Hot Topics

Starting a Conversation about…Social Media

by Blake Brockman | Jan 6, 2022 | Free Resources, Hot Topics, Talk Sheets, Winter 2021 | 0

Our young people are being raised in an era where being on social media is not only the norm, but the expectation. Use this Conversation Guide to help you have important talks with teens about their usage and engagement on social media.

How Great a Debt: Cancel Culture and its Effects on Youth Ministry

by Thomas Wiemer | Dec 13, 2021 | Church in Culture, Hot Topics, Winter 2021, Youth & Culture | 0

Our youth are more and more seeing the cultural trend of “cancelling” someone because of actions now or in the past. As people in youth ministry, we must think long and hard about how we encourage both justice and live as people of grace through Jesus.

Social Media through the Filter of Christ

by Blake Brockman | May 26, 2021 | Doing Ministry, Hot Topics, Media & Technology, Spring 2021, Youth & Culture | 0

In ministry we might talk about social media as the boogieman. Instead, here are five ways we can talk to youth about how we process what we see and consume on social media through the filter of our faith and set Christ-centered boundaries.

Start a Conversation about…College Prep

by Julianna Shults | Aug 25, 2020 | Campus Ministry, Fall 2020, Featured Young Adult, Hot Topics, Talk Sheets, Young Adult Ministry, Youth & Culture | 0

Transitions such as graduation are critical moments where congregations and parents can support a young person’s relationship with Jesus as they find a new church home or establish a new, adult relationship with their existing congregation. This talk sheet give you some direction on how you can form a discussion around the transition to college with your high school students.

Starting a Conversation about…Racism

by Julianna Shults | Jun 26, 2020 | Fall 2020, Free Resources, Hot Topics, Talk Sheets, Youth & Culture, Youth Culture | 0

One of the end goals of youth ministry that we list is that young people and the church embrace and value the diversity of ethnicity, language, and culture in God’s creation. It’s important to address issues of race and racism with your youth.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: Finding Our Identity in Jesus

by Marcus Lane | Jun 15, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture | 0

Instead of finding our identity in what we do, Jesus invites us to come and find our identity in Him.

Responsibility or Retreat? Youth Discussion Guide on Refugee Crisis Care

by Kristin Schmidt | Mar 30, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture | 2

How should we handle things like the refugee crisis and the fears it brings up?

Connection vs. Stereotypes

by Dani Tietjen | Mar 9, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture, Youth Culture | 0

We were created for connection, yet we have a bad habit of boxing people into stereotypes that separate us from one another.

Faith and Science: Moving Beyond Debates

by youthESource | Feb 15, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture | 0

What comes to mind when you hear ‘faith’ and ‘science’ in the same sentence?

I’ve Still Got a Lot of Fight Left in Me

by Michael Salemink | Feb 1, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture | 0

Compassionate Conversation about Assisted Suicide

Diffusing the Tension: Exposing the Heart of the Abortion Debate

by Laura Davis | Jan 30, 2017 | 2017 Resources, Hot Topics, Youth & Culture | 0

When you bring up the topic of abortion, it seems like everyone has an opinion, and those opinions can quickly turn into arguments and angry rhetoric.