Most Popular Books by Mark Oestreicher

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.

In My Future, you’ll think about the next years of your life and get advice to survive each phase of your future. You’ll get helpful tips to help you survive high school, dating, and life after your teenage years. 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 you need to survive (and thrive) as a young teen.

When you think about the state of youth ministry today, are you an optimist or a pessimist? Do you cheer or fear? Is the glass half full or half empty? In this honest, frank, blunt examination, veteran youth worker Mark Oestreicher offers a fresh perspective on what’s working in youth ministry today—and discovers that perhaps things aren’t as broken as some of us might have thought. Theologically and anecdotally, we can uncover plenty of encouraging signs in the realm of youth ministry, according to Oestreicher, whose youth ministry experience includes time as an in-the-trenches youth worker and as a publisher of youth ministry books and resources. A Beautiful Mess features insights on the issues and opportunities facing youth workers, including the trend toward longevity in ministry, the power of smaller churches, the work of the Holy Spirit, the rewards of authentic relational ministry, the need for integration instead of isolation, and the centrality of faith and humility. This book will help you experience the freedom of your calling, rather than the stress of expectations. You’ll discover an abundance of reasons to remain optimistic, intentional, and faithful as you engage in the lives of today’s teenagers.

This journal features 50 two-page devotionals that introduce junior highers to the many pictures of God in Scripture, helping them discover the character of God and challenging them to practice those traits in their own lives.

To Be a Junior High Youth Worker . . . takes a distinct kind of adult, just as junior highers are a distinct kind of people. Betwixt and between though they may be, early adolescents are as capable of a genuine spiritual understanding and growth as high schoolers.It’s just that junior highers absorb Bible teaching and demonstrate their spirituality—well, differently. Help! I’m a Junior High Youth Worker! is your primer for understanding young teenagers, then teaching them with a mind-set and with methods that fit them.First Things First. Three axioms that define your territory as a junior high youth worker.So Just What Is a Junior Higher, Anyway? The essence of early adolescence: the need for appropriate rules . . . the dilemma of throwing sixth graders and eighth graders together in the same program . . . small is good.Developmentally Speaking. Changes junior highers enjoy and endure cognitively, emotionally, socially, spiritually . . . their changing relationships with parents . . . individuation and hair under their arms.Time to Teach! Your required dose of pedagogy: the case for fun learning . . . ten top teaching topics for middle school ministry . . . how simulations, role plays, and storytelling can be your best teaching methods for early adolescents.Faith Outside the Youth Room. Spiritual discipleship for middle schoolers: they don’t have to be high schoolers to begin forming habits of prayers, service, and outreach.Help! I’m a Junior High Youth Worker! is help at hand surviving and thriving in ministry to early adolescents.

Many people run scared from the middle school youth room. But (thankfully!) there are people out there who are actually drawn to those young teens. Although often times they’re not equipped to deal with the unique challenges that middle school ministry presents, or they’re just not sure what to do when a room full of young teens (who are “part child, but not quite adult”) are running around the youth room. Finally, there’s a comprehensive guide to middle school ministry, from two veterans of this unchartered territory. Mark Oestreicher and Scott Rubin help youth workers understand the importance of middle school ministry, the development process for young teens and their implications for ministry, and how to best minister to these sometimes misunderstood students. They share their experiences (as middle school pastors and parents of middle schoolers), giving youth workers he encouragement, hope, and training they need to succeed in middle school ministry.

An essential speaking tool for youth workersThese 40 outlines for youth talks--written by veteran youth leaders--are just the beginning. Youth pastors, volunteer youth leaders, camp directors and counselors, and retreat leaders will also find suggestions for bringing talks to life--with illustrations, object lessons, video clips, music, and more. Each outline is followed by dozens of questions for use in small groups--to ensure that your words are heard, processed, and applied.Features include:* Sidebars for every main point which contain key illustrations, object lessons, and video or music clip suggestions* Dozens of small group discussion questions for middle and high schoolers* Fully indexed by contributor, topic, and Scripture* All of the outlines are compiled onto a companion CD-ROM in Microsoft Word® format

