I’m in college and am Gen Z. I can confirm that I much prefer theological based small groups as opposed to game night events. I think it’s fine to have game nights to establish bonding, but if you have a game night it should be on a separate night so it doesn’t take away from your time learning the scriptures with others. I also prefer church hymns as opposed to contemporary Christian music.
Huge up'vote for hymns and the strong meat of scripture! You are on the path of sound doctrine that will bear sweet and bountiful fruit as you become equipped to spread His Gospel😊
Sovereign grace and city alight both have theologically rich contemporary songs tho ik some ppls main problem with contemporary worship is the style but they're worth checking out if that's not you
I love the old hymns and abhor the new Christian music. It's too much of this world and I'm also a little pessimistic about how lucrative that industry has become. I fear money has corrupted some people.
As a former youth leader, current pastor, and father, I must say that the role of Christian parents teaching and discipling their children is of utmost importance. Seriously, how many Christian parents have a time of Bible reading and prayer each day with their children? Maybe 10%. Youth ministry is not in the Bible, but Godly parenting is.
I agree unfortunately so many Parents depend on the church and youth group to teach there children’s and we are seeing so many kids walk away from the faith either they weren’t saved and the message of the gospel was never presented to them. Home it’s the the first ever important classroom where we train our children in the ways of the Lord and Parents also must love the truth of God, you cannot teach your kids the Word if you don’t love it first.
A friend mentioned to me once that youth ministries became a necessity because the family was no longer functioning the way it should have been in the church. I’m grateful for the youth groups I was in because my parents hardly attended church and the church I was raised in was so behind the times that there was no youth ministry.
problems with this video is it cherry picks the "fun," and leaves out the Bible memorization and teachings of Christ; youth groups that have fun AND are grounded in His word.
Exactly. Be an example. A role model. It's hard, though, especially when you have ppl trying to tear you down in the process. That is not church. That's not even religion what we see here.
I'm not surprised these hammers make a nail out of everything. These people are running out of enemies and in order to make money they have to attack games, as if Jesus never had fun.
Part of this problem is isolating children from the main service for many years. While parents take part in church service, kids have entertainment, then ya'll wonder why kids, once grown up, don't like the main service?!
parents are super important. The youth take the same services as adults except on Fridays in my church. But I was taught to pay attention, stand up reverently, not be talking, not be on my phone. But I see other people my age doing this and Im like whaaat!! And then I see they're literally next to their parents. And im like WHAAAAAT. And I realize that our difference is our parents.
If the only reason a kid is going to church is because their parents are going. Making them sit in regular service teachs them nothing you can't make them learn If they don't want to. Sitting in small a group, and going over bible can help you get to know them more on a personal level. Then maybe you can teach them something.
@@RockwithJesus Yes...that sounds more like a SUnday School class which is the social backbone of the church...we make our children go to school to get an education and expect them to sit...parents are their children's role-models...my parents were mine...I went to church and sat in church with them...I learned to sing the hymns and to eventually participate as they did...I would come to the loving, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, not as a child, but as an adult...attending church, fellowship with the saints, Bible study in Sunday School, girls activities, youth choir...all a part of my foundation and upon which I raised my children and, now, my grandchildren...I sat in church and listened...I learned to carry my Bible and a notebook to write down notes for I learned the Holy Spirit would press revelation knowledge leading to wisdom into my spirit...being in a church service was a huge part of our life where we learned life-skills according to God's Word...blessings to you!
Recently found a Baptist church where my children only have older people (average age is 80) to fellowship with. There is no youth group. No children's church. They are expected to stay and participate in the entire morning and evening service. They like it! They've grown in wisdom and character and have learned to enjoy older peoples' company. They also enjoy singing the hymns (with only piano accompaniment) and participate in contributing their thoughts on the evening service sermon. Invaluable!
@@sharoncolumpsi5249it's interesting to note that in America, at one point, churches rejected the piano because of the instrument's association with bars and saloons (honky tonk). There were quite a few churches that used guitars as the main accompaniment if they had no organ, or sang acapella. Electric guitar is another story. It's association will always be with rock, and the transition to that instrument is because they want to attract people with rock, instead of the gospel.
Sounds like the church we found 3 years ago in our area. We are some of the youngest - early 50s, and are so grateful to the Lord for leading us there, after visiting several biblically anemic “churches”. ❤️
I was just asked to resign because I refused to run my youth group like this. Yes I did like 30 minutes of games, but then we did 15 minutes of songs, 35-40 minute sermon, and 15-30 minutes of small groups. But that wasn't "attractive" enough.
@@mobiusraptor7Probably because it wasn’t fun enough to retain all the kids. The kids who didn’t really care about God would eventually leave. I think youth groups should be fun but there has to be a balance. I left a youth group when I was 16 because it was more focused on games and the Bible studies were shallow and usually barely 10 minutes long.
Man’s ways are of no effect it must be Gods Way or no Way. The ole’ puritans would faint today if they saw what is going on. This entertainment stuff produces no Godly fruit.
I took my young son to a church youth group event for a church we were trying out as a new family to the area. The event was absolute worldly. The music sounded like club music and was blasting. It was super hype with loud music tons of games including an entire video game room with gaming chairs. The event was advertised for a wide age range from little kids-middle school. They had a “message” which only much older children could follow and it was very quick. The female leaders were immodestly dressed with yoga pants short shorts and I was just so sad. This could have been any secular event. We did not chose this as our church for this event and the nonsense during Sunday service which I won’t get into but was equally worldly and immodest (braless child care workers). It saddened me. It woke me up to the fact that not all churches are biblically based. I was naive before. The Lord helped me learn some discernment for churches from that experience.
Sounds like a "Christmas " "church" community activity my wife and I went with our kids to. I kept saying to my wife this was the most Christless Christmas activity I've seen in a while. They had the grinch, santa, and everything but Jesus. We ended up leaving
I dont think this is an all or none situation like a lot of people are making it out to be. We had fun at church when I was a kid. We played basketball and played games and had cook outs to get more kids involved in the church, BUT whatever we did was always centered around the gospel. If you showed up, you were going to hear the gospel. Theres nothing wrong with community outreach, just remember why youre reaching out.
This. These are the same ppl who go "new music is automatically bad," whether said music is theologically sound or not. They act like the songs they have now have been around since 30 AD even though most have only been around since the 1800's. I agree with them on most matters, but their stubbornness to refuse to modernize services ("Lean not on the traditions of this world..." and a blatant primacy of senority logic flaw), which CAN (and should) be done in a biblically respectful manner, confounds me to no end. I mean if "new is automatically bad" then why even use anything modern such as the net? Why not just go full Amish? Double standards much? 🙄
I agree. The problem is not the games, it's the churches that are no longer unapologetically teaching the gospel and the Bible. I was an early 00s teen and we did some ridiculous games and activities in youth group, but the teaching later always used it as an illustration of whatever Biblical principle was being taught. It was a great way to get our hyper teen minds to connect with the lesson, and then connect the lesson with our own lives. I still remember a lot of what was taught thanks to the memories I have of seeing my friends eat something weird, or exchanging shoes, or doing a "lock in" in the gym...Frankly, I don't think sitting and memorizing catechisms would have had the same effect on my life. None of the youth groups I attended did any sort of worship time, which would be my one complaint. The sense of unity and bonding you get by coming together to worship God is something all ages need.
