Best Resources for New Christian Teenagers: Books, Apps & More
Best Resources for New Christian Teenagers: Books, Apps & More
When a teenager becomes a Christian, it’s an exciting time for everyone! But as someone responsible for discipling young people, it can also be overwhelming. There are thousands and thousands of books, websites, apps, and more that could be helpful for them as they start out on their journey, but there are equally thousands that aren’t particularly suitable for teenagers who are new to faith.
So how do you know which are the best resources for new Christian teenagers? Where should you start?
I’ve put together a list of resources that I’ve used in my own ministry and found to be really helpful. No matter who you are (a Youth Pastor, leader or parent), these resources will help you to get started.
What Makes a Good Resource for a New Christian Teenager?
In my opinion, a good resource for a brand new Christian teenager will do five things:
- It will help them to get to know Jesus better, not just teach them how to behave like a Christian. We’re not interested in raising up ‘good people’, we’re in the business of raising up devoted imitators of Jesus.
- It will be accessible for someone with little or no Biblical knowledge. It’s no use dropping them in the deep end when it comes to the Bible. We never want to asume anything!
- It should point them back to the Bible rather than the thoughts and opinions of the author. There’s lots of wisdom to be gained from other Christians, but ultimately we want the Bible to be their highest authority.
- It should encourage them towards lifelong patterns of discipleship, not just produce short-term enthusiasm. As Paul says in Colossians 2:6-7, we don’t just want them to start the Christian life well but to continue the race and run it to the finish.
- It should be appropriate for their age, reading ability and stage of faith. While you might be tempted to recommend they start out with Calvin’s Institutes, you probably won’t be doing them any favours by starting there.
Ultimately, the best Christian resources are the ones that keep pointing us back to Jesus. They’re not there to replace the Bible, but to help us understand God’s Word and grow in our relationship with him.
7 of the Best Resources for New Christian Teenagers
A Study Bible - The Most Important Starting Point
NIV Teen Study Bible (Zondervan)
If we’re going to help teenagers grow as Christians, one of the best things we can do is help them develop a habit of reading God’s Word for themselves. But let’s be honest, the Bible can be a pretty intimidating book when you’re just starting out! That’s where the NIV Teen Study Bible can be particularly helpful.
Alongside the full text of the Bible, it includes study notes, introductions to each book, and explanations that help teenagers understand what they’re reading and how it applies to their lives.
It’s a great way to help teenagers become more confident in opening the Bible for themselves, particularly if they’re not used to reading it regularly.
I’d encourage youth leaders and parents to sit down with a teenager, show them how to use the study features, and maybe read through a Gospel together to get started.
Best for: Teenagers who are beginning to read and understand the Bible for themselves.
What Now? - A First Steps Guide For New Christians
What Now? by Matt Shannon
Full disclosure: I wrote this one!
What Now? came out of my own experience in youth ministry and the challenge of finding something practical to give teenagers who had just decided to follow Jesus.
Becoming a Christian is incredibly exciting, but it can also leave teenagers with lots of questions. What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? How do I start reading the Bible? Why is church important? And what am I supposed to do now?
What Now? is a short, practical guide designed to help teenagers work through these questions as they take their first steps as Christians.
It includes the entire Gospel of Mark, alongside simple explanations, questions to think about, prayers, and videos to help teenagers begin exploring God’s Word for themselves.
It’s designed to be something teenagers can work through independently, but it’s also a great resource for youth leaders or parents to read alongside them.
Best for: Brand-new Christian teenagers who are trying to work out what following Jesus looks like.
10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask About Christianity
10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (And Answer) About Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean suddenly having all the answers. In fact, for many teenagers, it’s just the beginning of asking some really big questions! How do we know the Bible is true? Hasn’t science disproved Christianity? What about suffering? And how do we respond when our friends believe something completely different?
In 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity, Rebecca McLaughlin tackles some of the challenging questions that teenagers are likely to encounter at school, online, and in conversations with their friends. She combines biblical teaching with accessible examples to help teenagers think carefully about what they believe and why.
