Youth Pastor Theologian

83: Translating Youth Culture for Student Discipleship (Evan Barber)

Youth culture can feel like a foreign language, especially with how rapidly it changes. How can youth workers understand the culture of our students… and why is that important anyways? 
Why is it important for youth workers to understand youth culture? 
How would you describe the default approach most adults take toward interpreting and translating youth culture? 
Could you walk us through a biblical view of Christ and Culture? 
What is the intersection between theological depth and cultural analysis? 
Can you give us an example of something going on in youth culture today and model how we could engage students in a meaningful conversation about their worldview? 
Are there any common pitfalls regarding youth culture that you’ve seen youth workers fall into that we should guard against? 
Evan Barber is the Senior Editor for Axis, a ministry that equips parents for gospel-centered conversations with their teen about faith and culture. He also cohosts their Culture Translator Podcast. 
Discover new resources on Axis' website
Follow @axisconversations on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry. 

82: How to Respond When Teenagers Get Pregnant (Sara Loy)

How do we respond with love and grace when teenagers in our ministry get pregnant? This is a huge surprise for everyone and often turns entire families upside-down. The gospel shapes the way you support and care for the expectant mom, dad, and their families. 
What are some of the initial feelings that our teen girls likely experience after finding out they’re pregnant, and what factors into the next decisions they often make? 
When you meet with these expectant moms, what does ministry to them look like?
How do you respond to those who are afraid that supporting teen pregnancies will send the wrong message to the group and will only encourage others to deal lightly with sexual sin?
What can youth leaders/groups do to make youth group a safe and welcoming place for pregnant teens? What are some 'do's and 'don'ts' for making youth group a supportive and gracious environment?
Obviously, this affects the whole family, not just the student who’s pregnant. How can churches and youth workers support the family through this new challenge that’s completely changing their family? 
If we find out that one of our youth group students had an abortion, how can youth workers prepare today so they respond well to that news?
Sara Loy is the Director of Springwater Healing, an arm of the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices. Springwater provides support and counseling after an abortion. 
Recommendations:
Embrace Grace 
Lifeway’s Study on the Church and Abortion: Report, Article
Students for Life 
The Charlotte Lozier Institute (research group)
Springwater Healing
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry. 

81: Leading Youth to Lead Worship in Youth Ministry (Dorothy Lau)

How can youth ministries encourage teenagers to worship God? Obviously, worship is more than singing and music, but that’s often where we begin how to worship. So what kinds of songs should we sing, and what should we avoid in our worship music? 
Discussion Questions
What are some of the benefits of incorporating worship in your youth ministry? 
Can you talk us through a brief theology of music and worship? Why do you think we equate worship with singing? 
What are some challenges of helping teenagers develop a biblical and gospel-centered approach to worship, rather than falling into an emotionalistic “I really like this song” approach? 
How to do you hold a high bar for good theology in worship songs while still allowing room for artistic and creative language? 
Without being unnecessarily critical, can you give us a few examples of songs that you’ve removed from your setlist for theological reasons, and walk us through your reasons for it? 
Any advice for listeners about how to have these conversations without becoming argumentative or fostering an overly critical spirit in your ministry? (does that make sense? I’m thinking about some youth taking this to mean they need to become the theology police at all time, and that’s just arrogant and gross) 
If someone is listening and they want to incorporate more worship into their youth ministry but they just don’t have the musicians to pull it off, what advice do you have for them? How and where do you get started? 
Recommendations: 
The Berean Test - website that evaluates worship songs 
Bob Kauflin books
Doxology and Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, by Matt Boswell 
Follow Dorothy on Instagram: @dlau7
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry. 

80: Cultivating a Churchwide Commitment to Intergenerational Relationships (Annika Bangma)

Youth workers are increasingly realizing the importance of intergenerational ministry. But it remains a challenge to promote a churchwide commitment to these cross-generational relationships. Why is this so important and how do we make progress in this area? 
Discussion Includes:
Could you tell us a little about Generation Spark's vision for intergenerational mentoring? 
Why are intergenerational relationships so important for youth discipleship? 
What are some of the challenges that need to be identified and overcome in order to cultivate a church-wide commitment to intergenerational ministry? 
Can you tell us about one or two churches who have made real progress in this, and how they did that? 
How does this intergenerational unity flows from good ecclesiology and strengthen the whole church’s identity and mission? 
Advice for youth leaders who want to lead their church to become more intergenerational but their ability to lead this kind of change is limited. 
Annika Bangma serves with Generation Spark and served in church-based youth ministry for over a decade. Generation Spark is a ministry initiative of the Reformed Church of America to promote cross-generational mentoring in the church. She’s also a dear friend who has ministered to me during some really painful seasons of youth ministry, so I’m happy to introduce her to our YPT listeners. 
Resources
Generation Spark
Growing Young, by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin
A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry, by Mike McGarry
YPT Podcast Episodes on Church MembershipEp.39: Gospel-Centered Pedagogy and Church Membership as Discipleship
Ep.51: Church Membership for Teenagers?
Follow Generation Spark on Facebook and Instagram
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian
YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry. 

