Getting ready for a new semester in youth ministry is a lot like gearing up for a big road trip. You need the right tools, a solid plan for where you’re headed, and a little flexibility for whatever surprises pop up along the way. When you’re leading students through a semester of growth, joy, challenge, […]
Students face conflict every day. A friend stabs them in the back. Teammates won’t pass them the ball. A parent doesn’t understand where they’re coming from. A classmate posts something offensive online. And if we’re honest, many students handle conflict poorly. They ghost people instead of resolving issues.Students explode in anger.They hold grudges instead of […]
For many students, the church feels optional. “I love Jesus, but do I really need the church?”“I can worship God anywhere. Why does going to church matter?”“I just don’t feel connected to my church.” In a culture where individual faith is emphasized over community, it’s easy for students to think that church is just another […]
Let’s talk about how to teach teenagers about overcoming fear and finding gospel-centered courage in Christ. Fear is one of the biggest struggles students face. Fear of failure. “If I fail, what am I?”Fear of what others think. “If they don’t like me, what am I?”Fear of the future. “What will I become?” Fear isn’t […]
Teenagers are constantly bombarded with noise. 📱 Social media notifications.🎵 Playlists and podcasts.📺 Endless entertainment options.💬 Group chats blowing up 24/7. With all that noise, how can they hear God? Many students struggle with knowing how to listen to God’s voice. They have questions like:“Does God even speak to people today?”“What if I don’t hear […]
Change is one of the only guarantees in life. 🎓 Graduating middle school or high school.🏠 Moving to a new city or school.⚽ Joining a new team or friend group.❤️ Experiencing a breakup, family change, or unexpected loss. For teenagers, every transition feels massive. And without a solid foundation, big changes can lead to big […]
Rejection and failure feel personal to teenagers. And when they experience rejection, many students internalize the lie that they’re not good enough. But the gospel tells a different story. As youth pastors, we have the opportunity to help students see rejection and failure through the lens of the gospel—not as final verdicts, but as moments […]
If there’s one thing teenagers understand deeply, it’s uncertainty. 🎓 Will I get into the right school?💔 Will my friendships last?📱 Why does life feel so unstable all the time? They live in a world where change is constant, pressure is high, and the future feels impossible to predict. That’s why trusting God in uncertainty […]
You know why it matters that we teach teenagers about serving? It’s because teenagers aren’t naturally generous. They live in a world that tells them:🚀 “Look out for yourself.”📱 “Spend on what makes you happy.”🎯 “Focus on your goals first—others can wait.” But Jesus teaches something radically different. So how do we help students see […]
Teenagers are constantly navigating friendships, cliques, drama, and social pressure. They crave belonging—but many are settling for shallow relationships instead of real biblical community. They have thousands of “friends” on social media. Somehow, they still feel alone. They want to be accepted. Unfortunately, though, they often sacrifice authenticity to fit in. They know how to […]
