EDUCATION: Mere Christianity by C.S. LEWIS

In my opinion there are few people who have brought more clarity to Christianity through the written word than anybody else. One is C.S. Lewis. In my opinion everyone above 8th grade should read and discuss Mere Christianity. I think that it should be read, discussed, and everybody should be encouraged to underline profound quotes, write their own thoughts in it and add scripture references to it. There are many study guides available online at the following places:  Lewis Foundation, C.S. Lewis Institute, Calvin College (college level thinking) and Cokesbury. You might want to check them out and adapt them as necessary to your age group.

Try using it in one of these ways:

• Give it away to the congregation as a gift (you can buy a copy for under $5 and in some places under $3) and then do a sermon series and Bible study on it. 
• Intergenerational Bible Study - What a great opportunity to help transition high school students or young adults into adult Bible study!
• High School Confirmation - As I believe we should confirm our faith throughout adulthood and not just in the 8th grade, this book would be a fantastic study for high school students with a faith confirming project that can be shared as a youth-led worship service with the rest of the congregation.

This is one of the few books that will help people (young and older) put words to what they understand of their faith which will help them when they talk about it with friends. And what a wonderful conversation starter, "I'm reading this great book..."