Ben Hardman
Group, 2011, 162 pp., $11.99
Thrive is a devotional book of sorts, if you would like to put a label on it; but it is far more than the average teen/young adult devotional book. While colorful, topical and each chapter ending with reflective questions, this book is so much more that run-of-the-mill. This book’s five sections and 24 chapters are real life truths for Christians living with no holding back. Skip the cuteness and clichés; this book, as its cover says is about ‘more than just surviving your faith.’ Each author and chapter leads the reader to thrive in their present Christian walk and into future faith.
“Section 3: Idolatry” and “Section 4: Decisions Made Now Affect Your Future” are my favorites, addressing two huge issues in the transition from youth ministry into young adulthood. Each of these sections through the excellent writing of each contributing author really challenges the reader to stop and think. Also, I love Hardman’s opening introductions to each section. He really sets the tone through a good mix of personal stories and Scripture. They are a nice lead into the section, preparing the mind and heart for what is to about to follow.
Although the target audience is senior high students and young adults, the book is written in a way that mature junior highers looking for something deeper can benefit from, as well. If you are looking for a great one-on-one discipleship tool to use personally or a solid tool to hand off to your leaders to use with students, this is it. Also, depending on your context and small groups, this would make a great tool for a 5- or 24-week study in that setting, as well.
Overall, it is an A+ tool and worthy of the quick discipleship resource shelf in your office.
—Dan Istvanik, Jr. High Youth Pastor
Thrive is a series of reflections on various topics drawn from Scripture. Thrive offers answers rather than challenging young people to be students of the Word. Our young people must learn how to study and apply the Word individually and in community if we desire them to thrive spiritually; this is why I would not use this resource.
–Darwin Glassford
At first, I thought this book was for youth workers to use as a daily devotional. Then I discovered it was for students–high school and young adults. Honestly, I would use it for all three levels of ages. The author’s devotional is deep, hard hitting and lives up to its name. It causes one to thrive in his or her relationship with Christ. I love the author’s focus that he wants his readers not just to know about God, but to know God personally and more deeply during a 30-day period. I plan to use this as part of our graduation present to our seniors as I know this resource will highly benefit them in their days ahead.
—Shawn Harrison, Student and Family Pastor at Wayne Street UMC, Saint Marys, Ohio.
I loved Thrive. I think it is an awesome book to have for a daily devotional/thought. I have used some of the content in youth sermons and other studies and definitely would recommend it to anyone looking for a good resource to push one’s faith and look at life in a different light.
–D.J. Pittman, Youth and Family Minister, Branches of Christ, Acworth, Georgia.
###
