It's ok for you to have questions about your faith. You aren't the only one that has those questions, and you shouldn't be embarrassed by them. In Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith, Mike McGarry explores the twenty most common questions teenagers ask.
In nearly twenty years as a youth pastor, Mike has heard just about every question students ask. Your questions are important—and they may prove to be the very thing that actually leads you into deeper faith. Discover covers a wide range of questions that teens like you ask about faith including: Why does God allow suffering? Why should we trust the Bible? Is church relevant? Does God care about my sexual identity? and more.
Mike wants you to see your questions as an opportunity to dig deeper and grow in your faith. Each chapter is short and tackles important topics such as doubt, the resurrection, tolerance, sexual issues, prayer, and more. He thinks you will be encouraged to see what God has to say.
"Who is God? Why am I here? Where are we going? If you have questions about the Christian faith or if you have friends with questions, you are not the first and won't be the last. This book will help you process your concerns with compassion and truth. Whether you are curious about the Christian faith or you are rock solid in your beliefs and want to help someone know Jesus, pick up Discover and encounter the beauty and wonder of the Christian gospel that has given hope to believers for 2,000 years."
Daniel Darling, Director, The Land Center for Cultural Engagement; bestselling author of several books, including, The Dignity Revolution, A Way with Words,and The Characters of Christmas
"As the parent of two teens, as a pastor, and especially as a former teenage questioner who was afraid to express my uncertainties, I am deeply grateful for Mike McGarry's new book. I love that Discover does not underestimate the minds and abilities of teens to think through and to grasp wonderful truths about God and his Word. This is just the kind of resource parents and youth ministers should have on hand to shepherd the next generation toward a deep, affectionate, and rich relationship with Christ."
Barnabas Piper, Pastor, Immanuel Church Nashville; author of Help my Unbelief
"In a day and age when we are encouraged to embrace a personally-formed spirituality without regard to theology, we must recognize that any God-talk or engagement with the Christian faith is all about theology. Everyone is a theologian. It's simply a matter of unintentionally doing theology poorly, or intentionally doing theology well. I'm grateful that Mike McGarry has given us a tool to use with our students that respects their ability to go deep, offers sound biblical theology, and can be used by both youth workers and parents to spark solid theological thought and discussion that will serve to build up students for a lifetime of faithfully following Jesus. "
Walt Mueller, President, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding
"As a youth pastor at my church for almost thirty years, as well as a professor of youth ministry, I will use and recommend this book enthusiastically. Mike suggests that students can read this book with a mentor or adult leader or in small groups, but I would love to buy this book and give it away to every student I could. There is also immense instructional value for small groups, student leadership teams, or one-on-one discipleship of students, to help grow their faith and transform their lives."
Danny Kwon, Pastor of Youth and Families, Yuong Sang Church; adjunct professor, Eastern University/Missio Seminary; author of Mission Tripping and A Youth Worker's Field Guide to Parents
"Today's teens grow up in a confused and skeptical world. McGarry gives pastors and churches a tool that doesn't shy away from hard questions but instead roots students in biblical truth. Discover will be a great resource for youth pastors preparing kids for baptism or confirmation."
Jared Kennedy, Editor, The Gospel Coalition; author of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible and Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission
Apply coupon code MIXNSAVE to your shopping cart
*Some exceptions apply
I am a teenager that came across this book. This is hands down the most practical guide to following Jesus that I have found as a teenager in today's society that just simply wants the true, correct, and practical answers. I will admit, I strongly dislike reading long and boring books about christianity and faith as most teenagers have such a short attention span, like myself. This book delivers each point concisely while not compromising on fundamental theology to the christian faith. Often times, I find that the most simplest -- yet most complex -- questions are not answered for teenagers who are still questioning their way to faith or desiring to learn how to follow Jesus more obediently. After reading this book cover to cover on multiple occasions, I am so incredibly grateful that the Lord has allowed me to use this guide/handbook in my walk with Him. For any fellow teenagers or parents of teenagers out there looking for a tailored, digestible, and biblically alined resource, I would highly recommend Discover without reservation. Life is incredibly hard to navigate, especially as a teenager who is pulled in so many different directions between sports, academics, social life, and church. Opening up my bible and praying are daily challenges but having resources like Discover help build a foundation for young adults like myself to find the answers that we seek and to live with the word of God as the truth and guiding principle of our lives.
This is the most well received book I have used with students in the last few years! I ended up buying a whole case to give out to students at youth group. The middle and high school boys use it for Sunday school now, reading a chapter a week. It’s the only book I’ve ever gotten them to read of their own free will. The topics are engaging and, this is key, the chapters are short enough that they don’t get lost. I’m really thankful for this resource!
Though this book is targeting youth/youth ministry and covers many things they should know, it covers many subjects/questions many new believers and those seeking answers to questions about faith will find helpful and a convenient resource to have on hand for conversations with friends, relatives and neighbors. Another beauty of this book is that the chapters are short, concise and clear. It could also be used as a Sunday School or Youth Ministry curriculum or even a new believers class or bible study. It includes questions and follow up for personal or group discussion or journal response as well as extension resources. A timely and much needed resource for middle school to midlife and beyond making Jesus the testimony of truth and purpose with answers to questions that bolster our faith.
