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True Identity: Finding Significance and Freedom Through Who You Are in Christ
Teens' Guide to Identity from FamilyLife
All teens wrestle with the question "Who am I?" and wonder, What makes me special?
Though these questions linger for life, they are most intense in the teen years, where confusion, awkwardness, and a desperate grab for identity reign. So how does a young person answer these critical questions? Where do young men and women find their significance, worth, and value?
True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships.
The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.
All teens wrestle with the question "Who am I?" and wonder, What makes me special?
Though these questions linger for life, they are most intense in the teen years, where confusion, awkwardness, and a desperate grab for identity reign. So how does a young person answer these critical questions? Where do young men and women find their significance, worth, and value?
True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships.
The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2017
13 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 9, 2017
I wish this book had been written 15 years ago. I cringe when I think back to my teenage years. I remember all of the awkward, immature things I said and did, now realizing that I was looking for significance in how others saw me. If only this resource had been around.
True Identity helps teens understands how their identity is being shaped during this exciting season of life. The key passage of Scripture for the book is Colossians 3:2-3, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Majors focuses on 4 areas in particular where teens tend to wrestle with identity:
Gender Identity
Spiritual Identity
Relational Identity
Missional Identity
I really appreciated Majors' balanced approach. Every chapter is both biblical and practical. He also writes as if he's speaking to a regular person, not taking himself too seriously or trying to pretend he's a teenager.
If you get this book for your teen, you'll be served well by reading it yourself. In addition to giving you helpful categories as you disciple your son or daughter, you will also find yourself encouraged and challenged. While this book is written to teens, I was surprised at how often I was personally helped.
True Identity helps teens understands how their identity is being shaped during this exciting season of life. The key passage of Scripture for the book is Colossians 3:2-3, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Majors focuses on 4 areas in particular where teens tend to wrestle with identity:
Gender Identity
Spiritual Identity
Relational Identity
Missional Identity
I really appreciated Majors' balanced approach. Every chapter is both biblical and practical. He also writes as if he's speaking to a regular person, not taking himself too seriously or trying to pretend he's a teenager.
If you get this book for your teen, you'll be served well by reading it yourself. In addition to giving you helpful categories as you disciple your son or daughter, you will also find yourself encouraged and challenged. While this book is written to teens, I was surprised at how often I was personally helped.
November 22, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Thank you Bethany House for sharing with me.
Here is my honest review.
First and foremost, this is a book written for teens; I am well into adulthood yet found this book to a relevant and thoughtful examination of major issues that young people face as they race toward adulthood. As I was reading, I kept thinking "Where were books like this thirty years ago?" If they existed, they certainly weren't on the radar for those in my youth group or the adults guiding us.
With teenagers, broaching honest, thought-provoking topics can sometimes be difficult. Majors addresses one of the critical questions we all ask ourselves: "Who Am I?" and breaks our identity down into four broad compartments before dividing them further in sub-categories. He then addresses each of these elements not from the perspective that is culturally popular at the moment, but rather from the viewpoint of our relationship with Christ.
If you parent a teenager or have a child that will soon be facing these years fraught with angst and confusion, this is a great book to read. Then share it with your son or daughter, inviting them to read it with you and share their thoughts and reactions. It can open conversations in a non-threatening way which is really crucial to having heart-to-heart (two-sided) talks with a young adult.
The four identities explored in this book are: Gender Identity, Spiritual Identity, Relational Identity and Missional Identity. I first thought Majors was too general, skimming the surface even, as he addressed the components of identity. As I continued to read, I realized that it wasn't an in-depth exploration - and that was a good thing. It would be very easy the message to come across as preachy, a sure-fire way to close the door to frank discussion. Additionally, the author is laying groundwork on a topic while allowing room for the reader to continue the thought process and arrive at conclusions that are their own. This is exactly where teenagers are at during this point in their life; they have to determine if they believe what they've been taught and why - or if they disagree and why. This book is a great guide to exploring basic principles of Christianity and how that shapes us and the decisions we make about how we live our lives.
This is not to imply that the book lacks honest, well-laid out truth. It does.For example, True Identity takes a very clear and concise stance on purity outside of marriage with Biblical references as well as psychological reasoning for radical abstinence. With adult perspective and experience, I know that Majors is correct in all the reasons he gives for refraining from premarital sex. Unwanted pregnancy is mentioned but it isn't the strongest case he makes for purity: sex is more than just physical pleasure. His arguments are well-thought out, easily presented and far more compelling argument for teenagers to actually consider than just don't do it.
