Over a decade ago, Christian Smith published a groundbreaking study about the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. The researchers coined the terminology, moralistic therapeutic deism (MTD), which became a buzzword in youth ministry circles for several…
While the Rooted Blog Team enjoys some end-of the year time off, enjoy these past articles from 2017. Each of these are worth both a first and a second read. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I…
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Proverbs 27:6 “Some kids will never hear your voice, and that’s ok.” I remember fighting against the truth of those words even as they were coming from the lips of my…
When I run into pastors studying at coffee shops, I typically ask them, “What are you working on?” And it is common for them to respond with something like, “I am preparing for Sunday” or, “I am speaking…
I recently spoke with a fellow ministry leader on the phone, and at the end of our conversation we exchanged prayer requests. He kindly asked me to pray for his marriage. His entreaty did not surround any infidelity…
Youth ministry in its modern manifestation is relatively young, having only emerged in the first half of the twentieth century. Scholars have dedicated much ink to youth ministry’s problems in its initial generation. In particular, the field has…
Ragnarök. Leave it up to Marvel’s Thor to put an esoteric concept from ancient Norse mythology on the tongue of every 13-year old within 100 miles of me. In actual Norse legend, Ragnarök is an apocalypse the heroes…
I have a folder in my computer titled, “Recommendation Letters.” Some are letters for National Honor Society, others are for students’ colleges and university applications, and others for scholarships or even job applications. While I am genuinely proud…
As we approach its 500th Anniversary, we at Rooted wanted to address how the Reformation (and particularly the five Solas) continues to specifically impact teenagers today. Historical Context of “By Faith Alone” “What price would you be willing…