@mobiusraptor7 Tell, me other than the "cringe" of the bike and title, how biblically unsound and inaccurate was the sermon? Perhaps that is a more important issue than "how does _____ look?"
@@dubuyajay9964 Mark 7 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” this verse doesn't confirm we shoul not use internet. It show people worship God with human traditions So not taught by God This was for synagogues for the context but i believe it still apply today with lot of traditional '''holy one" church like Catholics or Orthodox 5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 6He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Well - unfortunately Spurgeon teaches false doctrine, so there's that. Kind of hard to pull the speck out of their brother's eye, when he's got an enormous plank in his own.
Contemporary? When David was singing praise to the Lord, was it Comtemporary for his time. I believe so. It's all about the Heart of people. I have had non-Christian say your contemporary music is weird. So, winning people to church by music. Probably not much.
As a senior high-schooler please bring back the true fellowship in Churches. The youth group I got to is really good,and last night the leaders brought back singing worship songs, all of us were singing and enjoying it. What younger people need is to be guided by older strong Christians.
My husband and I are still trying to find a local church WE can attend. Preferably, a church with only ONE "campus" and without hip, husband and wife co-pastors 😳
Most Evangelical Free Churches (non-denominational) have what you are looking for. Some Baptist Churches, and a few other denominations will also meet your requirements.
The churches of Christ teach and study Bible only. No written doctrines. Each body is autonomous. Shepparded by bishops or elders depending the word. Each term is the same office. The understanding among members is that we speak where the scripture speaks and remain silent where it is silent. We are narrow minded according to many people. Yes, we are. The way is narrow according to scripture.
@@nschlaakThat's upsetting....that's not non-denominational. Evangelical is a denomination. 😢 I am non-denominational and I can't find a good church because they all disobey the Bible. None of us are perfect but they purposely do things like celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. That's the most common issue. We would probably attend a Messianic Synagogue. ❤ BUT then there's an issue with some of the Messianic Jews not understanding and want to feel special so they don't welcome gentiles. Unfortunately most of the church is very confused with worldly nonsense. I do like Evangelicals, at least it's named after a genuine Biblical article of importance. But they do the stuff I mentioned and are the most commonly terrible about breaking up families and putting kids into weird kid clubs and etc. My family wants to partake in the church as a family. Not men vs women vs kids.
I have three kids, 19yr old , 15ur old and a 6 yr old. I have had them happily in the church for all their life with no need to beg them to stay in service to love the Lord. That is just pathetic how low as Christians we have fallen to accept the secular worldly trends of the world. Always trying to be mixed in with the world. It's as if nothing was learned from Solomon.
I became a believer in 1976. I attended a small traditional church with only a dozen kids in the youth group. We did some fun things, but our leader was sober-minded. He taught us from the Bible that we shouldn't be like the world. Fast-forward to 1997. My wife and I attended a very large community church with enough kids in the youth group to fill 6 tour buses. Because our kids were involved in the youth group, my wife and I would occasionally help out. I never ceased being shocked and disturbed. There were no detectable differences between the kids in this church and the kids in the world. One boy was openly gay. My kids are in their early 40s now, and they have maintained friendships with some of their fellow youth group members. Not surprisingly, none of them profess Christ today.
Yeah, Solomon even went so far as to make high places for his wives' false gods, for Chemosh and Molech, and to burn incense and offer sacrifices to their gods!😮
I met a teacher from a more conservative seminary a few month ago. He said most of the kids there couldn't even tell the chronology (first Abraham or Moses or Jesus) nor which book is in the OT or NT. But wanted to become youthpastors. Because they never had anything like a biblestudy in their youthgroup. I'm so glad, my nephews are in a solid church where they learn the bible and to applicate and teach it. And yes, they still play games, eat pizza- but the bible is the center.
I think a lot of people are convinced that younger people are looking for trendy churches and contemporary music. I don’t think that’s true at all. And many younger people can see right through the smoke machines and coffee bar attempts to draw people in to look cool or shed an image of uptightness.
Not having apologetics and not opening up to doubts are the biggest reason kids leave, not having a game... if you dig in, get into the word, and have good conversations and also prepare your students for the attacks there will be a higher retention rate. And you can have fun by having a game afterwards. There's nothing wrong with games, just have the center in the word.
When I was a child, Vacation Bible was just decorations around to fit a theme that goes along with the gospel message being presented. Not sure how making church like a club is 'vacation Bible school'
I went to one as a kid and I'm just now realizing it was one of the few that actually involved studying the bible. We did game stuff as well, but it was split about 50/50 between study work and fun activities.
I just left a comment of my experience last year. LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP used a Tropical theme for VBS 2023. They erected an enormous TIKI statue and those attending entered through the mouth of the statue. EVIL Scary expression. Parents dropped off at the curb and watched their child disappear into the DARK HOLE. It was up for a month and I forced myself to look away as I passed.
Unfortunately, the church we attended when our 30-something daughters were teens was at a happy clappy church...we didn't know what we didn't know. Now my husband, one of our daughters & her family & myself attend a Reformed church &, our other daughter has sadly apostasized because she didn't see church as anything but a club. We're praying she is a prodigal.
@kimwolf1708 Thank you for sharing. We also were in happy clappy churches. My husband and I are now in a Reformed church and growing closer to our LORD and each other. The happy clappy churches endeared us to them. Our church now enders us to God. Both of our children also had youth groups that were worldly with new age pr as prices thrown in so they are both now seeing God as a joke and hoax. They are both heavily meshed in the world. Your testimony brought perspective about this. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
My son’s youth group played all kinds of games. Then, they had a Bible study. My friend bright so many boys, from school. All these boys got saved. All are still in church today.
That's awesome! I've lead children's groups in churches for many years and usually start with a game that is theme based. We have Bible time- either by story, acted by the kid's or read straight from the bible. We discuss it by different methods and have some activity and prayer to follow which reinforces the theme/subject. I've found that kid's today engage and are much more receptive to this kind of group than more traditional ways of sit and study. Especially those from non Christian homes, which we had several. Children spend so much time sitting and 'learning' all week, surely weekends can be fun? Does christianity need to be boring, sit still and be quiet? I hope not. We all learn so much better when we are enjoying ourselves and when we are engaged. I'll get off my soapbox now 😊
As a youth minister teaching the truth of the gospel is the most single most important thing. As leaders we should live by Titus 2:6-8. But it is also not a sin to have fun every now and then. I agree that some youth groups focus too much on this but we should not demonize kids getting to be kids in a safe environment. They have the rest of their lives to be adults and only 18 years to be kids. There is a balance in youth ministry. Truth is paramount but that truth is best received in an environment where students feel loved, included and a place where they want to be.
I would highly encourage you to watch the "Divided" documentary on youth pastors. I used to think like you working in youth ministry...until I had children of my own.
Thank you for this message. It really puts our current convictions into words. My wife and I serve in our church’s kids ministry and we have grown so weary of the games and techno contemporary Christian music. Our children look at going to church as just another playground and that is unacceptable. The points you presented really hit home.
I remember our youth group had air hockey, a whole row of TVs with every different gaming console, Foos ball, basketball, etc. It functions like an after school facility. And I don’t remember anything biblical ever being taught. As someone who went through the “cool” church mill. I was shocked in my 30s to actually read the Bible and see what was being kept from me. To realize how much time I wasted not actually learning anything about the scriptures. It legitimately made me very mad. How different would my life have been if I had been taught biblical truths?
