Friday Review (6/28/24)

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.)

Youth Ministry

Rethinking Relational Discipleship (Confessions of a Struggling Youth Minister), by Caleb Creel (Rooted)

I know there is a problem, but I’ve struggled to recreate my strategy for investing in discipleship with high school students. While relational discipleship previously was a strong aspect of my ministry, it now has become one of my biggest hang-ups.

Help! The Parents Won’t Let Go!, by Ronald Long (Download Youth Ministry)

Are you struggling with parents who won’t let their students attend youth group? Are you dealing with parents who insist on attending EVERY event and program meeting with their students? How can you minister to this family better?

Biblical & Theological Studies

Eat This, Not That, by Mitch Chase (Biblical Theology)

Certain foods were “clean” while others were “unclean.” Have you thought much about these instructions? In Mark 7:19, Jesus declared all foods clean, so these Old Testament food laws were temporary. But what can we know about them?

What Is Distinct about the Theology of 1 Thessalonians?, by Andrew Malone (Crossway)

I recently encountered my first micro story. At just forty-two words long, it carried sufficient plot, character development, and intrigue to invite readers to imaginatively reconstruct the inevitable gaps. At just five chapters long, 1 Thessalonians offers a similar attraction. We glimpse a condensed summary of some of the themes amplified in Paul’s later and longer letters.

Cultural Reflection & Contextualization

AI Doesn’t Mimic God’s Intelligence, by Joy Buchanan (The Gospel Coalition)

AI can mimic human intelligence, subject to constraints (like electricity usage). However, even if AI tools became leading poets or groundbreaking scientists—mimicking the brilliance of human creativity—this wouldn’t put AI in the same class as God.

Pastoral Ministry

The Church's Response to Domestic Abuse, by Kïrsten Christianson (New Growth Press)

Let’s start by considering a few questions: What if the church—your church—endeavored to stop domestic abuse and to address the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the abused and the abuser with the hope of healing and restoration? What if your church’s primary concern was for the soul of each person trapped in a destructive cycle of abuse?

3 Factors That Create an Unchurched Christian, by Dean Inserra (Lifeway Research)

Believing one doesn’t have to go to church to be a Christian is as commonplace as believing Jesus was born in a Bethlehem manger. This is the new normal, and church leaders cannot pretend this is acceptable. The Scriptures have no category for the unchurched Christian.

The Kind of Missionaries the Global Church Wants, by Nathan Sloan (The Gospel Coalition)

These national pastors said they still desire to work with missionaries—but they’re looking for the right kind of missionary. They’re tired of babysitting warm bodies who lack the skills to add value or the grit to stay for the long haul.

Family & Parents

Motherhood: An Unassuming Currency, by Janae Zook (For the Church)

 In a productivity-driven society, the work of the home lacks the same prestige and influence we gain in our careers. To the world, an emphasis on home is a waste of education and talent.

Is Gentle Parenting Biblical? An Open Letter from a Dad to Dads, by Chap Bettis (The Disciple-Making Parent)

What type of parenting has a correct biblical balance? Biblical parenting is about authority and affection. Those two qualities are seen throughout the Scripture as they relate to our heavenly Father. Even sociological studies have shown these types of homes nurture children who flourish. These are homes where there is high warmth and there is high authority. The children know they are loved and they know they need to obey Mom and Dad.

From YPT this week

How to Find Your Preaching Voice by Shawn Moose

You may be used to teaching students, but it can be difficult to “find your voice” when preaching to the church. Here’s some advice about how to find your preaching voice.