The standing thought is this: As long as intercourse doesn’t happen then anything else goes. A lot of teens agree. Many parents agree. And even some youth workers agree.

Jesus didn’t have promo ads, email, an interactive website, television or fancy flyers. He had word of mouth. People telling other people, “Hey, Jesus is teaching over on the mountain today!”...

Many teachers have one or two students who just can’t seem to stay still, listen, or keep from bothering someone else. We have had teacher’s email us and say they “blew their cool” in class and now they feel they are totally out of control of themselves and their students. So the question is, what can I do to get the classroom discipline where it needs to be? Here are a few suggestions:

There are many traits that make up a strong youth group. The one's I have chosen are the one's that usually creep to the top of most lists.

Here ten questions you can use in the next ten minutes to do a quick spiritual checkup

Many youth ministers have learned over the years that their youth ministry is larger than they are. They also have learned that their youth ministry is not as successful if they try the “Lone Ranger” approach...

Some church members see youth ministry as glorified babysitting. Others, parents especially, see youth ministry as a critical asset to the spiritual growth and development of their children...

Surviving the top ten frustrations of youth ministry.

Friday and Saturday, of this past week, I was in Lawton at the W. Hills Church of Christ for Spring Board, SW. Oklahoma's largest youth rally. It rained like all weekend, our attendance was down from last year, but boy did we have a great time. Thanks Mark and all the staff of Western Hills who graciously endured two long days of preparation, and cleanup.

I taught a class, entitled the "The Gospel According to Finding Nemo." I borrowed the title from Wade Hodges, and was inspired by a sermon he preached with the same title.

If interested, here was my class material from Saturday:

Most of the time when someone calls me or comes into my office for counseling it is because of a relationship gone bad. Most often it is a marital relationship and one partner is trying to make it work and the other is not working on the problem at all...

In my observation working with youth, the biggest challenge that our young people are dealing with is the disconnect of their faith between Monday and Sunday. It seems that many of the teenagers in our congregations have a form of faith, or religious devotion, but to them the faith they embrace is more similar to the gadgetry they toy with than the transformative relationship we witness in Scripture.

Simple suggestions for being prepared.

Get to know your teens on a deeper level. Try to analyze where they are coming from and why they act the way they do.

To be an effective youth minister you must consider your own spiritual development. You need to be sold out for the Kingdom of God. Everything should be handed over to Him.

Would you like to have more time? Brian Tracy, international business speaker, says a person can save ten minutes for every one minute they invest in planning their day...

There is nothing quite liberating and comforting as being forgiven. To have wrong someone and hurt the congregation and then regretted and repent of it and then to be pardoned – what a relief, of gratitude. What a joy if God’s grace demonstrated by the offended to the offending person. What a joy if every Christians, forgiveness and love is the pursuit of their life.

As he headed down the hallway toward the room he noticed Michelle sitting on the floor of the church building foyer waiting for her parents. Michelle was probably the most attractive senior girl in the group. She was not a real leader, but she is a semi-good follower.

10 ways to build credibility with parents.

To glorify God means to live with such a passionate devotion to the Holy One, His person, His purpose, and His praise. Passion for the glory of God begins and is possible, when we choose to reject our own honor, refutation and self-gratification.

Ever had one of those nights, maybe even a year or so in ministry when you new there was a danger lurking out there, somewhere beyond sight, but nevertheless out there somewhere. And when you hit it, you knew it. Driving home tonight from our devotional, I hit a pot-hole in the road. I didn't really see it. But when we hit, we sure felt it. This is a great descriptor for what happened in our student ministry. I will call these moments or seasons "pot-holes." We all have "pot-hole" ministry moments. I had one this evening.

To meet our objective of becoming a Family-Based Youth Ministry my plan is to begin to slowly implement family activites, such as offering a family retreat, parent night outs, encouraging parents (through e-mails, cards, phone calls, etc.), equiping parents (resources, newsletters, classes, etc.), involving parents in the youth ministry, continuing to build relationships with youth group parents.

