Sticky Faith Teen Curriculum

Both national leaders with broad spheres of influence as well as local, grassroots practitioners are waking up to the reality that 50% of their graduating seniors struggle deeply with their faith in college. Offering a few special “Senior Seminars” or giving seniors a “graduation Bible” and hoping for the best are both too little and too late. FYI’s research confirms that it’s never too early to start developing faith that continues to grow and lasts. Sticky Faith gives youth workers both a theological/philosophical framework and a host of practical programming ideas that develop long-term faith in teenagers.

Sticky Faith delivers positive and practical ideas to nurture within your kids a living, loving faith that lasts a lifetime. Research indicates that almost half of high school seniors drift from their faith after graduation. Struck by this staggering statistic, and recognizing its ramifications, the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) conducted the "College Transition Project" in an effort to identify the relationships and best practices that can set young people on a trajectory of lifelong faith and service. This easy-to-read guide presents both a compelling rationale and a powerful strategy to show parents how to actively encourage their children’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith. Written by Fuller Youth Institute Executive Director Dr. Kara E. Powell and youth expert Chap Clark--authors known for the integrity of their research and the intensity of their passion for young people--Sticky Faith is geared to spark a movement that empowers adults to develop robust and long-term faith in kids of all ages. Further engage your family and church with the Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith curriculum, and Sticky Faith youth worker edition. Sticky Faith is also available in Spanish, Cómo criar jóvenes de fe sólida.

Many of the statistics you read about teenagers and faith can be alarming. Recent studies show that 40-50 percent of kids who are connected to a youth group throughout their senior year will fail to stick with their faith in college. As youth workers are pouring their time and energy into the students in their ministries, they are often left wondering if they’ve done enough to equip their students to carry their faith into adulthood. Fuller Youth Institute has done extensive research in the area of youth ministry and teenage development. In Sticky Faith, the team at FYI presents youth workers with both a theological/philosophical framework and practical programming ideas that develop long-term faith in teenagers. Each chapter presents a summary of FYI’s quantitative and qualitative research, along with the implications of this research, including program ideas suggested and tested by youth ministries nationwide. This resource will give youth pastors what they need to help foster a faith that sticks with all the teenagers in their group long after they’ve left the youth room.

If you are eager for an authentic action plan you can use every day to point your kids toward lasting, lifelong faith, this is it. Building on the bestselling go-to guidebook Sticky Faith, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family shows parents how to actively encourage their children's spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith. This accessible guide presents more than 100 practical, easy-to-implement ideas to set your family on a trajectory of lifelong faith, including how to . . . Handle mistakes and show forgiveness Connect and relate to your teenager Talk faith with your kids Build faith during downtime or on vacation Make your house a hub of faith Be a family of service And more! Perfect for busy parents who don't have time and inclination to read--yet grounded in sophisticated, academically verified data by the Fuller Youth Institute--this guidebook is a welcome resource you can turn to time and time again for fresh ideas and inspiration.

Teenagers are tired of vague or nonexistent answers to their tough questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Just when they're capable of diving into the deep end of their faith, all too often the church keeps them splashing around in shallow waters. As eight years of Sticky Faith research on teenagers has shown, it's not doubt or hard questions that are toxic to faith. It's silence. The trusted voice of the Fuller Youth Institute and proven best practices from churches around the country converge to provide you with tools both to start conversations about hard questions, as well as to lead students toward discovering their own faith convictions. Designed for use in small groups alongside the Can I Ask That Student Guide, these six sessions tackle the following tough questions: Is it wrong to doubt God? Is hell real? How could God send someone there? Can I do something so bad God won't forgive me? Why do bad things happen to good people? Is sex outside marriage wrong? Why is it so awkward to talk about Jesus with my friends?

Many parents of a teenager or young adult feel as though they're guessing about what to do next--with mixed results. We want to stay connected with our maturing child, but we're not sure how. And deep down, we fear our child doesn't want or need us. Based on brand-new research and interviews with remarkable families, Growing With equips parents to take steps toward their teenagers and young adults in a mutual journey of intentional growth that trusts God to transform them all. By highlighting three groundbreaking family strategies, authors Kara Powell and Steven Argue show parents that it's never too early or too late to - accept the child you have, not the child you wish you had - work toward solutions rather than only identifying problems - develop empathy that nudges rather than judges - fight for your child, not against them - connect your children with a faith and church big enough to handle their doubts and struggles - dive into tough discussions about dating, career, and finances - and unleash your child's passions and talents to change our world For any parent who longs for their kids to keep their roots even as they spread their wings, Growing With offers practical help and hope for the days--and years--ahead.

The explosive growth of the Sticky Faith movement marks the dawning of a new era in ministry with young people. An increasing number of youth workers, pastors, and parents are responding to the mass exodus of teenagers and young adults from the church by embracing Sticky Faith principles and practices (see stickyfaith.org). But Sticky Faith is not a "quick fix" solution. Changing the way your church equips young people is a process that can take months and even years, and it looks different in each unique ministry context. Through our intensive work with churches from across North America, the Fuller Youth Institute team has developed a pathway to help you lead change in your ministry. Now we've made these proven tools available to any leader who wants to launch Sticky Faith in their own congregation. Much more than a book, this field guide puts tools in your hands for the next 180 days with four key groups: your core team, volunteers, parents, and the entire church. Complete with training resources and a host of videos and digital downloads, you'll be ready to make changes that stick.

Teenagers are tired of vague or nonexistent answers to their tough questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Just when they're capable of diving into the deep end of their faith, all too often the church keeps them splashing around in shallow waters. As eight years of Sticky Faith research on teenagers has shown, it's not doubt or hard questions that are toxic to faith. It's silence. The trusted voice of the Fuller Youth Institute and proven best practices from churches around the country converge to provide you with tools both to start conversations about hard questions, as well as to lead students toward discovering their own faith convictions. Designed for use in small groups alongside the Can I Ask That Student Guide, these six sessions tackle the following tough questions: Is it wrong to doubt God? Is hell real? How could God send someone there? Can I do something so bad God won't forgive me? Why do bad things happen to good people? Is sex outside marriage wrong? Why is it so awkward to talk about Jesus with my friends?