Reality 101 : What the Bible Says to Teens about Real-Life Questions

by Lightwave

• ISBN13: 9780842335751
• ISBN10: 0842335757
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-05-01
• Publisher: TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Summary

Young teens seeking answers to some of their most vexing questions will enjoy Reality 101. With a user-friendly format similar to the best-selling Questions Children Ask series, this book contains 101 questions covering 10 topics. Each question is accompanied by a cartoon illustration. Answers are followed by a Scripture verse and a list of related Scripture references. Interesting or humorous bits of trivia, quotes, and "food for thought" will spark a teen's interest. Reality 101 is sure to penetrate the hearts and minds of teens, their parents, and anyone interested in the spiritual growth of young Christians.

Author Biography

WAYNE RICE is founder and director of Understanding Your Teenager, an organization serving parents of teens and preteens, and has written numerous books about youth and youth ministry. DAVID R. VEERMAN is the father of two daughters, a thirty-year veteran of youth ministry, and the author of over thirty-five books.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. x
Introduction	p. xi
God Stutt
Why should we listen to what the Bible says? Wasn't it just written by people?	p. 2
How can a book that was written thousands of years ago have anything to do with me?	p. 4
Hasn't science proven that the Bible is wrong about a lot of stuff?	p. 6
How did the Bible actually get written?	p. 8
Why is the Bible so confusing to read?	p. 10
Who decided what books went into the Bible?	p. 12
How come during Bible times God did all these miraculous things like the burning bush and he doesn't do that today?	p. 14
Why is the Bible so full of rules? Doesn't God want me to have any fun?	p. 16
How is God three people and yet one God at the same time?	p. 18
What makes one religion right and the others wrong? Aren't all religions just going to the same destination but following different roads to get there?	p. 20
People talk about having a "relationship with God," but how can they have a relationship with someone they can't see?	p. 22
Don't good people make it into heaven?	p. 24
What about people who never hear about Jesus Christ? Will they go to heaven or hell?	p. 26
Relative Issues
I'm old enough to make decisions and take responsibility for my life. Why won't my parents treat me like an adult and trust me?	p. 30
My parents are so old-fashioned that they are an embarrassment to me. How can I get them to change?	p. 32
The Bible says, "Honor your father and mother," but what if your parents aren't believers?	p. 34
How do I introduce my parents to Christ?	p. 36
Why do parents split up?	p. 38
Why should my parents expect me to live like a Christian when I know they didn't at my age?	p. 40
My stepparent is always telling me what to do. Why should I obey somebody who is not my real parent?	p. 42
Why do brothers and sisters fight?	p. 44
My parents keep asking me personal questions, but I don't want to tell them everything. Isn't it OK to have some privacy?	p. 46
Our family vacations are boring. My parents say it's "family time." Why is that such a big deal?	p. 48
Just Friends
I have trouble making friends. Is there something wrong with me?	p. 52
How can I choose the right friends?	p. 54
I have good friends, but my parents don't like them. What can I do?	p. 56
My best friend is changing and starting to do things that I know are wrong and will hurt her. How can I help her stay on the right track?	p. 58
Are all cliques bad? Is it wrong for my Christian friends to have a clique?	p. 60
My closest friends like to go out and party. I don't! How do I keep their friendship without falling into their ways?	p. 62
My friends don't go to church. Does that mean they will go to hell?	p. 64
Is it safe to have non-Christian friends? Is it wrong?	p. 66
Some of my friends put me down because I'm a Christian. What should I do?	p. 68
How can friends who are Christians treat you so crummy sometimes?	p. 70
My friends have spread rumors about me that aren't true. What should I do?	p. 72
One of my friends has talked about suicide. Should I tell someone?	p. 74
On the Horizon
How can I know God's will?	p. 78
I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. Nothing seems to interest me. What should I do?	p. 80
Will God's plan always be something that I don't like?	p. 82
What does it mean when people say, "Jesus is coming back"? How will he come back?	p. 84