It’s not the activities that are the problem. It’s the issue of whether or not young people are genuinely being discipled in their faith. Nobody would bat an eyelash at a group of older ladies starting a knitting circle at church, but the activity may be the very thing that provides the context for discipleship. And so it should be with your group activities. The activities can’t be the end goal or the bulk of the program; they should provide the context for discipleship. I have seen this done very well at my church, so I know it’s possible.
Amen! I’m in an urban ministry context. Parent involvement is low in these kids lives, much less discipleship in Christian values or catechism. But through playing basketball with the kids, I gain respect and we create shared experiences that give me a platform to share the gospel and teach them the word!
Young ppl shouldn't be disciplined in "their faith". They should be disciplined in " _the_ faith once delivered". Someone talking about "their faith" sounds like the secular world talking about "their truth". American Christianity is a joke in part because ppl are told that practicing their own beliefs is the same as practicing what is in the Bible, and that is simply not true. Paul constantly warned ppl in his epistles not to depart from _God's_ doctrines.
@@theeternalsbeliever1779 Agreed, but here’s the problem: in a lot of places, there is no context and understanding of “the faith.” The kids I minister don’t even have a concept of proper understanding of family and what it’s supposed to be like. Not only is the gospel being preached to young gentiles, but it’s young gentiles in Babylon. The solution isn’t as simple as preaching the Bible to them. Yes it is by hearing the word of God that faith comes, but it is also through action and deed as people are to see our good works and then glorify our Father in Heaven. Effective ministry in this age requires first and foremost teaching the Bible. But it needs to be done in a manner that reaches people where they are and simultaneously calling them to a higher standard. Just as you don’t serve a steak to a one old instead of milk, you don’t give spiritual meat to those who need spiritual milk. I do agree that in attempts to do ministry in this context, churches have done incredibly unbiblical things. It’s wrong. For those of us who actually do hold to the Bible, we’ve gotta meet people where they are and simultaneously call them to righteousness!
As a parent and father of two, I have never seen the local church as more than my assistant in raising our children in our faith. It’s my primary responsibility and I must know what the church is teaching my children or I’m out. Same thing as sending them to college quite frankly, in which too many parents wonder why they come back as Romans after being sent to Rome. We must have discernment as parents.
I see your point, but that coin has another side. I more often see this sentiment of parent over church stated in rebelling against Biblical practices. It’s parents who say sports, family time, or sleeping in as more important than worship, catechesis, Bible Study, or the like. It’s parents saying “I” accept career before marriage, LGBT+, women pastors, contemporary worship, cut down on screen time but put screens in a sanctuary, I don’t know that from the Bible so you don’t need to know that either. After all, who is funding the implementation of all this stuff? Kids don’t even have paper routes these days.
@@beardedbdub426 Initially I was able to follow your basic train of thought... But by the end (the last 3 or 4 statements), you kinda lost me along the way... If you would please, overall, what was your point... I'd rather not feel as though I missed something in translation here. Thanks.
@@josephtripoli5069 Some have the view “the church is my assistant” as: “I have authority over the churches teaching - taking what I like, free to reject what I disagree with, and free to add what I deem as lacking.” I also didn’t want to put words in your mouth, as I don’t think you personally hold or expressed such a view. I think your point that parents do hold a high level of God-given authority to make sure their children are not influenced by false teachers is good and Biblical. As you noted, there is much discernment needed by all laity to make sure the church is not led astray. But the individual is not above the church or pastor. So the authorities of Church and Home are mutually distinct and interactive. Parents and children must be apart of the church, not separated from the church as though it were the church of “parent”.
@beardedbdub426 Gotcha... Thanks for further clarifying. FYI... I actually didn't pose the original comment being addressed here (that came from @Rob_Bernade). I was simply another person in the comments thread, with a question, who didn't want to misinterpret what was being communicated. Like you, I do not believe when Rob used the term, "nothing more than my assistant" that he was implying something derogatory. Instead, I got an overall sense of there being more of a "tiered partnership" between the two (versus a pick-n-choose mentality)... with Rob, as the parent, taking responsibility and being held most accountable for the direction, leadership, and raising of his children.
When I graduated from high school, and was no longer in the youth group, everything about church, seemed boring.....so I stopped going. Thank God that He saved my soul and brought me back to Him. Remember, what you win them with, is what you win them to.
If a pastor does not preach sin, repentance and redemption at every service, I'm not interested. We, as Christians, are the church. These multi-million dollar buildings, wherein worship of our Lord should be performed, have turned into rock concerts. No thanks, I had rather get my daily word from Todd, Ray, Emilio, David, John, Voddie, Paul and our dear Mar Mari.
I know how you feel I just went to service yesterday with a couple of my kids and for the service they did some kind of youth event where they wanted to get all the adults and kids together to do some kind of youth activities. I came for the word I came for the Gospel message I didn’t come to be entertained. So we walked out at the beginning of the service.
…Very sad… even people off the street are allowed to book their child’s baptism in our Church of England church… just so they can get their child enrolled in the local Catholic School (as long as they have a baptism certificate, they will be considered to enroll - has a higher level of success too!!) … you never see them or their children again… half of our leadership object, but are over-ruled by lead vicar!! And the school leadership are compromising the truth of God by allowing this to happen too… It is time this changed!! I pray that God intervenes and over-rules/outlaws this practice!
@@stephencrompton4352 Still Practiced by the Free Church of England (FCE-GAFCON, part of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC-ACNA) and separate from Wokerbury.) and the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England (ECFCE, part of the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion, also Separate from Wokerbury.) under the 39 Articles of Religion 1571 and the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.
@@stephencrompton4352 Please read the New Testament and follow the teaching of Christ and the apostles. You won't find baptism for the children of the covenant there, only baptism for believing and repentant adults. It's too important to ignore!
I always believed that it is so important & beautiful for the kids to sing praise & worship with their parents & for them to see the faces & hear the voices of the adults & to partake with them then be sent to children’s church service.
Great article. This trend did start many years ago. I grew up in church and remember in high-school the youth pastor tried to get adults to become mentors for the youth. I loved the idea but not the implementation. My mentor and I never connected and the plan was just a passing fad. That was mid 80’s. Later my wife and I worked children’s church and one of our biggest gripes was the push to use the latest technology, hip children’s music, and have such a short devotional/message. We always tired to tie any activity to the actual message so it would stick with the children. We haven’t worked with youth since 2019 in part due to the issues notes in this video.
Finally found a church that offered almost the full hour of the pastor giving sermon message. Two hymnbook songs to begin service and one to end. I had visited several churches even the small ones to find NEW WORLD or NEW AGE agenda pushing the fancy stage performance dim lit smoke lights loud rockband concert with jumbotron video to sing-a-long like Barney & Friends morning TV show. The smaller low budget churches crammed a singing duo down the congregations throat for a full 30 minutes of the hour then 10 more minutes at the end. It's sickening....Try to view the church's service online before visiting. I attend church to hear Gods word and to fellowship NOT to be entertained with worldly junk.
I agree with you completely. I have been a part of the youth group at our church for almost 2 years as a leader and boy oh boy it's a total mess. Not to mention... I'm only 35 and I am 9 years older than the youth pastor and oldest member which is really sad. I'm definitely not hip haha
Don't worry I have been doing as much as possible to let these kids know they can go deeper in their faith and this set up of youth group isn't going to be it. They honestly do want more but never get it and that is why I decided to take a few of the students that truly want more and do my own Bible studies with them
My siblings and I attended the youth group of a different church than where we attended on Sundays because our church chose game nights over sound teachings. my question to youth leaders: If those kids die, are they headed for Glory because you cared about their souls, or hell because you cared about their temporary entertainment?
