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Research Guides

Christian Education

A guide for finding resources in the area of Christian Education

Children

Developmental Psychology and Young Children's Religious Education (2022)  (print & online)

Holy Work With Children: Making Meaning Together (2021)

Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together (2020)

Children and Family Ministry Handbook: Practical, Tested, Backed by Research (2020)

Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research, and Applications (2019)

Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions (2018)

Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations of Transformative Christian Education (2018)

Story, Formation, and Culture: From Theory to Practice in Ministry with Children (2018)

Faith Forward. Volume 3, Launching a Revolution Through Ministry with Children, Youth, and Families (2018)

Faith Forward. Volume 2, Re-Imagining Children's and Youth Ministry (2015)

The Kid-Dom of God: Helping Children Grow in Christian Faith (2014)

Faith Forward: A Dialogue on Children, Youth, and a New Kind of Christianity (2013)

Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus (2013)  (print & online)

Will Our Children Have Faith? (2012)

The Faith of Girls: Children's Spirituality and Transition to Adulthood (2011)  (print & online)

Best Practices for Children's Ministry: Leading from the Heart (2010)

Listening to Children on the Spiritual Journey: Guidance for Those Who Teach and Nurture (2010)

Teaching Godly Play: How to Mentor the Spiritual Development of Children (rev. & exp.) (2009)

Children's Spirituality: What It Is and Why It Matters (2009)  (print & online)

Spiritual Education in a Divided World: Social, Environmental & Pedagogical Perspectives on the Spirituality of Children and Young People (2007)

Welcoming Children: A Practical Theology of Childhood (2005)

Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children's Spiritual Lives (2004)

The Ministry of Children's Education: Foundations, Contexts, and Practices (2004)

Postmodern Children’s Ministry: Ministry to Children in the 21st Century (2004)

Religious Education of Boys and Girls (2002)

Educating for Life: A Spiritual Vision for Every Teacher and Parent (2001)

World Peas and Other Ways to Make a Difference: Program Ideas for Leaders of Children (1999)

God's Kids Celebrate (1998)

Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Religious Education (1995)

Handbook of Children's Religious Education (1992)

Godly Play: A Way of Religious Education (1991)

Youth

Jesus at Twelve: A Mandate for Youth Ministry (2023)

Digital Media and Youth Discipleship: Pitfalls and Promise (2023)

To Mend the World: A New Vision for Youth Ministry (2023) (print & online)

Five Questions: An Academic Handbook in Youth Ministry Research (2022) 

Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry (2021)

The End of Youth Ministry? (2020)

Wide-Awake in God's World: Bible Engagement for Teenage Spiritual Formation in a Culture of Expressive Individualism (2020)

Sustainable Young Adult Ministry: Making it Work, Making it Last (2019)

Cultivating Teen Faith: Insights from the Confirmation Project (2018)

Arm in Arm with Adolescent Girls: Educating into the New Creation (2018)

Models & Methods for Youth & Young Adult Ministry: Ecumenical Examples and Pastoral Approaches for the Christian Church (2018)

Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (2018)

A brief guide to ministry with LGBTQIA youth (2017)

6 Secrets of Preteen Ministry (2017)

Networks for Faith Formation: Relational Bonds and the Spiritual Growth of Youth (2017)

Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens (2016)

Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected but Alone Generation (2015)

Foundations for Youth Ministry: Theological Engagement with Teen Life and Culture (2013)

Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood: A Practical Theology for College and Young Adult Ministry (2013)

The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry (2011)

OMG: A Youth Ministry Handbook (2010)  (print & online)

Jesus 24/7 Youth: A Short Course in Christian Faith for the Questing Youth (2009)

Presence-Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation (2006)

Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (2006)

Branded: Adolescents Converting from Consumer Faith (2006)

Family-Based Youth Ministry (2004)

Combos for Youth Groups: 6 Month-Long Themes With the Works (2004)

Tween Time. Volume 2: Fellowship and Service Projects for Preteens (2004)

Youth Spirit 2: Program Ideas for Youth Groups (2002)

Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry (2001)

Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith (2000)

Youth Spirit: Program Ideas for Church Groups (1997)

Handbook of Young Adult Religious Education (1995)

Seeds & Sowers for Youth Ministry (1990)

