Sadly there aren’t many specific youth apologetics resources out there, especially not ones aimed at a UK context but hopefully some of this might be helpful. I cannot personally vouch for everything on the list as I haven’t read all of the items. Please do get in touch if you think I should add anything – the list is still very much a work in progress.
General Apologetics:
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller. Many of his other books are also great for this age group.
Beyond Opinion complied by Ravi Zacharias is a helpful tool for exploring lots of different challenges to the faith – it looks at everything from other religions, and the challenge of science to suffering.
But is It Real by Amy Orr Ewing’s looks at various objections to faith
Apologetics Study Bible for Students by Sean McDowell
True for You, But Not for Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith by Paul Copan with free study guide
When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics by Paul Copan
Who Made God? And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith compiled by Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler
Hard Questions, Real Answers by William Lane Craig
Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath. A good introduction to apologetics
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis – a classic text on faith
On Guard by William Lane Craig – a practical guide to defending the faith
Baker Encyclopaedia of Apologetics – Norman Geisler (for the hard core among them!)
General Books:
The Teenage Q&A book – Josh McDowell and Bill Jones. Honest, frank and straight to the point, youth experts Josh McDowell and Bill Jones jump into the middle of over 230 questions common among teenagers. From “How can I get along with my parents?” to “How can I resist drugs when all my friends do it?” to “How far can I go physically before it’s wrong?”
Café Theology by Mike Lloyd. A good summary of some of the complicated theological concepts explored with honesty and a sense of humour.
Searching Issues by Nicky Gumbel. This book discusses common objections to the Christian faith e.g. suffering and science
Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel. The Alpha course talks in book form
Christianity Explored – Rico Tice and Barry Cooper. The Christianity Explored course in book form
A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity: Nick Page. From Abelard to Zwingli, via a multitude of saints and sinners, Nick Page guides us through the creeds, councils, buildings and the background of the Christian church in an illuminating, and perhaps ever so slightly irreverent way!
Bible:
Amy Orr-Ewing’s Why Trust the Bible is a great place to start
The Big Book of Bible Difficulties by Norman Geisler. A useful resource that goes through the Bible systematically providing answers to difficult passages
Storylines by Andy Croft and Mike Pilavachi. This book explores the main themes of the Bible – covenant, kingdom, salvation, presence, worship, and Jesus to help provide keys to unlock understanding.
Why The Bible Matters – Mike Erre. This book tries to answers the questions emerging generations are asking about the Bible: How can the Scriptures be relevant to the post-Christian, postmodern world? Does objective truth even exist? With so many viewpoints, translations, and theologies out there, how can anyone today know what the Bible really means?
Apologetics Study Bible for Students by Sean McDowell
Surprised by Scripture – NT Wright. In straightforward, no nonsense style, Tom Wright brings his unparalleled biblical knowledge to bear on the most critical matters for today’s active Christian mind. He gives his insightful and well informed view on subjects including women’s ordination, science and religion, biblical ecology, the problem of evil and the resurrection of Jesus – and examines them all in the searching light of Scripture.
Soul Survivor Youth Bible With over 500 extra bits from the team, young people and other well-known experts, this digs deep into the Bible – its key themes, the big stories that run all the way through, the wisdom, stories and human lives that we can learn from
NIV Audio Bible – David Suchet
The Book of God – Walter Wangerin. The entire bible as a novel
Paul, A Novel – Walter Wangerin. The story of Paul as a novel
New Atheism:
Gunning for God – John Lennox
Why God won’t go away – Alister McGrath
The Dawkins Delusion – Alister McGrath and Joanna Collicutt McGrath. A response to Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion
God and Science/ Creation:
Who Made God? by Edgar Andrews
God’s Undertaker: Has science buried God? – John Lennox
Dawkins’ God: genes, memes and the meaning of life – Alister McGrath
Seven days that divide the world – John Lennox. A short book on creation
Objections/ Defending the faith:
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller. Many of his other books are also great for this age group.
Can Man Live Without God by Ravi Zacharias about humankind and the need for God
Has Christianity Failed You? By Ravi Zacharias. A good book for those who feel let down by the church – also in DVD format
Is Religion Dangerous? By Keith Ward. Answering the central claim that religion is dangerous
Tactics by Greg Koukl – a helpful guide to communicating the gospel message to others
Engaging with Atheists-David Robertson
Engaging with Culture/ mission:
Apologetics For A New Generation – General Editor Sean McDowell
Blue Like Jazz-Donald Miller
Unapologetic-Francis Spufford
Christianity Rediscovered-VincentJ Donovan
The Provocative Church-Graham Tomlin
Everyday Church-Tim Chester & Steve Timmis
The Emerging Church-Dan Kimball
Raising Children in a Digital Age by Bex Lewis. This is a must read for anyone questioning how to engage in social media.
Jesus/ Resurrection:
The case for Christ/ Faith/ Creator – Lee Strobel. He has reproduced all of these in student editions.