I'm a fuddy duddy & am glad I am!!! It kept me grounded as a youngster, as well as many tough times over the years. For over 20 years now, I have been unable to find a church where older folks like my husband and me are made to feel welcome. We're too old to see the screens to have the words to the songs, and have such huge headaches before the sermon even starts because of the loud music. I have done lots of research in trying to find a great Expository preacher & a decent church, and there just aren't any in this extremely liberal area. Every time I think I'm narrowing in on a good one, I see they are making the first steps to trying to be "hip" & what direction they are starting to head. Sometimes I think being on the outside makes a person see the road to ruin others are heading because you aren't in the middle of the traffic. I would love to move, but so far, God hasn't opened those doors & don't imagine they will till sometime after we retire.
I’m 22 and a friend of mine that’s 26 were volunteers at our youth group. As we both grew with the Lord, this exact stuff became very clear to use and we were convicted. We stayed to be adult leaders that would read and teach the word to our students and help them navigate middle and high school life according to the Scriptures. I ended up moving away and my friend stopped going because he demoralized with the ministry being exactly what was shown here and fruitless because of it. Over half of our students came from unchurched homes whose parents used youth group as a daycare and didn’t even attend on Sundays themselves. Very sad, they are in our prayers.
big Amen's all around. I am a young adult, and am in a wilderness season. My car broke down, i had to quit my job because of it, and i have no way of connecting with a church. also where i live, all the people my age don't stick around in the church, they're off in university or college, doing other things. I have only met one other yound adult Christian since moving here. I really want to see some yound adults my age come together in the name of Jesus so we can do life together as we persue Christ. So far that has not been granted to me yet, but if God wills it i still have hope. Please God, send me.
everytime I led youth I was the fuddy duddy minister. I wanted the youth to actually train up the upcoming generation. I was raised in the Anglican Church but most of my ministry time was in the non-denominational, or baptist church. I agree with this video.
In my experience most kids are turned away by rote memorization. It's good to practice but the stories are what are most important and in a loving environment. Too many churches today are one extreme or the other.
@@elijahcole6786 Expository Preaching (just in easy to understand language the Children can grasp) Stories (Parables) and Rote (Study) Combined, using the milk of Scripture as the Children are not yet ready for the meat, in the nurture, and admonition, of the Lord.
@@ari3lz3pp Psalm 119:11 KJV - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. In Christian homeschool curriculum it's not uncommon to work on Bible memorization, as well as learning Bible stories and wholesome children's songs. They all work together. It places those things in a child's memory bank so that they can draw from them even many years later.
I’m glad my church keeps God first. Wednesday the kids practice verses and then a song about God. After they get to play ball outside. Prayers before and after. Every Sunday Sunday school they add to their knowledge and are excited for church. No crazy games or worldly songs
Parents are dumping their children on a few child carers who are getting burnt out, can’t teach anything because they are too busy managing. Terrible and in the end they will wonder why ‘ train up a child’ didn’t work for them.
My kids had a male principal cross dress as a reward for the students raising $400 for a missionary. We and a few other families gave directly so as to hopefully not reach the collective goal.
@@anthonyprose4965 The quick judgment that I was passive is not correct. Firing people over controverted behavior is more difficult and not quickly done. After all, there were those supported the “Bugs Bunny” like humor as harmless fun. Though cartoons or even comedy sketches used to do such things as a joke, we taught that in today’s culture and the world our kids are growing up in this would not be the best representation of our church & school. A 40% or so minority doesn’t have the votes to remove the principal. That said, a number of us did teach our own kids about the situation- explaining both views and the potential sins our world would celebrate. But in agreement with your original post, there are lots of examples of “well meaning Christians” giving fake witnesses by their disrespectful and irreverent behavior.
Psst... let me let you in on a secret.... there are some leaders in the church who are respected and aren't stick in the muds like all the reform bros are.
We used to go to a church like that. They did some absolutely gross things at camp. My children came home complaining. We got our children out of it and in a biblically sound church, without that foolishness.
Church being dictated by cultural preferences, is not the problem it's the symptom. The problem is that the church also believes message of the cross is not enough.
This is NOT church. This is a ROCK SHOW, purely for entertainment NOT for growing in the Lord and looking for the Lord to speak to you from preaching of the Word of God.
I was raised Mormon and I look back on how deeply the indoctrination went. We learned false doctrine by singing and through illustrated lessons but we were also to learn "scripture" and memorize parts of the Book of Mormon, etc. And I thought at the time: HOW BORING IS THIS? But it all stuck and after I left and subsequently came to the REAL Jesus, I found Mormonism was still stuck in my head and that lasted for many years after being saved. I was so grateful for those believers who answered my questions and helped me get the cobwebs of false theology out of my head. I write the above to make this point: IF THE CHURCHES DON'T GO BACK TO TEACHING TRUTH INSTEAD OF ENTERTAINING KIDS, THEY'LL HAVE NOTHING TO CLING TO THAT'S TRUE. Shame that false teaching hung around for so long but that's what happens when the CHRISTIAN churches are afraid of being boring.
We have the same battle now in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While we know that sound catechesis and divine services work for some reason the higher ups seem to want to deflate this centuries old system. We see traditional catechesis and divine worship feeds the people and satisfies the soul. Thankfully there are still some of us still here.
My denomination (LCMS) is losing around 85% or so of their young people. Two camps argue over how to stop this. One group says, make things more "fun". Their efforts have largely failed. The other group says, make things more traditional. Their efforts are achieving some results in certain locations. The biggest problem is a failure of parenting IMHO. Travel sports, dance lessons and all other activities have taken priority for the last four decades. Most adults are not faithful and active Christians. Is it any wonder that their kids bolt after "checking the Confirmation box?" There is no program or formula for turning around the problem accept total devotion and proper priorities by parents and pastors.
That's what I said to my pastor and the assistant pastor of the current church I go too, but all they can come up with are excuses to why the young don't want to go to church, rather than look at what the Bible said about teaching children to be raised in the word of God! "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) The children and young adults are hungry for the word of God, but the older generations have become so hypocritical and lukewarm that they don't want anything to do with them!
I was a youth leader of my charismatic church right out of high school. Most of the meetings and discussions we had were researching and planning the various games we would play before service. We would host family game nights, which were a larger-than-life Hollywood worthy production with lights, music, and sound effects. We even got to take the show on the road to a church in another city. It was a whole lot of fun! The problem was that it wasn’t much else. It was trying to hook the kids to get to the parents. I’ve since left that church and now attend a gospel preaching, Christ centered Baptist church that doesn’t have a youth group, but preaches the gospel to all ages.
I’m so thankful our church is committed to truly teaching God’s Word even at a young age. My husband and I teach 5th graders and we are learning about God’s providence. I wish we had had this as teens!
[Stunted-adolescent] pastors wearing untucked shirts and blue jeans with rips are not “under the delusion that being relevant works,” they’re living for this world and its accolades. They’ve lost their first love and are failing their flocks.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I am a pastor now, but was a youth pastor at one point as well. In the youth group I ran the focus was always on the Word above all else: we studied it, I had the kids memorize it, and ask questions. The kids loved coming to youth group, because they were drawn to the Word.
