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A Few Ideas for Your First 2017 Youth Meetings
I hope your youth group took a few weeks off. I really do. You needed the break, your students needed the break, your volunteers needed the break, and so did your family. But now it’s time to plan for...
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Your New Year’s Resolution: Fail More!
Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions in order to better their lives, get in shape, or be more productive. They typically have something to do with achieving more and gaining...
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10 New Year’s Resolutions for Youth Workers
One of the issues that drives me crazy when I look at the state of youth ministry today is the over emphasis on pragmatism. I believe youth ministry is a deeply theological endeavor. As an Adjunct...
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Accomplishing More In 2018
New year, new you. “I am going to be better this year because I will ______.” Everyone has resolutions, and to be honest most of us have already given a message to our students about how to make New...
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Refocus. Recalibrate. Don’t Let Burnout Win
One of the greatest things you can offer the students you work with, is a whole and healthy you. We need to give them a picture of what a healthy follower of Jesus looks like. To get there we need to...
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4 Simple Mistakes Churches Make In The Hiring Process
I almost got side-swiped while traveling 65 mph (okay, more like 70) on the freeway recently. The driver of an F-250 pickup apparently did not see me. Though I was likely in this person’s blind spot,...
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20 Questions Every Middle School Parent is Asking
There are few things as confusing and stressful as raising middle school students. Most days it seems like working heavy machinery is more responsive than trying to have a conversation with your...
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3 Tips About Dating for the Single Pastor
Dating can be difficult. Unfortunately, it can be even more challenging when you’re in vocational ministry. As professional clergy, navigating the space between public and private isn’t always easy....
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So You’re The New Youth Leader?
Let me run a few scenarios by you to see if any sound familiar: Your church is aging. The leaders have decided that to save the church, youth must be a top priority. The only paid staff members are the...
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5 Prayers for Your Teens
If you have a teenager, you are in a constant state of prayer. Keep them safe on the road, keep them pure on a date, keep them healthy on the field, etc.. But how can we specifically pray for todays...
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50 Themed Event Ideas
1. Sports Night Wear sports jerseys, dress as a favorite athlete, play sports trivia, eat popcorn and hot dogs. 2. Disney Night The theme can be all Disney characters or just a specific movie. Dress...
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Quick Tips For Small Groups
I’m of the belief that there are some who are just naturally intuitive in how to lead a small group, but a much larger portion of the youth ministry leadership population need some training and...
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The Lord Will Fight For You
“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” – Exodus 14:14 The Egyptians were bearing down on the Israelites… they had just escaped captivity and Pharaoh changed his mind and came after them...
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Big Numbers…Whoop-dee-doo!
Can we just be honest? At the big event we get the shot that shows the room is full… but we just know how to angle it and make it seem packed. Guilty. There is always that fine line of being genuinely...
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The Last Jedi
I saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi on opening night, and I’ve been thinking about it since then. This has to be the best Star Wars movie ever made. It works on so many levels, and speaks so directly to our...
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Leading Games For Emerging Adults
I love games. I love playing them. I love leading others to play them. As a youth pastor, I have led games for all age groups, and I was always looking for new creative ways to have fun. Some of...
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We Still Have Far To Go
Yesterday would have been the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 89th birthday. On this day, as we approach the 50th year since he was assassinated, we celebrate the radical life and legacy of Dr....
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4 Steps to Find Vision in 2018
In ministry, Christmas can be one of our busiest times of year. There are services to plan and serious themes of advent theology to discuss with your students. All of this is good and all of this will...
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LiAngelo Ball in China and What’s Actually at Stake in Our Culture
EGREGIOUS ACTS It’s one of the greatest times of the year—the start of college basketball. Oh, and Christmas…that too. But seriously, basketball. And the beginning of this season has been rife with...
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Praying for Biblical Appetites
Many people thank God for their food, which they are about to eat, in their prayers before they eat their meal. However, I doubt many people thank God for an appetite to eat their food within their...
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