Have you ever looked out during a sermon and seen blank stares, crossed arms or the “I’d rather be anywhere else” look? You’re not alone. Many teenagers aren’t turning away from faith because they’re angry at God; they simply feel disconnected, disinterested or stuck going through the motions. Sometimes they show up because their parents […]
Anxiety is no longer just a personal struggle—it’s a generational crisis. And they’re bringing those anxieties into your youth group. As youth pastors, we can’t just tell students to “pray more” or “stop worrying”—we need to give them biblical tools and real hope to navigate their anxiety. Here’s how to teach teenagers about anxiety in […]
Remember your first crush? No? Me neither. Because we’re old. But still, I feel like most of us can relate to the students we lead in part because we remember, if vaguely, what “young love” is like. I mean if there’s one topic that never stops dominating your students’ thoughts, conversations, and social media feeds, […]
When I was 12, my neighborhood friend had a pretty older sister. They all knew I had a crush on her, so they dared me to stand outside her window and shout “Zakiya, I love you!!” I did. Zakiya was annoyed. I felt ashamed and, from that point on, decided peer pressure was dumb. I […]
Teenagers are sorting through identity all the time, even if they don’t call it that. They’re trying to figure out who they are, how they matter, and where they belong. And the world is more than ready to answer with its own definitions of identity: Why This Matters Unfortunately, all of those voices can leave […]
We all recognize that teenagers are creatures of habit. They wake up at the last possible second, grab the same snack every day after school, and somehow manage to rewatch the same three shows on Netflix endlessly. But when it comes to spiritual habits, consistency can feel impossible. Most students want to grow in their […]
Do I even need to give the verse? I mean, we get it. 1 Peter 3:15. Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope within you (paraphrased). But sometimes I wonder if apologetics in youth ministry is less about students sharing and and less about them knowing. Sometimes I wonder if incorporating apologetics […]
Before we talk about youth ministry teaching tips, stick with me for a moment: Have you ever seen those annoying YouTube ads? What the ads are selling probably depends on what you’ve been searching on the Internet lately. Whenever I go on a health and fitness kick, I’ll typically start seeing ads for workout programs […]