Criticism is something we all face in youth ministry. You are absolutley not going to satisfy everyone in your ministry. You won't satisfy all the teens or parents.

The will is in the chains of an evil human nature. You who extol the free will as a great force are clinging to a root of pride. Man, as fallen in sin, is utterly helpless and hopeless. The will of man offers no hope. It was the will choosing the forbidden fruit that brought us into misery. The powerful grace of God alone offers deliverance. Cast yourself upon God's mercy for salvation. Ask for the Spirit of Grace that he may create a new spirit within you.

Donald Miller’s work, Blue Like Jazz is one of the most refreshing works I have read in some time on Christian spirituality.

Youth ministers can refer families to dynamic Christian intervention programs.

We live in a world of competing stories. The New Testament church was no exception. Colossians is one such letter that has as its aim a reorientation to the story of Jesus.

When we see the fallen world around us we as Christians have a choice of 2 options: aggravation or motivation.

Listen carefully to your preacher this Sunday and take notes. Not just on the message, but on the memorable aspects of the message. Place a star beside the things that really jumped out at you. Then ask yourself these three questions later in the day...

Unitinig a youth group can be a big challenge. Understanding how to get there is the key.

discipleship = journey

We all have those teens in our group who are the edge. Just remember, you might be the only one who will lead them to Christ.

We are called into an unbelievable, sometimes frustrating, but no doubt exhilirating task!

We all come into the world one by one, and we will go out of it in the same way- all alone we will go out again. So, how will you fare when it is your time to die? How will you manage when these earthly of yours vanish and there will be only a depressing emptiness before you? You know, you can’t live without God and be at peace, unless you are one of those few who are blind to His justice and have hardened heart. The pleasure of this world is very sweet; but how soon they sicken the appetite.

Maybe less is more, especially when it contrasts to a legalistic upbringing concerning spiritual formation.

The great concern of those who have received Christ is to walk in him--to make their practices conformable to their principles and their conversation agreeable to their engagements. As we have received Christ, or consented to be his, so we must walk with him in our daily course and keep up our communion with him.

When looking for a youth ministry position, my dealings with churches has been that they want to know your philosophy of ministry. Have you thought this through? This should be a guiding template, if you will, for you organize your ministry around.

I want to share ten things I have learned so far on the youth ministry journey. While this isn't an exhaustive list, it is one born out of working in the trenches.

A serious question needs to be asked, “If a person is not a disciples, have they have been truly evangelized?”

"Just as the Living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me" (John 6:57).

I don't claim to be the authority on eccelsiology, ministry, theology, youth ministry, or even parenting. However, in recent days a book that has really caught my attention has been Soul Searching, which reports the findings of the NYSR several year intensive study of youth religion. I'd like to share some of their findings to match them with you out there in ministry are seeing.

Youth ministry follows the model set forth by Christ. Christ spent a certain amount of time with different groups. He spent time teaching the masses (evangelism), teaching and fellowshipping with the disciples (discipleship), and investing even more in three disciples; Peter, James and John (leadership training).

Jethro's advice to Moses in Exodus 18 can save a youth minister from crashing and burning. A frantic pace isn't a good pace for the marathon race known as youth ministry. Learn a lesson from Moses' father in law.

Natural lubricant is produced from the glands that surround the vagina, but in the modern age, as women are becoming more sexually expressive the use of artificial lubricants has become popular.

Natural lubricant is produced from the glands that surround the vagina, but in the modern age, as women are becoming more sexually expressive the use of artificial lubricants has become popular.

Whatever your needs, today’s market provides for baby strollers in many varieties – offering style, comfort, convenience, durability and a great combination of each as well! Because of this diversity, it is important to do some in-depth research on baby strollers before making a purchase. Most consumers now are interested in buying one multipurpose stroller which will last from infancy to childhood as opposed to buying products specifically targeted for infants or toddlers only.