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 are included because there is 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 editors at submissions@rootedministry.com.
Gospel-Centered
The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Theology by Jacob Percy (The Gospel Coalition)
The early church didn’t develop doctrine because Christians enjoyed abstraction. It did so because silence proved costly.
V Is for Vulnerability by Jason Ho (SOLA Network)
This willingness to invite others into our private lives, even at the cost of harm and exposure is a Biblical mandate. Too often we choose rather to appear put-together, to avoid shame, or to not be a bother, when instead, we would do well to follow the current cultural movement toward acknowledging and expressing our inner struggles. It’s okay to not be okay!
Partnering with Parents
Raising Kids in the Faith Is Simpler Than You May Think by Joe Carter (TGC)
A new report finds that the single biggest factor in whether children keep the faith isn’t their church, their youth group, or their peers but their parents. The more surprising finding is what works at home, and how often well-meaning Christian parents get it backward.
If You’ve Seen Jesus, You Have Seen The Father The Russell Moore Show
Because whether our earthly fathers were present or absent, wise or wounded, Jesus reveals the Father we have been searching for all along—the one who looks at his children and says, “You are my beloved.”
Relief and Freedom for Struggling Parents by Adam Griffin (Crossway)
The remedy for so many of our struggles as parents is found in having faith that we can jump into the arms of God and be welcomed and protected. We can cling to God out of genuine love for one another, God for us and us for God.
Youth Culture
A Christian Response to “Looksmaxxing” and Gen Alpha Slang by Micah Ingold (Center for Faith and Culture)
Gen Alpha slang is deeply connected to a hyper-sexualized, comparison-driven, online culture that is bleeding into the everyday lives of our youth. To make matters worse, these standards are often too high to meet without serious effort and sometimes at extreme personal cost.
The Rise Of Situationships And What They Mean For Teen Relationships (Axis)
A situationship is a more casual, less defined way of understanding a dating relationship. It’s a distinctly Gen Z phenomenon, and it is a lot different than the concretely-understood relationships of decades past. In this post, we’re taking a closer look at what a situationship is and its emotional and spiritual impacts on younger generations.
Gen Alpha’s Roadblocks to a Biblical Worldview by Shane Pruitt & Shelly Melia (Gospel Centered Discipleship)
We must answer this all-important question “How do you help Generation Alpha build a biblical worldview?” Here are five quick and practical things parents, leaders, and teachers can do to help young people build a biblical worldview.
Ministry Skills
Hermeneutics in the Age of AI: How Youth Pastors Can Utilize AI and Online Resources Without Losing the Text by Brian Barrineau (Youth Pastor Theologian)
The issue is not whether youth pastors should use AI or online resources, because most already do. The question is whether these tools are supporting faithful engagement with Scripture or becoming a substitute for it. The calling of a youth pastor is not merely to produce biblical content but to faithfully shepherd students through God’s Word. Thus, the goal is not simply creating well-crafted lessons, but to understand God’s Word, be personally shaped by it, and then help students follow Jesus more faithfully.
Small Changes That Can Make a Big Difference for Accessibility in Your Church | Crossway by Sandra Peoples (Crossway)
All of those steps, from the website, walking in the door, and experiencing the worship service—all of these things can really make a family feel welcome.
Bonus Section: A Close Up Look at Youth Ministry Today
Student Pastors Face Unique Ministry Insecurities by Aaron Earles (Lifeway Research)
As student ministry leaders are pivotal in churches, senior leadership should work with them to address any insecurities as much as possible.
Don’t Just Settle for Youth Ministry. Embrace It. by Karsten Harrison (TGC)
Local churches need youth pastors committed to more than two-year ventures. They need leaders who have a long-haul discipleship vision, who don’t merely settle for youth ministry but embrace and commit to it. Why should youth ministry leaders pursue longevity in their ministry roles? Here are several reasons.
Rooted’s Two Most-Read of June
Sharing in Service, Sharing in Life: Integrating Youth into Our Church Families by Anne Chen
Inviting youth to serve in church ministries helps teenagers feel more connected to their church community—and more seen and known by others—in a time where loneliness and isolation are so often the norm.
A Testimony of Calling to Children’s Ministry Beyond My Ability by Ivy Lassiter
Calling is not a one-time occurrence — it happens daily. It requires ongoing obedience. Listen to God. Act in faith, not by sight or logic. Most likely, it will feel uncomfortable, hard, or inconvenient.
In Case You Missed It (Rooted’s June Honorable Mention)
Helping Teenagers Find Their Identity in Christ Amid Cultural Pressures by Alexis Andre
Youth ministers have an exceptional opportunity each week to remind students of this amazing truth and help them to understand that it’s okay not to look like the crowd. It’s the call of the Christian life.
