New Releases by Kurt Johnston

When it comes to the teenagers in our ministries, giving our best matters. The reason why is simple: "Getting better at youth ministry is worth the effort because teenagers are worth the effort," writes veteran youth worker Kurt Johnston. With that in mind, he put together this compact, practical, and approachable book for youth ministry volunteers, brimming with insights and wisdom from his decades in youth ministry-including some memorable and hilarious stories of the mistakes that taught him along the way. Broken down into ten essential topics, the contents here apply to all youth ministry volunteers, whether you''ve been involved for decades or days, and regardless of your age, gender, or the square footage and general awesomeness of your youth space. A roster of seasoned volunteer youth workers provide commentary to round out each chapter, offering perspectives and important lessons learned from their individual contexts. Whether you read these words on your own or collectively with others on your youth ministry team, who knows: what you find here just might help you become the best volunteer youth worker in the history of the world!

Letters from a Christmas Elf: unexpected humor for any season is 25+ years of real Christmas letters chronicling the witless antics of an ordinary family -- resulting in extraordinary humor.

Think you know Jesus? Think again. For around 2,000 years, Jesus has been at the center of pretty much everything, and no one has had a bigger influence on our daily lives than Jesus. Most of us think we have a pretty good idea of who Jesus is and what he did. But we dont. Sometimes the people we know the least are the people were around the most. Isnt that weird? Were convinced that we really know them, because theyve always been part of our lives. But we need to get reintroduced to them, because we dont really know them as well as we think we do. This highly interactive, chunk-size devotional will help you take a fresh look at what you think you already know about Jesus, so you can grow your friendship with him. Get ready for an exciting, life-changing adventure!

Temptation is something everyone experiences--even Jesus was tempted! And one of Satan''s most devious tricks is to use temptation not just to get students to sin, but to separate themselves from the body of Christ because of guilt and shame. In this five-week, DVD-based study, Kurt Johnston and Katie Edwards helps students overcome temptation by understanding it from a biblical perspective. Inside you''ll find everything you need to lead a small group discussion that will strengthen students'' resolve and prepare them for a life-long battle with temptation. As a leader, you also get all the materials you need to run each meeting: leader''s notes, student handouts, and more. And they''re all editable and reproducible as we can make them--so tweak away and make them yours! Lessons include: *The Temptation Story [9:30] *Selfish Temptations [8:44] *Do Nothing Temptations [8:45] *Dishonest Temptations [9:28] *Cruel Temptations [6:32]

Think your teenagers know Jesus? Think again. For more than two millennia, Jesus has been at the center of pretty much everything, and no one has had a bigger influence on our daily lives than Jesus. Most of us think we have a pretty good handle on who Jesus is and what he did. But we don''t. Sometimes the people we know the least are the people we''re around the most. We take for granted that we know who they really are, because they''ve always been part of the wallpaper of our life. So we need to be re-introduced to the people and things we think we already know, because we don''t really know them as well as we thought! This highly interactive, visually arresting, chunk-size devotional will help teenagers "reframe" what they think they already know about Jesus, so they can grow in relationship with him.

We spend a lot of time talking about Jesus in our youth ministries. But are we really, truly introducing our teenagers to Jesus? This conversation-driven DVD curriculum features 4 weeks of student sessions with veteran youth pastor Kurt Johnston that will help teenagers "reframe" what they think they already know about Jesus, so they can grow in relationship with him. And as an added bonus, the curriculum includes 6 weeks of ministry training for leaders. Rick Lawrence, longtime editor of Group Magazine and author of Jesus Centered Youth Ministry, will help your team discover the power of building a youth ministry that''s truly, fully centered on Jesus. Do more than just teach your students about Jesus. Help them live a Jesus-centered life.

Think you know everything about your friends? Think your friends know everything about you? Think again! This Book Gets Around is a fun way to learn something new about your friends or family members, neighbors, co-workers, teammates, whoever! (You might even uncover one or two surprising things about yourself, too.) Pass the book around, let people answer imaginative questions and do some creative activities, and then see what''s written on the pages. Give the book to specific people or let it follow a random path back to you--whatever way you use it is fine. Get the fun started today, and discover something cool, unusual, surprising, or amazing about the people you already know!

Kurt Johnston has dug deep into his ministry toolbox to compile 99 thoughts, tips, tricks, and tidbits that will encourage, equip, and excite youth workerswhether youre a seasoned, full-time youth pastor or a freshly minted volunteer.

Unwrap nine characteristics of effective youth ministry. They specifically tackle this vital question: What can churches and youth groups do to keep students from walking away from church after high school? Best practices discovered in an extensive study conducted by Luther Seminary.

