Elements of a Good Youth Sermon
Ask any church goer and you’ll hear a wide range of characteristics for a good sermon. Now translate to youth ministry, and there’s a host of additional opinions.
Some people are looking for compelling stories, others want to laugh, and still others believe humor detracts from pure teaching. Here are the characteristics that I keep in mind while preparing to teach students.
1. Be Biblical
This seems like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of sermons which reference the Bible but they are not built on a foundation of Scripture. Sometimes the preacher seems to have an idea what he wants to say and then uses a Bible verse here or there to prove his point. This is not a biblical sermon. These sermons use the Bible as a buttress to hold up the message, rather than as the foundation and blueprint. If the Word of God is living and active, a double edged sword that is God-breathed, then we should keep Scripture front-and-center.
2. Be Gospel-Centered
I know “gospel centered” has become something of a cliche over the last five years, but it’s a helpful (and biblical) grid through which to operate. If a sermon doesn’t clearly lead to gospel proclamation, and if it doesn’t clearly flow from the fruit of the gospel… then it isn’t a Christian sermon in any meaningful way. Many preachers have fallen off the cliff of works-righteousness in the attempt to be relevant (“Four keys to building a great marriage,” or “How to be the best you”). Sermons should be robustly biblical and gospel-centered. This video from Julius Kim is an excellent starter for learning how to proclaim Christ from all Scriptures.
3. Fill Their Cup and Let Them Sip
It’s a good thing to have solid exegesis and theological reflection undergirding your teaching. Those are necessary elements of gospel-centered youth ministry. But that doesn’t mean you need to teach students everything you’ve learned during your message preparation. If your students can only receive a “cup-full” from you during your message, then dumping a whole bucket on their heads isn’t pastoral and it isn’t wise. You have now completely overwhelmed students, and tipped their cup over in the process. So now they don’t even have a cupful. They’re still empty.
Discern what size “cup” your students can be expected to receive in your teaching time, give them time to drink and be refreshed by what you’re teaching, then pour a little more into the cup. This usually happens through stories, analogies, and illustrations that give them time and space to see what you’ve poured into the cup, and so they take a little sip, and now you can add a little more, then give them time to sip again.
4. Be Clear
What good is brilliance if it’s so blinding you can’t behold it? I have always agreed with those who claim you don’t really understand something until you can explain it to a child. Gone are the days when youth workers can reasonably assume any measure of biblical literacy, so using phrases like “Most of you know this verse already” only makes to those who don’t “already know” feel stupid and unwelcome. If something is worth saying, it’s worth saying clearly enough for everyone to understand. I generally keep specific people in mind while preparing the message: a middle schooler whose ADHD meds have worn off, a student who’s secretly doubting the faith, those who are walking through some sort of hardship (anxiety/depress, heartache, loneliness, etc), and I consider students whose faith is genuine and they want to grow in Christ. If these people can each understand what I have down on paper, then I’m ready to teach.
5. Be Helpful
This is where the rubber meets the road and the sermon connects or falls flat. Rather than trying to be relevant, I find it more fruitful to pursue helpfulness. Here are some questions I consider:
Which attribute of God does this message highlight? (use this as your anchor for proclaiming and applying the gospel to students)
What is confusing about this passage that needs to be explained?
Where does our culture today agree and disagree with this message?
What challenges will normal teenagers face in the call to embrace this teaching?
What is one way this message encourages or corrects me with the gospel before I preach this to students?
If a sermon hits in these five marks, I think it will demonstrate pastoral love for your students, reverence to the Lord in how Scripture is handled, and joy because it is anchored in God’s provision through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
