Book Review: "Hold Fast to That Which is Good"
Each year, the Lads to Leaders organization produces a book for study. The book is based upon the book or books young people involved in that program are studying for Bible Bowl. The latest book in this series has just been released.
The book is designed to deal with topical studies that come from the texts for Bible Bowl. Those books for this year’s convention are First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, and Titus. Obviously, there is no way every subject in those five great books could be covered in 13 lessons, but those in charge of Lads to Leaders did a good job selecting topics for young people to study.
Preachers, teachers and youth leaders were selected to write one chapter each, then the Lads to Leaders folks added questions to each chapter to aid in study. Whether your congregation is involved in Lads to Leaders or not, this book will be good for your young people to study.
Here are the 13 chapters and authors:
- Chapter 1: Godly Women (Glenn and Cindy Colley). Each of the two wrote a short part to this chapter, giving it a unique perspective.
- Chapter 2: From a Child, You Have Known the Sacred Writings (Zachary Cox)
- Chapter 3: The Second Coming: “The Rapture” (Drew Kizer). As usual, Drew does an excellent job leading students through a logical study of this common teaching.
- Chapter 4: Flaming Fire: The Reality of Hell (Adam Faughn). To keep your students awake, skip this chapter! Seriously, it was an honor to write this for the book.
- Chapter 5: Work is Not a Dirty Word (Paul Spurlin). This chapter is well-done in being geared to young people.
- Chapter 6: Desertion in the Lord’s Army (Clark Sims)
- Chapter 7: Pray without Ceasing (Ancil Jenkins). A good study for any class.
- Chapter 8: Who Runs Your Church? (Chuck Webster). Brother Webster takes the time to show young people the qualifications for elders and deacons. If you are teaching young men, this would be a very profitable study.
- Chapter 9: Mentoring: Timothy, My Child of Faith (Gale Nelson)
- Chapter 10: What is Sound Doctrine? (Ronnie Hayes)
- Chapter 11: Respect for Others (Phillip Hines). The chapter deals basically with respect for authority–especially parents. This subject needs to be taught to our young people more often.
- Chapter 12: Meditate on These Things (Jeff Johnson)
- Chapter 13: Profane and Idle Babblings (Caleb Colley). Dealing with sins of the tongue, Caleb does a good job listing several sins that young people struggle with (cursing, gossip, etc.).
The only drawback to this book, in my mind, is that some of the chapters are too long for one Bible class. Teachers will have a hard time studying each lesson in one class session. As I see it, though, that’s a good “problem” to have!
To order the book directly from Lads to Leaders, you may email them at ladsoffice@lads-to-leaders.org. The cost is $10 plus shipping.
