Here are some resources that I recommend for those who want to minister to emerging adults. Our recommendations does not mean that we agree with everything stated in the book, or with all beliefs of the author.
© 2014 Brittany Stevens, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio
If you want to know the first book that you should read – my top pick…
Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood: A Practical Theology for College and Young Adult Ministry by David P. Setran and Chris A. Kiesling.
Other highly recommended books are marked with an *asterisk.
*Arnett, Jeffrey. 2004. Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. New York, NY: Oxford University.
Arnett, Jeffrey, and Jennifer Tanner, eds. 2006. Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Clark, Chap. 2004. Hurt: Inside the world of today’s teenagers. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Cote, James. 2000. Arrested adulthood: The changing nature of maturity and identity. New York, NY: NY University.
Danziger, Sheldon and Cecilia Elena Rouse, eds. 2007. The price of independence: The economics of early adulthood. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.
Dean, Kenda Creasy. 2010. Almost Christian: What the faith of our teenagers is telling the American Church. New York, NY: Oxford University.
Deci, Edward and Richard Flaste. 1995. Why we do what we do: Understanding self-motivation. New York, NY: Penguin.
*Dunn, Richard R. and Jana L. Sundene. 2012. Shaping the journey of emerging adults. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.
Dyck, Drew. 2010. Generation Ex-Christian: Why young adults are leaving the faith … and how to bring them back. Chicago, IL: Moody.
Fowler, James W. 1986. Stages of faith: The psychology of human development and the quest for meaning. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row.
*____________. 2000. Becoming adult, becoming Christian: Adult development and Christian faith. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
*Frazee, Randy. 2001. The connecting church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Hassler, Christine. 2008. 20 Something manifesto: Quarter-lifers speak out about who they are, what they want, and how to get it. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Kimball, Dan. 2007. They like Jesus, but not the church: Insights from emerging generations. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
*Kinnaman, David. 2011. You lost me. Why young Christians are leaving church … and rethinking faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
*Lewis, Robert. 2007. Raising a modern day knight: A father’s role in giving his son to authentic manhood. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.
____________. 2010. College ready: Making the most of your next great adventure. Little Rock, AR: FamilyLife Publishing.
Parks, Sharon. 1986. The critical years. Young adults and the search for meaning, faith and commitment. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins.
Parks, Sharon Daloz. 2000. Big questions, worthy dreams: Mentoring young adults in their search for meaning, purpose, and faith. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Powell, Kara and Brad Griffin. 2012. Sticky faith teen curriculum: 10 lessons to nurture faith beyond high school. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Powell, Kara and Chap Clark. 2011a. Sticky faith: Everyday ideas to build lasting faith in your kids. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
____________. 2011b. Sticky faith: Youth worker edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Rainer, Thom S. and Sam S. Rainer III. 2008. Essential church. Reclaiming a generation of dropouts. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing.
Robbins, Alexandra and Abby Wilner. 2001. Quarterlife crisis: The unique challenges of life in your twenties. New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam.
*Schweitzer, Friedrich L. 2004. The postmodern life cycle: Challenges for church and theology. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press.
Smith, Christian. 2007. Getting a life: The challenge of emerging adulthood. Books & Culture, November/December. http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2007/novdec/2.10.html?start=5 (accessed February 14, 2013).
*____________. 2011. Lost in transition: The dark side of emerging adulthood. Oxford, New York, NY: Oxford University.
*Smith, Christian and Patricia Snell. 2009. Souls in transition: The religious and spiritual lives of emerging adults. Oxford, New York, NY: Oxford University.
If you would like to recommend a book to my list, then contact me at gdavid@earesources.org.
D
r. G. David Boyd is the Managing Director of EA Resources, a faith-based nonprofit which seeks to equip parents and churches to minister to the needs of emerging adults.
