What’s the Deal With…? 500 Questions Today’s Students Are Asking About the Biggest Issues in Life
Brian Schulenburg
Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2007, 141 pp., $10.99,
www.youthspecialties.com
Discussion starter questions are, and have always been, an excellent resource for use in youth ministry. However, Brian Schulenburg’s book is unlike other discussion starter books. His requires preparation. You can’t just jump into questions like, “What’s the deal with hormones? If God doesn’t want me to have sex before I’m married, why did He give me hormones?” and “What’s the deal with the Dead Sea Scrolls? Why are they such a significant find?” Without the necessary homework by leaders, students won’t experience the kind of discussions these questions have the potential to spur.
While the Jerry Seinfeld reference in the title and questions of What’s the deal with… seems too strong a push toward relevance, it is well explained in the introduction, as well as some tips on how to proceed with follow-up for the small group discussion novice. This is a fantastic deep discussion starter, as long as the leader is prepared.
