A recent poll by Fuller Youth Institute revealed that 56 percent of high school seniors wished they had “more” or “much more” Bible study in their youth ministry experience.

Think about that for a moment.

Because this issue of YouthWorker Journal explores the biblical foundations of youth ministry, I thought I’d use these 10 Minutes to throw in my 2 cents on the subject. The Fuller poll indicates there is one foundational element we seriously should consider in our youth ministries: Scripture.

If I may be so bold, I’m not the first to suggest Scripture as a building block. Jesus said a little something on the subject during His ministry on earth.

The Text
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Think About It
Rock-solid faith comes when we hear Jesus’ words and put them into practice. So here’s a bold proposal: Dedicate significant time and resources to helping teens hear (explore, grapple, discuss) and put into practice (apply, serve, obey) Jesus’ words. Start with the Sermon on the Mount (the words Jesus was referring to in Matthew 7:24) and branch out from there.

Apply It
As the poll suggests, meaningful Bible study doesn’t seem to be at the top of the list of youth workers’ ministry tools. Maybe it’s due to a jam-packed youth ministry agenda of relationship building, fund raising and parent support; or maybe it’s due to our own anxieties about diving deep into Scripture with teens.

The rewards of a faith that’s built on a rock shouldn’t be taken lightly. It seems we might serve our teens well by overcoming any of our hesitations to making Scripture a vital part of our youth ministry. Here are a few thoughts that might help build some momentum.

Leveraging Today’s Generation
Today’s teens are driven. They’re coming under our tutelage and saying, “Let’s make an impact!” Diligent study and application of God’s Word play right into this cry for depth and significance.

Loading up on What Will Last
When we expose teens to God’s Word, we are giving them access to a sustaining force of Light in their lives. Our best youth ministry efforts will fade, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.

Window of Opportunity
The teen years have potential for a high rate of spiritual growth. By using these few short years to help teens discover God’s Word, we are equipping them with life-long skills for self feeding.

Practicing Jesus’ Words
Ramp up the role of Scripture in your ministry by trying the very two-step process Jesus gave in Matthew 7: Hear and do. First, hear God’s Word by spending time with your teens on a passage and simply ask: What is God saying in this passage? What is God saying to us today? Then, follow with one final question: What do we need to do in response?

Our teens are looking for more depth than we might think. Nurturing this depth with Scripture is a building block we should not overlook. My 10 minutes are up, and that’s my 2 cents.

Barry Shafer has been in youth ministry for more than 20 years and is director of InWord Resources (Inword.org). For more practical know-how in making Scripture a building block of youth ministry, check out Barry’s book, Unleashing God’s Word in Youth Ministry (Youth Specialties/Zondervan).