Topics in Youth Ministry

Check out MatthewMcCraw.com

2009-03-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

Instead of posting on two separate blogs, I will now only post on matthewmccraw.wordpress.com. You can get there by going to matthewmccraw.com.

Thanks

Matt

13 year old dad?

2009-02-16T11:16:00.001-08:00

Check out this article about a 13 year old dad.

No More Baccalaureate Services

2009-01-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Check out this article about one school district in Florida that was ordered among, other things, to cancel their baccalaureate service.

Our future may not be so bright

2008-12-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

Check out this article about the ethics of young people today. Pay attention also to the mention of the ethics of young people in religious schools.

Watch "Sex and the City" and You're More Likely to Get Pregnant!

2008-11-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

Check out this article that suggests if teens watch programs with sexual contect they are more likely to get preganant or get someone pregnant.

Energy Drinks

2008-07-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Finally somebody is doing something about the crazy juice for middle schoolers. Check it out.

reTHINK

2008-05-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Rethink by Steve Wright and Chris Graves. If you haven't read it, you should definitely think about putting it on your list. The book challenges youth pastors to rethink the current way we do youth ministry based on the statistics of students dropping out of church once they graduate high school.

Center for Parent/Youth Understanding

2008-05-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

If you are not checking out the CPYU website once a week, you may consider doing so. Here is just a sample of what they have.

We can all relate to this.

2008-02-26T05:53:00.000-08:00

Check out this video about overnighters.

The Benefit of Great Minds

2008-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

I will be at Youth Ministry meeting for the next few days in Louisville, KY. I love this time because great minds in youth ministry come from all over the world to discuss some issues from the field. It's a tremendous benefit for me to be around these great men in youth ministry. May we never become so confident in ourselves that we can't learn from others.

Football Devotions

2007-12-07T07:34:00.001-08:00

If anyone needs some ideas for devotions for football teams, you can check out my other blog. Click here.

Halo 3 and the Gospel

2007-10-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

The New York Times published an article about churches that are using Halo 3 as an outreach tool.

Churches should be cautious in the use of games with an "M" rating (such as Halo 3) for outreach. Where is the line drawn? Will churches show "R" rated movies for outreach? Will churches use curse words in sermons for outreach?

Another issue here is pastors allowing students to play games that their parents may not allow them to play at home. This can create serious issues in any student ministry.

I caution all youth pastors to think through this issue.

Newsboys - Go Tour

2007-10-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the Newsboys' "Go" tour. In short, these guys are the real deal. I have been listening to the Newsboys since I was in middle school. The concert last night was a tremendous display of talent, technology, and fun. The Newsboys are all about solid entertainment that brings glory to God. If you get a chance, I highly recommend that you attend this tour.

College Dropouts: Update

2007-08-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

In the past I posted a blog asking for information on college dropouts. Here is an article with updated research on the matter.

Huffing Freon?

2007-07-31T11:18:00.001-07:00

It seems as if some teenagers will go to measure to get a high. Check out a recent article on huffing freon.

Students on Mission

2007-07-27T10:02:00.001-07:00

It's a blessing to see students participate in missions work. I recently had the opportunity to help lead a group a people on a missions trip to Jamaica. It was a joy to see the students answer God's call to make His name known among the nations. To check out the missions trip that I went on click here.

The Joys and Hurts of Student Ministry

2007-06-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been going through some emotional highs and lows in our student ministry. Just a few days ago some of our best students graduated from high school and continued their journey out into the world. My hope and prayer is that God will use them to do great things for many years to come. Another recent occurrence in our student ministry left me disappointed and hurt. Joys and heartaches are a part of ministry. Sometimes you pour countless hours into someone only to have that person let you and God down. I know that I am not the only one that goes through this; it's a perk that all ministers face. May God remind of us of the good times and our calling when we face the difficult times.

It Came From Within!

2007-05-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend the book, It Came From Within! by Andy Stanley. The book addresses many issues that students deal with deep in the their heart.

What is Emo?

2007-02-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a helpful video about what Emo is all about. This is a trend that has been around for a few years and continues to grow across the country.

NFL Three Strikes Policy

2007-02-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Although great strides have been made in the NFL this year that encourage positive behavior (with the two Super Bowl teams), there is still many negative examples in the NFL. However, some more progress may be made soon. The NFL is looking into a three strikes policy for players. This policy would include a suspension for the first strike, a tougher suspension for the second strike, and a dismissal from the league on the third strike.

Many young men in this country are impacted by players in the NFL. I hope that something like this will make players realize that they have a responsibility to not be total thugs. Although all the details are not worked out, and this rule is not in place yet, I still rejoice that the NFL has acknowledged that something must be done in this area.

I'm Apparently a Fundamentalist

2007-02-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

According to a theological survey that I found on another blog I am a Fundamentalist. Reformed Evangelical came as a close second. If by calling be a Fundamentalist one means that I hold to the fundamental doctrines, then I couldn't agree more. Long live the truth of the gospel!

The Importance of the Family

2007-02-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

I recently attended a meeting of youth pastors in which we discussed the importance of family ministry. One of the main points we discussed was that God ordained the family to be the center of religious training. I could not agree more. Two of the main points many of us discussed were that 1). Parents must buy into the family ministry model and take the responsibility to raise their children in the Lord, and 2). In order to implement a family model into a church, the whole staff (particularly the pastor) must work at it together. May we as youth pastors see the importance of the family in our churches. We must do everything we can to preserve and strengthen the family rather than separate and destroy the family.

Relying on the Spirit

2006-12-13T13:30:00.000-08:00

I've been reminded about something recently concerning youth ministry and ministry in general. With all of the talented men in ministry, we are capable of doing many things on our own. However, without the work of the Spirit, we can never really accomplish the work of God. Most of us would acknowledge this, but do we really do ministry that way. Although I am a firm believer in excellence in ministry, may we never get too caught up in the programs, events, and procedures that we lose sight of a desperate need for God's blessing.

