Max Q: Developing Students of Influence

Rating:
Summary: It Rocks!
Review: Curriculum Evaluation: Max Q

Maximum Quotient: It is the point in time when a rocket's speed is the highest and air pressure is at its extreme. It is what young Christians feel during their teenage years. Pulling from many years of successful youth ministry, Stanley and Hall introduce youth leaders to a new realm of youth ministry through this dynamic new plan. This life-changing book helps students learn how to influence their peers-both saved and unsaved-without being negatively influenced themselves.
Max Q, written by Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall, has been an encouragement to read! These authors have paved the way to some of the most relevant and inspiring youth materials that is out! Along with Seven Checkpoint, Max Q is a must read for any youth leader (volunteer to full time leader). After picking up Max Q, I couldn't put it down! The reader will learn about: A Ministry of Influence, Jesus & Influence, Maximum Dynamic Pressure, Setting Standards, Establishing Priorities, Maintaining Accountability, Unconditional Acceptance, Sustaining Influence, Using Leverage, and Partnering with Parents. These are very simple but thought wrenching topics that all youth pastors need to be refreshed on.
The book is a must to read when diving into the Max Q world. It spans over just two parts, The Truth about Influence and The Principles. These two chapters are filled to the brim with insightful material that will keep ones' pen highlighting and making notes! Many respected youth leaders such as, Louie Giglio, Chad Childress, Doug Fields and Matt Brinkley have endorsed the reading of this particular resource.

Along with the hardback book entitled, Max Q, comes a valuable resource that is in a form of a 9 week curriculum pack- The Max Q Student Journal.
Recognizing the pitfalls of postmodern student life, the Max Q Student Journal gives students a real and relevant way to stay strong in their Christian faith. With thought-provoking questions, the basic "Max Q" principles, and space for journaling, this book will prepare students to handle temptation and live the life of a true witness. As students learn to live out their faith without compromise during high-stress times, they will find new doors for peer evangelism opening before them. Students of today long to make a difference-in order to do that they need something true, something real, something called Max Q.
After picking up this material and thumbing through it, I found a wealth of material that is needed in the life of a teenager! I believe students, with the help of this book, will do more than merely withstand the pressures around them. They will be a powerful force for good among their friends. The curriculum is designed to help students discover what is means to become spiritually influential and to provide them with the tools needed to begin that process. One of the main goals is to shift their thinking from traditional concepts of evangelism (knocking on doors, inviting people to big events) to what is a more biblical concept: disciplism ("disciple" with an "ism") (pg.5 Student Journal).
The journal is divided, similar to the book, in two parts. Each day has a Q Text, a Q Test, and a Q Point. The Q Text begins with a passage of scripture that will guide the reader through the meaning of the daily verse. Questions follow to apply and dive deep into thinking through the verse for that day. The Q Test, is comprised of two or three critical questions based on the thoughts presented in the Q Text. These questions are crafted to create tension in the readers heart and mind. The Q Point, are several paragraphs for information and insight designed to help the student understand, personalize, and apply the principles of influence they are discovering.
This curriculum represents a launch pad into the life of God designed for the student. It is designed to impact a life of knowing him and making him known to a lost world.

Rating:
Summary: It Rocks!
Review: Curriculum Evaluation: Max Q

Maximum Quotient: It is the point in time when a rocket's speed is the highest and air pressure is at its extreme. It is what young Christians feel during their teenage years. Pulling from many years of successful youth ministry, Stanley and Hall introduce youth leaders to a new realm of youth ministry through this dynamic new plan. This life-changing book helps students learn how to influence their peers-both saved and unsaved-without being negatively influenced themselves.
Max Q, written by Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall, has been an encouragement to read! These authors have paved the way to some of the most relevant and inspiring youth materials that is out! Along with Seven Checkpoint, Max Q is a must read for any youth leader (volunteer to full time leader). After picking up Max Q, I couldn't put it down! The reader will learn about: A Ministry of Influence, Jesus & Influence, Maximum Dynamic Pressure, Setting Standards, Establishing Priorities, Maintaining Accountability, Unconditional Acceptance, Sustaining Influence, Using Leverage, and Partnering with Parents. These are very simple but thought wrenching topics that all youth pastors need to be refreshed on.
The book is a must to read when diving into the Max Q world. It spans over just two parts, The Truth about Influence and The Principles. These two chapters are filled to the brim with insightful material that will keep ones' pen highlighting and making notes! Many respected youth leaders such as, Louie Giglio, Chad Childress, Doug Fields and Matt Brinkley have endorsed the reading of this particular resource.

