Book Review: God's Great Story

I have had the privilege of ministering to the teenagers in my church for the past 18 years, early on as a volunteer and then as youth pastor. I thought I had teens all figured out. And then my oldest turned 13 and I realized I had no clue!

In all seriousness, the age of adolescence is a challenging time for teens in many ways. The transformation into adulthood is fraught with speedbumps: physical changes and the hormones that come with that, complex social shifts, the growth of self-awareness, the often overwhelming draw of peer pressure, the busy schedule of school and extra-curriculars, that ever-expanding sense of independence while still being under parental authority… it’s complicated!

We are all familiar with those challenges because we’ve all been there–either as a teen or parent. The teen years are pivotal and also confusing. That confusion can be social or mental, but it’s definitely also spiritual. As they get to know the world around them with all its tantalizing but dangerous features, it is absolutely vital that they have an anchor for their souls.

Without a worldview based on absolute truth, the fickleness and complexity of their ever-expanding world coupled with their own sinful tendencies will inevitably produce confusion, doubt and failure. In short, they need to know what is true and for that knowledge and wisdom to be ever growing. As fathers, it’s our God-given job to equip and enable them to readily find that anchor they need. And the inspired and timeless Word of God is where we must point them.

As they grow, it becomes more and more important that they learn to seek out truth from Scripture themselves rather than simply hearing it from us as parents. Psalm 119:9-11 makes it clear that God’s Word is central to a young person’s faithfulness to God and purity from the world. Psalm 1:1-3 and Joshua 1:7-8 emphasize the importance of spending regular and consistent time in the Bible for our spiritual health. We need daily wisdom and knowledge to face daily challenges.

This is not an overstatement: if Christian teens can develop the discipline of a regular time of devotion to God in his Word, they will have developed the single most foundational and beneficial habit of their lives!

Since they often don’t know where to start, providing them with practical tools that “get them in the habit” is a sobering but exciting opportunity we have! Finding well-written, guided studies and providing them with accountability to commit to them is one of the most important practical gifts we can give our teens. And God’s Great Story: A Daily Devotional for Teens by Jon Nielson and published by Crossway is one I highly recommend. Here are some reasons why.

Offers a great starting point

It can be challenging to find a guided Bible study that fits your child’s age and maturity level. While every teen is different, I’ve found this study to fit well with teens across the maturity spectrum. It is written in a way that is easy for most younger teens to understand, but at the same time challenges the thinking of older teens.

My son is 13 and has been using this book for about 8 months now. I have found it to be on his level, both in terms of appropriateness and application. But I have also given copies to upperclassmen in my youth group who are beginning to commit to regular Bible study. There is a sizeable chunk of Scripture to read each day (see below on how that’s a good thing!), so keep that in mind as you consider. It’s likely that not every middle-schooler is ready for that much reading, but many will be able to handle it. It shouldn’t be an issue for older teens.

Be aware that the study does not shy away from passages that address more mature topics (such as David’s sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11). But it does so appropriately as long as families have discerningly begun those discussions with their teens. I’d encourage you to check out the installment that deals with that story (featured on April 23 in the book) as an example of the extent Nielson takes his teaching. You should be able to decide on the level of appropriateness for your teen book-wide from there.

Provides a year’s worth of content

Many Bible studies available for teens, while providing excellent content, are done after a few weeks. While there is nothing wrong with shorter periods of study focused on particular topics or portions of Scripture, I’ve found that it’s immensely helpful for teens to have something that will keep them going for a while. This helps them be able to focus on what they’re studying rather than wondering where to go next. Also, the longer they have structure, the more likely they will develop the habit of daily reading. Think of what a year or more of consistent time in Scripture can do for a teen’s habit development! It’ll be a part of his or her daily rhythm.

Features study of the entire Bible

From starting Day 1 in Genesis 1 to featuring the Book of Revelation on the final installments, this book takes your teen on a Bible journey from cover to cover. I cannot overstate how important that is for a teen (or for any of us for that matter)! God’s Word is valuable and vital in its entirety. The proper development of our worldview is best pursued when we’re seeking and learning from all that God has given us in his Word.

To be clear, this is not a read-through-the-Bible program (though that’s a great idea too!). Nielson doesn’t cover every passage. But he does walk through the whole story arc of Scripture, leaving no section out. Teens will find themselves reading from Leviticus or one of the Minor Prophets, sections of the Bible that they might not have much interaction with otherwise. Your teen’s familiarity with the whole of Scripture will be greatly enhanced by doing this study.

Makes God’s words primary

This is perhaps the aspect of this study that I most appreciate. Many guided Bible studies for teens feature a verse or two for the student to read followed by a more lengthy explanation and application written by the author. This study is different because the assigned Bible reading each day is much longer–as much as a whole chapter in some cases. And while that may take more time, we as dads should be most excited about the fact that our teens are reading large sections of God’s words.

Nielson’s content, while excellent, is designed to supplement, explain, and apply rather than being the focal point. That emphasis on reading the text of Scripture being foremost is the appropriate balance.

Conclusion

Let me provide one more encouragement. The study is laid out for an entire year: 365 studies assigned a day of the year. I’d encourage your teens to not worry about waiting till next January to start! You can start anytime with study #1 and simply read study 2 the next day; no need to follow the dates. With a bookmark they’ll always know which day comes next either way.

I am excited to recommend this guided study to you and your teens. What privilege to equip our believing teens to grow in the discipline, knowledge, and instruction of our Lord! Dads, it’s fulfilling and encouraging to watch our children grow in their love for God’s Word and to see it become a part of their regular routine. As they commit to it regularly, they will find what God said to Joshua in 1:8 to be true for them, too: “you will have good success”!