For Teens

Questions and Answers

What is the For Teens collection about?

It gathers faith for the teenage years — coming to Christ, belonging to His people, and the courage to follow — in short, plain, honest books and true stories of lives that were spent for Him, written for or well within reach of younger readers. Its keynote is 1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers": the shelf takes young readers seriously as disciples.

Which works are included?

Among them are "Growing in Wisdom," Spurgeon's "Around the Wicket Gate" and "All of Grace," Andrew Murray's "The Way to God," "Prayer, the Pulse of Life," and "He Holds My Tomorrows," "Rise Up, Men of God," and true stories such as David Brainerd's diary and the lives of men and women who gave everything for the gospel.

What does 1 Timothy 4:12 mean for the shelf?

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" is the charge under the whole collection — Paul's word to a young minister, and the shelf's message to young readers: that youth is no barrier to real faith, and that a teenager can be an example to older believers.

What does the shelf offer a teenager coming to Christ?

Plain, honest books that explain the gospel simply — Spurgeon's "Around the Wicket Gate" and "All of Grace" for the one beginning to seek, and Andrew Murray's "The Way to God" for the first steps of following. They meet a young reader where the questions actually are, without talking down, and press the same invitation the classics give: come to Christ just as you are.

What true stories does it hold?

Lives that were spent for God, told to stir courage: David Brainerd's diary, Hudson Taylor's early years, and the gathered lives of men and women who gave everything for the gospel. The shelf sets these before young readers not as distant heroes but as examples of what a life wholly given to Christ can be, whatever one's age.

Who is this shelf for?

For teenagers, and for those who read alongside them — books short and plain enough for younger readers, yet honest about the cost and courage of following Christ. It exists so that the great classics and the great stories of the faith reach the young in a form they can actually take up and be shaped by.

Where should a reader begin?

Spurgeon's "Around the Wicket Gate" is a warm entry for the seeker; "Prayer, the Pulse of Life" opens the life of prayer simply; and "He Holds My Tomorrows" speaks to a young reader anxious about the future. The true stories — Brainerd, Taylor, and those who gave everything — supply the courage to follow.

Why does the church need a shelf for teens?

Because the teenage years are when faith is often decided, and young readers are too often handed either nothing serious or nothing they can read. This shelf takes them seriously as disciples, offering the real gospel and real examples in reach of their years — that no one may despise their youth, and that they may become examples of the believers.