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

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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

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An effective youth ministry must be built on the foundation of the Good News of Jesus Christ and have the Bible at the heart and core of all teaching. I realize that some of you reading this will say, “Well, of course Greg! Everyone knows that!” But, actually, that’s the problem—not everyone knows that.

Let’s start at the beginning. Every good team wins by mastering the fundamentals, and ministry is much the same way. The key is to understand the fundamentals. So let’s break down this down, discuss its meaning, and see what it looks like in your weekly youth ministry. Read the rest of this entry

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