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Prefer the KJ
I didn't like my youth group when I was a teenager because it was all about the cliques and if you weren't popular in school, you were considered an outcast in the youth group.
This is exactly why I am currently writing Christian VBS curriculum Bible based with the goal of presenting the gospel Speaking to them concerning sin and repentance This is done lovingly and age appropriate Also crafts and games that reinforce this Directed many VBS programs Disappointed with the watered down message I decided to do something about it Please pray for me to finish this race
all of these reasons are why I personally refuse to go to youth groups, but no one my age understands it. Thanks for making this video, so hopefully some people will learn from it.
This got me thinking about our summer camps which would have be back in the 1980s. They didn't have us memorize Bible verses although I wish they had. What they did so however was have a short service every morning after breakfast. Attendance was mandatory by the way, for services, and then we had another service that evening. Also, during the day whichever counselor that had our group would usually do a short Bible study with sort a of question answer segment in there somewhere. But when we weren't doing that we did learn things like archery, there was some events with races and volleyball, softball, kick ball and some crafting and basic classes on living off the land or camping etc. Those were wonderful days for me as a kid.
Our church just finished a VBS from “Answers In Genesis”. Excellent material explaining the gospel and it was fun, exhausting, rewarding. I think we sell kids short. They can understand the gospel and desperately need to hear it.
In spite of the fact that christ taught to go out into the highways and biways and bring people in. The Bible says man focuses on outward appearance but God focuses on the heart. He is not impressed with your fancy clothes.
@@AsAugustSleeps That's true, but it is a Bible-preaching, Bible-Believing church with great people. It doesn't hurt, in my opinion, that we take time to spruce up a bit for God (not for each other.)
Whenever I faced my doubts and learned theology and apologetics my faith became real and tangible instead of just something I do with my parents. I couldn’t recommend taking this video’s advice more.
@SC_153 I've left the PCA when they dared to ordained a minister who was on third wife, with two unbiblical divorces (they said he did all that before conversion, and told me I'm misinterpreting 1Timothy 3 elder qualifications). Thankfully that minister left PCA after a year of being a minister, but not before I renounced my membership in protest. PCA has many problems too, it's not immune from wordliness just because it has Westminster standards.
My pastor is a 61-year-old who wears bowling shirts He seldomly ever dresses up in a suit and tie because if he does, we will all give him a bad time about it He’s up there with all the lights shining on him and his bald head We don’t want him to get overheated and faint on us… He’s a big man But he is a very solid Bible teacher that teaches first verse chapter by chapter sometimes it’s more like paragraph by paragraph
Unfortunately, modern Evangelicalism has played a significant role in the degradation of Church culture in general. I say this as a Lutheran who was once nondenominational (basically just a Baptist). The Church needs to be a sacred place. Tradition is crucial in maintaining that sacredness. Yes, scripture is the only infallible authority, but tradition is still important. Without tradition, the Church culture dies and foolishness like this takes its place.
I’m in college and am Gen Z. I can confirm that I much prefer theological based small groups as opposed to game night events. I think it’s fine to have game nights to establish bonding, but if you have a game night it should be on a separate night so it doesn’t take away from your time learning the scriptures with others. I also prefer church hymns as opposed to contemporary Christian music.
😊 Me too... those hymns I learned as a child are rich in theology! So much is still with me and I love singing them - they are so uplifting ❤️.
Huge up'vote for hymns and the strong meat of scripture! You are on the path of sound doctrine that will bear sweet and bountiful fruit as you become equipped to spread His Gospel😊
I'm also Gen Z and I 100% agree. I feel capitalized on when churches change themselves to be more appealing to young people.
Sovereign grace and city alight both have theologically rich contemporary songs tho ik some ppls main problem with contemporary worship is the style but they're worth checking out if that's not you
I love the old hymns and abhor the new Christian music. It's too much of this world and I'm also a little pessimistic about how lucrative that industry has become. I fear money has corrupted some people.
As a former youth leader, current pastor, and father, I must say that the role of Christian parents teaching and discipling their children is of utmost importance. Seriously, how many Christian parents have a time of Bible reading and prayer each day with their children? Maybe 10%. Youth ministry is not in the Bible, but Godly parenting is.
I agree unfortunately so many Parents depend on the church and youth group to teach there children’s and we are seeing so many kids walk away from the faith either they weren’t saved and the message of the gospel was never presented to them. Home it’s the the first ever important classroom where we train our children in the ways of the Lord and Parents also must love the truth of God, you cannot teach your kids the Word if you don’t love it first.
@@gracenmercy579 Amen! A born-again teen will follow Jesus in his or her future.
A friend mentioned to me once that youth ministries became a necessity because the family was no longer functioning the way it should have been in the church. I’m grateful for the youth groups I was in because my parents hardly attended church and the church I was raised in was so behind the times that there was no youth ministry.
Amen!!!!!!
You're not gonna get the faith of your fathers from someone else's father.
You know what's "cool"? teaching and practicing God's Word, and training our youth to do the same.
problems with this video is it cherry picks the "fun," and leaves out the Bible memorization and teachings of Christ; youth groups that have fun AND are grounded in His word.
Exactly. Be an example. A role model. It's hard, though, especially when you have ppl trying to tear you down in the process.
That is not church. That's not even religion what we see here.
I'm not surprised these hammers make a nail out of everything. These people are running out of enemies and in order to make money they have to attack games, as if Jesus never had fun.
@@SeanWinters very well said! So shameful, viper like, to leave out the teaching of the Word and only show "bad highlight reels."
Part of this problem is isolating children from the main service for many years. While parents take part in church service, kids have entertainment, then ya'll wonder why kids, once grown up, don't like the main service?!
And, expect to be entertained in school as well.
Us Catholics have kids and babies in mass and classes for them after. The Word of the Lord is kind of the whole meaning
parents are super important. The youth take the same services as adults except on Fridays in my church. But I was taught to pay attention, stand up reverently, not be talking, not be on my phone. But I see other people my age doing this and Im like whaaat!! And then I see they're literally next to their parents. And im like WHAAAAAT. And I realize that our difference is our parents.
If the only reason a kid is going to church is because their parents are going. Making them sit in regular service teachs them nothing you can't make them learn If they don't want to. Sitting in small a group, and going over bible can help you get to know them more on a personal level. Then maybe you can teach them something.
@@RockwithJesus Yes...that sounds more like a SUnday School class which is the social backbone of the church...we make our children go to school to get an education and expect them to sit...parents are their children's role-models...my parents were mine...I went to church and sat in church with them...I learned to sing the hymns and to eventually participate as they did...I would come to the loving, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, not as a child, but as an adult...attending church, fellowship with the saints, Bible study in Sunday School, girls activities, youth choir...all a part of my foundation and upon which I raised my children and, now, my grandchildren...I sat in church and listened...I learned to carry my Bible and a notebook to write down notes for I learned the Holy Spirit would press revelation knowledge leading to wisdom into my spirit...being in a church service was a huge part of our life where we learned life-skills according to God's Word...blessings to you!
Recently found a Baptist church where my children only have older people (average age is 80) to fellowship with. There is no youth group. No children's church. They are expected to stay and participate in the entire morning and evening service. They like it! They've grown in wisdom and character and have learned to enjoy older peoples' company. They also enjoy singing the hymns (with only piano accompaniment) and participate in contributing their thoughts on the evening service sermon. Invaluable!