-Matt

Falls Way Short

2006-12-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

I recently read a blog by an MD about spending time with family for Christmas. While this article is warm and fuzzy, and does seem to foster family time, I cannot help but feel that it falls short of the true meaning of Christmas. Am I alone in this? Check out the article.

Turning the Corner

2006-11-21T11:53:00.000-08:00

How do you get students to turn the corner spiritually? Often times students continue to go down the same path for an eternity. That path is usually a path of lukewarm Christianity. How do we get them to finally turn the corner towards genuine Christianity? May we be faithful to God and our calling during difficult times like this.

What Kind of Adults are We Producing?

2006-10-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

As a church, what kind of adults are we sending out into the world? A new study released by Barna suggests that we are sending out immoral adults. The study shows that Busters (20 to 30 somethings) are typically less moral than older adults. The statistics are also shocking for those Busters that are born-again. What's the deal? Read about it and respond.

We're Not Producing Grown-ups

2006-10-30T07:26:00.001-08:00

Dr. Albert Mohler recently wrote in his blog that many young adults are not really acting like adults should act. He highlights an article by Michael Bywater. Youth pastors should be doing all that we can to raise up godly young men and young women who are ready to face the world and its responsibilities on their own. Read about it and let me know what you think.

Is MySpace Dying?

2006-10-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

A new article suggests that MySpace may be dying. I think this is good news for those who prefer the virtual world to real life interaction. However, just because MySpace may not be #1, that does not mean that students will not turn somewhere else. Check out the article.

No More Sugar Coating in Youth Ministry? It's About Time!

2006-10-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

Time Magazine in their current issue suggests that youth pastors are starting to preach real substance instead of sugar coated fluff. Well, it's about time that youth pastors stop robbing their students and abusing God's Word. Dr. Albert Mohler writes about it in his blog.

Emotional Fluff

2006-10-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

One thing that truly irks me in youth ministry is emotional fluff. I can count many times when students have made a decision or commitment based on an emotional experience. I am certainly not opposed to emotion. I think we should have tremendous grief over our sin and great joy because of what God has done in our lives. However, I feel as if many students are vowing to change their lives as a result of some fake or manipulated emotion rather than the penetration of the Holy Spirit on their hearts. My prayer is that they would be convicted of their sin because of the Spirit's work in their life, and as a result they will make a real effort to change their lives to conform to God's Word.

What say you?

What Worship Wars?

2006-10-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

I recently attended an annual meeting of Baptists in my area. During the meeting, we sang songs at different points in praise to God. We sang traditional hymns and we sang contemporary praise and worship. What's the big deal? Why can't people praise God any time that they sing? I submit that if you cannot praise God with traditional hymns, you truly do not know how to worship. At the same time, if you cannot praise God with contemporary praise and worship, you do not know how to worship. God never endorsed a particular style of worship. Let's focus more on worshipping God rather than worshipping instruments or musical notes. I love both styles because if done correctly, they bring glory and honor to the One, True, Living God!

Jesus Camp

2006-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Is this really what we want our students to look like? Check out this video.

Getting Teens Involved in the Church

2006-10-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Many youth ministers agree that there is no substitute for the corporate worship experience. They also agree that students should be involved in the overall church, not just the student ministry. This article addresses that issue:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/010/20.74.html

The Urban Myth of College Drop-outs 2

2006-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here is an article that addresses the "Urban Myth of College Drop-outs":

http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/88_of_evangelical_children_leave_the_church_after_high_school/

The Influence of Athletic Stars

2006-10-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Recently a player from the Tennessee Titans stomped on the face of a player from the Dallas Cowboys (who was not wearing a helmet) for no apparent reason. The player has been given a five game suspension without pay for his actions. The coach of the Titans, Jeff Fisher, clearly disapproved of the players actions and agreed that he should be punished.

With episodes like this one and the plethora of others, should we be concerned that these guys are affecting our students. Players like Terrell Owens, Kobe Bryant, and Barry Bonds are arrogant to say the least. What kind of influence do you think these athletes have on our young people, particularly our young men?

How to Leave Comments

2006-09-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

In order to leave a comment you must log-in or join. No need to worry, it's FREE! Please join and leave feedback so that this website will be helpful to those involved in youth ministry.

A Few Ideas

2006-09-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

I recently met up with some student ministry friends at a conference. Here are some helpful websites that I learned about:

www.dafont.com for fonts

www.istockphoto.com for pics

www.gettyimages.com for pics

Enjoy

Matt

The Choking Game

2006-08-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

How many of you have heard of the choking game? The choking game (which uses many other names) is said to be popular now among students. The idea is to strangle yourself just enough to get a high and then let go. Some young people have actually died from this. Is any of this going on in your churches? For more info on the choking game read "The Choking Game" in the September 2006 issue of Living with Teenagers.

The Urban Myth of College Drop-outs

2006-08-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Recently another pastor friend and I have been trying to figure where the most popular statistic in youth ministry comes from. The statistic is, "85% of all youth drop out of church when they graduate high school." Does anyone truly know where this statistic comes from? I have done some research and everything seems to point to an unknown source. Does anyone have any hard evidence? If you have any info please share it with the rest of us.

Please bring up an issue

2006-08-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Topics in Youth Ministry blog. Please add any issues you would like to by reponding to this blog.

Welcome to the topics in youth ministry blog!

2006-08-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the topics in youth ministry blog. Please feel free to bring up any issue you may wish to talk about in youth ministry or ministry in general. The purpose of this blog is to think critically on issues in our day, keep up with student culture, and share ideas.