Personally, there was one area that I found lacking in the book. Majors spends quite a bit of time exploring relationships, which is vitally important to the development of anyone. He is correct in that teenagers are spending more time with peers and other adults in their world than they are with their parents and family. I know that this is part of the process of growing up and is essential to real maturity taking place. But after that explanation, the focus is spent on relationships with peers, finding quality mentors and finally dating. I wish there had been more emphasis placed on maintaining and growing relationship with your parents. While Majors does address specific concerns and advises the reader to discuss it with their parents, there is no significant page space given to the shift that begins to occur in how to relate to your parents at this age and as responsibility and independence grows.
This book will remain on our shelves for a few years until my son is a teenager; it's certainly a book I will encourage him to read and discuss.
Here is my honest review.
First and foremost, this is a book written for teens; I am well into adulthood yet found this book to a relevant and thoughtful examination of major issues that young people face as they race toward adulthood. As I was reading, I kept thinking "Where were books like this thirty years ago?" If they existed, they certainly weren't on the radar for those in my youth group or the adults guiding us.
With teenagers, broaching honest, thought-provoking topics can sometimes be difficult. Majors addresses one of the critical questions we all ask ourselves: "Who Am I?" and breaks our identity down into four broad compartments before dividing them further in sub-categories. He then addresses each of these elements not from the perspective that is culturally popular at the moment, but rather from the viewpoint of our relationship with Christ.
If you parent a teenager or have a child that will soon be facing these years fraught with angst and confusion, this is a great book to read. Then share it with your son or daughter, inviting them to read it with you and share their thoughts and reactions. It can open conversations in a non-threatening way which is really crucial to having heart-to-heart (two-sided) talks with a young adult.
The four identities explored in this book are: Gender Identity, Spiritual Identity, Relational Identity and Missional Identity. I first thought Majors was too general, skimming the surface even, as he addressed the components of identity. As I continued to read, I realized that it wasn't an in-depth exploration - and that was a good thing. It would be very easy the message to come across as preachy, a sure-fire way to close the door to frank discussion. Additionally, the author is laying groundwork on a topic while allowing room for the reader to continue the thought process and arrive at conclusions that are their own. This is exactly where teenagers are at during this point in their life; they have to determine if they believe what they've been taught and why - or if they disagree and why. This book is a great guide to exploring basic principles of Christianity and how that shapes us and the decisions we make about how we live our lives.
This is not to imply that the book lacks honest, well-laid out truth. It does.For example, True Identity takes a very clear and concise stance on purity outside of marriage with Biblical references as well as psychological reasoning for radical abstinence. With adult perspective and experience, I know that Majors is correct in all the reasons he gives for refraining from premarital sex. Unwanted pregnancy is mentioned but it isn't the strongest case he makes for purity: sex is more than just physical pleasure. His arguments are well-thought out, easily presented and far more compelling argument for teenagers to actually consider than just don't do it.
Personally, there was one area that I found lacking in the book. Majors spends quite a bit of time exploring relationships, which is vitally important to the development of anyone. He is correct in that teenagers are spending more time with peers and other adults in their world than they are with their parents and family. I know that this is part of the process of growing up and is essential to real maturity taking place. But after that explanation, the focus is spent on relationships with peers, finding quality mentors and finally dating. I wish there had been more emphasis placed on maintaining and growing relationship with your parents. While Majors does address specific concerns and advises the reader to discuss it with their parents, there is no significant page space given to the shift that begins to occur in how to relate to your parents at this age and as responsibility and independence grows.
This book will remain on our shelves for a few years until my son is a teenager; it's certainly a book I will encourage him to read and discuss.
November 25, 2017
True Identity: Finding Significance And Freedom Through Who You Are In Christ by John C. Majors is written for teens and young adults who find themselves struggling to find themselves. Through this Biblically-based book, John tackles issues of personal identity, gender identity, spiritual identity, relational identity, and missional identity.
Geared for the youth being raised in a society that is blurring more lines every day on what it means to be a man or a woman, this book gets to the core issues of discovering your own identity and coming to terms with being exactly who God made you to be. Whether you find yourself struggling with assertiveness and control issues, or whether you question a possible attraction to the same sex - this book hold many truths to help you unlock the truest blueprint for God's plans for your life.
