Can you believe it? It’s almost that time of year, again: graduation! There is a common practice among youth workers and parents to give books as graduation gifts. Over at the webspot of CPYU’s College Transition Initiative, we recommend some titles (suggested reading for college bound students) that we think can be helpful to students.Now, we’re sure that there are many more good gift books out there and that’s where you come in. Here’s another chance to win a FREE book. Help us create a list! Here’s the question:
What do you think are the best books to give to graduating high school students?
(There needs to be at least 10 comments to qualify. Winner will be chosen randomly from list of participants and will get to choose from a LONG list of FREE books. Only one comment per person.)
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51 comments:
I use John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life". It seems to go over well.
I gave away 2 books for them to choose from last year. Search for Significance Teen Edition and Can You Keep Your Faith In College?
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
As much of a reader as I am and as hard as its been, I stopped giving books (fav was 'How to stay Christian in College') because of how little they are used and instead I give the ConGRADulations dvd/cd combo!
I have been giving Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ. It is so powerful. Once in college people will be challenging the way you think. This is a great tool to help.
"Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World" by Chris Heuertz.
I would suggest Josh McDowell's A Ready Defense. For most of our students who will be going off to Universities with multiple philosophical and theological beliefs, they need something that will provide Truth to some of the false claims they will come up against. It is a great reference book as well as a study book to read through.
I know Messiah had their incoming students read "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. I find it an intriguing read.
I would suggest True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In, by James Choung. It is a great theology/evangelism book.
This year I plan on giving Doug Field's book Refuel. Its a simple account of how to connect to God in the midst of our busy lives. Simple and to the point.
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"It Came From Within" by Andy Stanley is great for graduates. It deals with the five "monsters" that attack our hearts and how to protect against them.
Easy to read, very creative, and has a journal available for anyone who is really series about learning to defend their hearts from the struggles they'll face going to college and beyond.
Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What or Through Painted Deserts, all by Donald Miller would work great. As Matt pointed out, some Christian colleges are requiring either BLJ or SFGKW in intro to college courses. One of my favorites in college for personal reflection and challenge was Eugene Peterson's Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. Wouldn't work for all students, but I like to set the bar high.
The 'How Now Shall We Live' workbook for college students by Chuck Colson & Nancy Pearcey; John Macarthur's 'Think Biblically.' Last but not least, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney.
I like 'Messy Spirituality' by Mike Yaconelli. Easy to read/understand, yet has depth as well.
Last year we gave our seniors "The Discipline of Spirital Discernment" by Tim Challies. The year before it was "Growing Up Christian" by Graustein.
I have been giving "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson (the regular version not the teen version). This year though, I think I am giving "The Best Question Ever" by Andy Stanley. Both of these are excellent for those headed off to college.
I suggest Josh Mcdowell's New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. It is a good reference they could use when they have questions.
In the past I have given students a Bible Commentary such as John Macarthur's to aid them in Bible Study. This year because we have a significantlly larger group of seniors we had to go cheaper so I am giving then Can you keep your fiath in college?
Brennan Manning's "Ragamuffin Gospel." A provocative and challenging read all in one.
I have gone the same route as Douglas R and give the ConGRADulations DVD/CD combo. Once the kids hit college they have more reading than they have every had and music is a good way to reach them while they study.
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Intoxicated with Babylon by Steve Gallagher. He is the president of Pure Life ministries and this book has had a profound impact not only on my life, but the life of my wife, my church leadership and everyone who commits to read it. It is an incredible resource.
Grace to you,
I would have to say CJ Mahaney "Living the Cross Centered Life."
Powerful short read that will allow graduates to keep the cross of Christ their focus.
The church that I work at now, gave the students a copy of the Message. That seemed to go over well.
I'm also a fan of "Messy Spirituality" by Mike Yaconelli
2 books that I have often given youth entering college are "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus and "It Came From Within" by Andy Stanley. Both are easy reads (which means they are more likely to read them) and deal with practical and spiritual growth.