Ready to introduce your junior highers to wild examples of spiritual maturity? Check out biblical adventures of these people and the character qualities they exemplify -- real people who, in wild Bible stories, did really wild things for God: - Kid King . . . Josiah (influencing others) - Wise Guy, the King of Good Decisions . . . Solomon (wise decisions) - Little Timmy, the Teenage Teacher . . . Timothy (living for God while still a young teen) - Dave''s posse . . . David''s mighty men (doing outrageous things for God) - Whiney Bro, the Fair-Share Demander . . . the Prodigal Son''s brother (demanding your rights) - Moe''s Mom, the Cruise Director . . . Moses'' mother (trusting God in difficult situations) - Pete, the Second-Chance Wonder . . . Peter (God''s forgiveness) - Samantha, the Water Woman . . . the woman at the well (racism). You won''t believe all the off-the-wall discussion starters, video ideas, scripts, games with a point -- and, of course, Bible passages you can use to springboard junior highers into topics that don''t just mean the world to them, but are the world. Friendship. Embarrassment. Rights. Racism. Each lesson reaches back into history to underline for junior highers the reality of Old and New Testament people and principles -- and then reaches forward, challenging your students to make better decisions, better friends, better lives. Each lesson thoroughly preps you to teach it, including convenient reminders of what materials you need and when you need them. And in each lesson students dig into Wild Pages that bring scriptural principles right into the kids'' own experience. 12 lessons

Understanding Your Young Teen is a book on early adolescent development for parents of young teens and pre-teens. Parents of young teens will 1. Gain an understanding of the unique and not-always-obvious realities of early adolescent development. This new understanding can greatly enhance parents’ patience, parenting approaches, and relationship with their child. 2. Review the developmental uniquenesses of the young teen years. Most parents don’t fully appreciate the changes that are taking place in their teens bodies, minds and relationships. This resource will give them a solid understanding of those areas. 3. Explore new research and cultural changes. Parents will get a better understanding of the changing landscape of teen culture and see how much as changed since they were young teens. The bulk of the book will be based on the first half of: Middle School Ministry. The developmental chapters will be re-written for parents, and will not only include the developmental issues themselves, but the practical implications for parenting and living with young teens. A strong pro-young teen bias will permeate the book, as my affection for young teens and conviction that this age is a great opportunity for faith formation will be woven through all chapters. While the book will be based on research and experience, the tone will be conversational, from one parent of young teens to others. First-person tense will be used throughout, along with examples from my family and extensive involvement with young teens.

Features 50 two-page journaling devotionals sends students straight into the words of Jesus to discover the truth--then it dares them to live that truth today.

These forty field-tested guides from veteran speakers are essential tools and supplements for any youth worker. Each outline includes sidebars with key illustrations, object lessons, video or music clip suggestions, and/or speaker tips. To facilitate application of the message, each outline is followed by dozens of questions for use in small groups. All the outlines are compiled on a companion CD-ROM and are fully indexed.

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.

Over the past several decades there have been three significant shifts in youth culture; each new shift brought with it different values and priorities in the lives of teens. Youth ministries adapted and responded to the first two shifts, but we’re missing the boat on the third. The result? Youth ministry isn’t addressing the realities and needs of today’s youth culture.After nearly three decades in youth ministry, Mark Oestreicher has lived through a lot of those shifts himself. In recent years, he’s found himself wondering what needs to change, especially since so much of what we’re doing in youth ministry today is not working.In Youth Ministry 3.0, youth workers will explore, along with Marko and the voices of other youth workers, why we need change in youth ministry, from a ministry moving away from a dependence on programs, to one that is focused on communion and mission. They’ll get a quick history of youth ministry over the last fifty years. And they’ll help dream about what changes need to take place in order to create the next phase of youth ministry—the future that needs to be created for effective ministry to students.

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

A Parent''s Guide to Understanding Teenage Brains is filled with helpful, practical insights from a veteran youth worker. Hell guide you through the world of the teenage brain to help you understand and appreciate the amazing transformations it undergoes in adolescence and prepare our children for adulthood and its many responsibilities.

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

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.

Here are 12 active Bible lessons for junior high Sunday school classes or youth group meetings, each one based on one of the 50 pictures of God presented in Wild Truth Journal: Pictures of God--energetically, relevantly, and scripturally. The lessons are loaded with off-the-wall and easy-to-do discussion starters, video ideas, scripts, and games with a point. And of course, there are plenty of Bible passages and studies to springboard junior highers from the abstract into the concrete as (open Bibles in hand) they explore the nature of God in a lively, relevant way — then begin practicing the traits of God in their own lives. 12 lessons.

Mark Oestreicher shares the story of his trip into the desert—literally and figuratively—after a disruptive life event. From there he helps us understand the elusive nature of hope: where it comes from, how we come upon it, how we lose sight of it, how we come back to it and how we hang on to it against all hope.

Weekly studies for junior high students help them discover the truths Jesus taught and dares them to apply those truths in their own lives. The curriculum includes games, activities, sketches, handouts, and reproducible worksheets.

