The third installment in Root's chronicles of Nadia--a youth worker who is learning to think theologically about life and ministry. In previous volumes Nadia learned that youth ministry was participating in God's action and that central to that action was the cross of Christ. This book reflects on the place of scripture in youth ministry. What does it mean to read scripture? How should we read it? How should we teach scripture to youth?

Root talks about the three-fold-form of the Word of God (cribbed from Barth, no doubt)--the Word of God revealed most fully in Jesus, the Word of God written (the Bible) and the Word of God proclaimed (preaching). He articulates a doctrine of revelation which sees the Bible as pointing to Jesus (the Word, but derived from the Word).

The narrative eschews learning the Bible in such a manner as to be able to parrot back particular Bible verses. Root is much more concerned that we learn to interpret scripture, and our own lives, in light of the larger story of Christ's coming.

Some thoughtful reflections here. The narrative is more of a device to talk about this stuff than it is a compelling read (didactic fiction). But good food for thought (and not just for youth ministers). ( )