5 Ways to Reach Apathetic Teenagers
How do we motivate teenagers who are apathetic about their faith? For the last 24 years, I've been training teenagers to live and share the Gospel. The biggest challenge I've faced by far is spiritual apathy.
How to Find Summer Balance in Your Youth Ministry
Having served in student ministry for over 25 years I have learned something about summer balance and time.
10 Things Youth Ministry Needs Less Of
I've been rethinking youth ministry. When I think about what the future holds for ministering to youth, there are 10 things I would like to see less.
Is It Okay if I Don’t ‘Feel’ God?
Do you not "feel God"? Do you ever fear that something is wrong with you, that you're not really a Christian because you're not having the amazing experiences everyone else seems to have?
The Secret Sin at Youth Gatherings
Gluttony is an actual sin, according to the Bible. I think it is a "secret sin" in that we often tacitly encourage it during youth group.
Youth Group No Longer Fills a Social Need—Now What?
I went to youth group growing up mainly to fill a social need in my life, but social media fills much of that void for students today. Now what?
6 Steps to Writing Youth Bible Studies
How to create a basic youth Bible studies for your students.
Conquer the Youth Lock-In, Before It Conquers You
The term youth ministry is synonymous with youth lock-in.
Digital Natives and Why It’s Impossible to Do Ministry Where Your Students Live
Are you prepared to be a true cross-cultural missionary in the unexplored context of digital natives?
Sex Is Not Sexy
The purpose of sex is not to be the object of a marriage. No, real sex is not sexy. It has a different ultimate goal, one which involves selflessness and long-suffering.
10 Ways to Identify and Develop Missionaries From Your Student Ministry
Just as we would prepare a young man to be a pastor by giving him opportunities to lead a Bible study, we can prepare students to become missionaries by giving them opportunities to be involved in missions now.
Why Confrontational Evangelism Must Stop Now
Confrontational evangelism: "the kind of evangelism that communicates the Gospel in an abrasive, in-your-face way."
Protecting Our Kids From Digital Heroin
Get this: Silicon Valley tech executives and engineers enroll their kids in no-tech schools. So what is it they know that we don't, and how can we protect our kids from "digital heroin"?
Should We Allow Dating in Our Student Ministry?
More often, I see relationships built in student ministry, and then a result is horrible and ugly break ups that affect the friendships, cause drama and, in a lot of cases, tend to be uncomfortable for other students surrounding these dating issues. I want to share some of our philosophy on how we deal with dating:
It’s Lit When You Use Teen Slang, Right? TBH, I’m Kinda Shook
Do kids actually care if you attempt to use teen slang with them? What really matters?
Youth Ministry Scandals: How to Avoid Becoming a Statistic
Youth ministry scandals, discouragement, burnout—how can you avoid becoming yet another statistic?
25 Movies to Show in High School for Teens to See
The years of adolescence are marked by change, uncertainty, exploration, emotion and risk. Sounds like the making of a great movie plot.
Why Summer Camp Still Matters for Youth Group
Summer camp provides a chance for youth to hear the Gospel truth in a different way than they probably have before.
If I Was the Devil, Here’s How I’d Attack Youth Ministers
Greg Stier explains how the Devil can distract and tempt student leaders.
Just One Thing Your Kids Need to Know About Weed
Can weed kill you? Unlikely, but most studies reveal that smoking weed can really hurt the development of the brain. This is significant because the majority of teens think smoking weed is no big deal.
Latest News
United Methodist Church Returns Land to Wyandotte Nation
As part of its bicentennial celebration, the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries is transferring three acres in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, back to...
New Podcasts
Mark Sayers: An Anxious, Post-Christian Culture Is Longing for Hope
Mark Sayers says, “What’s happening is the secular story itself is actually beginning to have its moment of doubt.” Mark is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia, and this week on our podcast he shares how living in our current culture gives us a unique opportunity to offer people hope.