Faith Formation/Development

Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship, 2nd ed. (2023)

Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ Through Community (2022)

Faith Formation with a New Generation (2018)

Christian Faith, Formation and Education (2018)  (print & online)

Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's  Obsession  with Youthfulness (2017)

Networks for Faith Formation: Relational Bonds and the Spiritual Growth of Youth (2017)

Teaching the Next Generations: A Comprehensive Guide for Teaching Christian Formation (2016)  (print & online)

The Holy Spirit and Christian Formation: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (2016)  (print & online)

Christian Education and the Emerging Church: Postmodern Faith Formation (2015)  (print & online)

Transforming Congregations Through Community: Faith Formation from the Seminary to the Church (2013)

Faith Formation 4.0: Introducing an Ecology of Faith in a Digital Age (2013)

Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship (2012)  (print & online)

Faithformation2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation (2010)

Christian Formation: Integrating Theology & Human Development (2010)

Formational Children's Ministry: Shaping Children Using Story, Ritual, and Relationship (2010)

Faith Formation in Vital Congregations (2009)

Helping Our Children Grow in Faith (2008)

The Developing Christian: Spiritual Growth Through the Life Cycle (2007)

Arts and the Spirit: The Role of Art in Faith Formation (2007)

Women's Faith Development: Patterns and Processes (2004)

The Way of Faithfulness: Contemplation and Formation in the Church (1993)

Christian Perspectives on Faith Development: A Reader (1992)

How Faith Grows: Faith Development and Christian Education (1991)

Stages of Faith and Religious Development: Implications for Church, Education, and Society (1991)

Faith Development and Pastoral Care (1987)

Faith Development and Fowler (1986)

Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning (1981)

General

Reimagining Christian Education: Cultivating Transformative Approaches (2018)  (print & online)

Pedagogy of the Oppressed (50th Anniversary ed.) (2018)

Practicing Christian Education: An Introduction for Ministry (2017)

The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life (20th Anniversary ed.) (2017)  (print & 1997 ed. online)

The Grace of Playing: Pedagogies for Learning into God's New Creation (2016)

Encyclopedia of Christian Education (online) (2015)

Teaching the Way of Jesus: Educating Christians for Faithful Living (2014)  (print & online)

God Beyond Borders: Interreligious Learning Among Faith Communities (2014)

Mapping Out Curriculum in Your Church: Cartography for Christian Pilgrims (2012)

Story and Song: A Postcolonial Interplay Between Christian Education and Worship (2012)

Christian Education in the Small Membership Church (2008)  (print & online)

Christian Education as Evangelism (2007)

Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices (2005)

Soul Stories: African American Christian Education (online) (2005)

Teaching that Transforms: Worship as the Heart of Christian Education (2004)

Teaching as a Sacramental Act (2004)  (print & online)

Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (2003)  (print & online)

 A History of Christian Education: Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Perspectives (2002)

The Teacher's Calling: A Spirituality for Those Who Teach (2002)

The Church as Learning Community: A Comprehensive Guide to Christian Education (2002)

Basics of Christian Education (online) (2000)

The Craft of Christian Teaching: Essentials for Becoming a Very Good Teacher (1998)

Mapping Christian Education: Approaches to Congregational Learning (1997)

Theologies of Religious Education (1995)

Educating Congregations: The Future of Christian Education (1994)  (print & online)

Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom (1994)  (print & online)

Soul Stories: African American Christian Education (1994)  (print & online)

A History of Christian Education (1993)

Rethinking Christian Education: Explorations in Theory and Practice (1993)

Teaching from the Heart: Theology and Educational Method (1991)

The Teaching Minister (1991)

A Teachable Spirit: Recovering the Teaching Office in the Church (1990)

Fashion Me A People: Curriculum in the Church (1989)  (print & online)

Religious Education Encounters Liberation Theology (1988)

Story and Context: An Introduction to Christian Education (1987)

Changing Patterns of Religious Education (1984)

To Know As We are Known: A Spirituality of Education (1983)

Education for Continuity & Change: A New Model for Christian Religious Education (1983)

Contemporary Approaches to Christian Education (1982)

Religious Education and Theology (1982)

Christian Religious Education: Sharing Our Story and Vision (1981)