The Willingness to Be Coached

Although we now live in a sports-crazed culture, there are some aspects of athletics that can carry over quite well into youth ministry. Coaching is one of those points...or more specifically, the willingness t...

Youth Group Devo: Red-Letter Stress Relief

Quick Backdrop Whenever you flip through a red-letter edition of the Bible (one in which Jesus' words are printed in red), you'll notice a chunk of the Gospel of John that's a sea of red—page after page with...

Youth Group Devotional: God’s Draft Day

Quick BackdropThe NFL draft is upon us. While draft day is like Christmas in April for football junkies, most of us might be interested in the top draft picks, and then we move on. Whether you're a sports fan, ...

Attitude Makes All the Difference

There is a parable about two travelers. The first traveler stopped along the road to talk to a wise woman. He said, "I am planning to settle in the town up ahead. What can you tell me about the people there?" ...

Call It All Joy

"Rejoice with joy unspeakable" (1 Pet. 1:8). One of the most unifying attributes for any organization is joy. Youth groups need joy, in fact, to bring a sense of balance and movement to the work. Leaders sho...

Good Grief for Youth Workers

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). A few months ago, our congregation was rocked by three deaths in two days. One of these deaths was the father of two teens. He took h...

Magnetism: More than Deceptive Charm

There is no doubt that Jesus drew people around Him. He was a magnetic personality. Others wanted to be in His presence, to talk to Him, to sit and listen to His teaching, to receive His insights. Jesus also dr...

Youth Group Devo: Living in Peace

Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you" (John 20:21). The first words that Jesus spoke to His followers after His resurrection were, "Peace be with you!" This is a p...

Set a Writing Date with Yourself

There is no doubt that writing is one of the most effective tools for communicating the faith. The apostle Paul wrote letters, each detailing his varied ideas and his challenges for those respective congregatio...