New Releases by Jonathan McKee

What Every Parent Needs to Know about Screens and Their Kids Maybe your kids are like many others―glued to their smartphones, social media, and streaming entertainment. While we may be aware that excessive screen time, especially social media, isn’t healthy, how do we teach young kids and teens to become screenwise? Prioritizing connection over correction, Parenting Generation Screen is a guide for parents that will equip you with key questions and conversations to help you process screen limits with and for your kids. You’ll learn how to dialogue in meaningful ways about social media, entertainment, and screen time so your children can learn to be wise in the digital world. Jonathan McKee speaks worldwide and writes about technology and social media for families―and has three kids of his own. In Parenting Generation Screen, he addresses such questions as: At what age should my child get a phone or screen? Can my child have a phone in their bedroom? How does social media affect my teenager’s mental health and sleep? What dangers are really lurking on social media? How can moms and dads best use parental controls? In this extremely practical book, you’ll gain confidence and find the answers you need to set boundaries, guide your kids, and help them navigate the digital landscape.

What if your phone truly helped you connect with people more than disconnect with those around you? Author and youth culture expert, Jonathan McKee, and his daughter Alyssa McKee, uncover forty random realizations they’ve discovered over the last five years. They’ll help you navigate face-to-face communication in a screen-to-screen world too!

Honestly?. . . "Why wait for something when I can enjoy it now?" “These images don’t really affect me. . .do they?” "How could smoking a little weed really be that bad when it''s becoming legalized everywhere?” “I’d like to tell you I don’t care what others think, but honestly, I want to be liked." Maybe you''re thinking, "I''ve had one. . .maybe even a few of these thoughts, and I don''t know how to even begin to deal with them." The good news? You''re not alone. And there is a way to fight these battles head-on, overcoming the past, pressing forward, and becoming the person God designed you to be. So what''s a guy to do? . . . Join youth culture expert and author of the popular Guy''s Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket, Jonathan McKee, as he gets real about the four common battles every young man will encounter in his life: 1: Sexual Temptation 2. Screens 3: Controlled Substances 4: Self-Esteem With humor and honesty, McKee offers up practical, spiritual advice filled with real-world application helping you face today’s distractions.

In a world full of caring adults, how is it that we keep missing the cries of hurting kids? “Today, when the bell rings, kids might leave their school campus, but they can never escape the other world, a world where mockers and intimidators thrive. Ironically, they carry a gateway to that world right in their pockets, because they see that world as an avenue of escape. . .but in reality, it’s putting them in bondage." --Jonathan McKee With chapters including: Digital Hurt The Escape Key Why Didn’t You Say Anything? Meet the Principal Real-World Solutions and More! An expert on youth and youth culture, McKee shares his own heart-rending story and offers a sobering glimpse into the rapidly changing world of bullies, bystanders, and the bullied while providing helpful ways to connect with these kids, open doors of dialogue, and give them the encouragement they need and the validation they''re searching for. . .too often in all the wrong places. The Bullying Breakthrough promises real-world help for dealing with today’s bullying culture.

Jonathan McKee shares helpful tips to today’s teens and tweens navigating the digital world. Refreshingly honest and humorous--without belittling.

Ever wish parenting came with a do-over button? “Here’s where I messed up. . ." Whenever I say those words during my parenting workshops, you can hear a pin drop. Parents are on the edges of their seats. “And here’s what I’d do differently next time. . ." That’s when every pen in the room begins writing furiously. Let’s face it. Hindsight is 20/20. If you ever find yourself saying "I wish I had a do-over. . ." You''re not alone! Join author and youth culture expert, Jonathan McKee, as he shares from his own personal parenting experiences of raising three kids, while making purposeful, effective tweaks along the way. Delivered with a refreshing blend of humor and vulnerability, the author''s candid style and real-world application will equip you with solid, helpful practices you can actually use in your own home. With chapters like "Let It Go," "Press Pause," and "Tip the Scales," McKee provides the honest answers you''re seeking as you parent your kids.

