Teaching Teenagers In A Post Christian World

Youth workers are in a tough spot these days. On the one hand, we're finding that teenagers who have little to no church background and Bible literacy tend to be hyper tolerant of all religious views except for Christianity. On the other hand, students who grew up in the church and have heard all of the "right answers" are still struggling to articulate their beliefs and live them out day to day.When these two realities combine in youth ministry, they can make teaching teenagers about spiritual things an infuriating experience. It can feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall.It's been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So maybe it's time we try something different when it comes to teaching theology to our students. That's the hopeful change that Teaching Teenagers in a Post-Christian World addresses.As a follow-up to Brock Morgan's exceptional Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World, this book will help you shift from being a content dispenser to a conversation cultivator. It's time we stop treating teenagers like consumers--even when we really believe in what we're selling. Instead, let's create learning environments that lead to faith exploration and ownership.

The gospel is the most powerful, life-changing message the Church has to offer the next generation. So why do so many young people seem uninterested in receiving it? Why are we finding that even many "churched" youth are gospel illiterate, as if they've never listened to the hours of teaching we know they've received? Why do so many youth walk out of the Church when they walk out of high school? Could it really be as simple as a failure to communicate in the way our young people learn best? Inspiring speaker and veteran youth worker Rachel Blom is exploring our current faith landscape, the learning styles of the postmodern teenager, and the power of story. The result? An invitation to re-examine the way we're communicating the greatest story ever told.

My name is Jaquelle, and I'm a teenager. I like football movies, sushi, and dark chocolate. But the biggest, most crucial, most significant thing about me is that my life's task is to follow Jesus. He is the One who changed my life. That's what this book is about. It's for teenagers eager to reject the status quo and low standards our culture sets for us. It's for those of us who don't want to spend the adolescent years slacking off, but rather standing out and digging deep into what Jesus says about following him. This book will help you see how the truth about God changes everything—our relationships, our time, our sin, our habits, and more—freeing us to live joyful, obedient, and Christ-exalting lives, even while we're young.

Sex is essential and awkward, divine and messy, seemingly simple and yet often incredible complex. It's no wonder we as youth workers often struggle with how best to approach this vast but critical topic with teenagers-and sometimes avoid bringing it up altogether. 4 Views on Talking to Teenagers About Sex reflects the thoughts, experiences, and practical advice of four in-the-trenches youth workers, who have spent years having these conversations with the teenagers in their ministries. Representing an array of viewpoints, these writers don't agree on everything-but they all know that our conversations with teens about sex must speak to God's design, avoid shame, and go far beyond any one instance of "the talk." Here you'll find tips on how to engage in honest conversation, what topics to approach, and how to help youth reflect on and behave according to sexual ethics that honor God, themselves, and others-in their teen years, and through all of the phases of adulthood to come. This book won't attempt to give you all the answers, but it will fuel your thoughts, challenge you, and encourage you to continue these essential conversations with the youth in your ministry.Mark Oestreicher is a partner in The Youth Cartel, which provides resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers, and is the author of many books for youth workers, parents, and teenagers. Twitter: @markosbeard. Jen Bradbury serves as the minister of youth and family at Atonement Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois. Jen is the author of books including The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe about Jesus, and is the assistant director of Arbor Research Group, where she has led many national studies. Jake Kircher is a pastor, author, and speaker who has been in ministry for fifteen-plus years. He is the author of the THINK curriculum as well as Teaching Teenagers in a Post-Christian World. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as @jakekircher. Jonathan McKee is the president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of books including The Teen's Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide and offers free resources and training for youth workers at TheSource4YM.com. Joel Stepanek is the director of resource development for Life Teen International, a youth ministry speaker, and the author of books including True North: A Roadmap for Discernment.

As new research continues to show, the cultural gap between secularism and the convictional Church continues to widen. KidMin and youth leaders are asking, "Are we adequately discipling today's kids to lead the future of the church in a culture that's becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel?" For many, the answer is "no," and a new conversation around making Resilient disciples is emerging. Resilient is an honest calling to ask robust questions about the future; it is a timely conversation in the midst of changing cultural landscapes; and it's a love letter to KidMin leaders and disciple makers to walk this road of child discipleship together. Resilient Child Discipleship focuses on three key areas, essential for shaping long-term faith: Belonging - Highly relational ministry led by a loving and caring adult Believing - Deeply Scriptural ministry rooted in the truth of God's Word and the power of the gospel Becoming - Truly experiential ministry, designed to move kids from simulation to real-world application of faith-based living Resilient equips you with an innovative, biblical and proven child discipleship philosophy to build your ministry around - plus practical questions to equip you and your team! Inspires and facilitates the crucial conversation of our time that will shape the future of the church Loaded with content to help your pastor cast vision and elevate the importance of children's ministry Helps cut through the clutter of the many responsibilities of KidMin to get to the most essential and effective aspects of children's ministry that most influence long-term discipleship into adulthood Child discipleship is the leading factor when shaping the future of your church The culture is changing so rapidly and radically that the future is likely to look far different than the world we know today. The children's ministry community has new conversations to explore as we prepare today's kids to lead the fearless future of the church.

The book reviews the history of disciplemaking from the church fathers to today. It suggests solutions to overcoming our society’s resistance to the gospel.

This book addresses the vital role of public Christian worship in adolescent spiritual formation and shows how important youth ministry and worship ministry are to each other. Despite numerous research projects, books, articles, and resources that have been published about teenagers and about worship in recent years, the relationship between the two has been addressed only peripherally if not altogether overlooked. Drawing on his extensive experience in worship ministry and youth ministry, Eric Mathis offers insights into the worship practices of teenagers, corrects common misperceptions about worship, and critically examines four prominent worship models in current practice. Mathis invites youth pastors, worship leaders, ministerial students, and congregations to elevate the voices of young people in the worshiping community and enhance worship for all ages. The book includes a foreword by Kenda Creasy Dean.

Leading students closer to God is what being a youth worker is all about. What's the most effective way to do this? By teaching students the Bible! The Bible is God's main way of making Himself and His ways known. Your effectiveness at leading students closer to God is tied to your ability to effectively teach the Bible. But teaching the Bible doesn't have to be intimidating! The 7 Best Practices For Teaching Teenagers The Bible teaches you seven ultra-practical and deeply meaningful "practices" you can use to help teach the Bible in a transformative and dynamic way. The 7 Best Practices for Teaching Teenagers the Bible are: Engaging With God Prepare Well, Teach Well Context Is Key Embrace Unpredictability Plan For Interaction Teaching For Application Know Your Role