The Blessing of Low Attendance Nights
A night where most chairs are empty can feel debilitating. How do we respond and make the best of these low-attendance seasons in youth group?
Building a Healthy Ministry Calendar
Here are some reflections about what it means to build a healthy ministry calendar around your theology of youth ministry.
Incentivizing Discipleship
Should youth pastors motivate students to read the Bible and invite friends to youth group by offering incentives and rewards? Here’s wisdom from our YPT Facebook Group.
Why Youth Ministries Avoid Theology
Here are six observations about why youth ministries avoid theology. These aren’t shared in order to point fingers, but to prompt our own self-reflection.
Relationship Building Questions for Youth Ministry
What are some good questions to ask teenagers to establish healthy relationships and build trust? Use this acronym to escape those awkward silences. We also share some good questions to transition into spiritual conversations in youth ministry.
Why We Don’t Play Gross or Messy Games in Youth Group
Over the last decade, I’ve grown convinced that youth workers need to give more intentional thought about what kinds of games they play - because games create and reinforce our ministry culture.
How I’m Teaching the Parables at Youth Group
This article brings you behind the scenes for how I’ve structured my own upcoming youth group series on the parables as “The Stories of Jesus.”
Ecclesiology and Youth Ministry
Youth ministry and the Church often have an uneasy relationship. Here are three interconnected ideas to help navigate this challenging topic.
What 2021 Taught Me About Youth Ministry
One of the aspects of youth ministry that I love the most is the constant opportunity to keep learning. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned from 2021 that could also benefit others - some from my own youth ministry and others from my efforts getting Youth Pastor Theologian off the ground.
Reflections on Deconstruction and Youth Missions
What is deconstruction and how have youth missions trip contributed to the rise of Progressive Christianity among our former youth group students?