In 52 Ways to Connect with Your Smartphone Obsessed Kid, author Jonathan McKee offers useful tips and creative ideas to help you have meaningful, face-to-face interaction with your kids.

The Unedited Truth About Sex · Is hooking up really wrong? · What about living together if you fall in love? · If the Bible bans sex before marriage . . . is everything else fair game? · What about same-sex relationships? Since when does God deny any kind of true love? Great questions . . . but who has the answers? Our culture creates a lot of confusion about sex. Honestly, sometimes it''s difficult to know who''s telling the truth. On one hand, when we read our Bibles or go to church, we hear how God''s design is to wait for sex and save that kind of intimacy for marriage. But on the other hand, when we go to school, turn on the TV, or listen to many of the songs on our favorite playlists . . . they say quite the opposite. Naturally, this makes many of us wonder. Who''s right? Sex seems fun. How can something so natural be off-limits? In Sex Matters, Jonathan McKee tackles all of these questions, giving you the frank, unvarnished truth about sex--regardless how awkward or embarrassing. "Sex Matters provides super-helpful, truthful answers to the big questions you''ve wondered about, but never asked. Way better than anything you''ll find through a web search."--Scott Rubin, junior high pastor, Willow Creek Community Church "''Just don''t do it'' isn''t enough. Let''s face it. Today''s young people chronically encounter sexually charged images and messages, but rarely hear the whole story. They are looking for real answers to tough questions, and Sex Matters isn''t afraid to tell them the unedited truth. Every teenager with an Internet connection or a phone in their pocket needs to read this book!"--Doug Fields, youth pastor for thirty years at Saddleback & Mariners Church "This isn''t a sanitized, Christianized, moralized ''just say no'' tactic, but a practical approach to what''s really pressuring kids today, with biblical wisdom for how to succeed."--Pete Sutton, director of student ministry and middle school pastor, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, Illinois "This could be the most honest and relevant book available for teenagers in your ministry. I wish I had something this honest and helpful in my hands when I was a teenager."--Brooklyn Lindsey, youth minister, Nazarene Youth International and ReThink Group "There are a lot of potentially embarrassing questions that rattle around the minds of many Christian teenagers when it comes to sex (How far is too far? Is masturbation a sin? stuff like that). Using powerful stories, eye-opening facts, and surprisingly blunt biblical truth, Jonathan McKee answers these kinds of tough questions with the right mix of truth and grace. He gives teenagers a clear path to living a pure life in a sex-saturated world. Get it, read it, and learn how to let your life and light shine in the darkness."--Greg Stier, president, Dare 2 Share (www.dare2share.org) "Every great adventure starts with preparation. Sex is a great adventure! But it requires thoughtful preparation. Jonathan McKee''s Sex Matters is the perfect tool to prepare you for that journey. Do yourself a favor and spend some time thinking, processing, and preparing for the great adventure of sex."--Josh Griffin, Founder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com and high school pastor at Saddleback Church

