Have you ever been to a Bible study that din't have much "Bible" or "study" at all? Without a proper understanding of how to do it, students can be disappointed or scared away from studying the Bible. So what is Bible study-and can it work for high schoolers?
No stranger to teaching the Bible to teenagers, Jon Nielson's Bible Study: A Student's Guide confirms that real, meaningful Bible study is not only possible for students, but important. He takes students seriously and expects them to take their faith seriously. Unpacking five truths about the Bible--that it is God speaking-is powerful, is understandable, is literary, and is one story--he demonstrates how the Bible should be studied and how teenagers themselves can lead that study.
Have you ever been to a “Bible study” that didn’t have much “Bible” or “study” at all? Without a proper understanding of how to do it, students can be disappointed or scared away from studying the Bible. So what is Bible study—and can it work for high schoolers? No stranger to teaching the Bible to teenagers, Jon Nielson confirms that real, meaningful Bible study is not only possible for students, but important. He takes students seriously and expects them to take their faith seriously. Unpacking five truths about the Bible—that it is God speaking, is powerful, is understandable, is literary, and is one story—he demonstrates how the Bible should be studied and how teenagers themselves can lead that study.
Jon Nielson has served as pastoral resident at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago and has worked in youth and sports ministry there. He has also worked as director of training for the Charles Simeon Trust, an organization that provides training in biblical exposition. He is currently college pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois.
There could scarcely be a more winsome, convincing and helpful book than this—in calling and aiding student ministries to center upon God’s Word. Here is a primer on bibliology, hermeneutics, and pedagogy that does not mention the words! Youth ministers, and those who work with students, will be profoundly instructed on what the Bible is-- how it works-- and how to teach it. And more, they will learn from a youth pastor who has done it, and continues to do it midst the swirling idioms of popular culture.
Bible Study is a must read for the next generation looking to make a difference for God. With tools to read and understand God's Word, Jon Nielson ultimately trains us for usefulness in God's world. This book is clear, accessible, and written by a leader with a passion for gospel growth. So get it, read it, and then go for it.
“Jon Nielson has put together a compelling and clear guide to embedding Bible study in youth group ministries. When so many ministries are either all entertainment focused, and others are perhaps equally disappointingly simply rather dull, this book shows how to engage students creatively and dynamically with the power of God’s Word.”
Jon Nielson rightly believes that even students are able to understand Scripture at the highest level. This volume is an engaging expression of that belief; helpful for Christian young people as well as those who lead them.
If you want your ministry to be healthy, God-centered, and gospel-driven, then there is only one way to do it make the Bible its life blood. Make the study of the text, obedience to the text, and the God of the text the centerpiece of everything you do. Jon Nielson's treatment of this subject for youth and young adults alike is full of truth, relevance, and practical wisdom. As a former leader in my ministry at College Church and now the pastor of that very ministry, I could not be prouder of Jon. This book reflects the Bibline culture both of us were raised with as young leaders at a church where we saw the inestimable fruits of a Word-driven ministry.
Imagine this: teenagers getting excited about hearing God speak through his Word. Add to that, those same young people learning how to read and study God’s Word better, with a growing understanding of such things as biblical theology and genre and how to lead a small group. If you’re excited about this prospect, read this book. You will not be disappointed!
If you are a student, read this book carefully and thoughtfully, and then loan it to your parents. Chances are pretty good that they'll benefit from it as much as you will.
