Let’s be honest. Being an influencer to the next generation, with all of its complicated trends and snowballing threats, can feel downright overwhelming. Most of this sensation is the result of feeling inadequate and not knowing where to turn for dependable, insightful helps in real time and space. God’s calling always assumes His enabling…enabling that has graciously provided for us not only His faithful Word and Spirit but more relevant resources than likely any other generation of parents, grandparents, teachers, youth ministers, and pastors. We are foolish to not take full advantage of them and become less reactive/inactive and more proactive.

As Shane Pruitt just posted, “Instead of worrying about young people, start praying for them. Instead of criticizing young people, start sharing the Gospel with them. Instead of complaining about young people, start building a relationship with them. Instead of avoiding young people, start discipling them.“

This fall we rebranded our church’s booth at our county fair here in Ohio. The theme was “Raising Up the Next Generation” and included candy, face painting, and most importantly resources to empower parents/grandparents in our community to impact the next generation for Jesus. What a thrill to see our 10 x 10 foot spot often overrun with parents/grandparents seeking real, substantive answers! Here is a list of the not-infallible-but-solid resources that we gave them on a jumbo bookmark:

General

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That
Can Radically Change Your Family,
Paul David Tripp

Godly Parenting In An Ungodly World: How to Raise Not Just Good but Godly Kids Through Heart-Driven Grace-Based Parenting,
Andrew Linder

Grandparents

Grandparenting with Grace: Living the Gospel with the Next Generation,
Larry E. McCall

Devotions

Write It On Their Hearts: Practical Help for Discipling Your Kids,
Chris and Melissa Swain

Long Story Short/Old Story New: Ten Minute Devotionals To Draw Your Family To God,
Marty Machowski

Time Out for Parents: 90 Days of Biblical Encouragement,
Paul Chappell

Teens

Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting Teens,
Cary Schmidt

Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
Paul David Tripp

This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms The Teen Years,
Jaquelle Crowe

Purity

The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality,
Luke Gilkerson

Passport2Purity Getaway Kit,
FamilyLife Publishing

Discipline

Shepherding A Child’s Heart
Tedd Tripp

Wellness

Good News for Little Hearts Series (13 Books),
Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)

Grace for Children: Finding Hope In The Midst of Child and Adolescent Mental Illness,
Matthew S. Stanford

Prayer

Praying the Scriptures for Your Children/Teens/Adult Children (3 Book Series)
Jodie Berndt

Blogs

godlyparent.com

encouragementfromwomen.com

Podcasts

“Family Life Today”

“Keeping It Young”

“Focus on Parenting”

Are you praying with me and the Psalmist, “O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come” (Ps. 71:18)? But that can feel so overwhelming. Serving the next generation faithfully, with all of the contemporary issues in their world, is less about charting a personally insightful and original course of action and more about becoming a curator of content that God’s grace has given us in His Word and through other’s Spirit-applied input aligned with His Word.

As someone wisely put it, “Be (for the next generation) who you needed WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER.” A person you don’t have to be/cannot be all by your lonesome. Read and listen with discernment but do so broadly. Don’t give the same pat answer you gave or others gave to you a decade ago. Keep it fresh. Keep it growing. Nothing less will engage and inspire those coming behind you.

If you would like a master file of the bookmark to customize for your own use, please email our ministry at office@northlife.church.

Also, if you have a next-gen impacting resource that you recommend in one of these areas, please post in the comments below.