Not only does John help equip young adults with the knowledge needed to make Biblically sound choices, he also helps provide them with insight and positive practices for dealing with others in their lives who may not be making the most Christ-like choices.
Written for both young men and young women, this book if a must-read for anyone trying to sort through the myriad of societal allowances that make it so easy for young people to step into dangerous so-called grey areas and inadvertently step on mines. 4/5 stars.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Geared for the youth being raised in a society that is blurring more lines every day on what it means to be a man or a woman, this book gets to the core issues of discovering your own identity and coming to terms with being exactly who God made you to be. Whether you find yourself struggling with assertiveness and control issues, or whether you question a possible attraction to the same sex - this book hold many truths to help you unlock the truest blueprint for God's plans for your life.
Not only does John help equip young adults with the knowledge needed to make Biblically sound choices, he also helps provide them with insight and positive practices for dealing with others in their lives who may not be making the most Christ-like choices.
Written for both young men and young women, this book if a must-read for anyone trying to sort through the myriad of societal allowances that make it so easy for young people to step into dangerous so-called grey areas and inadvertently step on mines. 4/5 stars.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
December 2, 2017
This is a very important topic for teens. They are desperately trying to find their identity in this world. Honestly, even adults are. So this is a very timely book.
John starts with the basic foundation, our identity in Christ and how that is truly the foundation for everything else in life.
He tackles some tough topics, such as transgender and same-sex attraction. He handled it very well. My only complaint is I wish he might have talked about some the issues that lead to people believing they are transgender or gay. He didn’t touch on any underlying causes and I believe that plays a huge role in why kids are turning to these lifestyles. So, I was disappointed by that.
I did like how he handled the chapter on dating and that is one I for sure will be encouraging my daughter to read.
Overall, this is a very good book and I think important for our teens to be reading.
A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
John starts with the basic foundation, our identity in Christ and how that is truly the foundation for everything else in life.
He tackles some tough topics, such as transgender and same-sex attraction. He handled it very well. My only complaint is I wish he might have talked about some the issues that lead to people believing they are transgender or gay. He didn’t touch on any underlying causes and I believe that plays a huge role in why kids are turning to these lifestyles. So, I was disappointed by that.
I did like how he handled the chapter on dating and that is one I for sure will be encouraging my daughter to read.
Overall, this is a very good book and I think important for our teens to be reading.
A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2017
You know what, though I am not a teen, the book magnetized me to read and study the subject… Typical question on “Who Am I ?” will not rise again, especially among young people. This book is great for the parents to give an answer to their kids in such a way that they will never question who they are ever again.
The book divides in five sections which conclude the topic like what and who are the shapers of our identity, why it’s important to root the identity in Christ, why our gender makes us what we are, why faith gives us spiritual identity, why we have successful independence while living among family, and other relationships; how to have missional identity and walk in who we are with a bright future manifested in our now.
The book divides in five sections which conclude the topic like what and who are the shapers of our identity, why it’s important to root the identity in Christ, why our gender makes us what we are, why faith gives us spiritual identity, why we have successful independence while living among family, and other relationships; how to have missional identity and walk in who we are with a bright future manifested in our now.
December 14, 2020
Now... before judging my choice of book, let me tell you something. I have never had that identity crisis thing all teens seem to face at some point, so quit your smirking. In fact, I'm confident that I will never have that problem. However, I'm a strong believer in that you can always learn something. And my hypothesis proved true with this book (look at me with all my fancy terms hehe). I liked that it showed many perspectives and that although I'm not having trouble with identity, reading this serves as a tool on how to deal with others facing this issue. It confirmed a lot of what I already knew, but we all need that now and again right? (If you just said no, well I got news for you brutha...)
October 16, 2017
This book was a beautiful writing and compelling to read with giving us to understanding discovery, finding yourself of who you are and what you really want and mean in life. The stories of his book will help you shape you life for the future for all of ages and all kind of people can be used this book for guiding there living by starting from the basic to believe in the way of God had have a mission for all of us to follow to the end of our life. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “I received complimentary a copy of this book from Bethany House for this review”.