I am curious why they have done away with piano and replaced with guitars and drums ! Piano is so much more pleasing and easier to sing along with.
Wow.,
Marvelous! ✝️ 😊
@@sharoncolumpsi5249it's interesting to note that in America, at one point, churches rejected the piano because of the instrument's association with bars and saloons (honky tonk). There were quite a few churches that used guitars as the main accompaniment if they had no organ, or sang acapella. Electric guitar is another story. It's association will always be with rock, and the transition to that instrument is because they want to attract people with rock, instead of the gospel.
Sounds like the church we found 3 years ago in our area. We are some of the youngest - early 50s, and are so grateful to the Lord for leading us there, after visiting several biblically anemic “churches”. ❤️
I was just asked to resign because I refused to run my youth group like this. Yes I did like 30 minutes of games, but then we did 15 minutes of songs, 35-40 minute sermon, and 15-30 minutes of small groups. But that wasn't "attractive" enough.
THIS👏
@@mobiusraptor7Probably because it wasn’t fun enough to retain all the kids. The kids who didn’t really care about God would eventually leave. I think youth groups should be fun but there has to be a balance. I left a youth group when I was 16 because it was more focused on games and the Bible studies were shallow and usually barely 10 minutes long.
Because if the youth doesn’t like it the parents will look for another church and that’s where their money will go. You can always follow the money.
Man’s ways are of no effect it must be Gods Way or no Way.
The ole’ puritans would faint today if they saw what is going on. This entertainment stuff produces no Godly fruit.
Hey, we are actually looking for a youth pastor. Let me know if interested. Seriously
I took my young son to a church youth group event for a church we were trying out as a new family to the area. The event was absolute worldly. The music sounded like club music and was blasting. It was super hype with loud music tons of games including an entire video game room with gaming chairs. The event was advertised for a wide age range from little kids-middle school. They had a “message” which only much older children could follow and it was very quick. The female leaders were immodestly dressed with yoga pants short shorts and I was just so sad. This could have been any secular event. We did not chose this as our church for this event and the nonsense during Sunday service which I won’t get into but was equally worldly and immodest (braless child care workers). It saddened me. It woke me up to the fact that not all churches are biblically based. I was naive before. The Lord helped me learn some discernment for churches from that experience.
Sounds like a "Christmas " "church" community activity my wife and I went with our kids to. I kept saying to my wife this was the most Christless Christmas activity I've seen in a while. They had the grinch, santa, and everything but Jesus. We ended up leaving
Let's just remember that everyone perceives modesty differently.
@@global1007I think there is a line where there’s no arguing about it…
@@global1007you should ask how The Bible sees it?
Yes. Only recently has the Lord opened my eyes to this.... I pray hard for our children in this world now .... begging God for their souls.
I dont think this is an all or none situation like a lot of people are making it out to be. We had fun at church when I was a kid. We played basketball and played games and had cook outs to get more kids involved in the church, BUT whatever we did was always centered around the gospel. If you showed up, you were going to hear the gospel. Theres nothing wrong with community outreach, just remember why youre reaching out.
This. These are the same ppl who go "new music is automatically bad," whether said music is theologically sound or not. They act like the songs they have now have been around since 30 AD even though most have only been around since the 1800's. I agree with them on most matters, but their stubbornness to refuse to modernize services ("Lean not on the traditions of this world..." and a blatant primacy of senority logic flaw), which CAN (and should) be done in a biblically respectful manner, confounds me to no end. I mean if "new is automatically bad" then why even use anything modern such as the net? Why not just go full Amish? Double standards much? 🙄
I agree. The problem is not the games, it's the churches that are no longer unapologetically teaching the gospel and the Bible. I was an early 00s teen and we did some ridiculous games and activities in youth group, but the teaching later always used it as an illustration of whatever Biblical principle was being taught. It was a great way to get our hyper teen minds to connect with the lesson, and then connect the lesson with our own lives. I still remember a lot of what was taught thanks to the memories I have of seeing my friends eat something weird, or exchanging shoes, or doing a "lock in" in the gym...Frankly, I don't think sitting and memorizing catechisms would have had the same effect on my life.
None of the youth groups I attended did any sort of worship time, which would be my one complaint. The sense of unity and bonding you get by coming together to worship God is something all ages need.
@fuzzycat63 This, so much this. Ty Cat!
@mobiusraptor7 Tell, me other than the "cringe" of the bike and title, how biblically unsound and inaccurate was the sermon? Perhaps that is a more important issue than "how does _____ look?"
@@dubuyajay9964 Mark 7
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
this verse doesn't confirm we shoul not use internet. It show people worship God with human traditions
So not taught by God
This was for synagogues for the context but i believe it still apply today with lot of traditional '''holy one" church like Catholics or Orthodox
5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“ ‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
What you win them with, is what you'll win them to...
Well said!!
Dr. Rev. James Montgomery Boice repeated this saying too.
And what you win them with, you'll have to keep them to.
Have you ever been to a youth group? Or Easter camp? Maybe see what is happening in these youth groups before you judge.
Just saying
@@growtocycle6992 yes, I have and that's why I'm protecting my kids from them!
"In the future instead of Shepherds feeding the sheep we'll have clowns entertaining goats." - Charles Spurgeon
Very wise words. Gotta love Spurgeon.
This☝🏿
Ouch. Truth
Exactly what we're seeing today, sad to say.
Well - unfortunately Spurgeon teaches false doctrine, so there's that. Kind of hard to pull the speck out of their brother's eye, when he's got an enormous plank in his own.
I read a quote. Not sure who said it. “Churches are consumed with filling pews with people and not filling people with Christ”
And over indulging in being hip or contemporary doesn’t fill pews for the right reason. Timeless Christianity will draw those who seek it.
Contemporary? When David was singing praise to the Lord, was it Comtemporary for his time. I believe so. It's all about the Heart of people. I have had non-Christian say your contemporary music is weird. So, winning people to church by music. Probably not much.
great quote!
As a senior high-schooler please bring back the true fellowship in Churches. The youth group I got to is really good,and last night the leaders brought back singing worship songs, all of us were singing and enjoying it. What younger people need is to be guided by older strong Christians.
That's beautiful that you recognize this as a need!
My husband and I are still trying to find a local church WE can attend. Preferably, a church with only ONE "campus" and without hip, husband and wife co-pastors 😳
Most Evangelical Free Churches (non-denominational) have what you are looking for. Some Baptist Churches, and a few other denominations will also meet your requirements.
The Masters Seminary “Find a Church” webpage was helpful for us.
Small churches are where it's at nos.
The churches of Christ teach and study Bible only. No written doctrines. Each body is autonomous. Shepparded by bishops or elders depending the word. Each term is the same office. The understanding among members is that we speak where the scripture speaks and remain silent where it is silent. We are narrow minded according to many people. Yes, we are.
The way is narrow according to scripture.
@@nschlaakThat's upsetting....that's not non-denominational. Evangelical is a denomination. 😢 I am non-denominational and I can't find a good church because they all disobey the Bible. None of us are perfect but they purposely do things like celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. That's the most common issue. We would probably attend a Messianic Synagogue. ❤ BUT then there's an issue with some of the Messianic Jews not understanding and want to feel special so they don't welcome gentiles.