Short but focused daily devotions look at the life-giving words found in Proverbs. This 31-day experience is a non-threatening way for students to crack open their Bibles and start to see how God''s love letter applies to their lives today. (Ministry & Pastoral Resources)

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 day contains stories from the authors that add honesty—and where appropriate, humor—to the topics being discussed can be used as a reference guide on specific topics or read straight through for a wider experience provides a biblical yet candid approach is also ideal for anyone dealing with teenagers in a mentoring, teaching, or leadership environment

Don’t worry, My Friends, from the Middle School Survival Series, will give you all the tips and secrets you need to make the most of your friendships. In the pages of this book, you’ll find helpful friendship tips like:• what you can learn about friendships from the Bible• ways to be a good friend• how to deal with conflict and other tough stuff• how to make friends, and moreFrom piles of homework to understanding the variety of “interesting” people working at your school to dealing with the new challenges of changing for gymclass in front of everyone, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed.That’s why in My School, from the Middle School Survival Series, we will tackle the things that weigh heavily on middle school students just like you. This book will address important middle school issues like:• Dealing with bullies, jocks, nerds, and every other category of student you encounter• Revealing the truth behind the urban legends of middle school• Pop quizzes, tardiness, and other survival tips

Middle school is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns; it’s exhilarating and scary all at the same time! From piles of homework, to understanding the variety of “interesting” people working at your school, and dealing with the new challenges of changing for gym class in front of everyone, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. That’s why in My School, from the Middle School Survival Series, we will tackle the things that weigh heavily on middle school students just like you. This book will address important middle school issues like:dealing with bullies, jocks, nerds, and every other category of student you encounter revealing the truth behind the urban legends of middle school pop quizzes, tardiness, and other survival tips This book is filled with short and easy-to-read tips, along with funny stories from the authors (who, believe it or not, used to be middle school morons!), and quotes and questions from students just like you. After reading My School, you’ll be able to walk the halls like the confident student you want to be.

A BOOK FOR GIRLS In some ways, a guy''s mind seems incredible simple. So why are dudes always so confounding, especially to girls? Luckily, youth pastor extraordinaire Kurt Johnston has spent decades figuring out the brains of teenage boys--including his own noggin. And with some extra insights from fellow youth worker Katie Edwards, they''ve crafted a humorous, yet incredibly helpful, handbook on unwrapping the male brain. While written with girls as an audience, this book also fills a much needed hole in any youth worker''s bookshelf or parent''s reading list. Topics include: Guys 101 How To Be Friends With A Guy What Guys Are Looking For In A Girl You''re On A Date...Now What? And many, many more!

A BOOK FOR GUYS While this book doesn''t claim to unlock the deep, unfathomable mysteries of the female mind, it will give tons of helpful insights into what makes teenage girls tick. And who better to lead you on this adventure than Katie Edwards, a teenage girl herself once, and now a youth worker with tons of girl-brain-decoding experience. Her trusty sidekick on this expedition is Kurt Johnston, whose sidebars chime in with extra info. With short, easy to digest essays on a variety of topics, it''s perfect for teenage guys trying to figure out that special girl (or the girl they wish was that special girl), youth workers and parents alike. Topics include: The World of Girls Being Friends With a Girl What Girls are Looking For In a Guy I know my gender can be confusing at times...just go with it. And many, many more

Getting students to carve out time for God can be tough. Between packed schedules and the daunting weigh of the average Bible, students need a simple, organized way to deepen their relationship with God on a daily basis. Enter 10-Minute Moments. Each edition works like a daily journal with 31 relevant devotionals that only take about 10 minutes to complete. Students will read a Bible passage, get some questions to chew on, some suggestions to help them pray, and then space to reflect. It''s easy to read and easy to stick with. This edition is focused on God''s story--who He is, what He has done for us, and how we can live a life that brings Him glory. It''s got great lessons for new Christians as well as students who have "grown up in the church". Use them as part of a small group or retreat emphasis on daily devotions, graduation gifts, birthday gifts, or just have them available to students.

This updated and expanded version of an industry classic by one of America''s best-known youth pastors unlocks the keys to a healthy, impactful middle school ministry.

Glean best practices from two of the country''s most experienced, influential junior high leaders--Kurt Johnston, junior high pastor at Saddleback, and Scott Rubin, junior high pastor at Willow Creek Church. This book includes a collection of the best of the best from Kurt Johnston''s columns on junior high ministry in GROUP Magazine. Then, Scott salts this stew of great ministry ideas by adding his insights...feedback, criticisms, and ideas. From recruiting, to rockin'' great games, to developing junior high workers'' spiritual lives you''ll discover can do strategies for a practical, impactful youth ministry.

Life and faith can be hard for middle schoolers. But this book gives them all the tips and secrets they need to really grasp their faith and keep hold of it. My Faithis filled with quick and easyto- read lessons along with funny stories from the authors. Plus there are quotes and questions from students just like yours.

Inside are cost-effective ideas on how to keep our best youth workers...

A biblical, practical, and culturally-relevant approach to junior high ministry. Topics include the world of the junior higher, ministry with parents, creative planning, programming on purpose, presenting the good news to junior high students, purposeful fun, visionary leadership, and perseverance. Other features include comments from real junior high kids and questions for reflection.