Editors note: Dan Dumas has written a new book, Live Smart: Preparing for the Future God Wants for You (Bethany House). SBTS Blog editor Jeff Robinson corresponded with him on how he hopes to minister to the local church through his new work.  

In Live Smart, you trace out 14 principles from Scripture that apply the wisdom of Solomon to everyday life. How have these things impacted you and what motivated you to write the book?

These 14 are core values for young people who desire to live intentionally. I wish I had someone sit me down and walk me through living smart. These are important lessons for us all to learn and I had to, unfortunately, learn the hard way at times. These principles still affect my daily life. How I make decisions, etc. I hope this book saves the next generation from a lot of foolish living and unwise choices.

I wrote it partly out of duty because I really care about the next generation of gospel leaders. Secondly, I wrote it for my own boys, which one of them has just arrived in his teenage years. Thirdly, I wrote it because there is not a lot of solid material out there to serve the younger generation. I hope the readers sense the urgency in my voice as I walk them through these fourteen critical principles.

The principle behind chapter 4 is “Submit to Authority.” Do you see this as a major issue behind many of the struggles both in our culture and in the church today? Why is this such an important issue?

I believe this is significant for the target audience that I wrote to. Young people struggle with authority. Maybe, I should say, all people struggle with authority, particularly young people. Young people, both inside and outside the church, think they have life figured out. The older I get the smarter my parents have become.

I admit, its tough; people don’t like to be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. The flesh can really be a burden as it seeks to bow up and fight rather than submit. One of the great milestones in my own life was joining the Navy. There I learned about authority, chain of command and respect for leadership. The faster you can learn that we are all under authority and that is a good thing, the better off you will live.

Another principle you set forth is to seek mentors. Who have been some of your mentors and how have they shaped the way you think about God, his Word, and ministry?

Listen, I am the product of intentional mentorship. I am a marked man! Since my conversion in 1986, I have had countless mentors speaking into my life and shaping me into a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Three stand out among the many as I reflect on seeking mentors. Tommy Mallard, my first and finest mentor, taught me the significance of making character a priority. Dr. John MacArthur taught me to love and faithfully preach the Scriptures. Dr. Albert Mohler has instilled in me to be a bold theological and conviction-driven leader.

I really think it is a mistake to try to grow up in Christ apart from outside, horizontal input. We all need mentors. Solomon said in Proverbs 18:1, he who isolates himself rages against all sound judgment.

Who do you see as the target audience for the book and if I were going to use it in my church, how would you recommend I use it? To whom should I give your book?

The target writing audience is for middle school age to Millennials. What has both surprised and encouraged me is how parents have taken to it as they seek to disciple their teenagers and how student and college pastors desire to use it in their ministry contexts.

We have written a companion piece at LiveSmartBook.com as a small group guide to provide helpful questions and application. I would give this book to parents, students of all ages, grandparents (as they seek to mentor the next generation) and student ministry pastors.

How does the gospel function as the driving force behind these principles?

The gospel is the driving force behind all of these disciplines. As the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Prov. 14:27) so the power of the gospel is the fountain of grace that drives us to excel in all things (albeit imperfectly). My challenge in this book is to be very intentional in how you live. Don’t leave life to chance. Put some order and intentionality into your spiritual formation. To attack life with a laissez faire-attitude is just not a smart way to live.

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41W7kta3NbL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_As a professor and youth director, author Dan Dumas has seen that young people have high expectations for themselves. They want their lives to matter, and there’s no reason our expectations for them should be any different.

This book presents practical tools and biblical advice to middle school and high school-aged readers so they can make the most of their youth. It covers everything from making the right friendships to how to think about education and how to invest in their relationships with God. The habits a person forms when they’re young can last a lifetime–now’s the time to make it count.

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