Family-Based Youth Ministry

This book by Mark Devries is one that is great for not only youth pastors/workers to read, but also parents, senior pastors, teachers, and anyone else who sees children and teens regularly.

The basic foundation that the book builds upon is: Teenagers learn things that will have the greatest long-term impact upon their lives when they're in the company of adults, namely their immediate and church families.

Basically, the adult/teenager relationship is a vitally important one in the life of a teenager. They may not admit it or believe it, but it is.

A few statements made to get the brain thinking...

1. "The stereotypical guitar-playing youth leader with a set of idea books and a floppy Bible is no longer enough to attract the attention and enthusiasm of our youth."

2. "In neighborhoods, schools, social activities, their own families, and even at church, young people are afforded less and less opportunity to be with adults."

3. "Like a rubber band, young people may stretch away from the parents' faith during their teenage years. But when they become adults, they ordinarily return to the core values of their parents."

4. "But Jesus taught his disciples less often by giving them answers they could memorize and more often by raising questions they couldn't answer, questions that would engage them more deeply in the pursuit of God."

5. "Giving real responsibility is the doorway into the world of adulthood."

6. "It is evident that when young people feel significant, they tend to drop their delinquent behavior."

7. "To expect youth to be committed to the church with the same level of commitment that would be expected of them on an athletic team would draw the charge of legalism and insensitivity"..."we seldom raise the expectations high enough for teenagers to experience real community."

I could probably publish about 3 posts for each one of these statements made in the book. Particularly #7. The question that comes to mind: What if adults were committed to the church with the same level of commitment that would be expected of them at their job?