Growing in Godliness
A Teen Girl's Guide to Maturing in Christ
by
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Pub Date May 31 2019 | Archive Date May 05 2019
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Description
Through 10 practical lessons, young girls will learn to apply God’s Word to the challenges of the teen years, laying the foundation for growth in maturity throughout the rest of their lives.
Through 10 practical lessons, young girls will learn to apply God’s Word to the challenges of the teen years, laying the foundation for growth in maturity throughout the rest of their lives.
A Note From the Publisher
PDF may not be compatible with all reading devices.
Advance Praise
“In a world where teens are too often viewed as incapable of earnest discipleship practices, Lindsey Carlson’s book communicates a refreshing and much-needed message: maturity starts now. Growing in Godliness offers basic concepts, accessible tools, and practical steps for teens to understand themselves as devoted followers of Christ. And it offers parents a rare gift as well: the golden opportunity of faith-infused dialogue with their young-adult child.”
—Jen Wilkin, Director of Classes and Curriculum, The Village Church; author, Women of the Word; None Like Him; and In His Image
“So much of the person we turn out to be hinges on decisions made in our teenage years. Those years can be filled with wonder, but also with fears and dangers. In this book, Lindsey Carlson gives a practical guide for how young women can use their teenage years to grow in Christ. This advice could be life-changing for you, or for someone you love.”
—Russell D. Moore, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
“Growing in Godliness is hands down my favorite book for teen girls. Its fresh writing, theological grit, accessible advice, grace-driven counsel, and practical application of the means of grace make me want to put it in the hands of all of the girls I know. No Pollyanna fluff or theological bricks here. I started to read this in the hospital, watching my own teenage girl recover from major surgery, and the sections that I read filled me with hope in the dark hours of my daughter’s pain.”
—Rosaria Butterfield, Former Professor of English, Syracuse University; author, The Gospel Comes with a House Key
“As children grow into teenagers, there is also a growing sense of urgency in their parents. There’s so much to say, so much to teach, and still so much to learn. It’s hard to know where to start. Parents can trust that Growing in Godliness will give their teen girls a great place to start in their discipleship. This practical resource is grounded in the gospel and candidly conversational to reach teen girls where they are.”
—Gloria Furman, author, Missional Motherhood and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full
“It’s not easy to be a teen girl. The world tells you to follow your heart, your peers encourage you to conform to their image, and even your own emotions threaten to overwhelm you. Which of us didn’t long for a trustworthy friend to guide us through those messy middle-school years? Thankfully Lindsey Carlson is that friend—warm, wise, funny, and direct—pointing teens to the only source of certainty and hope in a confusing world. Again and again, she brings girls back to God and his word, encouraging teens to shake off the worldliness that stunts their spiritual growth and to reach instead for Christ alone. As a pastor’s wife and mother, I couldn’t be more pleased to have this book on my shelf. Give it to the teens in your church or, better yet, gather a group and read it together. Growing in Godliness is an invaluable resource for young teen girls and the adults who care about their souls.”
—Megan Hill, author, Praying Together and Contentment; Editor, The Gospel Coalition
“While I have no experience in being a teenage girl, I’ve got a fair bit of experience in raising them. And from the perspective of a father, I can say this book represents exactly the kind of knowledge and wisdom that will serve them well for the few years they are teenagers and for the lifetime beyond.”
—Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com
“Growing in Godliness is one of the best resources I’ve read on the topic of discipleship in the teen years. Lindsey Carlson is relatable, engaging, understanding, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny as she helps teen girls grasp their need for God and learn how to grow in faith. I plan to read this book with my daughter and will be recommending it for all her friends!”
—Melissa B. Kruger, Director of Women’s Content, The Gospel Coalition; author, In All Things: A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study on Unshakeable Joy
“As a fellow victim of the glamour shots trend of the 1990s, I can relate to Lindsey Carlson’s described desire for quick fixes and microwaved maturity. But she has given teenage girls a gift in these pages—not only a description of what it means to be spiritually mature but also a relatable guide for pursuing that growth. I’m thankful my own daughter will have these words to encourage her as she grows in grace.”
—Catherine Parks, author, Real and Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women’s Lives (and Can Shape Yours Too)
“This book was a heart-changing read. It altered my perspective on many things. The author had lots of stories, which made reading it fun. Now I can’t wait to grow in godliness!”