With regard to giving books away, it's important to have developed a 'quasi-educational learning community' through the interwoven nature of one's local congregation, family, middle school and high school ministries. I think that this is a vital part of developing habits of following Jesus for one's entire life. As such, books or booklets which I pass along to youth/youth ministries/1st years as a campus minister depends upon where they are at in their 'journey of faith.' But if I had to choose, Gilbert Meilander's "Letters to Ellen" (also on audio via Mars Hill Audio) is good stuff and how about James Emery White's "A Mind for God" and Mindy Meier's "Sex and Dating" as a pair? Maybe use the booklet/youtube sessions for "True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In" in youth ministry and send the book along to college.
I also like the idea of "The Message," but hope it's already in the hands of the youth.
We give each Graduating Senior a copy of The Message REMix. We usually have a fair amount of Seniors on Sunday mornings who don't get hooked into the youth ministry and lack a good Bible that they can understand
"Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know" by Wayne Grudem
We usually give The Message, but I may give them The Voice New Testament this year.
Seriously college students never read a book you give them, give them a good Bible and they may actually use it.
I'm being reduntant apparently, but Piper's "Don't waste your life" is truly my favorite.
oswald chamber's daily devotional MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST! I got it in college and read it for years...
One of the most profound stories I have found about the journey of life is by Shel Silverstein. "The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" would be an excellent gift for grads - with a reminder that they are not alone on the journey to wholeness, because God is with them at every bump, chip, stumble, and smoothing-out moment along the way.
I would recommend "The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story" by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen. I read this book after graduate school...I wish it would have been around when I graduated from high school! The subtitle, "Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story" says it all!!!
I tailor the books to the kids based on where they are at, but for a generic book that would be good for just about anyone, how about "Eat This Book" by Eugene H. Peterson.
"Tuesdays wuth Morrie" by Mitch Albom. Its a story of an old man, a young man, and lifes greatest lesson. It is probably the best books i have ever read, very encouraging for life after graduation.
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Well, This may be the "Sunday school" answer but I believe the Bible is the best book you can give a student. There are so many choices to choose from, but A study Bible or my new favorite Bible "The Appologetics Study Bible" would be best fit for the college life. It contains articles from many well known authors and would help the new freshmen to be ready for those college debates around the classroom and coffee shops.
ReThinking Worldivew by J. Mark Bertrand
I use "Don't Waste Your Life," "Knowing God," and "The Master Plan of Evangelism."
The Reason for God by Tim Keller is a great read. And as a college student I have read the book my youth pastor gave to me, so some students really do use them! Cd is a great idea too.
Little book that I have given out is called Armed and Dangerous. It has a bright orange cover. It is filled with Scripture references for various topics and situations.
Fish Out of Water by Abby Nye, especially for the gradating young ladies planning to head off to a secular "liberal arts" university/college.
How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski
I have given dozens away.
I would say Mere Christianity... as it establishes a good apologetic and connects with both the mind and the heart.
The answer is 'The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness' by Derek Melleby and Don Optiz...seriously.
I try to give students an example of a Christian Worldview to help them think. My current favorite would be a political work because of the political nature of the modern campus:
Ron Paul's Revolution: A Manifesto
Forget all the propositional, motivational, apologetic stuff.
John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces."
There's no better book for introducing the idea that you can be very highly educated, have a great appreciation for the classics, and know history backward and forward, while thinking theologically and idealistically -- and still be completely self-indulgent, and mixed up with the wrong girl, resulting in a person being bat-shit crazy and completely disfunctional.
That's what the high school student needs.
It has to be "Engaging God's World" by Cornelius Plantinga. This a wonderful work that teaches christian worldview, vocation, and having faith in all areas of life.
I would give them "The River Why" by David James Duncan. It is a wonderfully written and really funny story of a search for identity, spirituality, and community after moving out of the home. I think it would spur some good self-reflection about moving on to a new phase in life.
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