79: How Catechesis Can Strengthen Your Discipleship (Skyler Flowers & Parker Hudson)

Every youth leader wants to see their teenagers grow into mature and godly adults. At the same time, we often struggle to clearly define what discipleship is and what it looks like. After all, if everything in our youth ministry falls under the category of discipleship then we’ve probably watered down the category of discipleship so much it doesn’t really mean anything at all. 
Discussion Questions 
What is catechesis and what’s drawn your attention towards it? 
Catechesis tends to remain a known practice in Anglican and other Reformed traditions, but not so much in Baptist churches. Why do you think Baptistic churches tend to overlook catechesis and why is it worth recovering? 
What are some of the core elements of a robust but practical catechetical program in youth ministry? 
Can you paint a word picture for me or give some practical suggestions about what this really looks like in practice? 
Catechetical Discipleship is about so much more than rote memorization of Questions and Answers… can you speak to the role of relational discipleship? 
Skyler Flowers is an associate pastor over family discipleship at Grace Bible Church in Oxford, Mississippi, as well as the associate program director at TGC’s Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. 
Parker Hudson serves on the Steering Committee for the Rooted Ministry and has been a youth pastor for 8 years.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Bavinck, The Wonderful Works of God
Harned, Creed and Personal Identity
Emert, The Water and the Blood
New City Catechism
Your own church’s statement of faith
Chatraw, Telling a Better Story
Trueman, Crisis of Confidence
Packer & Parrett, Grounded in the Gospel
McGarry, A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry
YPT’s Teaching Workshop, Online Cohort, forthcoming Curriculum
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry. 

78: Discussing Gender and Sexuality with Youth (Andrew Bunt & Ashleigh Hull)

Discussing gender and sexuality with teenagers has never been more important... or intimidating. It seems so easy to step on landmines, lose credibility with either students or parents or church leadership, which can make it tempting to avoid the topic altogether. But students are hearing about gender and sexuality, and every ministry has youth who are struggling with these questions personally. 
Andrew Bunt and Ashleigh Hull lead Living Out's initiative to support youth to view gender and sexuality in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They also share about Living Out's new curriculum, Kaleidoscope, which helps youth ministries discuss these important topics with truth and love and patience. 
Could you tell us a little about Living Out’s ministry, and what drew you to be part of it? 
What’s the lay of the land in LGBTQ+ conversation in the UK? Are there any noteworthy differences between the States and UK? 
How does the gospel shape and direct the way we care for teenagers who are experiencing SSA or gender dysphoria? 
How is a biblical vision for sexuality and gender anchored in the Imago Dei and creation? Why is that so important for us teach? 
What do you recommend concerning pronoun hospitality? Why? 
What is Living Out’s position on the phrase “Gay Christian”? 
What recommendations do you have about breaking into small groups by gender? 
If you’re going on a weekend retreat and a trans student signs up, how do you address that?
What are some characteristics of churches and youth ministries that are addressing gender and sexuality with courage and compassion, and what are some ways that churches tend to give lip service without actually following through?
Could you tell us a little about Living Out’s new series for youth, Kaleidoscope and what you hope it offers to ministries who use it?
Learn more about Living Out's new Kaledoscope Curriculum
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch the vision for what it looks like to pursue theological depth in youth ministry. 

77: Ministry to Teen Boys (Jonathan Denton)

It’s no secret that boys and girls mature differently. That doesn’t only happen in terms of emotional maturity but also cognitively and spiritually. So, how does that shape the way we minister to the teen guys in our youth ministries? 
Discussion Includes:
Tell us a little about your book, Disciplemaking With Guys. Why did you write it and what’s the big idea of the book? 
What are some developmental needs of guys that are easily overlooked? 
When it comes to discipleship, what are some practical suggestions you have for youth workers who have guys attending youth group but they seem to be way more interested in sweaty games than they are in Jesus? 
Could you talk a little about the influence of dads? Are there any recommendations for partnering with parents and family discipleship? 
When youth workers are teaching guys and girls together, what advice do you have for speaking to both audiences without making either feel overlooked? 
Dr. Jonathan Denton has been serving in student ministry for over 20 years and is an Assistant Professor of Christian Studies/Student Ministry at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. 
Dr. Denton’s books:
Disciplemaking With Guys
Ancient Text, Modern World: Building a God-Centered Worldview in a Me-Centered World
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK. 

