Youth Pastor Theologian

98: Building a Culture of Question-Asking in Youth Ministry (Valerie O'Brien)

Teenagers are full of questions. The big question, is who are they discussing those questions with?! It can be a challenge to cultivate a ministry culture where students feel the freedom to ask their questions without being afraid of getting belittled or receiving cheap answers. In this conversation, Valerie O'Brien discusses her approach to inviting youth to ask their questions, and how she equips youth leaders to respond. 
Could you share a little about Aspen, and especially about your 10,000 question project?
What are some of the most common questions you’ve received? 
What can we learn about our students by listening carefully to the questions they’re asking? 
What’s the anatomy of a good question? How can youth leaders start to ask better questions in order to open up meaningful conversations? 
What do we risk by being so answer-driven that students don’t ask their questions? 
How do we help students ask their questions and lead them to find answers without either spoon-feeding them or leading them into an endless cycle of question upon question?
Valerie O’Brien has over 12 years of experience in youth ministry, has trained youth workers through Sonlife Ministries, and now leads Aspen, a ministry that helps youth leaders engage the heart of the next generation. 
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97: Jesus is Worth It (Chris Morphew)

Can Jesus really make a positive difference in your life? What about when being a Christian puts you at odds with the values of your friends and with society in general? Is following Jesus worth it?
This episode is a conversation with Chris Morphew about his new book, "Worth It: Following Jesus When Life Feels Complicated", which highlights the truth that however good you think the good news of Jesus is, it’s better. 
Conversation Includes:
What are some challenges Christian youth face that motivated you to write your book? 
In the book you say that discovering they are loved is the most important discovery of all. What do you mean by that? 
One of the most common objections I’ve come across is suffering and God’s judgment. But you say that God’s judgment actually gives hope in the midst of a world of brokenness and suffering. Could you elaborate on that? 
Bonhoeffer famously talks about “the cost of discipleship.” What would you say is the cost of discipleship for Aussie youth in a very post-Christian culture? 
In general, why do you think it’s important that we establish a ministry culture that makes space for doubt? When students are doubting, how do we support them with wisdom and patience and mercy without enabling them to remain in doubt? 
Any final encouragements for youth workers about ministering to youth who are living with uncertainty and doubt? 
Chris Morphew is an author, teacher, and school chaplain living in Sydney, Australia. He’s the author of the Big Questions series, as well as over 20 novels for children and youth. 
View (and buy!) Worth It! and Chris's other books
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96: Teaching the Old Testament to Youth (Chelsea Erickson)

It can be tempting to stick to the New Testament when teaching the Bible to youth. But doing so will only short-change teenagers and limit their understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ. Some parts of the Old Testament can feel foreign or intimidating, and therefore easy to avoid. Today's conversation with Chelsea Erickson will highlight the importance of teachign the Old Testament and will equip you with some good tools to help you do so with confidence. 
Why is it so easy for us to accidentally overlook the Old Testament in our teaching calendar?
How do you respond to those who say we should prioritize the NT and stop teaching things like the Ten Commandments because we’re under grace, not law? 
What are some gospel themes that bind the whole Bible together that can help us teach the OT in light of the gospel? 
Can you walk us through some of the different genres in the OT and offer some reflections on how youth workers can teach them well? 
Many OT books are very long or confusing, so they’re easy to skip over. How did you approach the longer and complicated books in your youth ministry? 
Can you give us an example of an OT character that you’ve taught on, and share how you taught their story in a gospel-centered way? 
Chelsea Erickson served in full-time youth ministry for over a decade and is now the Director of Publishing for the Rooted Ministry. She’s been on the YPT podcast. 
Recommended Resources
Exodus Old and New, Michael Morales 
According to Plan, Goldsworthy
The Unfolding Mystery, Clowney
Delighting in the Old Testament, Derushi 
How to Read the Bible For All It’s Worth, Fee and Stuart
How Tread the Bible Book by Book, Fee and Stuart
CASKET EMPTY, Kaminski
Chelsea’s article on Rooted about the conquest: Is the God of the Old Testament Unjust? 
Bible Project 
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Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry. 

