Several weeks ago, our youth ministry celebrated “one year” of gathering officially. For one year we have met to pray and to study God’s word, trusting that the Holy Spirit is growing us into full maturity in Christ…
When my son was eight years old, he participated in a poetry reading at his school. Friends and family came to support these budding writers and dramatic readers, and just like all the proud parents, I couldn’t wait…
What were you like in high school? Were you the popular jock who never had trouble finding a date? Maybe you were the quiet academic who just wanted to get the best grades so you could go to…
Daniel is a book for our teenagers’ cultural moment. Most teens will tell you they feel lonely and displaced. They’re displaced from one another by the failing promises of social media; displaced from their emotions as depression and…
When I was fourteen, I had a motorcycle wreck on the highway after church one night. That’s right, at fourteen years old I was riding a motorcycle on the highway! What were my parents thinking by allowing me…
I was driving home from youth group under conviction. By most measures, it was a good night and the lesson was well-received by students. What I said was biblical and it was helpful, but the only time I…
Teaching the concept of grace to students is easy. The stories of forgiveness in the face of wrongdoing are the kind of stories that have kids riveted and hanging on your every word. Practicing grace is too often…
Youth ministry is noisy. For students, there is the noise of events, the youth band, the youth pastor teaching, and the reminders of future events that daily pop up on their social media feeds. For student ministers, there…
I was pretty much born in Sunday School with a Bible in hand. My dad has been a senior pastor since 1998, and before that, he was ministering in youth and assistant pastoring roles at various congregations. As…