I think one of the most helpful things we can do for young Christians is encourage them to ask questions rather than feel embarrassed about their doubts.
This could be a particularly useful book for a youth leader or parent to read alongside a teenager, giving them opportunities to explore those questions together.
Best for: Teenagers who are asking difficult questions about Christianity or want to understand why they can trust what the Bible teaches.
Worth It - Encouragement When It's Tough
Worth It by Chris Morphew
Following Jesus isn’t always easy, particularly when you’re a teenager! There are pressures at school, challenges with friendships, questions about identity, and plenty of voices telling us how we should live. Sometimes, following Jesus can feel pretty different from what everyone else is doing.
So is it really worth it?
That’s the question Chris Morphew explores in Worth It.
Written specifically for teenagers, this book helps young Christians think about why following Jesus is worth it, even when life becomes complicated.
It explores how the good news of Jesus shapes the way we understand ourselves, relate to our friends and family, respond to challenges, and live in a world that doesn’t always share our beliefs.
What makes this resource particularly valuable is that it doesn’t pretend following Jesus will always be easy. Instead, it encourages teenagers to keep trusting Jesus because of who he is and what he’s done for them.
Best for: Teenagers beginning to think about what following Jesus looks like in everyday life, particularly at school and with friends.
God's Big Picture - A Simple Bible Overview
God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
Have you ever tried reading the Bible from beginning to end and found yourself wondering how all the different parts fit together? You’re certainly not alone!
The Bible contains 66 books, written by different authors across hundreds of years. And while each book is important, it can be difficult to understand how they all fit together, particularly when you’re new to reading the Bible.
In God’s Big Picture, Vaughan Roberts provides an accessible overview of the Bible’s storyline, helping readers understand how the different parts of Scripture fit together and ultimately point us to Jesus.
Rather than seeing the Bible as a collection of disconnected stories and instructions, readers begin to discover how it tells one unfolding story of God’s plan to save his people.
While it’s not written specifically for teenagers, I think it could be a fantastic resource for older teenagers who are ready to explore the Bible in greater depth.
Best for: Older teenagers who want to understand how the whole Bible fits together and how it points to Jesus.
The Bible Project - Free Videos That Help Explain The Bible
The Bible Project
Let’s be honest, not every teenager loves reading! And even those who do can sometimes find parts of the Bible confusing.
That’s one of the reasons I think BibleProject is such a helpful resource. BibleProject is a free online resource that uses beautifully animated videos to explain the books of the Bible, explore important biblical themes, and help people understand how Scripture fits together.
Their videos are engaging, accessible, and particularly helpful for teenagers who learn best through visual explanations.
One of the things I find most useful about this kind of resource is the opportunity it provides to help teenagers understand the bigger picture of what they’re reading.
Of course, watching videos shouldn’t replace reading the Bible itself, but they can be a fantastic tool for helping teenagers understand God’s Word.
Best for: Teenagers who enjoy visual learning or need help understanding the structure and big themes of the Bible.
PrayerMate - An App To Help You As You Grow In Prayer
PrayerMate
Prayer is one of the wonderful privileges of being a Christian. Because of Jesus, we can speak directly to God, knowing that he hears us. But for someone who has only recently become a Christian, prayer can feel a little unfamiliar.
What should I pray about? How often should I pray? And how do I remember the people and things I’ve promised to pray for?
That’s where PrayerMate can be helpful.
PrayerMate is an app designed to help Christians develop regular habits of prayer. It allows users to organise different prayer points into categories, keep track of the people and situations they’re praying for, and set reminders to encourage them to pray.
For teenagers who are used to organising much of their lives through their phones, this could be a particularly practical resource.
I’d encourage them to start small, perhaps with a few things to thank God for, some friends or family members to pray for, and areas where they’d like God’s help.