95: Speaking to Teenagers (Duffy Robbins)

Duffy Robbins shares insights on effective preaching and teaching in youth ministry, including a discussion about how long to teach for. Robbins emphasizes that youth will listen for as long as they're engaged, but they'll check out once they're bored. So, how do we teach with biblical and theological depth that engages them with the gospel? 
What is it about youth ministry that keeps you invested in doing it? 
As people talk about teenagers’ shortened attention spans and how they don’t really listen to what we teach from up-front anyways… is Bible teaching still important? 
Could you bring us into your process for crafting a message and delivering it to youth? 
How do you think social media and GenAlpha’s hands-on approach to learning in schools should affect the way we teach them the Bible in youth group? 
What are some trends you’re seeing in youth ministry today, both positive and concerning? How do you think we should respond to those? 
Duffy Robbins has been one of the leading thinkers and practitioners in youth ministry for over 40 years. He’s a professor at Grove City College, co-leads the D.Min. program at GCTS on “Ministry to Emerging Generations”, has written dozens of books over the years, and is still on the road speaking to youth most weekends at camps and retreats. 
Follow Duffy on Instagram: @duffyrobbins
Find Duffy's books on Amazon
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Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry. 

94: Reflecting on the Asbury Outpouring (Zach Meerkreebs)

The Asbury Outpouring gripped religious news and social media two years ago. People had a wide range of opinions about it then, but it's been long enough that we can look with greater clarity about what was and was not happening. In this episode, Mike talks with Zach Meerkreebs, the preacher whose sermon God used to spark the outpouring. Listen in to hear about what's happening at Asbury now and what lessons we can learn. 
Discussion Includes:
Could you tell us the story about what happened on campus during the Asbury Outpouring? What happened? What was it like to actually be there and to be part of it? 
What were the different reactions to this, and how did you process that? 
The Outpouring was two years ago… are you still experiencing some fruit from that? What are you seeing now, both big picture on compass, but also in individual students? 
When something like this happens, how do you keep the emotions grounded in Scripture rather than giving in to the allure of emotionalism? 
What are some ministry lessons or principles that you’ve been able to discern through the Outpouring? 
Zach Meerkreebs is a pastor, writer, and speaker who is the pastor in residence at Asbury University. Many of us know him as the preacher who God used at the beginning of the Asbury Outpouring in 2023. He’s recently published a book, reflecting on the Outpouring entitled Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility. 
Follow Zach on Instagram: @zachmeerkreebs 
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Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry. 

93: Theology of Art and Ministry to Artsy Youth (Melody Bellefeuille-Frost)

Youth Group isn’t always a place where artsy youth feel a sense of belonging. And yet, the Church, historically, has been a haven for the arts. How can youth workers develop a biblical appreciation for art and serve our students who are artistically-minded? 
Discussion Includes:
Historically, there’s been a rich relationship between the church and the arts. But what have you observed about the church’s posture towards the arts in today’s church? 
Could you walk us through the biblical and theological significance of art? 
Can you share a little about the creative mindset, and how artists might think through things like the bible and theology differently from others?
Do you think the church is doing a good job ministering to and discipling artists? 
What are some of the unique challenges of youth ministry to teenagers who are artsy?
If a youth pastor isn’t artsy, what are some ways they could connect better with students in their ministry who are? 
Melody Bellefeuille-Frost is a PhD candidate at the Instute for Theology, Imagination, and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews and is a minister in the Wesleyan Church. Her research examines the images of Christ from European Jesuit and Japanese Christian religious cultures. 
Recommended Resources: 
Art and Faith: A Theology of Making, by Makoto Fujimura
Visual Faith, by William Dyrness
For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts, by W. David Taylor
Visual Commentary on Scripture 
Melody’s Website: https://www.melodybellefeuillefrost.ca/
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92: Trends in Youth Ministry (Walt Mueller)

