64: Preaching in Youth Ministry (John Gardner)

The youth pastor’s authority comes from the Word of God. When we stray from teaching the Bible then we lose the capacity to say “Thus says the Lord.” Teenagers don’t need more opinions, they need God’s Word. But how can normal youth leaders teach with biblical depth and pastoral warmth? 

 

Discussion Questions

• What is expository preaching and what distinguishes it from other types of preaching? 
• What are some unique benefits of expository preaching in youth ministry? 
• What are some common reasons youth workers might not practice expository preaching? 
• Does this mean we should ONLY teach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible? 
• How can youth workers preach and teach for long-term formation? 
• Where would you direct listeners who want to learn more, including good examples of expository preaching that’s accessible for teenagers? 

John Gardner is the Youth Pastor at Grace Longmont, just north of Denver Colorado. He has earned his D.Min. in Expository Preaching from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which is what we’ll be talking about today. 

Resources Mentioned

• “How to Develop an Exegetical-Theological Series in Youth Group,” by Jason Engle
• Brain Matters, by Patricia Wolfe
• Preaching God’s Word, by Carter, Duvall, and Hayes
• A Vision for Preaching, by Abraham Kuruvilla 
• Simeon Trust Workshops 

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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. 

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