Youth Pastor Theologian

70: Youth Ministry and Apologetics in Africa (Kevin Muriithi)

Although we preach the same gospel, each culture brings distinct questions and challenges for pastoral ministry. What can Western youth workers learn from African youth leaders and pastors?
What does youth ministry look like in Kenya? Since Africa is a large continent with many people groups and languages, can you give us a snapshot about what youth ministry looks like across Africa? 
You’ve recently published “Apologetics in Africa” through Langham Press. What prompted you to write that book? 
There are some chapters that are very similar to what you’d find in most apologetics books, but there are some pretty unique topics that are particular to ministry in Africa. What are some questions apologetics in Africa needs to address that doesn’t get much attention in other contexts? 
What blind spots have you seen in the broader world of youth ministry that we might not recognize ourselves?
Dr. Kevin Muriithi is a Lecturer and Head of Department in Practical Theology at School of Theology at St. Paul’s University, Kenya and is an affiliated Research Fellow in the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He brings pastoral ministry experiences to theological education, especially his years of serving in youth ministry. He’s recently published “Apologetics in Africa” through Langham Press, which is the main topic of today’s conversation. 
Study: Global Youth Culture (OneHope)
Dr. Muriithi’s blog: theogrimage.com
Order Apologetics in Africa on Amazon or through Langham Publishing (free shipping)
Follow Dr. Muriithi on Twitter/X: @ndereba 
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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. 

69: Contextualization in Youth Ministry (Mike Dicker)

Good and faithful youth ministry can look very different from context to context, and yet we often define “What is youth ministry” by the form it takes rather than the essence. Today we’re going to talk about contextualization with Mike Dicker from YouthWorks College in Sydney, Australia. 
What is contextualization and why is it important? 
What is "divine accomodation" and can you point to any examples of contextualization in the Bible? 
You’ve proposed four steps for faithful contextualization in youth ministry. Could you give us a quick overview of the four steps, and then we can go through them together in a bit more detail? 
What recommendations do you have that are particular to youth ministry? 
As youth workers strive towards contextualization, the temptation is to think first about our preaching… but we need to apply contextualization to the gospel culture of our ministry. What does that mean and how do we establish a gospel culture? 
Learn more about YouthWorks and YouthWorks College
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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. 

68: Should Youth Ministry be Incarnational? (Tim Gough)

We often anchor relational discipleship in Christ’s incarnation, but is that the best biblical and theological foundation? In what ways might “Incarnational Ministry” have shaped the way we think about the Incarnation, rather than it being the other way around? For this reason, it’s important to get clear on the doctrine of the incarnation as we evaluate the biblical heart of relational ministry. 
Discussion
How did this question get on your radar and what motivated you to sink your teeth into it?
When people talk about “Incarnational Ministry,” what do they tend to have in mind, and what’s the typical argument for it sound like? 
Could you walk us through the doctrine of the incarnation and share your hesitations about continuing with “incarnational ministry” language? 
Is this just splitting hairs over nitpicky theology or is there something really at stake? What do you propose instead? 
Tim Gough is the center director for YFC in North Wales, chief editor for the Grove Youth series of books, and adjunct lecturer in youth ministry at various colleges in the UK, and is pursuing his PhD at University of Manchester. 
Order Tim's book, Rebooted: Reclaiming Youth Ministry for the Long Haul (IVP UK, 2019)
Follow Tim on Twitter/X: @timgoughuk
Follow Tim on YouTube: Youth Work Hacks
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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. 

67: Post-Confirmation Discipleship in Norway (Bård Norheim)

Ministry to students after confirmation (or baptism, depending on tradition) can pose some unique challenges. Bård Norheim shares about "post-confirmation leadership training" in Norway, a nationwide effort by churches to prioritize discipleship and to help youth cultivate enduring faith by finding their belonging in their church community. 
What does youth ministry look like in Norway? What are some particular challenges teenagers in Norway are facing? 
How does the Church of Norway (evangelical lutheran) currently lead youth through the confirmation process? 
Could you share more about this post-confirmation leadership training? 
What do you mean by “ambivalence” in youth, and how do you encourage youth leaders to respond? 
What are some of the main lessons you’ve learned that you want to share with youth workers, not just in Norway but globally, about leading youth into Christian maturity? 
Any good books or resources you’d like to point our listeners to about this topic? 
Bård Norheim is professor of theology, religion and philosophy, NLA Bergen University College in Norway. He is also coauthor (with Jos de Kock) of The Five Questions: An Academic Handbook in Youth Ministry Research.
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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. 

66: Christian Universalism and GenZ (Andrew Slay)

Christian Universalism is a subtle heresy that's frighteningly common among GenZ today. It's a way that teenagers can affirm that "Christ is the only savior" and make other gospel-sounding affirmations while fully embracing the hyper-tolerant worldview of today's culture. In today's conversation, we discuss what Christian Universalism is and how youth workers can help students build their faith on the biblical message. 
Discussion Questions:
What do we mean by universalism and Christian Universalism in particular?
Can you walk us through some of the logic behind Christian Universalism and some of the key Bible verses?
Why do you think Christian Universalism is so appealing to today's teenagers?
How can youth workers preach the gospel of grace without falling into one of two errors: accidentally implying Christian Universalism, or nuancing the gospel so thoroughly it’s become clunky and confusing?
How do you recommend youth workers to respond when talking with a teenager who considers themselves a Christian but affirms Christian Universalism?
Andrew Slay is an Assistant Pastor at Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN, where he oversees ministry to high school and middle school students. He’s working on his PhD in Apologetics and Culture from NOBTS. 
Recommended Resources
The following books include Amazon Affiliate links, which provide YPT with a small financial benefit. We use these to continue providing you with the content you so enjoy. Thank you for your support.
Michael McClymond, The Devil’s Redemption: A New History and Interpretation of Christian Universalism (two volumes)
Four Views on Hell (Zondervan Counterpoints series)
John Piper, Are There Two Wills in God? (article)
Greg Gilbert, What is the Gospel?
Scott Stein, Is Christian Universalism True? (Prepared to Answer)
Prepared to Answer Podcast, Jesus Teaches on Hell (or does he?)
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. 
 

65: Being God's Image (Carmen Joy Imes)

The Image of God (or Imago Dei) is one of the most important doctrines for youth pastors to teach teenagers, because almost every cultural landmine today finds its resolution in what it means to bear the image of God. That’s why I’m excited to be talking with Dr. Imes today about her new book, Being God’s Image. 
What is the doctrine of the Image of God and what prompted you to write this book now?
Early in the book, you make the distinction between being created IN God’s image and being created AS God’s image. Could you share a little more about that distinction? 
What are some areas where the Imago Dei finds a lot of resonance in today’s culture, and what are some areas where it’s a powerful corrective? 
What’s the relationship between the Imago Dei and the gospel? 
How can youth workers teach and talk faithfully about the Imago Dei and human dignity in the midst of the effects of sin and the fall? 
Do you have any practical recommendations for youth workers who want to teach about the Image of God? 
Recommendations:
Dr. Imes' book: Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters
Christa McKirland: God’s Provision, Humanity’s Need: The Gift of Our Dependence
Every Woman’s Study Bible (NLT) 
Marc Cortez: Resourcing Theological Anthropology: A Constructive Account of Humanity in the Light of Christ
Follow Dr. Imes' Youtube Channel for Torah Tuesday videos
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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. It's a great way to discover more about YPT's vision for theologically-grounded ministry to youth. 

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. 

