Kevin Johnson Books

Rock Solid Faith Study Bible | Finalist!

The Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens from Zondervan is a finalist for Christian Retailing's Best award in the teen Bible category. More at the CBA web site. Bibles and books are judged "on their impact, including their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion; open people’s minds to new ways of thinking; and encourage and affirm Christ-like living."

I had a small part in another finalist, the Deep Blue Kids Bible from Abingdon.

 

Rock Solid Faith Study Bible | Reviews

I never take kind reviews for granted, and I love this one from Dan Istvanik, an 18-year youth ministry veteran. I had the privilege of teaming up with Zondervan to concept the The Rock Solid Faith Study Bible and write the content apart from the book outlines, introductions, and back matter. I aimed to address issues that will forever mark this generation of youth:

"In a market flooded with a variety of teen Bibles and youth devotional books, The Rock Solid Study Bible for Teens at first glace just blends in with the crowd. Once you begin to go through it and take some time to read the sidebars and notes such as the Unshaken God and Rock Solid Truth, you begin to see depth in its simplicity. It does not try to use flashy graphics, cartoons and the usual overused clichéd stuff of other teen Bibles. The Rock Solid Study Bible is pretty much what it title claims: rock solid, with its excellent study helps, challenges and overall solid spiritual basics the average teen needs. It is a good resource to have available around the office for new believers or for students growing in their faith."

More reviews at YouthWorker. And Zondervan did a must-see video on Scripture for the Bible's release.

 

Once-A-Day Bible for Teens

Here's the new Bible that pairs with the Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens. Each day gets you three readings--a selection from the Old Testament, New Testament, and either Psalms or Proverbs--wrapped up with my brief "rewind" of the passages. The cover art happens to look stunning sitting on the shelf next to the devo, but that is SO not what these books are meant for. They're a smart way to read every word of the Bible in a year.

Using this Bible alongside the Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens makes it easy to access those three Scripture readings plus an indepth look at one of the passages.

By the way, you can start anywhere in the Bible and on any day of the year. It's all good.

 

Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens

The Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens cuts straight to the the heart and meaning of Scripture. As part of Zondervan's popular Once-A-Day line, the book provides a plan to read the complete Bible in a year, with each day offering right-sized chunks from the Old Testament, New Testament, and either Psalms or Proverbs.

My goal in this book was to take one of those daily readings and dig in. Instead of extended stories, hooks, and illustrations--I've written plenty of those in earlier books like Total Devotion--I go straight for what a passage means and how it applies to real life.

I just received preview copies, so look for the book to release in early October 2012. Here's a sample of what you can expect.

The devotional can be used alongside The Once-A-Day Bible for Teens, which arranges the plan's Scripture readings in easy day-by-day order. I worked on that project as well, writing short recaps that explain the gist of the day's readings. Expect that in early October too.

READ it. PRAY it. LIVE it. REPEAT.

 

Crazy | A Range of Writing

I remember agonizing on the couch about a dozen years ago. Right after seminary I had pastored a group of several hundred middle schoolers, a rare and amazing privilege. I started writing books during that time. After five years I left to oversee the adult nonfiction line at a major publishing house, another stretching opportunity. By day I signed, developed, and edited überserious adult books, and by night I continued to write thoughtful and occasionally funny books for youth. After five years as senior editor of adult nonfiction I so badly missed working with youth that I took a position as an executive at a non-profit serving at-risk teens.

A few months later when that job didn't unfold so well I sat wondering what I was supposed to do with my life. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to expend myself working with adults... or students... and I hated being torn between the two. In the end I decided I was done trying to make that decision. I was crafted to work with both adults and youth, and I was going to keep living in both worlds as long as I could.

My work includes projects for adults, students, and kids. After twenty years of writing and more than fifty books published I've done contemplative prayer Bibles and practical books aimed at adults... youth books that gently jab at minds, hearts, and hormones... children's products splashed with color, cartoons, and computer generated art... and multimedia intergenerational projects mixed in too. I work hard at all of it. I love all of it. Whatever the target audience, I don't take any chance to write for granted. And I hope to never stop doing any of it, even if the crazy assortment doesn't make sense to anyone else.

 

Rock Solid Faith Study Bible | Released!

Our high school daughter has already nabbed the purple faux-leather version of the new Rock Solid Faith Study Bible, the first of three projects I did for Zondervan coming out in the next few weeks. Grab a look at this must-see video on Scripture produced for the release. And here are details from the back cover, minus the rugged fonts:

 

 A FOOTHOLD.

Feeling uncertain about your life? The world? Your future? Looking for something secure to hold onto in turbulent and confusing times? Wanting to know about God?

Address your questions and build a steadfast foundation for your faith with the NIV Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens. Find traction for your beliefs and promises for your future. Discover constant and concrete truths rooted in the unchanging love and promises of God.

FEATURES INCLUDE:

Rock Solid TRUTH: Examines Christian beliefs and exploration of other religions.

Rock Solid PRINCIPLES: Applies the Bible to daily decisions and challenges.

Rock Solid PROMISES: Calls out what is (and is not) promised in the Bible.

Rock Solid PLANS: Explores God's plans and will for your life.

Unshaken PEOPLE: Provides scriptural examples of overcoming difficulties.

Unshaken GOD: Points out God's unyielding attributes.

Reading plans, 8 pages of color maps, book introductions, and more!

 

One of this Bible's best features are indexes with Bible references and page numbers for every article. I concepted and wrote the notes for this Bible (other than the book introductions) for a generation of youth shaken by coming of age in an era of relentless economic, political, social, environmental, and spiritual tumult.

 

Dive Deep | Deep Blue Kids Bible Trailer

I had only a small part in this project, but this trailer highlights the vivid appeal of this study Bible for ages 8-12. Big answers for big questions. Turn up your speakers and have a look.

Deep Blue Kids Bible (Trailer) from Rule29 on Vimeo.

 

Deeper and Higher | Youth Discipleship Bible Studies

A few years back I got a rare chance to rework a series into several new books. I grabbed my Early Teen Discipleship (ETD) books from Bethany House and thoroughly rewrote, reformated, and republished them with Youth Specialties. I split eight original titles into the Deeper series for junior highers (Trust, Stick, Pray, and Choose) and the Higher series for high schoolers (Follow, Thrive, Think, and Soar).

I liked these books the first time around, but do-overs are sweet. My writing is cleaner, my punchiness recast for a new generation of youth, and the formatting makes the 20 studies in each book easy to complete. Both Deeper and Higher lead youth through the Bible's most relevant passages to help them discover how to meet and follow Jesus for themselves.

 

Unshakeable Truths | The Rock Solid Bible

I have a stunt double with a soul patch. Zondervan put together this potent video on Scripture to promote Rock Solid Faith Study Bible. I didn't write the script, and I was jolted by a couple of lines. But I did concept this student Bible to speak to a generation that will forever be marked by growing up in the Great Recession. I also wrote the notes other than the book introductions and outlines.

Look for the Bible to release in September, and in the meantime, check out this sample containing the full book of Mark.

 

  

 

Deep Blue Kids Bible

 

An editor friend from my work on the Adrian Rogers Legacy Bible pulled me in for a small part of another project. I wrote Bible book introductions for the Deep Blue Kids Bible, set for release in September 2012. The Bible is "easy to navigate, built to captivate" and features notes that will launch kids on a lifelong adventure of Bible learning.

The Common English Bible (CEB) was drafted by 120 Bible translators from diverse ethnic groups, and 24 different denominations partnered with more than 500 Bible readers from a variety of backgrounds to produce a Bible with smooth and natural language. It's highly readable.

I crafted introductions that feature an overview of each book, plus "things you'll discover," "people you'll meet," "places you'll go," and "words you'll remember." Click to the left for a peek, then find out more about the whole Deep Blue Kids Bible (including a sample). You can also watch the trailer now. Dive deep!