While there are a number of things we can do with our teens to help them develop their faith, including reading the Bible with them, praying with them, and looking for opportunities to have deep conversations on important topics, we can also help our teens develop and grow by providing them with solid Christian books.
Take a look at ten books that will help grow your teen’s faith.
Christian Books for Your Teen to Read
1) When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther by Danika Cooley
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther is a fast-paced, action-packed novel of Martin Luther’s life, teen readers (and more than a few adults!) will be introduced to a fascinating time when princes ruled Europe and knights roamed the countryside. They’ll learn about a time when powerful forces lined up against each other and believing the wrong thing could get you killed.
When Lightning Struck! is far more than just an adventure story, of course. It also tells a theological story. Drawing carefully from Luther’s own words, this book introduces readers to a kindred spirit who struggled with what knowing God through Scripture means for daily life. They will understand what was at stake and how powerfully liberating Luther’s idea of grace through faith was in his time and in ours!
Read portions of the first eight chapters of When Lightning Struck!.
2) 60 Scriptures You Can Pray by Danika Cooley
Sometimes, it is hard to know what to pray, even for mature adult Christians. It can be even harder for our teens to pray, as they work to find the words and thoughts to express to our wonderful God. That’s why it is so important that we teach our teens to pray God’s words back to him. My prayer devotional, 60 Scriptures You Can Pray, covers eight types of prayer from the Bible, the expectations we should have when we pray, and the right heart attitude for prayer.
Learn more about 60 Scriptures You Can Pray here.
3) Life Hacks: Letting God Sort It by Mary-Louis Stone
Life Hacks: Letting God Sort It is a teen guide to living modern life through the guidance of God’s word. This book helps your teen look at God’s “hacks” for life through a series of 50 to-the-point devotions.
4) A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God by Patricia St. John
A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God covers the important questions teens have about God through real-life stories, prayers, and thought-provoking questions. Topics covered include:
- Who is God and what is he like?
- Why is there so much suffering in the world?
- Wasn’t I born a Christian?
- Does Jesus care about me?
- Can I really know God?
5) Rebels Rescued: A Student’s Guide to Reformed Theology by Brian Cosby
Rebels Rescued: A Student’s Guide to Reformed Theology intertwines stories and metaphors, history, and Scripture to explain Reformed theology for your teens. Each chapter is followed by four or five “Reflection Questions” meant to spur teen to apply what they’ve learned. This is an excellent resource from Brian Cosby.
Read my review here.
6) Water the Earth: A Student’s Guide to Missions by Aaron Little
Water the Earth: A Student’s Guide to Missions is a great tool to help your students think through the theology and practical implications and impact of missions, both short-term and long-term. Aaron Little doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to highlighting the broken, narcissistic theology of the West, but he does hold out hope that we can apply God’s Word and a little common sense to our view of missions.
Read my review here.
7) God’s Story: A Student’s Guide to Church History by Brian Cosby
God’s Story: A Student’s Guide to Church History does a fabulous job of giving an overview of church history from a theologically conservative, Protestant viewpoint. Mr. Cosby writes in a conversational narrative that’s not pretentious, but it’s also not condescending. His voice and tone are perfect for middle and high school students. In 138 pages, Brian Cosby takes us through the important points of church history beginning in the Old Testament and ending with the challenges and blessings facing today’s Church.
Read my review here.
8) Input – Output: Getting to the Heart of Personal Prayer and Bible Study by Jo Boddam-Whetham
Input – Output: Getting to the Heart of Personal Prayer and Bible Study will encourage your teens to spend time in God’s word and praying. These spiritual disciplines are essential to your teen’s growth and this book will help them better understand the importance of taking time to meet with God.
9) 101 Devotions for Guys: From the Lives of Great Christians by Rebecca Davis
101 Devotions for Guys: From the Lives of Great Christians takes stories directly from Christian history. In 101 devotionals for boys, each two page spread includes a short story from Christian history followed by a relevant Bible verse and a very short prayer.
Read my review here.
10) 101 Devotions for Girls: From the Lives of Great Christians by Rebecca Davis
101 Devotions for Girls: From the Lives of Great Christians takes stories directly from Christian history. In 101 devotionals for girls, each two page spread includes a short story from Christian history followed by a relevant Bible verse and a very short prayer.
Read my review here.
Giving good Christian books to your teen to read is a great way to encourage them to grow in Christ. These 10 books are a great start!
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Martin Luther and the Reformation
Teach your teens about Martin Luther and the Reformation in an exciting, new way with When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther! The book also makes a wonderful family read-aloud.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is often referred to as “The Father of the Reformation”. Born during a time of superstition, tradition, and spiritual corruption, Luther gave up a lucrative career as a lawyer to become a monk in the Roman Catholic Church–a path he felt would certainly lead to salvation.
As Luther’s understanding of the spiritual corruption within the Church grew, and he despaired of true salvation, Luther (now a scholar and priest) sought the Bible for answers. Following his discovery of the true gospel in Scripture, Luther began to preach spiritual freedom to his congregation, and to teach biblical (rather than philosophical) theology at the University of Wittenberg.
It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther penned his Ninety-Five Theses in Latin in response to the abusive indulgence sales practices of the monk Johann Tetzel in a nearby town. Luther nailed the Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, the scholarly bulletin board of his day, and mailed a copy to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther hoped to start a scholarly debate about the practice of selling salvation through plenary indulgences. The response he received was greater–and more dangerous–than he imagined it would be.
Luther’s story is exciting. There are death defying moments, epic spiritual battles, narrow escapes, a kidnapping, revolution, and war. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone once again. May all glory be to God alone!
Read portions of the first eight chapters of When Lightning Struck!:
Grab the autographed Reformation Family Bundle!
Books Make Great Gifts!
Teach the kids about the Bible and Christian history…
…with fun books they’ll love reading!
Introduce your children to engaging stories written in an engaging narrative they’ll want to read. As they learn more about God’s Word and gain real-life heroes, they will learn to apply Scripture to their own lives. And, give yourself the gift of a book that will help your kids learn and love the Bible.
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