Friday Review (1/28/22)
Each week we compile a list of helpful articles from other sites, in a variety of categories, for youth workers to read, reflect on, and/or discuss with parents and volunteers. If you have any articles you’d like to suggest, we’d love for you to share those in the Youth Pastor Theologian Facebook group. That’s a great way to bring them to our attention and to discuss them with like-minded youth workers! (Inclusion in this list does not imply complete agreement with the publishing source, but we have found these articles to be beneficial.)
Biblical/Theological Studies
Tough Questions Teenagers Ask: Is the God of the Old Testament Unjust? by Chelsea Kingston Erickson (Rooted)
One of the most common questions teenagers (and adults!) ask about the Bible is why the God of the Old Testament appears to be unjust in his dealings with people… As you ask the Holy Spirit to speak through you, here are some considerations that may help to guide these conversations with teenagers.
Don’t Skip Theology’s Middle Ground by Fred Sanders (The Gospel Coalition)
For Christians who have been getting by on either secondhand truth, a sense of resourcelessness, or distorted memories of their origins, going all the way back to the sources is thrilling and empowering. Movements of retrieval like this are worth encouraging, and theology in the mode of retrieval is especially medicinal for what ails the church in our disjointed, 21st-century moment.
Why Do We Assume Western Theology is Superior? by Tamie Davis (A Life Overseas)
We can recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in growing his church numerically in Africa; why are we so reluctant to think he might be doing it theologically as well? It doesn’t have to look the same as ours to be true, because it’s responding to a different context.
3 Things God Will Never Do with Your Sin by Sam Storms (Crossway)
Consider for a moment how we “deal” with others. We keep fresh in our minds their injustices toward us… The reason God does not deal with us according to our sins is because he has dealt with Jesus in accordance with what our sins require!
Cultural Reflection/Contextualization
Gen Z Parenting and More: The Trendspotter by Mary McIlrath (YouthBeat)
In our Winter 2021/2022 edition, we start by broaching the topic of what Generation Z adulting looks like in the workplace and the nursery… This issue also explores the pandemic-induced mental health crisis among youth and highlights programs promoting mental wellness.
‘A Priest in the Order of Shang-Chi,’ Teenagers, and the Priesthood of Jesus by Parker Hudson (Rooted)
Shang-Chi gives us an opportunity to turn a youth hang-out movie party into fruitful dialogue. It offers us a chance to share in a fresh way that we have a high priest who, though he was tempted like Adam, persevered and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf (Heb. 4:15-16).
Pastoral Ministry
Spiritual COVID and Losing Your Taste for God by Trevin Wax (The Gospel Coalition)
The Christian life that begins with spiritual astonishment at the glory of the gospel and the goodness and beauty of Christian truth—the wide-eyed surprise of the infant brought into a new world of grace—can descend into a spiritual malaise. Our eyes grow heavy and our tastebuds dim.
Technology Cannot Replace Presence: Why the Church Will Always Gather by Tony Payne (Desiring God)
But the joy we are now experiencing is the joy of real, face-to-face fellowship. I pray that we, and you, will continue to treasure that physical presence with each other, and never be distracted or diverted from it by the good but lesser benefits of the virtual.
Balm for the Soul by Bryan Schneider (Gentle Reformation)
Who is the funeral for? What role does the pastor play?… There is hope in the face of death. The good news of Jesus is as real as his resurrected body.
Family/Parents
Making the Sabbath A Delight for Little Ones by Vanessa Le (Gentle Reformation)
God calls us to imitate Him through rest and to catch a glimpse of eternity through worship. These very good things help bring joy, peace, and stability to our lives. But those same things – rest and worship – can be difficult for our little ones. What six-year-old boy automatically enjoys rest and worship?
When the Nest May Never Be Empty by Emily Pilkington (Gospel Centered Discipleship)
What is the goal of parenting? A common moniker told both inside and outside of the church is to ultimately work ourselves out of a job… My desire for them is something far more communal. A place where they recognize their own weaknesses, acknowledge their inability to live this life on their own, and understand their deep and profound need for Jesus.
Worried About Your Teenagers’ Mental Health? by Kara Powell (Fuller Youth Institute)
We too quickly try to solve kids’ problems. What they usually want is to sense our presence... If you want to talk with your kids about mental health but you’re not sure where to start, here are 7 questions to try.
From YPT this week
Strategies for Teaching Christian History in Youth Ministry by Nick Hartman
The men and women, creeds and catechisms of church history are often overlooked by youth ministries because it can be hard to know how to teach them in youth group. Here are three strategies you can adapt to integrate church history into your ministry to students.
Discipleship as Training by Joseph Bradley
We can reclaim the youth leaders’ primary role as disciple-maker by studying 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and utilizing the analogy of a personal trainer. Here are four keys to help you evaluate your disciple-making process.
*New on YPT’s Resources Page*
How to Write a Good Blog Post by Mike McGarry
It can be confusing to know how to write a compelling blog post that’s both informative and practical. Here are some writing tips YPT recommends as you piece your article together, whether it’s for our site or elsewhere.