I have spent the last three articles sharing why it is critical that sharing the Good news of Jesus Christ is foundational to a youth ministry and why the Bible must be the heart and core of all teaching and some applications for that in the weekly youth ministry. In this last article on this topic, let’s briefly see two more applications in your weekly youth ministry.

Application #3: Remind the students of the authority of God’s Word.

There’s not a huge amount to be said here, but let me offer a practical technique. Before I begin a devotion or teaching, I simply remind the teens that we are about to read from God’s Word. I remind them that this book is no ordinary book. It’s God’s Word. And because it’s God’s Word, it becomes our final authority in all matters of faith and behavior. Read the rest of this entry

Popularity: 45% [?]

I have spent the last two articles sharing why it is critical that sharing the Good news of Jesus Christ is foundational to a youth ministry and why the Bible must be the heart and core of all teaching. In the next two articles, let’s briefly see what that looks like in your weekly youth ministry. I’ll share two applications this article and two in the next.

Application #1 – Examine Yourself

An effective youth ministry starts with you, the youth leader. How foundational is Christ in your own life? Is God’s Word, the Bible, at the heart and core of your own life? It will be difficult, if not impossible, to passionately communicate to your teens the need for a Savior if He is not central in your own life.

Here is my advice: Read the rest of this entry

Popularity: 59% [?]

I could spend a lot of time sharing the many reasons why the Good News of Jesus Christ must be foundational and the Bible must be at the heart and core of all teaching. But for now, let me just share one more. If the Good News is not foundational, your ministry will not grow. I realize that this is a brazen statement, but I am more than willing to sign my name to this one.

Countless youth ministries think that if their ministry is fun and cool enough, teens will fill the building and come to their programs. Sure, I’ll admit that a church may attract gobs of teens with that tactic, but how long will they attend the youth ministry? Will they stay when the gospel message convicts them of sin? Will they leave when another church throws a bigger party? This gets to the heart of the problem. Read the rest of this entry

Popularity: 9% [?]