BJU Press Blog

teens

Daniel: Courage for Teen Leaders

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JourneyForth’s The Daniel Dilemma: Real Courage for Real Life by Rand Hummel is the perfect Christmas gift to jump-start your teen’s study of Scripture in the new year. After hearing adults sing Daniel’s praises for years, your teen may view the prophet’s youthful diligence and lifelong loyalty in the face of immense pressure as a little unreal. In this book, Hummel succeeds in lifting Daniel off the flannelgraph, fleshing him out, and polishing him to a brilliant sheen. Even better—he showcases Daniel’s great God. 502369

The Daniel Dilemma is divided into two sections. The first tells Daniel’s story with due attention to what he was really up against. Talk about a stressful life! Hummel points out that Babylon’s strategies of isolation, indoctrination, identification, and intimidation are the same ones used to cripple Christians today. From Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar, the enemy’s darts─pulled from Satan’s age-old arsenal of “brainwashing” techniques─were custom-made for Daniel. And today’s teens are the new target—as they make their way in a largely nonbelieving world. But the author goes on to show that it was the consuming desire of Daniel and his companions to glorify God that steadied and kept them faithful in middle of the political storms the Lord put them through.

The second half of the book is an in-depth look at what constitutes courageous leadership. Scripture texts from Daniel introduce each chapter, and Hummel follows up with practical application, personal testimony, and anecdotes—all communicated in the fatherly tone forged by the author’s many years as a youth pastor and camp evangelist. Enumerating fourteen “laws of courageous leadership,” Hummel tutors his readers in how to be what he terms “show and tell Christians.”

The Daniel Dilemma: Real Courage for Real Life will help teens to better know Daniel’s God as their God—the strength of every generation in the face of any temptation.

Read a sample chapter of The Daniel Dilemma: Real Courage for Real Life.

Do You Have a Girl in the Mirror?

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231423 The Girl In The MirrorBack when I was growing up, face time could have referred to the hours my peers and I spent critically evaluating our faces in our bedroom mirrors, playing with different hair and clothing styles, and yes—removing any annoying zits that dared to tarnish the “landscape.” No one had to tell us to be sensitive about appearances, and no one had to coax us to (unwisely) compare ourselves to others. That’s what teens are famous for as they go through that time of searching not only for acceptance but also for answers.

Those of us whose outlook on life used to be entirely peer-driven want more for our own daughters (and granddaughters). We find as parents that our young people are quite unaware of how deeply we yearn to be positive role models—examples of strong and consistent faith that will mold their values during these crucial years. And we welcome tools that offer them the biblical perspective, which is so at odds with the pop culture that surrounds them.

The Girl in the Mirror, JourneyForth’s signature Bible study for teen girls, is a trustworthy and appealing venue of instruction for the young women who are important to you. Drawing primarily on the book of Proverbs and especially the Proverbs 31 woman, author Michelle Grover addresses such teen-relevant topics as Christian fidelity, dependability, appearance, relating to authority, sound speech, personal discipline, and many other aspects of a teen’s public and private life. The author’s approach is sympathetic, personal, and grounded on the premise that the fear of the Lord offers the only solid foundation for godly womanhood.

Presented in easy-to-follow lessons with questions and fill-in-the-blank follow-up answers, The Girl in the Mirror is well-suited for group interaction as well as personal Bible study. Notably feminine in its approach, you’ll find Grover’s priorities completely in step with your own as a Christian parent.

Homeschooling During an Election Year

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JH Politics and HS

The controversies surrounding the 2016 presidential election have at times made me want to shut politics out of my life until the election is over. But each time, I decide against that because I know how important it is.  As Christians, we can’t hide from the issues since many directly impact us. It’s our responsibility to make sure that both we and our children are well informed and ready to cast our votes now and in the future. There is no better time than an election year to be teaching children what the political process of our nation involves and how to evaluate the issues and candidates from the perspective of a biblical worldview.

Our Biblical Worldview: Creation, Fall, Redemption textbook (pages 239–40) says it well:

God laid the foundation for government as He laid the foundation of the earth. Government has been part of God’s good and glorious plan from the beginning. . . . Governments have power from the Highest Power. But governments are made up of fallen people who twist that power in frivolous ways.

Government in itself is not bad and is something that has been planned by God (Romans 13:1). So it’s important for all Christians to understand their nation’s government and participate in it appropriately. However, it’s also true that all governments are made up of fallen individuals, making it equally important for us as Christians to be well informed about what the Bible has to say about the issues and the candidates who take positions on those issues. It’s also our responsibility to make sure our children are prepared to do the same.

I strongly encourage teenagers who are looking forward to voting in this election for the first time to work though Biblical Worldview: Creation, Fall, and Redemption. It takes the biblical values they have been hearing from you as well as from BJU Press curriculum and applies those values to politics, government, and adult life. It also can help you prepare them to defend their Christian faith against the many challenges they’ll encounter as they transition into college and adult life.

Take a look inside the book here.

 

From Student to Teacher

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One summer as a young teenager, I begged my parents not to give me a teaching role in our backyard Bible club. My big sister was the one that all the kids adored, and besides, I got stage fright, even in front of a crowd of five-year-olds. Somehow, I still ended up teaching the missions story for the club. At the first meeting, I read the story directly from the book, making little eye contact with the children. To my surprise, they eagerly listened, and I slowly started to engage them more.

Another summer during my high school years, my parents sent me to a Christian youth camp that focused on preparing teens to lead Bible clubs. We learned how to creatively introduce, explain, and review memory verses and songs. We took notes on the components of a Bible lesson and the basics of classroom management. We practiced sharing the gospel. After our training, we spent the rest of the summer going into the neighborhoods of our city and leading week-long Bible clubs. It was during that time that my heart was irreversibly captured with a love for teaching children, especially teaching them biblical truth.

photograph of a teen teaching a group of children at a Bible clubThe next few years brought more opportunities to sharpen my newfound desire to educate—from teaching in Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and after-school Bible clubs to teaching English as a second language in China. I eagerly consumed articles, books, and courses on effective teaching. I even took notes while observing my favorite teachers at church, on BJU Press Distance Learning videos, and at college. Now I have the joy of teaching my own children, the most challenging and rewarding teaching role I’ve ever had. I’m thankful my parents gently pushed me into teaching, unlikely candidate though I was.

I’d like to encourage parents to think of ways they can give their teenage students opportunities to develop teaching skills. It may not come naturally, but students can learn through avenues such as mentoring under an experienced Sunday school teacher, taking a teaching class, reading a book on effective teaching, practicing with younger siblings, and volunteering for children’s ministries at their local church.

The benefits your students will receive from improving their speech and communication skills through teaching might initiate a lifelong career. Learning to teach will likely be an asset in their future families (perhaps even through home education), church ministries, and careers. How will you encourage your teenage students to step out from behind the student desk, face the crowd, and teach?