How do I know if what I want to do is what God wants me to do?	p. 86
Is it true that we are not supposed to know about our future?	p. 88
How can I know I'll find my perfect mate? Is there only one right person to be married to?	p. 90
If you know God has everything under control, is it still OK to be disappointed?	p. 92
What if I go to college and have a particular major but don't use it?	p. 94
When you die, what happens? Do you go straight to heaven?	p. 96
When I look at how adults have messed up the world. I get pretty discouraged. Am I destined to become just like them?	p. 98
Should Christians be involved in protecting the environment for future generations if Jesus is coming back soon anyway?	p. 100
Get Real
Will God love me more if I do everything right instead of messing up all the time?	p. 104
Most of the time I wish I were someone else. Why did God make me this way?	p. 106
How can I figure out what I'm good at?	p. 108
I seem to act differently with different groups of kids. How can I tell which me is the real me?	p. 110
How do you define a "bad" person?	p. 112
People tell me I'm a loser. Why shouldn't I believe them?	p. 114
Is it acceptable to change your appearance with plastic surgery, tattoos, body piercing, etc?	p. 116
If drugs make me feel so good, why shouldn't I take them?	p. 118
Big Bucks
Why do I always seem to need more money?	p. 122
Is it OK to have a part-time job during the school year?	p. 124
Is money itself bad (evil)?	p. 126
Is it wrong to desire to live in a big house, have a nice car, and have expensive things?	p. 128
Why is the church always asking for money?	p. 130
How much money should I give to the offering?	p. 132
Should I start saving money now for when I'm old and can't work anymore?	p. 134
Is gambling wrong?	p. 136
What's the point of working so hard for a few lousy bucks when all the really successful people are making millions?	p. 138
Pump It Up
How does music affect me?	p. 142
What's the difference between regular rock and Christian rock music?	p. 144
Listening to rock music makes me feel good. What's wrong with that?	p. 146
I listen to Christian rock; should I try getting my friends to listen to it?	p. 148
What's wrong with seeing R-rated movies and videos? I've heard it all and seen it all before.	p. 150
Does God have a sense of humor?	p. 152
Is God OK with science-fiction books and movies?	p. 154
If you know that swearing is wrong, it is really bad to hear it in movies?	p. 156
Can Christians become entertainers in the secular world, or should they make only Christian music and Christian movies?	p. 158
Getting Through
Since God knows everything, why should I pray?	p. 162
How do I know if God hears what I pray?	p. 164
Does God hear me if I pray in my head and not out loud?	p. 166
How does prayer work? What difference does it make in the world?	p. 168
Does God always answer our prayers?	p. 170
What should we pray for/about?	p. 172
Is there a right way and a wrong way to pray?	p. 174
How come sometimes when I pray it feels like no one is there listening to me?	p. 176
How long should I pray? Is praying once for one thing long enough?	p. 178
People say, "God spoke to me in prayer." Should I hear God's voice talking to me?	p. 180
The Class Act
Why do adults make such a big deal about grades?	p. 184
Why do parents get so upset at one bad test if you still have a good grade in the class?	p. 186
Will God be mad if I drop out of school?	p. 188
Does God really help me when I pray before a test?	p. 190
Is it illegal to take a Bible to class?	p. 192
Should I disagree with my teacher when he teaches evolution?	p. 194
How important is it to make your Christianity known in your school?	p. 196
Why do I have to take all these stupid classes that I'll never use in the future?	p. 198
My parents want me to go to college and only care about academics. Do I listen to my parents or do what I know is best for me?	p. 200
Bad News
If God is love, why is there so much hate?	p. 204
Why does God allow so much pain and suffering?	p. 206
Since God can do anything, why doesn't he make things fair? I don't want special treatment; I just want things fair.	p. 208
Why isn't the world any different since Jesus came and died? I thought that was supposed to change things.	p. 210
Why did my parents' generation leave the world in such a mess?	p. 212
What can one person my age do to make a difference in the world?	p. 214
Will we be held responsible for things we didn't do as well as for things we did do?	p. 216
Should Christians ever "pull the plug"?	p. 218
What about capital punishment?	p. 220
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