—Emily H., age 11
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781433563843 |
| PRICE | $14.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Becky L, Reviewer
First sentence: As a child, I was always in a hurry to grow up. I wanted the privileges and freedom that came with maturity, but I didn’t want to wait through the awkward period of growing.
Don't be like me. Don't judge a book by its cover, or by its topic.
There is a part of me that thinks it is a pity that this one is limited to such a narrow scope of readers: teen girls and perhaps mothers of teen girls. For the part that just applies to being a teen girl is so very, very tiny. Most of this one could be applicable--relevant--to readers of both genders and of all ages. For the topic is SANCTIFICATION.
Every chapter of this one embraces the GOOD NEWS of the gospel. The doctrine is strong with this one--and nothing could be more needed. Doctrine is meant to be lived out and Carlson's book encourages teens to do just that.
Another thing that I appreciated about this one was how it challenges you to think by asking important questions. For example, "Do you give your time, attention, and focus to the pursuit of knowing more about God? Or does the pursuit of growing in godliness feel like an imposition to your plans?" and "Would your words show evidence of a tender, merciful, and compassionate heart? Or would they point to selfishness, anger, or bitterness? And let’s not stop with spoken words; what about the words you type and text? If it’s “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34), then you can trust that out of the abundance of the heart, the fingers also type and text. How do you speak, type, text, and communicate with your family, friends, neighbors, and teachers? Do your words display maturity or immaturity?"
Educator 558921
Thank you to Crossway via NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are my own.
Refreshing, accessible, and insightful!
As a youth pastor's wife and volunteer, I enjoyed reading this text. Carlson addresses many of the struggles and challenges teenage girls face in growing in their faith and a deeper relationship with Christ. Topics such as sanctification, limitations, the Bible, using our words, the Church (as in community of Christ-followers), prayer, etc.
Each chapter ends with scripture-based actionable ideas, practices, and challenges, that reinforce the topic of the chapter.
I enjoyed the organization, topics, anecdotes, and scriptural support within the text, and I will be suggesting this text for our summer bible study for our high school female students.
Robin G, Reviewer
Raising a teen girl is not for the faint of heart. Today's world is full of challenges that previous generations never dreamt of facing. And yet, the basic foundations of life remain the same. Foremost of which is how do we live to glorify our creator? Throw in teenage emotions and peer pressure, and you're in for a wild ride.
In Growing in Godliness, Lindsey Carlson leads teens through 10 lessons that address this tumultuous time, including:
*Who we are in Christ
*God's sovereignty in all situations
*The importance of the Bible
*The importance of the church
*and more!
When I first started reading this book, I was slightly put off by some of the language. The words weren't inappropriate. It was more the tone... the edge... and maybe some of the author's illustrations. But as I read, I realized I was viewing it through the eyes of a preteen mom. And as much as I'm protecting her now, she will one day be going through growing pains like these. As I began to read through a different lens, I realized I did like this book, but would suggest it for a slightly older audience... waiting until the later teenage years. I did appreciate the fact that Carlson takes time to touch on two important topics: identity and the role of the church. Identity for it grounds us in life and keeps us from being swayed by trends. And the importance of the church that seems to have been lost in a seeker sensitive culture. All in all, I would hesitantly recommend this book, but would caution that it's probably most useful as a mother/daughter study in the older teen years.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Traci R, Reviewer
This book is for a bit older audience and I'd encourage moms to read it with their daughters. That being said, it takes a serious look at discipleship. There's a ton of Scripture throughout and it focuses on developing the character of our teens.
Tonya R, Reviewer
Growing in Godliness is meant for teenagers which is important to realize before digging in. The tone, the attitude it is all about being a teenager...and it is all Bible based!!!
Definitely a fun, fresh approach to growing and learning about God for teens and their parents! The best parts are that it really helps address issues that teenagers face in our current time and the thought provoking reflection questions are a huge help! I can see this a a teen Bible Study guide. There are ten lessons so it is easy to divide this up in sections. It includes how important the Bible is as well as the church. I think this is really important as we live in a world that has mixed feelings about church and religion. This book is a great way to dive deep into the relevance of God, Bible and church now.
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