Steve did it again. This real look into the lives of biblical teens as they might have sounded and lived today delivers an incredible message of love, truth, purity and freedom. What a great book for students to think through and plug into their lives.
Steve Gerali has done a wonderful job of taking teenagers from the Bible and retelling their stories in a relevant and captivating way without losing the biblical truth. High school students will easily identify with the issues that these teenagers were facing and learn from their stories.
K.J. STEPHENS , youth pastor, Orange County, CA
Instead of telling students what to do, Steve engages their hearts and minds in a manner that will lead to transformation and hope. I wish I had this type of spiritual encouragement when I was a younger believer in high school.
ROBIN DUGALL , executive director, Youth Leadership Institute, Azusa Pacific University
There is nothing more appealing to the church than to see students on fire and passionately living for God! Steve hits the nail on the head in helping a student understand whose we are. A must read for every teenager.
Steve Gerali did a superb job of smoothly connecting story, scripture, and getting into the lives of teens today. How refreshing to see young Bible characters being placed into our 21st century to bring hope to Chrsitian kids in high school today.
MICHAEL L. BEATTY , commissioned minister, Mokualkaua Congl Church Kailua-Kona, HI; program director, Christian Endeavor Hawaii
NavPress is the publishing ministry of The Navigators, an international Christian organization and leader in personal spiritual development. NavPress is committed to helping people grow spiritually and enjoy lives of meaning and hope through personal and group resources that are biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical.
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2004, 2014 by Steve Gerali
A NavPress published resource in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois, 60188.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from NavPress, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935. www.navpress.com.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-61291-571-5
Cover design by gearbox
Cover image by Thinkstock
Unless otherwise identified, all Scripture quotations in this publication are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version,NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Other versions used include: the New American Standard Bible ( NASB ), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, used by permission; and THE MESSAGE ( MSG ), copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Gerali, Steve.
How to stay Christian in high school / Steve Gerali.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57683-424-7
1. High school students Religious life. 2. Christian teenagers Religious life. I. Title.
BV4531.3.G47 2004
248.83 dc22
2004006298
ISBN 978-1-61291-729-0 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-61291-730-6 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-61291-731-3 (Apple)
Build: 2014-03-14 09:30:18
Its really hard to be a Christian; I hate it!
That was Mark talking, right after youth group. He was a typical high school sophomore tall, handsome, healthy, energetic, possessing a great sense of humor. Being outgoing and friendly, Mark hung out with lots of friends at school and church, and he loved to laugh and joke around. Mark also worked hard to get good grades, played soccer on the JV team at school, and had started a lawn-mowing business so he could save money for a car (when he got his license). Mark loved life. His enthusiasm was contagious.
Mark grew up in a Christian home from day one. The weekend after his folks brought him home from the hospital, they were in church. His family had always been active in their congregation, so Mark and his sisters never knew life apart from Christian worship and fellowship. And Marks parents were super-busy in the congregation. In fact, they did everything from teaching Sunday school to helping on cleanup days. So Mark grew up with a love for service too. He often helped wherever he could and was a vital part of the youth groups leadership core.
Mark heard all the Bible stories in Sunday school, and he loved them. He was dedicated to the Lord as an infant, asked Jesus into his life when he was seven years old, was baptized when he was ten. He recommitted his life to Christ at junior high camp in seventh grade... re-recommitted his life in eighth grade... and re-re-recommitted his life during his freshman year of high school.
It was so much easier being a Christian when I was little, Mark continued, as we sat down together at a table holding several bowls of leftover snacks from the meeting. Im really confused, because so many things about it seem contradictory. And that makes it too hard. This isnt my idea of abundant life.
What do you mean, Mark? I replied.
Well, for example, Ive been told all my life that Christians are supposed to be in the world but not of the world, right?
Right. Jesus talks about that in the gospel of John.
Okay, so I hear my parents and my youth pastor always saying I shouldnt hang out with non-Christian friends. Christians arent supposed to go to parties or have [he makes air quotes here] unequally yoked relationships. A lot of my friends at church are homeschooled or going to Christian schools. That way they can stay separated from the influences of the world. But Im in public school, so I get attitude from my Christian friends when I miss youth group activities because of soccer. My youth pastor has even confronted me about my priorities.
But heres the thing: Every time we have an outreach event at youth group, they tell us to bring our non-Christian friends! Can you believe that? Im expected to be a witness to my non-Christian friends. Dont you see the mixed message Im not supposed to have any non-Christian friends! How can I have non-Christian friends if I cant hang out with them? If I cant hang out with them, then theyll only be casual friends. And you cant talk about deep things like a relationship with Christ with casual friends.