Posted on Thursday,

Students Need A Real World Faith

All around the country high school students are getting ready to graduate.

Unprecedented freedom is just around the corner…they can almost taste it! Soon they will packing up and heading off to college–away from mom, dad, their youth pastor, church, and many of their friends. Are they ready?

Most likely they are not ready for the intellectual, spiritual, and moral challenges that are waiting on them. Around 50% will disengage from their Christian faith during the college years. But they can be prepared–or at least have a fighting chance!

Let me be honest with you. A small, graduation gift book with short pithy inspirational quotes is not going to cut it. That will evaporate in about 10 seconds. I know this from experience. I know what is waiting for students on campus. I work with this generation. We live in a post-Christian culture. That is why I wrote Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower’s Guide For the Journey.

Even if they just use it as a door stop until the day they need it, that’s OK. When they get challenged in class or when they are dealing with doubts or are tempted to compromise their moral standards it will be waiting on them in their dorm room when you aren’t there with them and they may not have the courage to ask for help.

I am gratified to have heard stories of Welcome to College helping students around the country stand strong in their faith and make wise choices. It excites me when I see youth pastors buy copies and give them away to all their seniors. Please don’t get me wrong, it’s not a magic bullet. But it covers pretty much any challenge a student will face in the college years.

I am passionate about seeing this generation own their faith. That’s why I wrote this book. That’s why I do what I do. This graduation please consider giving your son or daughter a copy of Welcome to College. Or have one mailed to a friend’s son or daughter. Whatever you do, please don’t let your student head off to college with just another Christian pep talk on graduation Sunday. Good intentions, emotions, and will power will only go so far. Training is needed. Check out this summer worldview and apologetics training opportunity that I am a part of. We’d love to see your high schooler!

If your son and daughter is not graduating yet, why not pick up a copy and work through it together? The chapters are very readable, only 3-5 pages each and cover 41 different topics. In the back of the book there are discussion questions to help with dinner conversations. Students need a real world faith. My prayer is that this book would help them along that path! (cf. Rom. 12:2).

“Wow! What a book! Quite frankly, this is the book I’ve been waiting for the last forty years to give to college students. It is the single best volume I have ever read for preparing students for how to follow Jesus and flourish as his disciple in college.” –J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

If you found this post helpful, you would enjoy How to Respond to the “That’s Just Your Interpretation” Objection

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Posted on Tuesday,

Training young people to develop a Christian mind is not optional

As Christian parents, pastors, teachers, and youth group leaders, we constantly see young people pulled down by the undertow of powerful cultural trends. If all we give them is a “heart” religion, it will not be strong enough to counter the lure of attractive but dangerous ideas. Young believers also need a “brain” religion — training in worldview and apologetics — to equip them to analyze and critique the competing worldviews they will encounter when they leave home. If forewarned and forearmed, young people at least have a fighting chance when they find themselves a minority of one among their classmates or work colleagues. Training young people to develop a Christian mind is no longer an option; it is part of their necessary survival equipment. – Nancy Pearcey

Posted on Sunday,

Why Do We Call It Christmas?

So what is the real story of Christmas? What’s the truth behind all the traditions? Here is a GREAT resource for the whole family–Why Do We Call It Christmas? We loved What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver (9 DVD’s on the Old Testament) and this is great as well. As someone who has been to grad school and studied these issues, its refreshing to see a series that does not sacrifice either theological depth or creativity. Kids can handle a lot more than we usually give them! This series has wonderful characters and communicates a level of biblical understanding that many adults will benefit from as well (our 5 and 7 year olds really like it). Clive and Ian are our personal favorites…enjoy!

If you or your children have ever wondered how Christmas has become the holiday we celebrate today, our DVD Buck Denver asks…Why Do We Call It Christmas? is perfect for you! Join intrepid newsman Buck Denver and his friends as they ask and answer big questions about Christmas.

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Posted on Thursday,

2 Reasons Why a Gap Year is a Great Idea for Students

While there are many reasons I’m a fan of students taking a gap year, in this post I will briefly mention two. But before I get to them, I want to say a few words from the perspective of one who wants to see students flourish as Christ-followers’ in college and beyond. I have the privilege of working with high school and college students both in the local church setting and as I speak around the country. I’m more convinced than ever…(read the rest of my guest blog post at the Lid).

Are you following us on twitter? @thnkchristianly and @Jonathan_Morrow

Posted on Thursday,

Will the Faith of Your Kids Survive College?

As I shared in a previous post, I am passionate about preparing students for the challenges and opportunities facing them on campus. This past week I was honored to be on Breakpoint and Breakpoint this week talking about Welcome to College. Chuck Colson, the founder of Breakpoint, was one of my heroes and an example to all Christians everywhere. I felt a significant sense of responsibility to carry on his passion for worldview training in the kind words he used to endorse my book Think Christianly. John Stonestreet and Eric Metaxes are doing a phenomenal job picking up the torch of Breakpoint and I would highly encourage you to tune in daily and listen.

In the conversation I had on Breakpoint this week with John Stonestreet we talked about how to help students not only survive college but thrive there. We also talked about the crisis of knowledge that Christians are facing today.

“…contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” – Jude 3

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What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today? Please share your perspective below.