Along with the hardback book entitled, Max Q, comes a valuable resource that is in a form of a 9 week curriculum pack- The Max Q Student Journal.
Recognizing the pitfalls of postmodern student life, the Max Q Student Journal gives students a real and relevant way to stay strong in their Christian faith. With thought-provoking questions, the basic "Max Q" principles, and space for journaling, this book will prepare students to handle temptation and live the life of a true witness. As students learn to live out their faith without compromise during high-stress times, they will find new doors for peer evangelism opening before them. Students of today long to make a difference-in order to do that they need something true, something real, something called Max Q.
After picking up this material and thumbing through it, I found a wealth of material that is needed in the life of a teenager! I believe students, with the help of this book, will do more than merely withstand the pressures around them. They will be a powerful force for good among their friends. The curriculum is designed to help students discover what is means to become spiritually influential and to provide them with the tools needed to begin that process. One of the main goals is to shift their thinking from traditional concepts of evangelism (knocking on doors, inviting people to big events) to what is a more biblical concept: disciplism ("disciple" with an "ism") (pg.5 Student Journal).
The journal is divided, similar to the book, in two parts. Each day has a Q Text, a Q Test, and a Q Point. The Q Text begins with a passage of scripture that will guide the reader through the meaning of the daily verse. Questions follow to apply and dive deep into thinking through the verse for that day. The Q Test, is comprised of two or three critical questions based on the thoughts presented in the Q Text. These questions are crafted to create tension in the readers heart and mind. The Q Point, are several paragraphs for information and insight designed to help the student understand, personalize, and apply the principles of influence they are discovering.
This curriculum represents a launch pad into the life of God designed for the student. It is designed to impact a life of knowing him and making him known to a lost world.

Rating:
Summary: Right On About Influence
Review: Okay, let me start off by saying The Seven Checkpoints is one of the best books I have ever read about youth ministry. I used the concepts and ideas all the time. I read that book in about three days and gleaned so much from it. So, I was very excited to start reading Max Q. At first, because of a mishap with a not so bright phone operator at Harvest, I received the Student Journal in the mail. I leafed through it but didn't take a lot of time with it. Then finally my leader's hardback copy arrived from Amazon.

The concept of the book is that our students are at critical mass everyday in their world. They are under huge pressure all the time. We need to prepare them for the world. We need to help them understand how they can be people of influence to the world around them. The book speaks of how our students can be the light in the dark world of their schools and work places.

I agree completely with the theory of this book. I believe that our youth ministries need to be preparing our students for the opportunity to affect the real world. I think one of the hardest parts of being a Youth Pastor at my current church is that we have such a large home schooled group of teens (51% of our total group are home schooled) that they just don't know any non-Christians. I have heard that come from them every time we speak about evangelism. That concept makes me sad. It is as though the parents in our congregation, in an effort to shield their children from evil, have removed them as influencers in the world. This book encourages wisely handled friendships with non-Christians. It presupposes that if we have prepared our students for the "real world" then they can become influences on their non-believing peers.

There is caution given by the authors that students need to be careful to be sure they are always doing the influencing. It also encourages us as leaders to remind students of grace if they fail. I think Stanley and Hall are right on in their assessment of the need for Christian students to be making a lasting impact on the spiritual life of their friends.

Where I think the book is weak is in the area of how that works out practically. I think that time and time again they go back to the point that students should be doing this without offering situations where they can actually be living out this concept. It gives some hows but I think in all it had to say, the book of about 225 pages was way too long. I found it very repetitive. Again, I agree with the concepts but felt like they offered me a challenge without helping me to see how to obtain the goal.

I have discussed the concepts of the book with my Senior High Guys Small Group and we agree the need is there. I have encouraged them to be on their toes and remember they are always representing Christ. The book was a great reminder of that concept. I just wish it would have spent less time on proving the need for such relationships and more time on how I can help my students live that life out in a practical way.

Rating:
Summary: Motivational, and drawing heavily on the wisdom of scripture
Review: Two respected leaders in the Christian community present Max Q: Developing Students Of Influence, a guide especially for Christian parents and teachers that covers six core principles to help one's children and students thrive in spite of the greatest external pressures, and spread the message of Christ to their peers. Chapters also address the importance of understanding the lasting power of influence as well as its limitations. Motivational, and drawing heavily on the wisdom of scripture as well as practical advice and experience, Max Q is highly recommended for anyone concerned about passing on their cherished values to the next generation.