Friday Review (1/26/24)
Each week we compile a list of helpful articles from other sites, in a variety of categories, for youth workers to read, reflect on, and/or discuss with parents and volunteers. If you have any articles you’d like to suggest, we’d love for you to share those in the Youth Pastor Theologian Facebook group. That’s a great way to bring them to our attention and to discuss them with like-minded youth workers! (Inclusion in this list does not imply complete agreement with the publishing source, but we have found these articles to be beneficial.)
Youth Ministry
The Problem With "Nice" Youth Ministry, by Walt Mueller (CPYU)
Let’s hold tightly to the truths of the Gospel and what Scripture calls us to in terms of discipleship. Let’s choose kindness over niceness as we’ve come to understand them here. Sometimes the kindest thing to do is to say, “I love you enough tell you the truth. . . ” Obedience is always risky in our broken world. But being risky for the sake of following Jesus is always right.
Nurturing Health in Youth Ministry Teams, by Justin Knowles (Download Youth Ministry)
Youth pastors, remember that your volunteers are not just contributors; they are valuable partners in the ministry journey. By prioritizing clarity, building a vibrant team culture, and being available when it counts, you set the stage for a healthy and impactful ministry.
Biblical & Theological Studies
Wrestling with Awkward Stories in the Old Testament, by Carmen Joy Imes (Christianity Today)
As a Bible scholar, I’ve devoted my life to reading and understanding the Scriptures. I’ve watched the pages of the Bible come alive over and over again. Even so, I still encounter passages that trouble me. But I keep in mind something another Bible scholar and friend of mine, Esau McCaulley, once said—which is that we should engage with such difficult passages in the same way Jacob interacted with the angel in Genesis 32.
The Psalms: Are They Maximally or Minimally Messianic?, by Stephen Steele (Logos)
If seeing Christ in the Messianic psalms had become a struggle, it was not likely he would be seen elsewhere. Yet in our own day, the view of Augustine and Luther is experiencing a quiet resurgence. Why?
Cultural Reflection/Contextualization
Redeem Time in the Age of TikTok, by Joe Carter (The Gospel Coalition)
Unlike the constant and predictable nature of mechanical clocks, time on TikTok is fast-paced, quickly fading, and largely free of any broader context. Videos are short, engaging, and designed for quick consumption, mirroring the rapid, often nonlinear flow of digital information and entertainment.
How "Back in My Day . . ." Harms Our Witness in ". . . Such a Time as This.", by Rut Etheridge III (Gentle Reformation)
When we pine for what we consider to be the relatively cut and dry, clear-thinking days in which we grew up, or for certain holiness-minded epochs of church history we read about, we might be revealing that our evaluation of the present is less Scripturally studied than we think, and that our understanding of the past suffers the same lack of Scriptural perspective.
Pastoral Ministry
Listening Well to Domestic Abuse Survivors, by Joy Forrest (New Growth Press)
If those experiencing abuse have difficulty identifying it, it can be even more perplexing to counselors who get only small glimpses of the problem through interviews with guarded counselees... How can a counselor best aid an abuse survivor? Let’s look at several specific things you can do to make this time easier for her.
The Flip Side to the Church as Family, by Trevin Wax (The Gospel Coalition)
We could call this the flip side of seeing the church as a family. It’s the realization that the sentimental line in the popular Christmas song “There’s no place like home for the holidays” can take on a double meaning in some situations, a darker connotation. There really is no place like my home for the holidays...
Family & Parents
Shepherding Children through Hardships and Trials, by Scott James (Ligonier)
Seeing our children suffer through trials can be extremely difficult. Even parents who are well-equipped to cope with their own problems often find themselves feeling helpless when their child is the one hurting. How can we shepherd our children through adversity in a healthy, God-honoring way? When troubles find our children, here are three ways we can support them.
Pure Imagination: Gospel Talking Points for Parents from the Movie “Wonka”, by Rebecca Lankford (Rooted)
If you’re in the market for a family-friendly movie with a fun plot line, Wonka is worth a watch. We hope that as you do, both you and your children will be reminded of the truer story of the gospel. Jesus is our Heavenly Father, our advocate for the least of these, and our rescuer from evil. And let’s not forget, he’s the one who created chocolate in the first place.
From YPT this week
YPT Podcast Episode 55: Urban Youth Ministry and Theological Depth with Jordan Francis
Theological depth is important in every ministry context. In this episode, Jordan Francis shares about urban youth ministry and how theological depth applies to inner-city youth.
Learning from the Providence of God in Ministry, by Kyle Kennicott
A joyful reflection on how the doctrine of God’s Providence strengthens youth leaders who are discouraged and weary.