Meet 50 of the Bible''s most outrageous and amazing people. You''ll find out what happened when God went major rad with His Wild Truth--and you''ll discover how God can do the same thing right now in your life. Check out some of the people you''ll get to know: - Skipper (pulls off major animal style Rescue 911) - Hammerhead (gives a bad dude a permanent headache) - LAZ (a dead guy. . Until You-Know-Who comes along) - Moe''s Mom (sends her son on THE river-rafting trip of all time) - Bad Luck Boils (overcomes major zit problem) . . .and dozens of other folks you''ve just gotta meet! Open up Wild Truth Journal - and dare to discover the power of God''s love.

The Bible is a photo album, brimming with self-portraits of a God who wants to be known. God has put these pictures in the Bible to reveal his character. By examining them, we discover who God is and why he’s worth knowing better. And we discover something else: who he wants us to be. He wants us to copy his picture into our own character. Wild Truth Bible Lessons--Pictures of God 2 is a guide to 12 God-pictures taken straight from the Photo Album. They are active Bible lessons for junior high and middle school Sunday school classes or youth group meetings, each one based on one of the 50 pictures of God and presented energetically, relevantly, and scripturally in the companion student book Wild Truth Journal: Pictures of God. The lessons are loaded with off-the-wall and easy-to-do discussion starters, video ideas, scripts, games with a point. And, of course, Bible passages and studies that springboard junior highers from the abstract into the concrete as (open Bibles in hand) they explore the nature of God in a lively, relevant way, and then begin practicing in their own lives the traits of God.Here’s how the lessons are organized: * Picture Prep grabs your group’s attention to prepare them for what’s ahead.* Action Shot takes your students into the Bible to catch God in the act of revealing his character.* Self-Portrait explores the given aspect of God’s character...how it makes God just that much more awesome...and why it’s a very good trait for us to have, too.* Print It! challenges your students to print God’s picture into their own lives by living out his character in an immediately practical way.12 lessons

Parents are the biggest influence on the lives of teenagers— a fact that research has proved again and again. Yet interactions with parents can be one of the trickiest areas for a youth worker to navigate well. Great youth ministries are passionate about helping parents— the key influence on teenage faith—succeed in their God-given roles. That’s the foundational message of The Skinny on Parents, which will lead you toward a place where you focus a little bit more of your energy on resourcing, equipping, partnering with, and empowering parents. Parents are not the enemy. Ignoring them will diminish the impact of your ministry. Most parents struggle with fears but also want help. And you can come alongside them to partner in helping teenagers fully step into a life of faith. This book is filled with practical ideas that will energize your ministry to parents and families. And if you as a youth worker provide help in a way that allows parents to feel more equipped and confident, then everyone wins: families, teenagers, and your youth ministry!

Helping your child make wise choices about sex and dating requires more than just one chat. It''s about building bridges of ongoing dialogue throughout the teenage years. But youth workers Mark Oestreicher and Joel Mayward realize many parents don''t feel comfortable or prepared to have these kinds of conversations. That''s why they wrote A Parent''s Guide to Understanding Sex and Dating-- to equip you to initiate healthy, honest discussions with your teenager. This book will also help you understand some of the relevant trends and issues in today''s youth culture. Your role as a parent is to do more than provide your teenager with information about sex and dating. You have the opportunity and the calling to help your child live wisely and honor God in this sometimes tricky, occasionally awkward, and always vital area of life.

The reader''s choices control the adventures of a group of friends who make a trip to Washington, D.C., to try out a new camera.

This book explores four main themes: the major changes of adolescence, the influence of parents and friends, the onslaught of feelings and how to respond, and the significance of celebrating milestones in a girl''s life. A Parent''s Guide to Understanding Teenage Girls will offer wisdom, insight, and encouragement to respond well, react wisely, and engage effectively.

A Parent''s Guide to Understanding Teenage Guys will help you see your son through the eyes of Jesus - and it will inspire you to seek God''s insight and wisdom as you accompany your son on this journey filled with failure and triumph, defeat and victory, joy and sorrow. Discover insights on shepherding your son, preparing him to take the reins of his life, and helping him confront the extreme struggles every guy faces - such as loneliness, anger, lust, apathy, and technology.

A Volunteer Youth Worker''s Guide to Leading a Small Group is perfect for anyone feeling disenchanted with the concept of small groups, and after Marko succeeds in changing your mind in the first few pages, he''ll use the rest of the book to help you restructure and rethink your small-group programming so you don''t get burned out again.

Hierarchical, coercive leadership should have no place in the church. But if we move away from those unbiblical (and ineffective) forms of power-based leadership, we still need to lead. In Leading Without Power, Mark Oestreicher explores--in very pragmatic ways--what it might look like for us to replace power-based leadership modalities with other approaches. Leading Without Power unpacks nine metaphorical job titles, with stories and examples of what it looks like to embody these mindsets and practices:· Competency Facilitator· Culture Evangelist· Mission Curator· Storytelling Host· Champion of Hope· Uniqueness DJ· Contextualization Czar· Trust Guard· Collaboration Guide Read it alone or collectively, with a leadership team (volunteer, staff, or both), looking for ways that different team members can utilize their passions and gifts to build a robust and flourishing culture of people development and values-based leadership.