Unfortunately most of the church is very confused with worldly nonsense.
I do like Evangelicals, at least it's named after a genuine Biblical article of importance. But they do the stuff I mentioned and are the most commonly terrible about breaking up families and putting kids into weird kid clubs and etc. My family wants to partake in the church as a family. Not men vs women vs kids.
It's a sad reflection of the fallen world....let's get back to teaching the word of God....that's exactly what the young people need.
🇬🇧🙏🙏🙏
I have three kids, 19yr old , 15ur old and a 6 yr old. I have had them happily in the church for all their life with no need to beg them to stay in service to love the Lord. That is just pathetic how low as Christians we have fallen to accept the secular worldly trends of the world. Always trying to be mixed in with the world. It's as if nothing was learned from Solomon.
I became a believer in 1976. I attended a small traditional church with only a dozen kids in the youth group. We did some fun things, but our leader was sober-minded. He taught us from the Bible that we shouldn't be like the world. Fast-forward to 1997. My wife and I attended a very large community church with enough kids in the youth group to fill 6 tour buses. Because our kids were involved in the youth group, my wife and I would occasionally help out. I never ceased being shocked and disturbed. There were no detectable differences between the kids in this church and the kids in the world. One boy was openly gay. My kids are in their early 40s now, and they have maintained friendships with some of their fellow youth group members. Not surprisingly, none of them profess Christ today.
@@miketatreau2347I’ll pray for your kids. And I’ll pray for you and your wife as well. Thanks for sharing
"as if nothing was learned from Solomon" interesting comment and very true !!
Yeah, Solomon even went so far as to make high places for his wives' false gods, for Chemosh and Molech, and to burn incense and offer sacrifices to their gods!😮
I met a teacher from a more conservative seminary a few month ago. He said most of the kids there couldn't even tell the chronology (first Abraham or Moses or Jesus) nor which book is in the OT or NT. But wanted to become youthpastors.
Because they never had anything like a biblestudy in their youthgroup. I'm so glad, my nephews are in a solid church where they learn the bible and to applicate and teach it. And yes, they still play games, eat pizza- but the bible is the center.
As a 30 something husband and father longing to find a church home for his little family, this video hit ALL the feels.
I think a lot of people are convinced that younger people are looking for trendy churches and contemporary music. I don’t think that’s true at all. And many younger people can see right through the smoke machines and coffee bar attempts to draw people in to look cool or shed an image of uptightness.
Not having apologetics and not opening up to doubts are the biggest reason kids leave, not having a game... if you dig in, get into the word, and have good conversations and also prepare your students for the attacks there will be a higher retention rate. And you can have fun by having a game afterwards. There's nothing wrong with games, just have the center in the word.
I agree. The truth of scripture is the strong meat my soul feasts on.
Agreed, I love it whenever a church’s youth group teaches apologetics
When I was a child, Vacation Bible was just decorations around to fit a theme that goes along with the gospel message being presented. Not sure how making church like a club is 'vacation Bible school'
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Vacation Bible School has turned into Vacation AWAY From the Bible and Christianity.
I went to one as a kid and I'm just now realizing it was one of the few that actually involved studying the bible. We did game stuff as well, but it was split about 50/50 between study work and fun activities.
I just left a comment of my experience last year. LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP used a Tropical theme for VBS 2023. They erected an enormous TIKI statue and those attending entered through the mouth of the statue. EVIL Scary expression. Parents dropped off at the curb and watched their child disappear into the DARK HOLE. It was up for a month and I forced myself to look away as I passed.
@@pyrocyber5621thank you 👏👏👏👏
Unfortunately, the church we attended when our 30-something daughters were teens was at a happy clappy church...we didn't know what we didn't know. Now my husband, one of our daughters & her family & myself attend a Reformed church &, our other daughter has sadly apostasized because she didn't see church as anything but a club. We're praying she is a prodigal.
You have 30 something daughters?! Lost count eh? Jk jk just worded funny
@kimwolf1708
Thank you for sharing. We also were in happy clappy churches. My husband and I are now in a Reformed church and growing closer to our LORD and each other. The happy clappy churches endeared us to them. Our church now enders us to God. Both of our children also had youth groups that were worldly with new age pr as prices thrown in so they are both now seeing God as a joke and hoax. They are both heavily meshed in the world. Your testimony brought perspective about this. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
Just keep praying for them they’ll become born again the effective fervent prayer of righteous parents will avail much
@@josiahmitchell4055🤣🤣 Ahh..humor...I think I can remember a little bit of it. Thanx for reminding me. 👍🏽
"Oh clap your hands, all you people,
Shout unto God with the voice of triumph....."😊
So, I was trying to focus on what you were telling us about.....but I was so distracted by your trendy and relevant studio. Really cool stuff.
Hilarious...!!!
Absolutely Hilarious...!!!
🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂
😂 it is a good set
Beat me to it
With this logic why do they even need a studio at all, its just a distraction.
My son’s youth group played all kinds of games. Then, they had a Bible study. My friend bright so many boys, from school. All these boys got saved. All are still in church today.
My kid witnesses to kids on Roblox! 😮😂😊 he cares deeply for these peers even though he has no idea who they are. It amazes me.
That's awesome! I've lead children's groups in churches for many years and usually start with a game that is theme based. We have Bible time- either by story, acted by the kid's or read straight from the bible. We discuss it by different methods and have some activity and prayer to follow which reinforces the theme/subject. I've found that kid's today engage and are much more receptive to this kind of group than more traditional ways of sit and study. Especially those from non Christian homes, which we had several. Children spend so much time sitting and 'learning' all week, surely weekends can be fun? Does christianity need to be boring, sit still and be quiet? I hope not. We all learn so much better when we are enjoying ourselves and when we are engaged. I'll get off my soapbox now 😊
@@LebanonBologna40what a great kid! 😊
@@teacupjojo7437 thank you 🙏
As a youth minister teaching the truth of the gospel is the most single most important thing. As leaders we should live by Titus 2:6-8. But it is also not a sin to have fun every now and then. I agree that some youth groups focus too much on this but we should not demonize kids getting to be kids in a safe environment. They have the rest of their lives to be adults and only 18 years to be kids. There is a balance in youth ministry. Truth is paramount but that truth is best received in an environment where students feel loved, included and a place where they want to be.
I would highly encourage you to watch the "Divided" documentary on youth pastors. I used to think like you working in youth ministry...until I had children of my own.
I am glad that you are talking about this because not too many churches are.
I don't even trust churches anymore.
💖Thank you for being "wretched"📖✝️🕊️💒🐑👑
They've done the same thing to the adult services too. Especially in the Mega-Churches, people dont go to church.....they go to a show.
Thank you for this message. It really puts our current convictions into words. My wife and I serve in our church’s kids ministry and we have grown so weary of the games and techno contemporary Christian music. Our children look at going to church as just another playground and that is unacceptable. The points you presented really hit home.
I remember our youth group had air hockey, a whole row of TVs with every different gaming console, Foos ball, basketball, etc. It functions like an after school facility. And I don’t remember anything biblical ever being taught. As someone who went through the “cool” church mill. I was shocked in my 30s to actually read the Bible and see what was being kept from me. To realize how much time I wasted not actually learning anything about the scriptures. It legitimately made me very mad. How different would my life have been if I had been taught biblical truths?
its sad. Ikr! What is it with the Foos Ball Pool tables, video games basketball lol..😂
It’s not the activities that are the problem. It’s the issue of whether or not young people are genuinely being discipled in their faith. Nobody would bat an eyelash at a group of older ladies starting a knitting circle at church, but the activity may be the very thing that provides the context for discipleship. And so it should be with your group activities. The activities can’t be the end goal or the bulk of the program; they should provide the context for discipleship. I have seen this done very well at my church, so I know it’s possible.
