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The Money Challenge for Teens: Prepare for College, Run from Debt, and Live Generously
Today’s teens are faced with more financial opportunities—and threats—than ever before, from summer jobs and scholarships to credit card applications and student loans. How are young people supposed to learn to avoid early pitfalls that could devastate their financial futures and instead take steps that can set them up for a future filled with security, contentment, and generosity? The Money Challenge for Teens can help.
Author Art Rainer introduces readers to some fictional young friends who are navigating financial waters and learning how God would want them to face college choices and car loans and thoughts about retirement (yes, even as a teenager!). While reading about the fictional friends’ steps and missteps, readers will learn simple, practical lessons and adopt real-life goals to start their journey to a healthy and godly financial future.
Author Art Rainer introduces readers to some fictional young friends who are navigating financial waters and learning how God would want them to face college choices and car loans and thoughts about retirement (yes, even as a teenager!). While reading about the fictional friends’ steps and missteps, readers will learn simple, practical lessons and adopt real-life goals to start their journey to a healthy and godly financial future.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2020
14 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Art Rainer
21 books4 followersArt Rainer is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. Art lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 2, 2022
Rainer has written a helpful book for teens. He walks through a mentoring relationship between a teen working at a fast food place and a local millionaire business owner. They look at how God expects us to manage our money and the lies the world and social media are telling us. What's a millionaire and how do they really live? What are checking, savings, and retirement accounts?
'You can understand money and God's design for it. And your understanding can change your life and others' eternity."
In part 1 there is a strong emphasis on generosity and how God gave to us so we could give to others and make a difference in their lives. Generosity is contagious!
"I'm not interested in teaching you to become financially healthy just so you can spend money on whatever you want. That's boring. That doesn't change lives. I want you to become financially healthy so you can use your money and stuff to advance God's Kingdom. That's exciting, and although you'll regret past purchases, you will never regret generosity. I'm going to help you live generously."
In part 2 Rainer explains how and why we save - from emergency funds to big purchases to avoiding debt to retirement savings.
"Saving money is not always easy, but it is important, not only because it prepares you for future purchases and times when money is scarce. The reason we need to save is so much bigger than that. What if I told you that saving money can eventually make you freer to give? What if I told you that saving money can help you make an eternal difference in your community and around the world?"
Part 3 is about living appropriately. We are the wealthiest nation on earth yet we are drowning in debt. It's time to look different, to live within our means. To free ourselves from money bondage so we can serve God and give generously.
"One of the great challenges to living appropriately is our view on the things we buy. Sometimes we create unrealistic expectations on how new makeup, new shoes, or a new car will make us feel about ourselves. We imagine that the stuff we want will make us feel more popular and liked. But the happiness is short-lived. The purchases let us down."
Rainer explains money terms well without becoming boring. Each section ends with money challenges to work through. This book would be a perfect companion to a personal finance study or for parents to walk through with their teens.
"Spend your life moving toward your treasures instead of away from them. The Joneses are an ugly crew. Stay away from them. They ruin financial health and generosity. Stop worrying about what people around you have. All of it will be in a dumpster someday anyway. Instead, set your sights on eternity and live with your hands wide open."
2022 A book about generosity
'You can understand money and God's design for it. And your understanding can change your life and others' eternity."
In part 1 there is a strong emphasis on generosity and how God gave to us so we could give to others and make a difference in their lives. Generosity is contagious!
"I'm not interested in teaching you to become financially healthy just so you can spend money on whatever you want. That's boring. That doesn't change lives. I want you to become financially healthy so you can use your money and stuff to advance God's Kingdom. That's exciting, and although you'll regret past purchases, you will never regret generosity. I'm going to help you live generously."
In part 2 Rainer explains how and why we save - from emergency funds to big purchases to avoiding debt to retirement savings.
"Saving money is not always easy, but it is important, not only because it prepares you for future purchases and times when money is scarce. The reason we need to save is so much bigger than that. What if I told you that saving money can eventually make you freer to give? What if I told you that saving money can help you make an eternal difference in your community and around the world?"
Part 3 is about living appropriately. We are the wealthiest nation on earth yet we are drowning in debt. It's time to look different, to live within our means. To free ourselves from money bondage so we can serve God and give generously.
"One of the great challenges to living appropriately is our view on the things we buy. Sometimes we create unrealistic expectations on how new makeup, new shoes, or a new car will make us feel about ourselves. We imagine that the stuff we want will make us feel more popular and liked. But the happiness is short-lived. The purchases let us down."
Rainer explains money terms well without becoming boring. Each section ends with money challenges to work through. This book would be a perfect companion to a personal finance study or for parents to walk through with their teens.
"Spend your life moving toward your treasures instead of away from them. The Joneses are an ugly crew. Stay away from them. They ruin financial health and generosity. Stop worrying about what people around you have. All of it will be in a dumpster someday anyway. Instead, set your sights on eternity and live with your hands wide open."
2022 A book about generosity
September 28, 2020
When I saw this book available for review, I chose it because I have two teenage sons and I thought it would be a practical read for our family. I was correct. Art Rainer does a great job in this book making the concepts of finances accessible and even attractive to youths who are just starting out on the quest to handle money responsibly.
Throughout the course of the book, the author handles topics like saving, giving money away, and planning for the future in the areas of college, buying a car, even preparing for retirement. He introduces a set of perspectives that helps not only teens, but anyone of any age and any financial standing view themselves as stewards of resources the Lord has given them.
This book is written from a Christian perspective and contains many good reminders that parents can pick up on along with their teens. The author’s writing style is conversational and relatable to the age group of teen years through young adult.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Throughout the course of the book, the author handles topics like saving, giving money away, and planning for the future in the areas of college, buying a car, even preparing for retirement. He introduces a set of perspectives that helps not only teens, but anyone of any age and any financial standing view themselves as stewards of resources the Lord has given them.
This book is written from a Christian perspective and contains many good reminders that parents can pick up on along with their teens. The author’s writing style is conversational and relatable to the age group of teen years through young adult.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
July 8, 2020
I wish this book were written when I was a teenager. Art Rainer takes a complicated topic and makes it easy to understand for teens, but still suitable for people of all ages.
In his newest book, The Money Challenge for Teens: Prepare for College, Run from Debt, and Live Generously, Rainer introduces us to a teenager falling into the lies the world offers about the life money can give him. What this young man doesn't realize is that God's design for money and the world's view of managing money are very different.
Through a series of money challenges and milestones given to him from a local business owner, this teenager begins to view money differently. He learns to give generously, save wisely, and live appropriately while in high school.
The financial steps offered in this book are reasonable to start at any age. The glamour and glitter the world claims money brings is a lie. In this book, you will read how God's fantastic plan for your life includes financial freedom for now and the future.
In his newest book, The Money Challenge for Teens: Prepare for College, Run from Debt, and Live Generously, Rainer introduces us to a teenager falling into the lies the world offers about the life money can give him. What this young man doesn't realize is that God's design for money and the world's view of managing money are very different.
Through a series of money challenges and milestones given to him from a local business owner, this teenager begins to view money differently. He learns to give generously, save wisely, and live appropriately while in high school.
The financial steps offered in this book are reasonable to start at any age. The glamour and glitter the world claims money brings is a lie. In this book, you will read how God's fantastic plan for your life includes financial freedom for now and the future.
July 15, 2021
I would ask why this was so religious but the real question is why did I read it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews