Tuesday Jun 03, 2025

105: Youth Ministry as Catechesis & the YPT Curriculum!

In this episode of the Youth Pastor Theologian podcast, Mike McGarry and John Gardner explore the significance of catechesis in youth ministry, emphasizing its relational nature and the importance of intentional discipleship. They discuss the need for a structured approach to teaching that considers the different stages of spiritual maturity among youth. Ultimately, they advocate for a return to historical practices of catechesis as a means to effectively disciple the next generation.

Chapters

1:00 - What do we mean by discipleship?
6:50 - The Role of Catechesis in Youth Ministry
12:30 - Components of Effective Discipleship
17:01 - Challenges and Misconceptions in Discipleship
18:58 - The Nature of Catechesis
21:06 - Understanding Different Stages of Catechesis
23:39 - Cultural Sensitivity in Youth Ministry
25:26 - Intentional Discipleship in Youth Ministry
27:21 - The YPT Curriculum!
36:32 - Learning from Historical Practices

Recommended Books:

A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry, by Mike McGarry
Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way, by JI Packer & Gary Parrett
The New City Catechism

(Note: Amazon Affiliate links are shared above, which provide a small financial benefit to YPT without any additional cost to you, which we use to develop the resources you enjoy. Thank you for your support)

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Mike McGarry is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as a youth pastor for nearly twenty years. He's written four books for youth workers and teenagers, his latest is releasing in August '25, Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World. Follow Mike on Instagram or X/Twitter.

John Gardner is the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Grace Church in Longmont, CO. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. Follow John on Instagram.

Together, Mike and John co-lead the YPT Teaching Workshop, a one day training session to equip your volunteers and other area youth leaders to teach the Bible to teenagers with depth and clarity. GO HERE to learn more about how to host a workshop at your church.

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