63: Ministry to Single Parent Families (Anna Meade Harris)

Partnering with parents is an essential part of biblical youth ministry. But "family ministry" can sometimes assume a certain type of family - namely, mom and dad with kids living independently. But 1/3 of kids in America today are living in a single-parent household. In this episode, we'll hear from Anna Meade Harris about her new book, "God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well." 
Discussion Includes:
Could you share about your own family experience and how that led to your new book?
What are the different reasons for single parent households and how does that affect the way they engage with the church? 
Your book reads, “thirty percent of families in the US are led by a single parent. Nearly nineteen million children have one parent in the home. Although roughly thirty verses in the Bible declare how God wants his church to treat widows and the fatherless, by and large the church does not know what to do with families like mine.” (p.15) Why do you think that’s the case, and what’s that mean for youth workers who are listening to this conversation? 
Here’s another quote that really hits home, “Although the majority of custodial single parents are moms, single parenting is not a women’s issue, it’s a family of God issue.” (p22) Could you share a few examples of what it looks like for a church to come together and be the family of God?  
What recommendations do you have for ministry to teenagers of single-parent households? 
Are there any good resources you’d recommend on ministry to single parent families? 
Anna Meade Harris is the Senior Director of Content for the Rooted Ministry and the mom of three adult sons. God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, releasing March 2024 through Zondervan. 
Recommendations
Mike McGarry, Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers (ch.37, “Supporting Single-Parent Families”) 
Blaire Linne, Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness
Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer 
Claressa Moll, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving after Loss
DivorceCare 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. 
Note: some of the links above feature Amazon Affiliate links, which bring a small financial benefit to YPT. We use these credits to develop the free resources you enjoy. Thank you for your support.

62. The Religious Lives of Australian Youth (Graham Stanton)

Researchers have conducted a study on the religious lives of Australian youth, and there's much to be learned that translates across cultural boundaries. In this episode, Mike talks with Dr. Graham Stanton about this research and what it can mean for fruitful youth discipleship. 
How would you describe the spiritual landscape of Australia, in general… and how is that shaping teenagers and youth ministry? 
Could you provide a basic snapshot of the research survey that’s the topic of our discussion? 
Can you provide a little background about the religious nature of schools in Australia, because that’s quite different from what we have here in the States. 
What are some positive findings that surprised you? 
What are some of the warning bells going off that the church absolutely needs to pay attention to? 
As you discuss this survey with youth workers, how are they responding? What are some practical applications that you’d like to see take place over the next few years? 
Dr. Graham Stanton is the Director of the Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is also an ordained Anglican minister and has been serving in youth ministry at some capacity for over three decades. 
Recommendations in this episode:
Book: AntiFragile: Things That Gain From Disorder, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Episode 21: Top Down & Bottom Up Ministry (Gareth Crispin and Robin Barfield)
Episode 25: Faith, Doubt, and Everything (Matt Bellefeuille)
Follow Dr. Stanton on Twitter/X: @GDStanton
Learn more about Ridley College
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. 

Episode 61: Practical Advice on Relational Youth Ministry (Joey Molloy)

It’s good to talk about theologically rich youth ministry, but if youth leaders don’t know how to have normal conversations and build relationships with youth then they’re never going to get to the theological gold. This conversation with Joey Molloy will help youth workers with some of the nuts and bolts of youth ministry we sometimes take for granted. 
What are some ministry skills theologically-minded youth leaders tend to struggle with? 
When a youth leader goes to a student’s baseball game or soccer hockey match or band concert… how can we make the best use of that time? 
What advice do you have for youth leaders who struggle with small talk? How can they spark natural conversations with teenagers? 
What are some common pitfalls about relational discipleship you’ve observed and what advice do you have for our listeners? 
Why is it important to highlight that all this practical advice is built on a theologically solid foundation? 
When you think about new youth leaders, what’s the best piece of advice you’d give them? 
Joey Molloy is the Executive Ministry Director of Implementa and Camp Cherith in Ottowa Canada. 
Learn more about Implementa and their Certificate in Youth Ministry program. 
Follow Joey on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook
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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.