5. 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust and more...

5. 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust: Core Beliefs of The Christian Faith That Will Change Your Life. Paul David Tripp. 2025. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [christian nonfiction, christian theology, teen books, teen devotional]

First sentence: God has revealed himself and perfectly declared his will by committing his truth to writing.

Paul David Tripp has adapted his book, DO YOU BELIEVE?, for teens in 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust.

There are twelve truths. Each of the twelve truths is carefully unpacked. This book is ALL about organization of core truths.

Each truth includes the following:

WHAT WE BELIEVE

WHY WE BELIEVE IT

HOW IT MATTERS

"What We Believe" gives a clear, concise, no-nonsense definition or description of the truth being unpacked. 

"Why We Believe It" gives Scriptural proofs--not Scripture references which would involve an extra step or two for the reader--but shares verses and passages from Scripture. This emphasizes that WHY we believe a doctrine is drawn itself FROM Scripture itself. And never just one passage or one verse, but many. 

"How It Matters" includes SEVEN readings. These readings could be read in one sitting OR could be read over seven days. So *if* one was reading this in a group setting--a private school, a Sunday school, family devotions--one could have weekly assignments. ONE could use the opening sections to prepare for more personal study throughout the week. Each of the seven readings concludes with a "read" and "reflect" section. 

The twelve core truths are:

Scripture

God

God's Holiness

God's Sovereignty

God's Power

God's Creation

God's Image

Sin

Justification

Sanctification

Perseverance and Glorification

Eternity

Reading through this list one can clearly see this book has potential to be awesome for teaching the basics. 

I was torn between four stars and five stars. If GoodReads allowed for half star ratings, I may have rated this one 4 and 1/2 stars. I loved, loved, loved the twelve core truths. I thought these were foundational essentials. I loved, loved, loved the two sections, "What We Believe" and "Why We Believe It." The scriptural proofs were AWESOME. I appreciated the "How It Matters" but these seven readings are not as strong perhaps as the other two sections. Sometimes the reading would be excellent. But these were the places where personal stories and anecdotes entered in a bit. I also thought that some of the readings could been condensed into a few readings instead of spread out into seven. That being said, SO much to love and appreciate in this one. 

   

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KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Numbers 1-12

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Samuel 9-13

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Genesis 11, John 6, Psalms 56-61, Jeremiah 10, 1 Thessalonians 4

RSV Sovereign Bible 

Deuteronomy 24-34, 2 Timothy

Judges, 2 Thessalonians

Ruth, 1 Thessalonians

1 Samuel 1-7, Colossians

1 Samuel 8-17, Philippians

1 Samuel 18-23, Ephesians, Galatians

   

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4. 10 Questions About Pain and Suffering: 30 Devotions for Kids, Teens, and Families. Beth Broom. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, devotions]

First sentence: Have you ever broken a bone? Maybe you've been really sick. Or maybe you have trouble finishing your schoolwork. These are all painful things that can happen to us. 

There are ten questions addressed in Beth Broom's book. Each of the ten questions has three devotions associated with it. These devotions build upon one another so that by the end of the third day there is a succinct answer to the question being raised. Depending on the question, there can be layers to the answer, and the fact that multiple devotions address the same question can be helpful. It is like looking at the question from three viewpoints. The answers complement one another. 

The ten questions tackled in this book are as follows:

1. What is suffering?

2. Why do we suffer?

3. If God is good, why does he let bad things happen?

4. Do Christians suffer less than non-Christians?

5. When Christians suffer, is it punishment?

6. How does God help me when I'm suffering?

7. How should Christians respond to suffering?

8. What if God doesn't answer my prayer for suffering to stop?

9. What gives someone hope when bad things keep happening?

10. How can I help someone else who is suffering?

Each devotion concludes with a clear, concise answer to the question, a prayer, and a reflection. 

The answer to the first question given on the third day reads as follows, "Suffering is the experience of pain that everyone feels, because sin caused suffering to enter the world. But suffering doesn't last forever for Christians because God sent his Son into the world to suffer with us and rescue us."

I think the questions being discussed are good questions. I thought the answers were thoughtful and pointed to the gospel, pointed to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I thought the repetition was helpful. Chances are readers will not read this one in one sitting. It is a thirty day devotional, so a refresher course on the question and the answer could be beneficial. I also think this could be a book that could be referred back to for reference. Perhaps the question doesn't weigh heavy now, but it might later. These answers might resonate more later as one's life experiences grow. 

   

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3. The Story of Corrie ten Boom: The Watchmaker Who Forgave Her Enemies. Jennifer T. Kelley. 2025. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, children's book, biography, history, world war II, missionary]

First sentence: Corrie ten Boom's train arrived at the station in Munich. But it was not her first time in Germany.

Jennifer T. Kelley has written a biography of Corrie ten Boom just right for younger readers who perhaps aren't quite ready for the original memoir The Hiding Place. To be fair, The Hiding Place is a memoir of a very specific time in her life, this children's biography is a fuller portrait of her whole life. Namely how God used Corrie ten Boom to reach people all over the world. Corrie ten Boom is known for her radical forgiveness and bold proclamation of the gospel, that the gospel is for EVERYONE, yes everyone. God SAVES and saves to the uttermost. The good news is so amazing that it transforms lives. Because Corrie ten Boom knew God to be a loving, forgiving God, she was able to forgive. 

Corrie ten Boom and her family hid Jews during the Second World War. This led to her family's arrest--where her father died in jail--and subsequent time in a concentration camp--where her sister died. YET how could the family do otherwise? Obeying God meant defying government. Corrie ten Boom was an amazing witness wherever she went.

Definitely recommend this one! 

   

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2. Pilgrim's Progress Adapted by Anna Trimiew from John Bunyan's classic allegory. 2013. 111 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, children's books, adapted books, abridged books, allegories]

First sentence from the introduction: A long, long time ago, a prisoner sat in a cold jail in England. 

First sentence from chapter one: "Oh, what must I do?" cried a man dressed in rags as he walked in the fields outside his house.

Anna Trimiew has adapted John Bunyan's classic allegory for young readers. It is illustrated by Drew Rose. 

It does make the allegory more accessible to young readers. This is not the first adaptation for children, nor will it be the last adaptation for children. I've read a handful though not recently enough to rank them--to compare them side by side and say THIS is the one I'd recommend. 

This is the first half of Pilgrim's Progress. It definitely feels abridged with some of the theology cut out or cut down at least. I've read the original, the unabridged several times. So I definitely had a vague feeling of missing some bits. But for an abridged version for young children--elementary school aged--it's serviceable enough. I did not care for the illustrations personally. BUT illustrations can be subjective. Maybe not everyone will see a Klingon on the cover. 

   

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