The author came a a spoke to our youth group and introduced his book. My 13 year old asked us to buy and she cannot put it down. It has opened up amazing conversations about her assurance of faith and awakened a thirst for more of Gods word! We are buying one for her best buds for Christmas. I wish I could tell everyone that this book has spoken to many of her thoughts before she could articulate them. Best book of the year for my teen!
Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry takes 20 questions that teens have about Faith in God and helps to guide them in answering those questions. Discover covers a wide range of topics from the validity of the Bible to how God views and created sexuality. Each chapter tackles one of the questions, using the Bible and Biblical perspective and wisdom to give in depth answers. At the end of each chapter, there is a section called “Digging Deeper” that has questions for the reader to think and digest what they have just read. What I love about Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry is the wide range of topics that are covered. I used Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry as part of my devotion time, but I would recommend doing this as a study with friends and a trusted adult who is seasoned in the Faith. I highlighted much of the book and made notes. I love that Mr. McGarry covered topics that Christians shy away from at times and was able to give a strong Biblical answer for them. Not only does Mr. McGarry give Biblical answers, but he also explains the answers practically, with understanding and heart. I love how each chapter is packed with information, but at the same time is short. I love the questions at the end of each chapter because they make you think. I also thought the notes that were at the end of some of the chapters were helpful and I plan on looking into them more . If you have a teen in your life that has questions about God, I believe Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry, along with Bible, is a good place to start! I highly recommend it!
Approachable book to walk teenagers through common questions they ask. This would be good to help develop and outline for teaching series of walking through a group for deeper discipleship. McGarry does a good job keeping chapters short and approachable while tackling tough questions
When I heard Mike was coming out with a common questions book, I was very excited. I was so excited that I bought 15 copies and I wasn't disappointed. I'm a first-year, first-pastorate youth pastor and I'm always looking for resources to give to parents and youth as they learn more about Jesus and grow together. Though this book is written for and geared towards teenagers with questions, it's been helpful to give to parents as well. I think it's been helpful so parents can address these common questions now that they feel equipped to do so. Whether you're looking for a resource for parents and youth leaders or have a student that has more questions than answers, this is the book for you. It's accessible, easy to read, and has discussion questions at the end of each chapter to further the conversation.
This is the Youth Pastor Theologian at his very best. As a youth pastor, it is really hard to find solid biblical and theological resources that every student can easily engage with and learn from. In fact, most marketed to teens are the opposite of what we want! Mike has done the Church a huge favor with providing a solution: an accessible, broadly structured, biblically ground resource that teens, parents, youth workers, and mature Christians will find beneficial. This has discussion questions, apologetics, theology, and is deeply pastoral in tone. Buy a dozen copies and hand them out!
This is the Youth Pastor Theologian at his very best. As a youth pastor, it is really hard to find solid biblical and theological resources that every student can easily engage with and learn from. In fact, most marketed to teens are the opposite of what we want! Mike has done the Church a huge favor with providing a solution: an accessible, broadly structured, biblically ground resource that teens, parents, youth workers, and mature Christians will find beneficial. This has discussion questions, apologetics, theology, and is deeply pastoral in tone. Buy a dozen copies and hand them out!
As much as Christians might not want to admit it, it’s not unusual to question your faith. Asking and getting answers to the hard questions usually helps Christians feel more sure and solid in their faith and beliefs. This is especially true for teens who might have grown up in the church but need to discover for themselves the truths of Christianity versus just ‘believing’ because that’s what they were taught to do. Author Mike McGarry’s Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith covers twenty hard questions that many Christians wrestle with at one point or another. These include topics such as: Can I be sure of my salvation, What is the Trinity, How can a loving God send anyone to hell, Why does God allow suffering, and How do Christians interpret the Old Testament, among many more great questions! The answers to these questions are sized perfectly for teens and busy adults, at only several pages each. McGarry cuts to the heart of each message and succinctly describes the Biblical case for each one. He doesn’t steer clear of the hard stuff. He tackles LGBTQ+, Sex and Dating, and whether Christians should be tolerant, among other hot topics. These subjects and answers may ruffle the feathers of staunch believers on either end of the belief spectrum. McGarry cites several Biblical references for each topic to give the foundation for his answers. Overall, he acknowledges many opposing viewpoints that should make all parties feel understood in their stances, no matter if the conclusion isn’t what they would ‘like’ it to be. As an adult who’s wrestled with some of these topics in my own mind, I looked forward to reading McGarry’s explanations. Most rang true for me and certainly gave me some clarity as well as fuel for more reflection. Discover is geared toward teens and, therefore, many of the circumstances that McGarry references reflect those that teens face. In spite of that targeted audience, I still feel this book would be great for doubting Christians of any age or those who are struggling with some of the core concepts of Christianity or the cultural issues of our times