Evidence that demands a verdict – Josh McDowell
Surprised by Hope – Tom Wright
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Mike Licona and Gary Habermas. A good popular book on how to communicate the evidence for the resurrection, using a minimum facts approach that would be acceptable to sceptics.
Cross of Christ – John Stott or slightly more manageable but similar:
King’s Cross – Tim Keller
Other religions/ Islam:
Jesus Among Other Gods – Ravi Zacharias
Why Jesus? – Ravi Zacharias
But Don’t All Religions Lead to God? – Michael Green
Seeking Allah, finding Jesus – apologist Nabeel Quereshi tells the fascinating story of his journey from Islam to Christianity
Holy Warriors: A fresh look at the face of extreme Islam– Frog/Amy Orr-Ewing
A Christians Pocket Guide to Islam-Patrick Sookhdeo
Suffering/ unanswered prayer:
Why –Sharon Dirckx . This book recently won the acclaimed Speaking Volumes 2014 Christian Book Award
God On Mute – Pete Grieg. This book deals brilliantly with the issue of unanswered prayer.
Unspeakable, facing up to the challenge of evil – Os Guinness
Walking with God through pain and suffering – Tim Keller
Disappointment with God – Philip Yancey
Where is God When It Hurts? Philip Yancey
The Question That Never Goes Away – Philip Yancey
The Shack – WM Paul Young (fiction)
Cross Roads – WM Paul Young (fiction)
Sexuality:
The Meaning of Marriage – Tim Keller
Love Is An Orientation – Andrew Marin
Is God Anti-Gay? – Sam Alberry
Autobiographies:
Run Baby Run – Nicky Cruz
The Cross and the Switch Blade – David Wilkerson
Life Change – Alpha testimonies
The God who changes lives – Alpha testimonies compiled by Mark Elsdon Dew (volumes 1,2,3)
Defending the Line: The David Luiz Story by Anthony Carpenter
Toward the goal, the Kaka story – Jeremy V Jones. Luiz and Kaka are two Brazilian footballers who are both very open about their faith…
Walking from East to West – Ravi Zacharias autobiography
Lifestyle/ Discipleship:
The Call by Os Guinness. A good book on following God’s call
The Irresistible Revolution; living as an ordinary radical – Shane Claiborne
Crazy Love – Francis Chan
The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren
What’s so amazing about Grace – Philip Yancey
Just for Girls:
Soul Sista: how to be a girl of God – Beth Redman. This lifestyle handbook for Christian teenage girls has two aims: to encourage self-esteem and a life of biblical integrity.
God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved – Beth Redman Drawing on Scripture and her own experience, Redman invites us to explore the revolutionary implications of being loved by a God who knows our name.
Fiction:
Redeeming Love – Francine Rivers. A beautiful retelling of the story of Hosea and a reminder of God’s amazing grace. To be honest, I’d recommend any of Francine Rivers’ books for teenagers.
The Vow – Dana Wilkerson, Kim Carpenter, Krickitt Carpenter. Based on a true story and the inspiration behind the Hollywood blockbuster, this book tells the story of Krickitt Carpenter whose memory is completely wiped by a car accident. Through many difficult circumstances Kim & Krickett work hard to fall in love all over again. Although the film scrubs out their faith, the book tells the whole story of how their faith played a major role in their recovery.
The Chronicles of Narnia series – C.S Lewis
The Cosmic Trilogy – Perelandra, Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength – C.S Lewis
Screwtape letters – C.S Lewis
Worship:
FaceDown – Matt Redman
Here I Am To Worship – Tim Hughes. This book shares his journey into worship, helping us to see the reasons why we worship God, and why we need to get our hearts right with Him, before looking at the practicalities of band dynamics etc
DVDs:
Is God Great? A debate between Christopher Hitchens and Prof John Lennox.
Has Science Buried God? A debate between Prof Richard Dawkins and Prof John Lennox
Towards Belief by Olive Tree media (includes Amy Orr-Ewing, John Lennox, Os Guinness, Nicky Gumbel)
Yes, Your Question by Ravi Zacharias – a compilation of responses to question during Q & A sessions
For Young Children:
The awesome book of bible answers for kids – Josh McDowell and Kevin Johnson
William Lane Craig picture books
Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
For Youth Workers:
Apologetics For A New Generation – General Editor Sean McDowell
Teenagers: Why do they do that? By Nick Pollard
Sticky Faith, Youthworker Edition – Dr Kara E Powell, Brad M Griffin and Dr Cheryl A Craford
You Lost Me and UnChristian both by David Kinnaman
Raising Children in a Digital Age by Bex Lewis. This is a must read for anyone questioning how to engage in social media.
SPECIFIC YOUTH APOLOGETICS RESOURCES:
I have put these at the end because they are aimed at an American audience and our youth context in the UK is very different so some of the content doesn’t resonate very well with British teenagers…
The Defense Never Rests – William Lane Craig
On Guard Companion DVD: Learn To Defend Your Faith – For Groups or Individuals
God Quest with Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, and others
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