As Professor of Evangelism AND Student Ministry at Southeastern our focus will be, to borrow the phrase from my book on student ministry, to raise the bar. We will focus on helping both church families and nuclear families raise children who will walk into the adult world ready to live as missionaries in an increasingly pagan culture. One of the ministries already doing that is Student Leadership University whose founder, Dr. Jay Strack, is a friend of many years and whose president, Brent Crowe, is a former student whom I had the honor of mentoring in his SEBTS years. SLU prepares students for leadership in whatever career they seek. Check them out at studentleadership.net.

One of the sayings at SLU is this: who you are years from now will be based on the people you meet, the places you go, and the books you read. I would start with meeting Jesus, going to Him often in prayer, and reading His Word! Beyond that, reading great books will help any student to become the person God calls him or her to be.

I am beginning to compile recommended reading for students (i.e. those in middle and high school). Here are some, although I welcome your suggestions!

I. Philosophy of Youth (i.e. books that go against the current tend of treating students like 4th graders):

1. Alex and Brett Harris: Do Hard Things. The subtitle of the book by these 19 year-old twins says it all: “A teenaged rebellion against low expectations.”

2. Alvin Reid: Raising the Bar. Sorry for the self promotion. Though written for youth leaders, has been helpful to students as well to understand how they can set higher standards for their teen years.

3. Alvin Reid: Join the Movement. Last shameless self-promotion I promise! This book is a popular/devotional look at how God has used the young in significant spiritual movements.

II. Theology:

Note: I am convinced students can handle more theology than we typically give them, or as I like to quip, they learn trigonometry in high school, they can learn theology in church! Here are some books dealing with theological issues that a teenager can handle. The books are listed alphabetically by author.

1. Deitrich Bonhoeffer: Life Together. A great book to help rethink the church. The Cost of Discipleship would not hurt either!

2. C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity. Must read for any young adult.

3. J.I. Packer: Knowing God and Concise Theology. Knowing God is a classic in devotional theology. Packer’s Concise Theology is just that.

4. John Piper: Don’t Waste Your Life. A devotional theology for students.

5. Cornelius Plantiga: Engaging God’s World. A delightful introduction into major theological issues using the framework of Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation.

6. Charles Ryrie: A Survey of Bible Doctrine. Summary of key doctrines by a renowned conservative writer.

7. James Sawyer: A Survivor’s Guide to Theology. Written for college students, it provides a brief summary and overview of major theological positions.

Finally, Wayne Grudem and Millard Erickson, both of whom have large theology texts, have a “baby”version of their larger theological works designed for younger audiences.

III. Spirituality/Spiritual Formation:

1. Donald Whitney. Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. I am a big fan of Whitney. The Ten Questions book is a great introduction to spiritual formation.

2. Donald Whitney. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney includes evangelism as a discipline which I like a lot!

I will be adding others, including (of course) books on evangelism and missions. If you are a student pastor, ask yourself what books you are encouraging your students to read (if any). Start with and remain lashed to the Bible, but also introduce them to other fine books.

I would love to hear from you a list of books you have found to be helpful for students.

About Alvin Reid

Hi and welcome! I am Alvin Reid, a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Michelle, father of Josh and Hannah, and minister of the gospel. I teach at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern College at Wake Forest in NC. I love people and have been blessed to meet a lot. I live to equip a generation of young men and women to change the world, to advance the great movement of God in our time.For the Christ follower, life is a mission trip-take it!