Ben Stuart

Navigating the Four Critical Seasons of Relationship The vast majority of young people will still pass through the key phases of singleness, dating, engagement and marriage in their twenties. Yet they are delaying marriage longer than any generation in human history. Why? For the first time in history, the average age for an American woman having her first child, 26, is younger than the average age of her first marriage, 27. More children than ever are growing up in fatherless homes, despite the overwhelming evidence that in every measurable way this is bad for the child. The Center for Disease Control also recently reported a dramatic rise in sexually transmitted disease nationwide. In Rhode Island alone, since the onset of online dating, reported cases of Syphilis has risen 79%, and HIV has increased by 33%. Though many young people can avoid early pregnancy and STDs, most cannot dodge the depression and feelings of isolation that characterize this modern generation. Studies show a dramatic rise in self-reported loneliness among the young. All of our technological connectivity has not made us feel more connected. In many ways, the very screens that are meant to link us to others have become shields blocking us from the deep intimacy we crave. Many have discovered that where there is a lack of intimacy,addiction often rises to take its place. How can a young person navigate such troubled waters? Is there hope out there? Like a sailor on turbulent seas, we need to look up and see the North Star: the fixed points in the sky whereby we might navigate the objective realities in life. We need the skill-set to know how to journey through life and how to select the right people to journey alongside. In this book we will chart a course through the four relational phases that the vast majority of human beings on the planet will pass through in their twenties: singleness, dating, engaged and married. In each of these phases, we will look at what eternal purposes should be pursued in each stage, and how to pursue them. SINGLENESS: DEVOTION DATING: EVALUATION ENGAGED: UNIFICATION MARRIED: MISSION Our desires for intimacy are powerful. This power can be constructive or destructive. Our satisfaction and our safety will be ensured if we can aim these powerful desires toward divine purposes.

Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age

Single, Dating, Engaged, Married

Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life

Rest and War

Member resource for 8 session young adult Bible study by Ben Stuart.

Lessons from James

This Changes Everything

Struggle well. Fight for progress. Know the one who has fought for you. You don’t have to live in this world long before discovering that the pursuit of intimacy with God occurs within the context of adversity. It is a fight. Yet it is a fight in which our King has won the decisive victory! You have been set free…into a raging battle! But there’s good news: your struggles do not mean you’re doomed, rather they’re actually a sure sign that you are alive. Now you must learn to struggle well, for Jesus did not free you from the fight, he freed you for the fight. Rest & War is a field guide for the spiritual life; a book of ancient methods of transformation transposed into a modern key. Borne out of pastor Ben Stuart’s personal life-experiences and decades in ministry, Rest & War offers biblical and practical guidance for: Battling what’s holding you back while building what will propel you forward Trading patterns of thinking that diminish intimacy with God for ones that encourage it Fighting sin and cultivating an environment that allows you to flourish Designing your everyday schedule based on your God-given purposes to bring more meaning into your routines God has called you into the good fight of life; step into it boldly, strategically. Flee evil and pursue intimacy with your Creator. Uproot what is broken and cultivate what is life-giving. Make war on what is destructive, and rest in the God who loves you. Are you ready to walk elegantly through the battlefield of life?

This Changes Everything: Lessons from James - Leader Kit is an 8 session study for young adults by Ben Stuart that unpacks the book of James. The world desperately needs Christians whose actions match their convictions. A young generation is rising up, and they need to see the power of the gospel working its way out into our everyday lives. Enter James, the half-brother of Jesus. Be warned, everything is on the table. James will call us to evaluate the way we deal with hardship, handle money, use our words, and plan our futures. But if we will let him in, James's letter has the potential for our outside to match our inside, our activity to match our God-given identity. Join author Ben Stuart as he unfolds the teachings of James, who went from skeptic to believer. Just as James came face-to-face with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he wants the same for you--whether you're wondering what being a Christian is all about or you've been following Christ for years. What James knew then still holds true today. When we encounter Jesus, He will change everything. (8 sessions) Kit Includes: Member Book DVD-ROM Features: Leader Guide Supplemental videos to enhance small group discussion This Changes Everything playlist Supplemental articles and resources Downloadable promotional poster Author: Ben Stuart is the executive director for Breakaway Ministries, a non-denominational, weekly Bible study on the campus of Texas A&M University. He grew up in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1998. Ben has a degree in Historical Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Donna, and their daughter. Ben's passion in life is knowing God and making Him known.

Ben Stuart

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