The goal isn’t to turn prayer into another task to complete each day, but to help teenagers grow in their relationship with the God who loves them.
Best for: Teenagers who want to begin praying regularly but aren’t sure where to start or how to stay organised.
Which Resources Should You Give A New Christian Teenager First?
With so many great resources available, it can be tempting to give a new Christian teenager a whole collection of books, apps and Bible-reading guides. But I’d encourage you to start small!
The most important thing is helping them get to know Jesus through his Word. So I’d start by making sure they have a Bible they can understand and encouraging them to begin reading it for themselves.
Alongside that, a simple resource like What Now? can help them understand what following Jesus looks like and begin developing good habits as a Christian.
As they grow in their faith and start asking new questions, you can introduce other resources that suit their interests and needs.
And remember, even the best Christian resources aren’t a substitute for relationships with other Christians. One of the most valuable things you can give a new Christian teenager is your time, encouragement and willingness to walk alongside them as they follow Jesus.
If you’re a youth leader looking for more practical advice, I’ve also put together a guide on how to follow up a new Christian teenager. And if you’re a parent, you might find these seven ways to help your new Christian teenager grow helpful too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resources For New Christian Teenagers
What's the best book to give a teenager who has just become a Christian?
I’d look for something that’s short, accessible, and clearly focused on Jesus and what he’s done for us. You want a resource that doesn’t assume they already know lots about Christianity, but helps them understand the gospel and what following Jesus looks like in everyday life. That’s exactly why I wrote What Now? – to give brand-new Christian teenagers a simple, practical starting point as they begin following Jesus.
Are Bible Apps good for teenagers?
Absolutely! Bible apps like YouVersion can be a fantastic way to help teenagers start reading God’s Word. They’re free, easy to access, and allow teenagers to read the Bible wherever they are. Of course, phones can also be full of distractions, so for some teenagers a physical Bible might be more helpful. The important thing isn’t whether they’re reading from a screen or a page, but that they’re regularly spending time listening to God through his Word.
How many Christian resources should I give a new believer?
There’s no magic number! In fact, I’d suggest that less is often more. A Bible and one good introductory resource is a great place to start. You don’t want to overwhelm a teenager with a pile of books or make following Jesus feel like another set of assignments they need to complete. Instead, focus on helping them make use of what they have, and introduce other resources as they grow in their faith. Remember, the goal isn’t to get through lots of Christian books, but to keep growing in their knowledge and love of Jesus.
Helping New Christian Teenagers Take Their First Steps
Becoming a Christian is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of following Jesus. And while there are plenty of fantastic resources available to help teenagers grow in their faith, it’s important to remember that the goal isn’t simply to read more books, watch more videos or download more apps.
The goal is to help teenagers keep growing in their knowledge and love of Jesus.
So whether you’re a parent, youth leader or pastor, I’d encourage you to think carefully about which resources will be most helpful for the teenagers you’re supporting. And wherever possible, don’t just give them a resource and leave them to it. Take the time to read alongside them, answer their questions, and encourage them as they begin following Jesus.
You can also explore more practical advice for parents and youth leaders on our Resources page.
Looking for a place to start?
That’s exactly why I wrote What Now?
Drawing on my experience in youth ministry, I wanted to create a resource specifically designed to help brand-new Christian teenagers take their first steps in following Jesus.
What Now? is a short, practical guide that helps teenagers understand what it means to be a Christian, get connected with a church, begin praying, and start reading the Bible for themselves. It also includes the entire Gospel of Mark, alongside explanations, reflection questions, prayers and supporting videos to help teenagers discover more about Jesus.
Whether you’re looking for something to give a teenager after youth camp, an evangelistic event, or a conversation about becoming a Christian, What Now? is designed to help them work out what comes next.
About the Author
Matt Shannon
Matt is the Youth and Young Adults Minister at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral in Wollongong and the author of What Now?. He has spent years helping teenagers explore the Christian faith and take their first steps following Jesus through both church and school ministry.