Tim Challies recently shared his 10 Books Every Christian Teenager Should Read. As a minister to students, I couldn’t agree more with this list and the need for these kinds of resources to find their way into the hands of teenagers.
As I was thinking through other books I might add to this list, I came across some other lists that are worth checking out—27 Books Christian Teens Should Read and Top 10 Books for Youth Groups.
To add to these already helpful lists, I wanted to suggest some of the books we have used or hope to use within our own student ministry. Additionally, I have categorized these books within some of the essential categories we think through within our student ministry. Some of these books are written with teenagers in mind, many of them are relatively short and accessible, but all of them are worth every teenager reading. Additionally, I think these books provide a helpful guide for student ministers as they seek to equip and send out students for the gospel.
Gospel Clarity: Helping students know and share the gospel
- The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
- Honest Evangelism: How to Talk About Jesus Even When It’s Tough by Rico Tice
- The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing by Jonathan Dodson
Trustworthy Faith: Helping students grow confident in what they believe & why they believe it
- Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung*
- Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World by Andreas Köstenberger, Darrell Bock and Josh Chatraw
- Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptic by Timothy Keller*
Personal Holiness: Helping students fight sin and walk in holiness
- License to Kill: A Field Manuel for Mortifying Sin by Brian Hedges
- The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap Between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness by Kevin DeYoung
- A Man’s Greatest Challenge by Dai Hankey / True Beauty by Caroline Mahaney
Purity Matters: Helping students pursue purity and understand their sexuality
- Purity is Possible by Hellen Thorne* / Finally Free by Heath Lambert
- Do Ask, Do Tell, Let’s Talk: Why and How Christians Should Have Gay Friends by Brad Hambrick* / What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality by Kevin DeYoung / Talking Points: Transgender by Vaughn Roberts
- Sex, Dating and Relationships: A Fresh Approach by Gerald Heistand and Jay Thomas
Spiritual Discipline: Helping students develop disciplines for growth and maturity
- Foundations—Teen Devotional: A 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Busy Teens by Robby Gallaty
- Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through Spiritual Disciples by David Mathis*
- A Praying Life: Connecting With God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller
Meaningful Community: Helping students desire & enjoy life together in the local church
- Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus by Jonathan Leeman
- What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? Answers to the Big Questions in Life by Ed Welch
- Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp
Missional Living: Helping students see their everyday life in light of God’s mission
- I Am Going by Daniel Akin and Bruce Ashford*
- Life on Mission: Joining the Everyday Mission of God by Dustin Wills and Aaron Coe
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Disciple Making: Helping students know what it means to be a disciple and make disciples
- Growing Up: How to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples by Robby Gallaty
- Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever*
- Aspire: Transformed by the Gospel (Part 1 & 2) by Matt Rogers
If your a parent, some of these books would make a gift. Others would be a helpful tool to walk through a difficult issue your student may be facing. If you are a student minister, some of these books may provide direction for a teaching series. Others may prove helpful in thinking through your approach to various topics. Either way, I’d love to hear from you. What would you add to this list?