November 14, 2017
I believe True Identity will be helpful to many young people. Majors lays out the case for true identity in Christ in a way that is relevant to today's young people, yet remains deep and thoughtful. He calls the next generation to live a life that is so much more meaningful than what the world and oftentimes the church offers. He calls the next generation to live with an identity so rooted in Christ and transformed by the gospel that wherever they go and whatever they do they can use their God-given gifts to live out their God-given purpose with significance and freedom.
April 11, 2018
True Identity by John Majors is a book written for teens to help in “finding significance and freedom through who you are in Christ.” The author does this by examining significant areas of a teen’s life one-by-one, in light of a Christian’s identity in Christ. He writes with an authentic voice that seems relatable to teens without being patronizing. The book tackles tough topics from a wise and biblical point of view. Highly recommended.
October 6, 2020
Well paced, on point topics.
Parent pre reading to determine appropriate for my kids. Book is an engaging, easy read. Topics are on point. Right amount of depth. Not too long. Not heretical. Definitely pre read and for a 14/15 year old as there are good questions to help focus an open ended dialogue. Seems slightly more geared towards boys, but definitely helped me understand some pieces I was missing about girl behavior at that age.
Parent pre reading to determine appropriate for my kids. Book is an engaging, easy read. Topics are on point. Right amount of depth. Not too long. Not heretical. Definitely pre read and for a 14/15 year old as there are good questions to help focus an open ended dialogue. Seems slightly more geared towards boys, but definitely helped me understand some pieces I was missing about girl behavior at that age.
June 23, 2018
This is a solid, level-headed guide to navigating identity (in many of its facets) for youth. I would recommend it to teens searching for grounding in a world of relativism and skepticism, more because of its reassuring common-sense language than its intellectual arguments.
I used the book as a basis for a book study with some men in my family, and it sparked fruitful discussions.
I used the book as a basis for a book study with some men in my family, and it sparked fruitful discussions.
September 3, 2019
Unfortunately, there's much less about what identity in Christ actually constitutes for a Christian (3 pages) than about behaviors teens should assume to line up with this particular organization's understanding of Christianity. Very little Scripture cited.
October 5, 2023
This is a fantastic resource for teenagers, but, really, anybody can benefit from it. There's great wisdom in its pages and many engaging stories to drive home the main points. This book is deeply rooted in a Christian, Biblical worldview.
December 13, 2022
A good book for teens, but there are good points for people much older than teens as well.
August 28, 2023
Fantastic book to read through with the teen set.
September 7, 2019
Age Appropriate For: 14 and up
Best for Ages: 14 and 16
Honestly, I’m not sure what to say about this book. Finding your identity in Christ is a message I’m passionate about. I expected to love this book. I ended up skimming through it. I know this book was targeted to teens, but that wasn’t why I was disappointed. I think I went into this book with the wrong expectations.
I have to be honest enough to say the whole book started with a story that gave me a bad taste in my mouth. The story (Who Am I?) was great for illustrative purposes, but as I know the family involved, know the heartache that story caused. Most people won’t have that reaction, but I need to be honest and say that it affected me negatively.
When I see a subtitle like this book (Finding significance and freedom through who you are in Christ) I come expect a biblical starting point. This book started with issues teens are facing today such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and the like, and provided Bible answers. I was expecting the book to be about our identity in Christ and then perhaps address some of these issues on the side.
I think this book has a lot of good things to say. There is a lot of biblically sound advice that is great for teens. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.
I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All the thoughts expressed are my own.
Best for Ages: 14 and 16
Honestly, I’m not sure what to say about this book. Finding your identity in Christ is a message I’m passionate about. I expected to love this book. I ended up skimming through it. I know this book was targeted to teens, but that wasn’t why I was disappointed. I think I went into this book with the wrong expectations.
I have to be honest enough to say the whole book started with a story that gave me a bad taste in my mouth. The story (Who Am I?) was great for illustrative purposes, but as I know the family involved, know the heartache that story caused. Most people won’t have that reaction, but I need to be honest and say that it affected me negatively.
When I see a subtitle like this book (Finding significance and freedom through who you are in Christ) I come expect a biblical starting point. This book started with issues teens are facing today such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and the like, and provided Bible answers. I was expecting the book to be about our identity in Christ and then perhaps address some of these issues on the side.
I think this book has a lot of good things to say. There is a lot of biblically sound advice that is great for teens. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.
I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All the thoughts expressed are my own.
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