Welcome to Rooted’s Top Ten, a curated reading list for youth ministers. Each month we find ten articles, and sometimes videos or podcasts, from various sources that we believe will encourage you in your ministry to teenagers and their families. Some give explicit instruction on gospel-centered ministry, while others contain a message of common grace that is helpful to youth workers. (The opinions presented in these articles do not necessarily reflect the position of Rooted.) For more articles to share with the parents in your ministry, make sure to check out our Parent Top Ten, which runs every-other month.
If you find an article that could educate, equip, or encourage the Rooted community, please email the editor at chelsea@rootedministry.com.
Gospel-Centered
Why Cross-Cultural Ministry Matters More Than Ever by Phillip Hunt (Zambia Hunt)
Cross-cultural ministry is not a specialized task reserved for a few. It is essential for every church that wants to be faithful to Christ’s Great Commission in a globalized world. Our world has become so globalized that the nations are no longer far away; they are living next door.
Every Leader Needs a Nathan by Steve Chang (SOLA Network)
No leader is consistently good all the time. Even the best leader will fall at some point. And when they do, the leader needs a Nathan. We all need a Nathan.
Should Holiday Parties Be Saved? by Kira Nelson (TGC)
In a culture where parties are declining and loneliness is rising, Christians have a strategic opportunity to break the norm of isolation and foster community. Good parties will be marked by Christians who thoughtfully approach them—either as guest or host.
Partnering with Parents
Am I Overdiscipling My Children? by The Disciple-Making Parent
The danger is that discipling our children can become an idol. Rather than loving the Lord first, living our own Christian life, and then investing in our children, the order of those is reversed. Our whole identity is bound up in how our children are doing. We are examining every action of a child under a microscope and weighing it with eternal consequences.
Church Attendance Drops Among Single Moms by Ericka Andersen (Christianity Today)
Recent Barna research reveals that only one in four single moms attends church weekly, the steepest drop among women in recent years. The finding raises an uncomfortable question: Are churches truly heeding the biblical command to care for the vulnerable in their midst?
How Do I Know My Child Needs Counseling? by Julie Lowe (New Growth Press)
Part of stewarding our kids is discerning when they need extra help—help that may extend beyond what we can offer on our own. When we are faced with this question, it is wise not to jump to conclusions. We need to slow down, take inventory, and remember God’s design for parents: You are your child’s primary counselor.
Youth Culture
The Secret Lives of Teenagers by Dave Hintz (For The Church)
Your teenager has a secret life. It’s not all bad. Secret crushes, prayers, wishes, hopes, and ambitions are all normal for young people with optimism about the future and an appropriate desire to become their own person. However, some secrets should be revealed, not concealed.
Sports, Sunday Mornings, and the Meaning of ‘Neglect’ by Jonny Reid (Desiring God)
All of life is to be arranged under Christ — including our sports. How can those of us who love sports — whether we’re pastors, parents, or athletes — consider carefully how to make faithful, godly, and wise decisions about sports on Sunday mornings?
Ministry Skills
To Foster Biblical Literacy, Teach People to Read by Benjamin Shaw (TGC)
Students don’t read the Bible well because they don’t read. Analyzing the stray paragraph or reading bits and pieces of books doesn’t help. Only a familiarity with books of all sorts enables students to pick up on the clues about what an author is doing and how he’s doing it. They need to read—a lot. To foster biblical literacy, we need to foster literacy in general.
Just “Getting Them to Jesus” Is Not Enough by Walt Mueller (Center For Parent/Youth Understanding)
Justification and sanctification cannot be detethered from another, yet functionally that’s often where we wind up . . . and it is in effect misleading to our kids.
Bonus Articles: To Share With Teenagers
Holy Leisure in an Age of Hollow Rest by Cara Ray (Gospel Centered Discipleship)
While we’re entertained by funny videos, latest trends, and the news, too much infotainment leaves us feeling restless, not restful. The system is designed to capture our attention and affection, but by the time we put the phone away, we often feel more anxious, unsatisfied, and disgusted. This hollow form of leisure promises one thing but delivers another, leaving us to wonder if there’s a better, more satisfying way to find the rest our hearts long for.
God Isn’t a Chatbot (Thankfully) by Tony Robinson (Mockingbird)
Our God is, thanks be to God, is not a sycophantic AI Chatbot. And God’s grace, as Fred Craddock once mused, isn’t just a bowl of vanilla ice cream. It’s way stronger stuff than that. This God’s word is sharper than a two-sided sword, piercing us in order to save us.
Rooted’s Two Most-Read of November
Practical Guidancefor Preparing a Youth Group Bible Study by Emmie Thompson
Teaching the Bible is a sacred calling that should not be taken lightly, yet we can engage with God’s Word without fear by humbly relying on the Spirit (1 Pet. 3:23-25).
How Identity in Christ Gives Teenagers Meaning and Purpose by Andrew Slay
As youth ministers, one of our tasks is to remind our teenagers who they are in Christ. Our prayer is that they will delight in the Lord, serve him faithfully, and live their lives with purpose.
In Case You Missed It (Rooted’s November Honorable Mention)
We Need UrbanYouth Ministers Now More Than Ever by David Washington
Youth ministry changed my life, and it also changed our community. When youth ministry thrives, youth flourish both in the church and the community.
