By Jeff Tillson | Director, Junor-high Discipleship, Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church; theology student, Fuller Theological Seminary, Katy, Texas. | June 2009
10 Minute Moments: God’s Story
Kurt JohnstonSimply Junior High, 2009, 94 pp., $6.99
www.simplyjuniorhigh.comActive Bible Studies: 20 Experience-Driven Bible Studies for Junior HighersKurt Johnston and Katie EdwardsSimply Junior High, 2009, 106 pp., $29.00
www.simplyjuniorhigh.comWritten specifically for junior highers and adults who teach them, Kurt Johnston’s latest resources are first-rate and all about spiritual growth.
10 Minute Moments is a 31-day devotional for junior highers designed to guide them through the major themes and stories of the Bible 10 minutes at a time. From Creation to Christ to the early church, this take-home tool would be great for junior highers who need a head start on spending time with God. It could be revamped easily as a small-group or Sunday School study for time-crunched youth workers.
Active Bible Studies is a small-group study that celebrates experiential, hands-on learning with an energizing blend of activities, discussions and Bible lessons. All 20 lessons have a different flavor, allowing the teacher to use them sporadically or consecutively. Biblically grounded with great applications and take-home challenges, this resource is a winner. Each lesson requires some time to gather materials and prepare, but the payoff is sure to be good.