"The Top 13 Questions About God": A Review

Youth ministry can be one of the most difficult, challenging, and intensive career fields out there. Troubled teens, drug and sex issues, and poor home lives can make for a demanding schedule and a hectic life. Any leader of teens and young adults will likely face a myriad of these and other obstacles along the way. But it can also be one of the most rewarding. Encountering the smile of young girl or boy whose life has been turned upside down by the redemptive power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will leave any youth pastor or leader in awe. It impresses upon us a sense of fulfillment like no other; a fulfillment only God Himself can deliver. When the grace of God and the power of the Scriptures excite a young life, it is truly a sight to behold.

Having led worship for and taught youth groups in two churches for the past six or more years, I can personally testify to the need for solid, Bible-based curriculums when forming small group meetings. The Top 13 Questions About God, released in 2002 by Group Publishing, is just such a curriculum. Geared toward junior and senior high students, this radical approach to youth discussions offers "Hard questions, Solid Answers" and results in "Rock Hard Faith."

The premise is simple: Jesus did not shy away from controversial questions about Christianity or the Scriptures. So why should your students? In a 13 week format, you will cover several faith-challenging questions, including: "How can I know God exists?" "Why would a loving God send people to Hell?" "How can I hear God communicate to me?" "Which is right: evolution or Creationism?", and "Will God forgive any and every sin?" And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Each lesson is packed with interactive handouts for your students as well as a My Response section in which to write their personal thoughts about the lesson and challenge. Speaking from personal experience, it is a wonderful discussion starter to help kids talk about things they have always wondered about God and their faith. Additionally, it is not required that you stick to the layout of each lesson. Many of the topics themselves will allow for two or three lessons, based on your students' interests in them.

Before leaping into lesson 1 ("How Can I Know God Exists?"), I personally recommend developing your own introduction to the curriculum. Introduce yourself to the group if necessary and find out a little bit about each of your students: their names, ages, hobbies, favorite school subjects, favorite music and movies, etc. Much of these interests will play a large role in several of the discussions covered by the curriculum.

You may also desire to start by explaining more in depth the concept of Jesus not being afraid to answer tough questions. Personally, I recommend the passage from Mark 10:17-31 in which Jesus is approached by a rich young man who asks "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Help your students take note of the man's actions by emphasizing the action verbs in the passage. When this rich ruler had a tough question about faith and God, he "ran to Him" and he "fell on his knees..." (New International Version, emphases added, vs. 17). By doing so, this man displayed both humility and reverence. He also advertised to the crowd and the Pharisees around him that he knew Who to go to with the big questions in life. This is the same thing we must do as Christians. Go to Jesus in humility and simply ask.

Likewise, we are to confront tough questions as Jesus does in the aforementioned passage. As Christians, we have been charged by Jesus as "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) and have a responsibility to shine light and truth into dark places, just as Jesus did. However, we must do so with gentleness, kindness, and sincerity. Remember how Jesus saw the rich young man: "Jesus looked at him and loved him." (verse 21, NIV).

The Top 13 Questions About God will help your students understand that they do not have to fear the unknowns or the uncertainties of God and their Christian faith. Instead, they will come to embrace them, answer them, and learn how to handle tough questions from their unsaved and un-churched friends and classmates.

-Joshua Givens, Underground Staff Writer

You can find out more about the curriculum at Group Publishers official website: www.group.com.

You can also purchase the curriculum at Lifeway Christian Stores online store: www.lifewaystores.com.

For more feature articles, news, and commentary on pop culture from a Christian perspective, visit The Underground online Christian magazine at: www.theundergroundsite.com.

This article was originally published here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/the-top-13-questions-about-god-a-review/