3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making the Most of Your Conversations and Connections

by Kara Powell, Brad M. Griffin

Overview

Today's teenagers are the most anxious, creative, and diverse generation in history—which can make it hard for us to relate. And while every teenager is a walking bundle of questions, three rise above the rest:

- Who am I?
- Where do I fit?
- What difference can I make?

Young people struggle to find satisfying and life-giving answers to these questions on their own. They need caring adults willing to lean in with empathy, practice listening, and gently point them in the direction of better answers: they are enough because of Jesus, they belong with God's people, and they are invited into God's greater story.

In this book, which is based on new landmark research from the Fuller Youth Institute and combines in-depth interviews with data from 1,200 diverse teenagers, Kara Powell and Brad M. Griffin offer pastors, youth leaders, mentors, and parents practical and proven conversations and connections that help teenagers answer their three biggest questions and reach their full potential.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801093388
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	205,875
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Kara Powell, PhD, is the Chief of Leadership Formation and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) at Fuller Theological Seminary (see fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange and speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family and the entire Sticky Faith series, and Can I Ask That? Kara and her husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that comes from their three teenage and young adult children.

Brad M. Griffin is the Senior Director of Content for the Fuller Youth Institute, where he develops research-based training for youth workers and parents. A speaker, writer, and volunteer youth pastor, Brad is the coauthor of over a dozen books, including Faith in an Anxious World, Growing Young, several Sticky Faith books, Every Parent's Guide to Navigating Our Digital World, and the series Can I Ask That? 8 Hard Questions about God and Faith. Brad and his wife, Missy, live in Southern California and share life with their three teenage and young adult children. He also serves as Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries at Mountainside Communion.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 13

Part I Questions Begging for Better Answers

1 The Big Questions Every Teenager Is Asking 19

2 Learning to Listen for Answers 43

3 Jesus Offers Better Answers 69

Part II Who Am I?

4 The Big Question of Identity 91

5 ENOUGH: Jesus' Better Answer 113

Part III Where Do I Fit?

6 The Big Question of Belonging 141

7 WITH: Jesus' Better Answer 163

Part IV What Difference Can I Make?

8 The Big Question of Purpose 191

9 STORY: Jesus' Better Answer 213

Part V Questions Disrupted

10 Conversations and Connections in Tough Times 239

Appendix A Our Interview Participants 259

Appendix B Over 170 Questions to Ask a Teenager 261

Notes 281