Have Real Conversations With Your Kids About Sex The old ways of having the "sex talk" just won''t cut it anymore. Sadly, the number one place today''s young people go to for answers about sex is Google. Meanwhile, kids view nearly 14,000 sexual references a year on television, and 70 percent of teenagers have encountered pornography on the Internet. If we want our children to know the truth about healthy sexuality, we need to create a comfortable climate of continual conversations. Jonathan McKee will show you how to move beyond the initial awkwardness of this subject into an ongoing communication with your kids about God''s amazing gift of sex. He equips you with what you need to talk openly about dating, temptation, porn, and purity, and you will find answers to tough questions and relevant Scripture on sexual issues. It''s normal for kids to be curious about sexuality, and they need to know that their parents are the most reliable source of information. Be the one your kids turn to on this crucial topic. "In a world full of explicit lies, today''s kids need parents who aren''t afraid to tell them the explicit truth. This book provides parents with the tools they need to have these candid and continual conversations."--Dr. Kevin Leman, New York Times bestselling author of Have a Happy Family by Friday "Jonathan McKee is one of America''s premier youth specialists, and this book will help you navigate the rough waters of teaching your kids healthy sexuality."--Jim Burns, PhD, president, HomeWord and author "Parents, take a deep breath. This book pulls no punches. But it will give you exactly what you need to walk alongside your kids at this time when they most need it."--Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher, speaker, and bestselling author "A thorough, straightforward, and engaging resource that will both equip and inform a parent for effective, culturally relevant, and God-honoring conversations about sexuality and all its implications. It is a critical read in critical times."--Brian Berry, generation ministries pastor, Journey Community Church, La Mesa, California; and author "SO many parents I know don''t feel equipped to talk to their kids about sex. This book helps you overcome the (guaranteed) awkwardness of conversations like that, and provides both tools AND motivation. I wish every parent would read it."--Scott Rubin, director of middle school ministry, Willow Creek Community Church "Jonathan McKee provides clarity and practical knowledge so that you and I can do more than just give a nervous ''talk'' to our kids; we can be loving and consistent parents for them as well."--Terry Linhart, PhD, educator, author, Bethel College--Indiana "Kids need parents who are educated, aware, and relevant when it comes to sex. Thankfully, Jonathan McKee gives us powerful, poignant, and practical tools to help us win in this delicate and scary parenting arena."--Doug Fields, co-founder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, youth pastor for thirty years at Saddleback & Mariners Church, speaker, and author "McKee is a frontline youth worker with current and regular interactions with Christian teenagers wrestling with the intersection of their faith and their sexuality. Never condescending, Jon brings his writing style to a subject I wish more parents were talking about with their teens."--Mark Oestreicher, partner, The Youth Cartel and author "Jonathan McKee''s book helps us to remember that ''the talk'' is a myth at best, and a terrible strategy at worst. A lifestyle of preparation, a strategic series of discussions, and a proactive commitment to conversation is what our kids need, and this book will help any parent to walk with their kids in confidence."--Chap Clark, professor of youth, family, and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary

Are you and your favorite teenager having too many conversations like this? "How was school?" "Fine." "Soccer practice?" "Same as always." "Anything interesting happen today?" "Nope." "Nice talking with you!" Let''s face it. Teenagers have a PhD in one-word answers . . . if we don''t ask the right questions. In this book, veteran youth expert Jonathan McKee shares 180 creative discussion starters to help teens open up about issues that matter. You''ll also find tips for interpreting their responses and follow-up questions. From light-hearted to more serious, these conversation springboards will encourage even the most reluctant teen to talk about friends, school, values, struggles, and much more. "The perfect tool for connecting with today''s teenagers." --Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Have a New Teenager by Friday "Few people understand the teenage world like Jonathan McKee. This book is one of the most helpful and practical tools I have ever seen to get teenagers talking with their parents about important topics."--Jim Burns, PhD, author of Teenology: The Art of Raising Great Teenagers and Confident Parenting

The Guy''s Guide will encourage your faith, challenge you spiritually, and give you real-life advice how to live out your faith in today’s highly secularized culture.

The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide for Teenagers isn''t a normal book. It''s not even a normal Zombie survival guide. It''s a story of three teenagers enduring and surviving against the odds, adapting where many adults failed. Not many teenagers survived "The Havoc," probably because most didn''t acclimate and learn like these three.So what''s the secret to their survival?Good question. The answer lies in these pages, a journal written by a teenager named Chris.Each section includes some discussion questions to help you digest what you just read. These questions will point to the Bible here and there for some wisdom that has stood the test of time: wisdom for surviving your real world.