In A Volunteer Youth Worker''s Guide to Resourcing Parents, Mark Oestreicher explores the importance and deep significance of being intentional with parent contact and interaction, and not letting family ministry slip through the cracks in favor of teenager-only ministry.

Think of the Bible as a photo album, brimming with self-portraits of God. Each Wild Truth Bible Lessons--Pictures of God book offers 12 active lessons that explore the Bible and the nature of God in a lively, relevant way. Find out how God is like rain, a team captain, or a best friend with studies that rivet young teens'' interest while getting them into the Bible. The companion journal features 50 devotionals that help kids discover the character of God and practice those traits in their own lives.

Many parents have taken a defeatist approach toward understanding their teens, and not without good reason; it does often seem hopeless, after all. But that’s where you, the volunteer youth worker, come in. Mark Oestreicher shows that Understanding Today’s Teenager is both possible and rewarding, if one has the right tools. Marko explores the dimensions of nature vs. nurture, brain activity, culture, biology, and emotional development, all of which lead teenagers to do the wacky things they do that adults don’t understand and often can’t remember having done themselves. Marko also reminds us that adolescent development doesn’t end at the age of 18 just because United States law says it does. A Volunteer Youth Worker’s Guide to Understanding Today’s Teenager uses a combination of science, logic, and compassion to help bring us back from the cliff edge and remember why we started working with teens in the first place. Use this book as a jumping-off point to re-ignite your passion for teens.

Using the powerful force of 48 black-and-white photographs to open doorways into students'' souls.First in Youth Specialties'' new SoulShaper line of spirituality resources for youth ministry, Every Picture Tells a Story draws on the undeniable evocative force of black-and-white photography to elicit reactions and reflections at deep levels in the observers. Using the 18 activities described in the leader''s guide included, groups will:* Choose photos that are reflections of their walks with God* Pray and journal about their thoughts, dreams, hopes, and experiences* Share with each other in a wide variety of ''state of the soul'' exercises* Use photos as springboards to describe their families, their friendships, and their inner lives.Ideally designed for small group use, Every Picture Tells a Story can easily be used by individuals as well as groups of 100 or more. Tested with students internationally, this resource opens new doorways into the souls and hearts of students. Features include: * Will bring about reaction and reflection* Easy to use--no prep necessary* Can be used over and over again and still remain fresh* Can be used in a wide variety of settings--small groups, large groups, leadership teams, missions trips, retreats, even with adults* The 48 photos are durable and will withstand handling by students

With each passing day, teenagers'' lives become increasingly intertwined with social media. How can you help your child make wise decisions and remain safe online? How can you stay informed and involved in healthy ways?

Big things can come in small packages, right? We think so, and that''s why we''ve created this series of small books about some of the biggest topics in youth ministry. We''ve trimmed away the excess and gotten right to the point of delivering more wisdom, insight, ideas, and live-it-out concepts than you''d expect in books this size This series includes: - The Skinny on Communication - The Skinny on Discipleship - The Skinny on Outreach - The Skinny on Parents - The Skinny on Service - The Skinny on Volunteers Each title brings together two authors: one offering a big-picture perspective and the other delivering an in-the-trenches viewpoint--a dynamic fusion that provides you with the best of both worlds. If you''re new to youth ministry, these six books will help you build a solid foundation. If you''re a veteran, these books will challenge you toward fresh, creative thinking about your ministry.

Ministering to junior-highers takes a unique kind of person. Help! I''m a Junior High Youth Worker! is a primer of fresh perspectives and ideas about working with middle school students. You''ll learn what to expect, and not to expect from pre-teens, how to engage their attention, and strategies for connecting one-on-one.

Life for a typical junior higher is awesome. And hard. And fun. And exciting. And boring. And crazy, right? Basically, it''s a blur of all those things--and more! Junior high truly is a season of ups and downs, of possibilities and confusion, of amazing memories and embarrassing moments. To survive it all, you sometimes just need a little help--or 99 bite-sized bits of help! Mark Oestreicher and Brooklyn Lindsey--youth pastors who''ve worked with people your age for a long, long time--have teamed up to create this insider''s guide for this wild ride. They''ll help as you examine the changes in your life, figure out what you believe, see where God and church fit into the picture, choose how to interact with family and friends, and decide what matters most in life. And you''ll read some true stories about the authors'' own junior high years! 99 Thoughts for Junior Highers will entertain, engage, and encourage you during this crazy season of life!

Stupid Misconceptions, and Caring for Your Own Soul While Ministering to Others.