To Save a Life Can Help You Promote Teen Bible Reading
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What Happened:
On Jan. 22, 2010, the film To Save a Life will come to theaters. The film focuses on high school basketball star Jake as he grapples with the suicide of his one-time friend Roger and wonders whether he could’ve done something to prevent his death.
During the film, Jake meets a youth pastor named Chris. Chris begins to talk with Jake about God and Christianity, giving him a devotional that he could download to his iPod.
According to Jim Britts, author of the To Save a Life screenplay, the devotional is based on Devo2Go, a real product Britts created and hands out to his own young charges. “A couple of us youth pastors were hanging out and going, ‘it’s really hard to get kids to read the Bible on their own-really hard to get them to turn off their stupid iPods.” So they turned their frustration on its ear and created the portable devo.
Britts and others participated in a Devo2Go specifically hooked to the To Save a Life film. The 36-day devotional features lessons from Britts and other prominent youth leaders. It also comes with a 100-page booklet and journal.
Britts’ Devo2Go isn’t the only devotional that youth can use in conjunction with their iPods or MP3 players. There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of them out there along with scores of devotional podcasts, videocasts and audio Bibles.
Most try to address a growing problem in the typical Christian’s life: the lack of time many of them have to dive into Scripture.
Talk About It:
We’re all busy with school, activities, friends and family. It can be hard to carve out a few minutes to spend with God’s Word. Do you find it hard to find some time to read the Bible? Do you set aside special times to read or pray? When? What works best for you?
How important is it to read the Bible a little every day? How important is it to pray every day? Why (or why not) is it important?
Do you ever multitask like Jake and maybe do an audio devotional while you’re exercising or doing homework? If you had the chance, would you?
What the Bible Says:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (
“I will lift my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes” (
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (
“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (
More to explore:
‘To Save a Life’ Resources
Interview with screenwriter and youthworker Jim Britts
Watch the movie trailer
