Friday, August 26, 2011

Review: Peter Rock Star From Galilee

Peter Rock Star From Galilee: A Guided Bible Study for Teens by Sherree G. Funk

Publication Date: July 2011
Publisher: WinePress Publishing WA
Genre: Biblical Study Aids
Pages: Paperback 136pp
ISBN-13: 9781414119830
ISBN:
1414119836

(Received for an honest review from Pump Up Your Book Promotions)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Christianbook.com, IndieBound

Sherree G. Funk on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Book Trailer:

Peter the Rock Star from Galilee from WinePress Publishing on Vimeo.



Synopsis:

"Peter's impulsiveness and failures make him an easy character for both young men and women to relate to. As your students dive into this Bible study. I have no doubt that they will be challenged and transformed by the lessons Sherree has assembled here."

Jayson Samuels
Co-founder and Family Pastor
Northbridge Community Church, Cranberry, PA

Let music accompany your Bible study, Peter: Rock Star from Galilee will guide you through the ups and downs of Peter's life story with a playlist of songs and hymns paralleling each chapter.

Search song lyrics for truths relating to each stage of Peter's faith journey and find ways to apply them to your won life. Listen to Josh Wilson's "Before the Morning" and imagine how Peter felt after denying Jesus. Consider the role of prayer in Peter's prison release while listening to Amy Grant's "Angels."

This eight-week study includes:

  • Interactive questions for personal study and "Chew on This" questions for small group discussion.
  • Photograph's, maps, and informative sidebars for historical and geographical context.
  • Hands-on mission activities and discipleship challenges to encourage teens' growing faith.
Peter was larger than life, like a rock star, yet his struggles were just like ours. If God can grow a reluctant Peter into a solid rock of faith, he can surely form you into a perfectly shaped living stone as well.

Thoughts:

Sherree G. Funk has written several character based Bible study programs for teens. Her latest study called,
Peter Rock Star From Galilee, focuses on the life of one of the Bible's most interesting people. Peter is often considered one of Christ's closest disciples and in this study teens will learn that Peter wasn't perfect. He struggled with the same kinds of issues that teens struggle with on a daily basis.

This Bible study has an eight-week format with five lessons per week. Making it easy for homeschoolers to use in their everyday curriculum as well as youth groups that want to draw out the study into a longer time frame. Funk uses an easy, interactive format, that allows leaders to use, photographs, maps, Biblical references, group discussion and music to interest students and provide opportunities for growth.

One of the most interesting aspects of this study is the incorporation of music. At the beginning of each week, Funk provides a playlist that students and leaders can easily download from ITunes or other music providers to their ipods or computers. These songs are generally Contemporary Christian songs or hymns that pertain to the lesson of the week.

This is the first study that I have seen that uses music to enhance learning. I have worked with teens in a church setting for many years and music is always something that appeals to teens helps them to incorporate Biblical principles into their daily lives. I always say, "Put good stuff in, you'll get good stuff out!" That includes what you listen to, what you read, what you talk about and I think Funk is using the same idea with this study. Music is a powerful medium and it speaks to people on a fundamental level and I love the fact that the author uses it in this study.

I have never really been a proponent of using workbooks when it comes to Bible study, but I can definitely see the advantages of it with this study. There is very little written activities and they generally focus on the aspects of the study that deal with the Bible itself and Bible passages. The author is basically using the written activity to impress on students the important points of each lesson and for this particular study I think it works. It's not too long, not too intense or too difficult. It just reiterates the important ideas students should focus on.

I really liked the "Chew on This" section of each lesson. These are questions that will give students something to think about during the week or the day before they come back to learn more about Peter. They are the kinds of questions that creep into the minds of teens who are new to Christianity or to teens who struggle with certain aspects of their lives. I thought they were very thought-provoking and teens would find them interesting.

Jam sessions are used for one of my favorite parts of working with teens. Getting them talking. Dialogue between leaders and students is so important that this crucial time in a teens life. They need to know there is someone who cares what they think and wants to help them sort out how they are feeling. Discussion among teens can get rowdy, but it is generally very fulfilling for everyone and I think Funk uses it to her advantage in this study.

There is also a section called, "Christian Reality Challenge" that I enjoyed as well. It gives the students something to do. Sometimes students learn more easily from doing something than hearing it drummed into their heads. These activities provide hands on learning and I think that is very important. How to apply these principles in the lives of students is key to giving them the tools they need to survive and thrive in today's world.

Since I have two teens of my own, I let them take a look at the music, the format and all aspects of the study and they both gave it a thumbs up! It is a study they said they would like to participate in and were very excited about. I think that speaks volumes about how wonderful this study is. Funk has done a great job of providing a study on the life of Peter that is interesting and thought-provoking. I recommend it to homeschoolers, youth leaders and parents who want a study that will grab the interest of their teens and provide good solid Christian principles.

Peter Rock Star From Galilee is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this study 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Well grounded in Biblical Christianity, Sheree G. Funk is passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of God's word with the next generation. She has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees and hold a Certificate in Christian Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. Sheree leads small groups of teens at Ingomer UMC. Her other teen Bible studies are available on her website. (See link above)



1 comment:

Cheryl said...

Thanks for the fabulous review of Sherree's latest. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

If your sons are interested, Sherree has a Facebook group that will be going through the Bible study starting on September 6th. You can find it at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/Peterrockstar/

Thanks again.