Sometimes you don’t have their attention for very long. Whether you’ve planned for a short message or your program has run long, a ten-minute talk is sometimes all you have space for in your youth ministry. So make sure you make it ten minutes that really count! If you need to communicate something meaningful in just a little time, 10-Minute Talks has just what you need—more than two dozen ready-to-go, story-based talks. With talks for spiritual growth, targeted at your Christian students, and outreach talks, perfect for any teenager, you’ll be prepared to give them a bite of truth that they can walk away remembering. Following the method Jesus used most often, these More 10-Minute Talks give you stories that can impact students with one simple point. Each talk gives you the tools you need to make it count, and the flexibility to make it work for your context. Along with each topic and title, you’ll find: • The Big Idea • Scripture • The Story • The Transition Statement • Application • Closing Don’t get caught with nothing to say—or too much to say in the time you’ve got! Get 10 Minute Talks and get a meaningful message across quickly!

"What would happen if we gave teenagers opportunities to serve and use their gifts in ministry prior to high school graduation? What if we poured into these young leaders, discipling them and doing ministry alongside of them, helping them grow spiritually, seeing and experiencing God working through them? What if we eased back on our ministry to students, supplementing it with ministry by students?"These compelling questions are at the heart of Ministry by Teenagers, and once authors McKee and Smith lay out the "what ifs" they combine their collective experience in youth ministry to provide a practical and detailed guide for "how to." The book is jam-packed with ideas, advice, and resources for:- Fostering discipleship- Building student leadership teams- Identifying student talent- Helping students discover and use their spiritual gifts- Creating service teams- Equipping students to reach their friendsIt''s a must-have tool for youth workers who want to tap the gold mine of talent, passion, and leadership potential they see every day in young Christians.

"In an age where teenagers are deeply engaged in virtual communities and social networks, they’re still feeling alone and isolated. It may sound all too simple, but the truth is that you have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of students with the simple act of spending time with them, one-on-one. Whether you’re a volunteer or the lead youth pastor, getting some students to open up and share their lives can be a challenge. In this practical book you’ll learn the importance of connecting with students on an individual basis and get helpful ideas on how to engage a variety of students in meaningful dialogue. You’ll explore and learn more about connecting with six different types of students, including: • The “No Way” Kid • The “Not Interested” Kid • The “Checking Things Out Kid” • The “Stagnant” Kid • The “Growing” Kid • The “Looking for Ministry” Kid Connect will walk you through the steps to lead you into relationships with students that go beyond the youth room and impact them into adulthood."

Whenever I talk with youth workers at big events, I see the same look in their eyes. It''s the look of, "I want to pull off an event like this." I regularly get phone calls from youth workers around the country saying, "We''ve never done anything like this before, but we wanted to do a big evangelism event . . ." At 80% of the events I speak at each year it seems as if the youth worker in charge expected large numbers, only to get a fourth of his or her expectations. The heart is there and the motives are pure . . . but the experience and know-how are in short supply. Most youth workers would love to pull off successful outreach events, if they only knew how. Youth workers are only learning how to program outreach events by "trial and error." They need a resource to not only teach them the basics in programming outreach events, but also give them tools and examples that actually work. This book will help them understand the mindset of this outreach crowd, and give them the tools to plan effective outreach programs. The book will show them examples of how NOT to do it, as well as giving them "ready-made" events that work. It will also provide the basics such as the importance of DRAW, and aligning every single element with the events PURPOSE. The target market is all youth workers who want to plan weekly outreach programs, big events, or campus programs. A secondary audience would be student leaders who want to learn how to run 20 minute lunchtime "Bible Clubs," geared for outreach. Youth workers would be the gatekeepers to this audience, because they are the ones who would purchase the books for their student leaders

This book educates youth workers and student leaders about teens that aren''t making it to church for some reason or another, and examines what they think of God, of the church, and of Christians. It goes further to explore the needs of these individuals, the subgroups they fit into, and the ministry methods they actually respond to.