This is not message to every pastor, just to the ones who confuse vision with entitlement. Pastors, a vision is not a program, an ideology or a philosophy. It’s not a statement. A vision is the ability to see what could be if the investment...
I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
Just Because You Have A Vision Doesn’t Mean You’re Entitled To It
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Six Questions To Get Your Seniors Spiritually Ready For The World
In the previous posts I shared how the different ways students could graduate. Now, the gate has been narrowed. Most states offer some sort of exit exam. What is the point of an exit exam?
“to make sure no students graduate or move on to other courses without proving they have mastered what they have studied.”
This begs the question “Have our students mastered what they have studied?” Never mind mastering what have studies, but what have they studied? How do we know if a student is ready to leave our youth ministry?
13 Negative Habits Youth Pastors Should Avoid
Being a youth pastor is a rewarding but demanding role. While the focus is often placed on developing positive habits for success, it’s equally important to identify and avoid behaviors that can hinder your ministry. This article explores 13...
How to Challenge Youth Spiritually Without Pushing Them Away
Reaching young people and fostering their spiritual growth is a delicate art and for youth pastors, it’s more like walking a tight rope between what we ought to say and what we have permission to say. Confrontational tactics like preaching AT...
Pull, Don’t Push, Students To Your Next Event
In a world overflowing with information, our attention spans are shrinking faster than ever. Our students are overwhelmed with emails, social media posts, texts and advertisements – all vying for a sliver of their precious time. This begs the...
15 Christian Songs for Graduation 2024
It’s that time of year and I know youth pastor and parents are looking for the perfect graduation song to send their students off into the world. Here are 15 thoughtful, fun and rocking song suggestions to create a graduation soundtrack for...
Youth Pastor Boss Battles: Taming the Two-Headed Monster of Pastor and Committee
British-Greek automotive designer, Alec Issigoris, who designed the mini automobile once said that a camel is a horse designed by committee. He’s not lying. Hey youth pastor Paul Turner here from thediscipleproject.net and I have been...
10 Habits of Highly Effective Youth Pastors
10 key habits that contribute to success in youth ministry, drawing inspiration from principles identified by Napoleon Hill for millionaires. Listen to the episode for context and suggestions on how to achieve each of these habits. Have a...
8 Elite Ideas For Preaching During March Madness
It’s that time of year again. Brackets are busted, jerseys are ironed, and the collective roar of the crowd fills living rooms across the nation. March Madness isn’t just about buzzer-beaters and Cinderella stories, though. For youth...
Agreeing On The Word Success
Are you and your pastor on the same page when it comes to the definition of success? Success is a word that is truly open to interpretation and you and your Pastor could be inches or miles apart. Here’s we what the wider version of a...
What If Your Youth Ministry Didn’t Exist?
If the past is hanging over your head and giving you the blahs, consider this question, “What If Your Youth Ministry Didn’t Exist?” Who would not have been ministered to? Who would not have been reached? Who would not have been...
How To Teach Middle School and High School Together
Most youth ministries do not have the luxury of separating their middle and high school students, which is optimum, when it comes to Sunday school, small groups or even in your main meeting. This is mostly because of not enough volunteers or not...
Empowering Yourself: A Youth Pastor’s Guide to 24 Must-Have Traits in 2024
January 1 is day many people make commitments. Somewhere around February 14 these commitments have softened if not disappeared altogether. There are commitments though, especially for Christians, that should never soften or disappear, and I’m...
Got Final Four Fever? Use It to Fuel Your Youth Group Messages
If you, or your youth group, have a fever for March Madness, why not use it to fuel your youth group messages. Here are 10 message seeds for your final four messages. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6): Explore the symbolism of the...
9 Fun March Madness Bracket Competitions for Youth Groups
It is almost March and the madness of college basketball is soon to begin, are you ready? I want to help you leverage this month to help you grow your ministry. The center of march Madness are the bracket sheets. Offices, work place, churches, etc....
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT