I’m always on the lookout for resources that can help young adults understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how that affects every aspect of their life. When young adults begin to embrace that following Christ is not just a part of their life, but it is their life, you’ll see a young adult that has been completely transformed for the gospel. Recently, Lifeway released a new resource called Disciples Path: The Journey. I’m convinced that young adult ministries would benefit significantly by leading their small groups … [Read more...]
Friday Links
Here are some articles/blogs from this past week that you may have missed, but may be helpful to you as you work with young adults in your church and community. “Five Actions that Form a Healthy Identity” by Tim Elmore In a culture that wants to determine a person’s identity through social media and other forms of reactions, Elmore examines how we can help young adults develop a healthy sense of identity based on who they are in Christ. “Evangelicals Remain Complicated” by Aaron Earls The 2016 Presidential Election is … [Read more...]
Do Groups Really Matter?
Anytime I'm in the presence of collegiate or young adult ministry leaders, I’m always intrigued by the conversations that surface about our ministries. “What does your large group worship time look like?” “What are some of the issues you're tackling in your group gatherings?” “What type of missions opportunities does your group do?” Are those relevant and important questions to ask? Absolutely. They're all aspects of what draws young adults to our ministries and keeps them involved with the ministry as a whole. However, … [Read more...]
Do You Have Time to Read This?
Fact: Young adults lead very busy lives! Between work, relationships, family, and hobbies there seems to be very little time to spare for young adults these days. And let’s be honest, those of us who are young adult ministry leaders don’t always just sit around waiting for the next phone call or appointment to pop up on our calendars. The reality of life today is that things are simply busy! How can we as young adult ministry leaders bring a sense of calmness or peace to our lives in a culture that seems to value busy? Here are … [Read more...]
Who Have I Given Up On?
There are times when my own lack of faith frustrates me. Recently, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a young man seated on a plane next to me. I got to ask him some questions about his beliefs and where he is in areas of faith. When I left the plane and headed toward baggage claim, I thought to myself, There’s no way this guy will ever come to Christ. He had expressed extreme disdain and hatred toward the church. So, I prayed for him and asked the Lord to show Himself to this young man – but I’m not sure I really … [Read more...]
4 Gift Ideas for Graduates
Graduation season is in full swing. We’ve all seen countless pictures of graduates getting those last few moments with friends whom they have spent the previous four (or five, six, or seven) years with on their college campus. Families are having graduation parties to honor one of the most significant accomplishments their young adult has had in their lives up to that point. It's time to celebrate! So, what kind of gift do we give to these college graduates that we love so much? There are only so many copies of Oh, the Places … [Read more...]
How to Tie a Tie
This past week a man that I’ve known since I was a kid went to be with the Lord. Mr. Jim was my neighbor when I was growing up and our family went to church with him. More importantly, Mr. Jim taught me how to tie a tie. When I was in middle school I was involved with school activities that required me to wear a tie. My dad never wore a tie so he encouraged me to go to Mr. Jim to see if he could teach me how to tie the perfect knot. One afternoon, I went to Mr. Jim’s house. After pulling out two ties for us to practice with, he … [Read more...]
4 Tips for Keeping Young Adults Engaged in Your Church
I consistently get asked by church leaders the question, “How do we keep young adults involved in our church?” It may seem like a small word change, but the better question is, “How do we keep young adults engaged in our church?” Churches in communities from small towns to large cities desire to see young adults and young families engaged in the overall mission of the church. The excitement and perspective that young adults bring to a church can breathe fresh life into a congregation that seeks to be both relevant and gospel … [Read more...]
