Christian Educ

Discover 13 fun, Bible-based programs full of creative ideas for classes with kids ages 4 to 12. You'll save time and money--just gather a few common, inexpensive items, photocopy the handouts, and you're ready to teach creative Bible lessons your kids will love.

Each Sunday school lesson comes complete with:

- Active-learning experiences: Catch kids' interest and teaches them lessons they'll remember
- Interactive Bible stories: Helps even the youngest kids grasp the real meaning of Scripture
- Life applications: Encourages children to use what they've learned
- Take-home handouts: Make it easy for children to share what they've learned with their family
- And more: Tips to help you better understand kids

BONUS: You'll also discover how to help kids of multiple ages work together as a team...learn what to expect from different age groups...and be able to give young children the extra attention they crave while helping older children feel special as they help younger children learn.

The All-in-One Sunday School Series: Volume 3 offers four volumes, one for each season of the year beginning with fall:

-All-in-One Sunday School Volume 1: Fall(9780764449444)
-All-in-One Sunday School Volume 2: Winter (9780764449451)
-All-in-One Sunday School Volume 3: Spring (9780764449468)
-All-in-One Sunday School Volume 4: Summer (9780764449475)

Based on the National Study of Youth and Religion--the same invaluable data as its predecessor, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers--Kenda Creasy Dean's compelling new book, Almost Christian, investigates why American teenagers are at once so positive about
Christianity and at the same time so apathetic about genuine religious practice.

In Soul Searching, Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton found that American teenagers have embraced a Moralistic Therapeutic Deism--a hodgepodge of banal, self-serving, feel-good beliefs that bears little resemblance to traditional Christianity. But far from faulting teens, Dean places
the blame for this theological watering down squarely on the churches themselves. Instead of proclaiming a God who calls believers to lives of love, service and sacrifice, churches offer instead a bargain religion, easy to use, easy to forget, offering little and demanding less. But what is to be
done? In order to produce ardent young Christians, Dean argues, churches must rediscover their sense of mission and model an understanding of being Christian as not something you do for yourself, but something that calls you to share God's love, in word and deed, with others. Dean found that the
most committed young Christians shared four important traits: they could tell a personal and powerful story about God; they belonged to a significant faith community; they exhibited a sense of vocation; and they possessed a profound sense of hope. Based on these findings, Dean proposes an approach
to Christian education that places the idea of mission at its core and offers a wealth of concrete suggestions for inspiring teens to live more authentically engaged Christian lives.

Persuasively and accessibly written, Almost Christian is a wake up call no one concerned about the future of Christianity in America can afford to ignore.

This lesson book and companion DVD contains 13 Sunday school lessons for kids of all ages in one room. Recommended for ages 4-12.

Equip kids with the character qualities they need to each become the person God created them to be.

Character by God's Design: Volume 1 is full of exciting, hands-on Bible lessons that explore the three character qualities of diligence, faithfulness, and gratitude. Kids will explore each character quality in memorable lessons that are rooted in Scripture and reinforce God's foundational plan for a fruitful Christian life.

Character by God's Design: Volume 1 introduces kids of all ages to:
- Diligence--Focusing on the work God has given me
- Faithfulness--Staying true to God and his purpose for me
- Gratitude--Expressing thanks no matter how I feel

This lesson book is volume 1 of 4 total volumes:
- Character by God's Design: Volume 2(9781470742171)
- Character by God's Design: Volume 3(9781470744809)
- Character by God's Design: Volume 4(9781470744816)

Teens face difficult, painful stuff in life--and they shouldn't struggle alone. But what do you say? How do you help? What if you make things worse?
This rapid-response handbook gives you and your youth group the confidence to share God's love and comfort with hurting friends.
You will be prepared to respond with 12 chapters focused on twelve emergencies that the teens you care for may encounter
Topics include:
Grief
Depression
Suicide
Addictions
Divorce
Abuse
Crisis Pregnancy
Academic Problems
Family Conflict
Stress and Anxiety
Destructive Behavior
Gender Identity and Sexual Choices

Each chapter includes:
Real Life Narrative - Learn from someone who has been there
Care and Counseling Tips - Practical ideas to personally reach out in love
Tips for your entire youth group - Great ways your group can offer support
What to say and what not to say - Positive encouragement to help the hurting and advice on what not to say
You'll also find Scripture connections, guidelines for referring your friend to a professional counselor, additional resources, and ways your group can stand by your friend in need.