What's happening in the youth ministry world today and how did we get here? This is an important question that we need to ask from time to time, and who's better to ask than Dr. Walt Mueller? 
Walt Mueller has been ministering to young people for over 45 years and is the founder/director of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. He’s also the author of many books for youth and youth leaders, and he’s one of the professors for the Doctor of Ministry program at GCTS in “Ministry to Emerging Generations”. 
Discussion Features: 
Can you talk us through the different eras of youth ministry that you’ve experienced? What was happening in the youth ministry world and how did we get to where we are today?  
Sometimes I hear people talk really critically about previous generations of youth ministry, and that really bothers me. How can we learn critically from previous generations of youth workers while still appreciating and respecting their legacy? 
What are some positive trends you’re seeing in YM today?
What trends are concerning and how do you think we should respond? 
We share a concern about those who intentionally separate theology from youth ministry. How do you respond to those statements? 
When you hear the phrase “youth pastor theologian,” what do you think that should look like?
Learn more about CPYU (Center for Parent/Youth Understanding)
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91: The Church and Youth Sports (Paul Putz)

Talking about the church and youth sports is a sure way to spur strong opinions. Many pastors feel like parents are choosing sports over faith, while parents and kids feel like the church doesn't respect sports or team culture. How can faithful Christian parents and church leaders navigate this tense issue in a way that is distinctively Christian, without drawing battle lines? Today we’ll talk with Dr. Paul Putz, the director of Baylor University’s “Faith and Sports Institute”, about sports and youth ministry. 
Discussion Questions:
Tell us a little more about the Faith & Sports Institute. Why did this get started and what do you do? 
Do you see a difference in how Christians and nonChristians view sports and athletics? 
Could you share a framework for how Christians, and especially youth workers, can think biblically about sports and athletics? 
How would youth workers voice their concern to parents about how their kids’ commitment to sports may be detrimental to their spiritual life? 
What are some of the positive elements of youth sports that you think can be easily overlooked by youth pastors? 
Dr. Paul Putz is the Program Director for the Master of Arts in Theology and Sports studies and is also the Director for the Faith and Sports Institute, both at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. 
Recommendations:
Baylor’s Faith & Sports Institute
Brian smith, The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports 
Brian Smith & Ed Uszynski, The Away Game: A Christian Parents’ Guide to Navigating Youth Sports 
Follow Dr. Putz on social Media: X/Twitter, Instagram
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90: Should I Stay or Should I Go? (Will Standridge)

At some point, every youth pastor faces the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" Sometimes God's wisdom leads us to stay and endure through seasons of tension and conflict, but sometimes the Lord provides freedom to move into a new ministry (or an entirely new vocation!). 
Discussion Includes:
You’re still in your first year as a senior pastor… what are some of the bigger differences that’ve stood out to you? 
Was youth ministry a “stepping stone” for you? Is it ever appropriate for someone to enter into youth ministry in order to prepare for senior pastor ministry in the future? 
How did you know it was time for you to transition into senior pastor ministry? 
What are the most beneficial ways that youth ministry prepared you to lead a church? 
What are some misconceptions you had about senior pastors that you see differently now? 
Now that you’re a senior pastor, are there any ways that you look at youth ministry a little differently? Has your perspective changed at all? 
What advice do you have for listeners who are in a hard or conflict-heavy place and are wondering whether or not they should stay or go. How can they weigh the decision about their future ministry work?
Will Standridge is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Geraldine, Alabama. He’s a longtime contributor to YPT and today we’ll be talking about his transition out of youth ministry and into the senior pastorate. 
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YPT has published an ebook that's a free download for subscribers. Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry collects ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch the heartbeat of Youth Pastor Theologian is written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK. 

89: The Significance of Eating Together (Seth Stewart)

Food and “the table” show up throughout Scripture in significant ways. And yet, it’s easily overlooked. How does “theology of meals and eating together” shape Christian fellowship and ministry to youth? 
Could you explain what you mean by “theology of meals and eating together”? 
When I hear this, I immediately think about the Lord’s Supper. That’s a major component of it, but could you walk us through other places where this theological motif shows up in the Old and New Testaments? 
What’s the theological and pastoral significance of food and table for Christians? 
What are some ways you can see this shaping the practice hospitality in youth ministry? 
Seth Stewart is the Community Groups Director at Frontline Church in Oklahoma City. He’s also a cohost of the Spoken Gospel podcast and is a longtime friend of YPT. 
Recommended Resources
Gospel Culture Blog series & Podcast episode
Side by Side: Walking with Other in Wisdom and Love, by Ed Welch
A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission around the Table, by Tim Chester
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Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry.