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Awesome on the insideSeeking a changeAWESOME ON THE INSIDE AWESOME ON THE INSIDE Tim Hawkins has written some extremely helpful books about youth ministry. His latest book, Awesome on the Inside, is written for teenagers themselves. One of its chapters highlights how easy it is to be negative — so let me mention the book’s positives, of which there are many. Hawkins knows, explains and applies the Bible well. He also knows young people well. The book is jargon free, well illustrated and addresses issues that young Christians face. The first section is particularly helpful. It sets out the main premise of the book, with chapters showing that ‘The inside is more important than the outside’, ‘Change starts from the inside’ and that ‘The inside always comes out’. It’s biblical, clear and challenging. The following sections attempt to encourage young people to become ‘awesome on the inside’. Lots of practical ‘steps’ are described for developing a godly heart — with sections on cultivating a prayerful heart, guarding a pure heart, and growing a passionate heart. All contain good advice. However, I was disappointed with the lack of emphasis on God’s work in changing us. The book says little about how the gospel should motivate and shape our heart. Young people and youth leaders at my church are currently reading this book and meeting to discuss it — using the accompanying Bible study guide. The guide is written for this setting and contains lots of questions, verses to consider and application. Awesome on the Inside contains much biblical advice and I recommend it — though its lack of emphasis on the gospel means that, for me, it doesn’t quite live-up to its sub-title, How to be changed by God from the Inside out. Jonathan Shulver, © Evangelicals Now - July 2007 |