76: Calling Youth to a God-Centered Faith (Richard Ross)

The Christian faith is not about “me and Jesus,” but about the glory of our Triune God. What does it mean for youth workers to call teenagers into lives that are marked by faithful worship and a vital union with Christ? Instead, many teenagers have a me-centered faith that treats Jesus like their therapist. This conversation with Dr. Richard Ross helps youth workers identify why this is such a serious problem and what needs to happen to correct it. 
What does a me-centered faith look like? Can you give a few examples? 
What are some ways that youth leaders can accidentally promote or enable a me-centered faith? 
Why do you see a high Christology as an antidote to a me-centered faith?
In past generations, there were teenagers who would live or die for the glory of King Jesus. Do you think we could see that in our day?
How might youth leaders and believing parents come to embrace a high Christology—so they could pass that to the teenagers?
Dr. Richard Ross has served as senior professor of student ministry at SouthWestern Baptist Theological Seminary since 2000. He served as a local-church youth minister for 30 years. Overlapping part of that time was 16 years of service as the youth ministry consultant at LifeWay Christian Resources. His entire life has focused on seeing Christ glorified in the lives of teenagers and their parents and leaders. 
Discover some of Dr. Ross' Books:
Reign: Awakening a Young Generation to King Jesus (a resource very much in line with this podcast conversation)
Youth Ministry that Lasts a Lifetime
The Senior Pastor and the Reformation of Youth Ministry
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK. 

75: Ministry to Kids in Crisis (Seth Teegarden)

Youth Ministry often brings us into students’ lives during difficult and painful times. Instead of avoiding that because it’s messy or complicated, the gospel calls us to walk beside youth and their families with love and compassion. Today we’re talking with Seth Teegarden about his experience as a house parent for kids in crisis, and about how that’s shaped his current ministry as a youth pastor. 
Discussion Includes:
Could you share about your experience serving in the group homes for at-risk youth? 
What do we mean by at-risk youth? 
What did you learn about love and compassion for kids and youth who have experienced trauma? 
How did this ministry shape your own relationship with your Heavenly Father, and what did you observe about the ways their trauma shaped the students’ perception of God? 
I’m thinking about youth leaders listening who are thinking about the students in their group and think, “My group is fine. We don’t have kids who’ve experienced trauma.” What counsel do you have for those youth leaders? 
What are some subtle ways youth leaders might accidentally prove themselves untrustworthy to students who need an advocate? 
How do you proclaim and apply the gospel to youth who are survivors of abuse and trauma? Are there any particular things you emphasize or avoid?  
Seth Teegarden is youth pastor at East Ellijay Baptist Church in northern Georgia. Seth and his wife Diana served as house parents in two different group homes for at-risk youth, which is the topic for today’s conversation. 
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK. 
 

74: Strengthening the Senior Pastor / Youth Pastor Relationship (Cody Busby)

One of the main reasons a youth pastor’s relationship with their senior pastor can suffer is from unmet expectations. In this conversation, we talk with Cody Busby (Mike’s pastor) in order to encourage and support healthy senior/youth pastor relationships. 
Discussion Features:
Share with us a little about your experience as a youth pastor… what do you miss most about serving in youth ministry and how do you think that’s shaped the way you lead as a senior pastor? 
What are some of the biggest differences between leading as a youth pastor and leading as the senior pastor? 
I’m not sure what your relationship was like with your senior pastor, but now that you’ve been a senior pastor for 18 years, what do you wish you could go back and tell youth pastor Cody? 
Big picture, what are some expectations that senior pastors have of youth pastors? This isn’t a list of what they SHOULD expect… but an honest reflection of what you’ve heard that would be good for youth pastors to know. 
What are your thoughts about “leading up?” as this way for subordinates to seek to lead their leaders? In what ways is this simply “leading together” and in what ways can this be a red flag that maybe it’s time to leave? 
If you could identify a few areas where you think youth pastors need to focus in order to improve or strengthen their relationship with the senior pastor?  
A final word on what you’d like to share with youth pastors who may have a less-than-great relationship with their pastor?  
Cody Busby is the senior pastor of South Shore Baptist Church in Hingham, MA. He has his D.Min. in expository preaching from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a proud member of the South Shore Curling Club. 
Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK.