The following are books and articles written by Les Christie, the chair of the Youth Ministry Department at William Jessup University. Click on the title of the article or book for more information.
Books
A Youth Workers's Commentary on John: Volume 1
By Les Christie
This in-depth, readable approach to the Gospel of John—A Youth Worker's Commentary on John—is the first in a new series of commentaries specifically written for youth workers. You’ll find commentary, word studies, personal and historical stories, and discussion questions to help get your students thinking and talking.
Description: When a youth pastor is preparing a lesson, it’s sometimes challenging to find a curriculum that really offers depth into the Scripture passages and goes beyond a cursory look at the text. A Youth Worker’s Commentary on John is the first in a new series of commentaries developed with youth workers in mind. An in-depth, yet readable approach to the gospel of John, this first volume includes commentary, word studies, personal and historical stories, and discussion questions that will help get students thinking and talking. The gospel of John is the most personal and revealing of all the portraits of Jesus in the New Testament. This commentary has the entire NIV biblical text printed alongside a rich, deep look into the meaning of this gospel. Youth workers will find this to be an invaluable aid for message and lesson preparation. They’ll get a solid understanding of the gospel of John, including its historical context, rationale, and meaning, to see how to apply what they uncover to the needs and issues the teens in their group are dealing with.
Awaken Your Creativity
By Les Christie
You know how tough it can be to come up with new and inventive student ministry ideas every school year. It can be infinitely more grueling to be that creative on a weekly basis! Whether you're developing a new message, a unique way to get students talking and interacting, or something different for the weekend retreat, most of us find ourselves tapped for creative ideas after a little while. Take comfort: You're not alone, and you're not necessarily out of creative steam. Everyone hits a block at some point, but you can find a way to tap into the creativity God placed within you. Les Christie has been doing youth ministry for decades, and he's not out of ideas yet! This practical book will help you explore the stumbling blocks, the tricks of the trade, and the catalysts to creativity. Les gives you opportunities to tap into your own creativity, and you'll find yourself looking at every aspect of your ministry in innovative ways.
When Church Kids Go Bad
How to Love and Work with Rude, Obnoxious, and Apathetic Students
By Les Christie
You may have an amazing program and be well connected to your students, but that doesn’t always guarantee a problem-free ministry. Whether it’s the guy in the back of the room who’s always causing trouble, or the girl in the corner with a look of indifference, disruptive and apathetic students can hinder the effectiveness of your ministry. But you don’t have to let discipline problems drive you out of youth ministry (or out of your mind!).
In this practical book, youth ministry veteran Les Christie will help you take a positive approach to discipline when it becomes necessary. When Church Kids Go Bad will:
- Reveal the reasons behind problem behavior and show you how to take a positive approach to discipline
- Teach you how to use rules and consequences effectively
- Help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in discipline situations (and improve your areas of weakness)
- Give you dozens of specific, practical, helpful ideas you can use immediately with your students
Best-Ever Games For Youth Ministry
By Les Christie
Field-tested fun! The Game Guy is geared up and ready to give you over 200 great games that are easy to pull off and field-tested with teens in many settings.
You will find:
- "Gaming Tips" on:
- getting kids to participate,
- lead games for special needs,
- change competitive games into cooperative games,
- save games gone bad, and more! - Symbols showing: - energy levels (Energy Saver to Zoomer),
- space needed,
- games played in pairs, and
- crowd-pleasers that work well for 50 or more players. - Classic games with new twists.
- Games for playing indoors and outdoors.
- Games that teach.
- Games that build community in your group!
- Supply lists.
- Tips and bonus ideas.
- Notes on group sizes.
- Indexes listing games by: - game activity (running, posing, storytelling, singing, writing, etc.)
- game object (balls, balloons, beans, etc.)
- game formation.
Plus, this legendary games expert exposes some of the worst games ever played, and shares his philosophy of fun in youth ministry. You'll be equipped to lead youth with the best collection of games-ever!
What If...?
450 Thought Provoking Questions to Get Teenagers Talking, Laughing, and Thinking
By Les Christie
What if. . .you could talk to you family about anything? . . .you could have one superhuman power? . . .you could grade your teacher? . . .You found out your best friend had AIDS? . . .you could exchange bodies with anyone? . . .you could ask God three questions? Their answers will spark lively discussion, debate, and real thinking.
You can use the 450 stimulating questions you'll find in What If. . .? to break the ice, get a discussion rolling, build community, get kids to wrestle with spiritual issues, or just have fun. The follow-up questions--What could you do? What would you do? What should you do?--provide an added twist to the process.
Have you ever...?
450 Intriguing Questions Guaranteed to Get Teenagers Talking
By Les Christie
Have you ever. . .? -Thought you were going to die? (When? Where? What brought you through it? - Been a teacher's pet? (What grade? How did you feel?) - Had a miracle happen to you? (What happened? Who did you tell?) - Said something you didn't mean just to be polite? (Why did you do it? What situation would cause you to do it again?) Inside are 442 more zingers like these, that nudge your kids' memories and get them talking -- perfect for launching small-group discussion, building community, getting a laugh and triggering hard thinking about situations and people that matter most to teenagers. Keep Have You Ever . . .? handy -- stick it in your pocket, your backpack, your car's glove box -- because you'll never know when you need a leading question to get conversation rolling with an individual or a group.
Unfinished Sentences
450 Tantalizing Unfinished Sentences to Get Teenagers Talking & Thinking
By Les Christie
In the best-selling footsteps of Would You Rather . . . ?, What If . . . ?, and Have You Ever . . . ? comes Unfinished Sentences — another collection of sometimes lighthearted, sometimes poignant, and always provocative discussion starters guaranteed to get teenagers talking, thinking, debating. Get the discussion ball rolling with 450 incomplete sentences that can be used anytime, anywhere for breaking the ice, stimulating discussions, building community, getting kids to wrestle with spiritual issues -- or use them just for fun! The convenient size makes Unfinished sentences easy to stick in your pocket or in the glove box -- a resource you won't want your library or your youth ministry team to be without!
Gimme Five
500 More Ways to Get Your Students Talking
By Les Christie
Gimme Five is the tool to have when you want to get your group talking on a ministry night, retreat, road trip, in their small groups, or at your home. These provocative and charming lists will get kids talking, laughing, debating, and thinking anytime, anywhere. A great tool for volunteer youth workers who need something to get conversation going!
With more than 500 prompts, Gimme Five is sure to get your students talking, thinking, and laughing as they name their five things-foods they hate, situations that make them cry, favorite television shows, and much more. You'll find funny stuff, as well as hot issues and scenarios that'll make your students dig deeper. Whatever route you choose, Gimme Five will spark fascinating conversations.
Articles
The following article, "Why Church Kids Must Go Bad", was written by Andrew Root who used Les Christie's book "Why Church Kids Go Bad" as a inspiration for the article. Les Christie published an article for Youth Specialties as a responce to Root's article countering the point made that youth must be allowed to experience darkness and depravity.
"Why Church Kids Must Go Bad" by Andrew Root
Response to "Why Church Kids Must Go Bad" by Les Christie
The following article, "A Serious Look at Games" explains the value and fun games can add to youth events. YouthWorker Journal has been equipping youth pastors for over 20 years in order to effectively minister to youth in today's society.
"A Serious Look at Games" by Les Christie
