group of new students has arrived whose olive skin and awkward accents draw unwelcome attention from the school’s angriest group of burnouts. No one is sure where the new kids came from, why they don’t seek friends, or why a bully named Wolf is making their lives so difficult.As tensions rise, Laura finds herself wanting to help, but is frustrated by God’s seeming silence. And just when it looks like the tides have turned, things get much, much worse.Join Laura as she struggles to figure out how to be friends with outsiders, extend grace to enemies, and make sense of events that can do far more damage than a broken jaw.

Being a teenager--well, it has its ups and downs. It's cool to discover new stuff about yourself. But you've also got to make a lot of choices about who you want to be. You've got a lot of questions about God, dating, sex, faith, drugs, friends, your family, popularity--and the list goes on. Hey, you're not alone. Open up this Bible and read devotions written by teens like you who are dealing with the same stuff. They want to share with you what God has to say and how he can help you get through anything. The NIV Teen Devotional Bible is written by teens for teens. Its 260 weekday devotions can help you find out what the Bible says about stuff that really matters to you. You'll love the exciting look and feel of this Bible. The page-by-page bursts of surprising facts, cool graphics, crazy humor, and radical ideas to chew on--and apply. The introductions loaded with features that help you get to know each book of the Bible. Fifty-two weekend devotions by youth experts that sum up the week. Featuring lots of material from Youth Specialties and Campus Life Magazine--2 of America's coolest, most in-touch youth resources--The NIV Teen Devotional Bible is about real life. About real teens. About YOU.

The strong public response to The Case for Christ--which hit #1 on the best-seller list and sold more than 600,000 copies in its first 18 months--precipitated an avalanche of requests for a version of the book for teenagers. Many parents who were radically impacted by Lee Strobel's spiritual journey from atheism to Christianity wanted a student-friendly edition to help their teenagers find Christ or deepen their faith. The Case for Christ--Student Edition is the response to this need: a highly readable, thoroughly engaging, and spiritually challenging version designed both for teenagers who are Christians and those seeking the truth about Jesus. This is not a watered-down version of the original book, but an entirely fresh approach to the same subject matter--with brand new material. Strobel partnered with Jane Vogel, a writer highly regarded for her ability to communicate with students, to customize the content of his book for a post-modern mindset. They've redefined courage in evangelism and moved it away from confronting someone about your faith to letting someone get close enough to you to see why you need Jesus' salvation. This creative and fast-paced book follows Strobel, an investigative reporter, on email interviews as he unearths convincing evidence that faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth is not based on wishful thinking or fabricated legends, but on solid historical facts.

Real life stories about real life issues teens are facing today. Book one in a new StudentWare fiction series for mid-teens that deals with the challenges, problems, and excitement of becoming young women of faith When Laura Duffy's family moves to Satellite Beach, Florida, she feels out of place as a junior at the high school where her good grades mark her as a nerd. Mrs. Isaacsen, a school counselor, invites Laura to join a weekly group for 'conflicted' girls. There she gets to know Michelle (a sophisticated sophomore), Joy Beth (a super athlete), KJ (a freshman with an attitude), and Celeste (a junior who's friends with every hunk in the school). The girls form a bond, and as various things happen in their busy lives, they learn to use Mrs. Isaacsen's 'secret keys' as a means for coping. This is the first of four books in Youth Specialties' 'Nama Beach High series by veteran girls' fiction author Nancy Rue.

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: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