Same here...
Amen! I’m in an urban ministry context. Parent involvement is low in these kids lives, much less discipleship in Christian values or catechism. But through playing basketball with the kids, I gain respect and we create shared experiences that give me a platform to share the gospel and teach them the word!
Young ppl shouldn't be disciplined in "their faith". They should be disciplined in " _the_ faith once delivered". Someone talking about "their faith" sounds like the secular world talking about "their truth". American Christianity is a joke in part because ppl are told that practicing their own beliefs is the same as practicing what is in the Bible, and that is simply not true. Paul constantly warned ppl in his epistles not to depart from _God's_ doctrines.
@@theeternalsbeliever1779 Agreed, but here’s the problem: in a lot of places, there is no context and understanding of “the faith.” The kids I minister don’t even have a concept of proper understanding of family and what it’s supposed to be like.
Not only is the gospel being preached to young gentiles, but it’s young gentiles in Babylon. The solution isn’t as simple as preaching the Bible to them. Yes it is by hearing the word of God that faith comes, but it is also through action and deed as people are to see our good works and then glorify our Father in Heaven.
Effective ministry in this age requires first and foremost teaching the Bible. But it needs to be done in a manner that reaches people where they are and simultaneously calling them to a higher standard. Just as you don’t serve a steak to a one old instead of milk, you don’t give spiritual meat to those who need spiritual milk.
I do agree that in attempts to do ministry in this context, churches have done incredibly unbiblical things. It’s wrong.
For those of us who actually do hold to the Bible, we’ve gotta meet people where they are and simultaneously call them to righteousness!
Narrow Path. Most will not find it.
As a parent and father of two, I have never seen the local church as more than my assistant in raising our children in our faith. It’s my primary responsibility and I must know what the church is teaching my children or I’m out.
Same thing as sending them to college quite frankly, in which too many parents wonder why they come back as Romans after being sent to Rome.
We must have discernment as parents.
Well said...
I see your point, but that coin has another side. I more often see this sentiment of parent over church stated in rebelling against Biblical practices. It’s parents who say sports, family time, or sleeping in as more important than worship, catechesis, Bible Study, or the like. It’s parents saying “I” accept career before marriage, LGBT+, women pastors, contemporary worship, cut down on screen time but put screens in a sanctuary, I don’t know that from the Bible so you don’t need to know that either. After all, who is funding the implementation of all this stuff? Kids don’t even have paper routes these days.
@@beardedbdub426
Initially I was able to follow your basic train of thought... But by the end (the last 3 or 4 statements), you kinda lost me along the way...
If you would please, overall, what was your point... I'd rather not feel as though I missed something in translation here. Thanks.
@@josephtripoli5069 Some have the view “the church is my assistant” as: “I have authority over the churches teaching - taking what I like, free to reject what I disagree with, and free to add what I deem as lacking.”
I also didn’t want to put words in your mouth, as I don’t think you personally hold or expressed such a view. I think your point that parents do hold a high level of God-given authority to make sure their children are not influenced by false teachers is good and Biblical. As you noted, there is much discernment needed by all laity to make sure the church is not led astray.
But the individual is not above the church or pastor. So the authorities of Church and Home are mutually distinct and interactive. Parents and children must be apart of the church, not separated from the church as though it were the church of “parent”.
@beardedbdub426
Gotcha... Thanks for further clarifying.
FYI...
I actually didn't pose the original comment being addressed here (that came from @Rob_Bernade). I was simply another person in the comments thread, with a question, who didn't want to misinterpret what was being communicated.
Like you, I do not believe when Rob used the term, "nothing more than my assistant" that he was implying something derogatory. Instead, I got an overall sense of there being more of a "tiered partnership" between the two (versus a pick-n-choose mentality)... with Rob, as the parent, taking responsibility and being held most accountable for the direction, leadership, and raising of his children.
When I graduated from high school, and was no longer in the youth group, everything about church, seemed boring.....so I stopped going. Thank God that He saved my soul and brought me back to Him. Remember, what you win them with, is what you win them to.
We want the majority of kids to know God on our time and so we lure them when cheap thrills, then wonder why they stray from the faith they never had.
Exactly !
All we can do tell them about Jesus. We can't make them have faith. That's up to God and them to ask Jesus
@@RockwithJesus And I totally get that, but we know this isn’t working. We aren’t making disciples like Jesus said.
This guy is great, glad I found the channel. Straight forward sensible logical information and I enjoy his sense of humor.
If a pastor does not preach sin, repentance and redemption at every service, I'm not interested. We, as Christians, are the church. These multi-million dollar buildings, wherein worship of our Lord should be performed, have turned into rock concerts. No thanks, I had rather get my daily word from Todd, Ray, Emilio, David, John, Voddie, Paul and our dear Mar Mari.
I know how you feel I just went to service yesterday with a couple of my kids and for the service they did some kind of youth event where they wanted to get all the adults and kids together to do some kind of youth activities. I came for the word I came for the Gospel message I didn’t come to be entertained. So we walked out at the beginning of the service.
I’m Jesus Christ. I’d rather you read the Bible.
…Very sad… even people off the street are allowed to book their child’s baptism in our Church of England church… just so they can get their child enrolled in the local Catholic School (as long as they have a baptism certificate, they will be considered to enroll - has a higher level of success too!!) … you never see them or their children again…
half of our leadership object, but are over-ruled by lead vicar!! And the school leadership are compromising the truth of God by allowing this to happen too…
It is time this changed!! I pray that God intervenes and over-rules/outlaws this practice!
Whatever happened to the reformed view of Baptism being for the children of the covenant, and not just anybody?
@@stephencrompton4352 Still Practiced by the Free Church of England (FCE-GAFCON, part of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC-ACNA) and separate from Wokerbury.) and the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England (ECFCE, part of the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion, also Separate from Wokerbury.) under the 39 Articles of Religion 1571 and the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.
@@stephencrompton4352 Please read the New Testament and follow the teaching of Christ and the apostles. You won't find baptism for the children of the covenant there, only baptism for believing and repentant adults.
It's too important to ignore!
@@ul3142 I am a Baptist.
I always believed that it is so important & beautiful for the kids to sing praise & worship with their parents & for them to see the faces & hear the voices of the adults & to partake with them then be sent to children’s church service.
What about hearing the word of God on there on level
Great article. This trend did start many years ago. I grew up in church and remember in high-school the youth pastor tried to get adults to become mentors for the youth. I loved the idea but not the implementation. My mentor and I never connected and the plan was just a passing fad. That was mid 80’s. Later my wife and I worked children’s church and one of our biggest gripes was the push to use the latest technology, hip children’s music, and have such a short devotional/message. We always tired to tie any activity to the actual message so it would stick with the children. We haven’t worked with youth since 2019 in part due to the issues notes in this video.
Finally found a church that offered almost the full hour of the pastor giving sermon message. Two hymnbook songs to begin service and one to end. I had visited several churches even the small ones to find NEW WORLD or NEW AGE agenda pushing the fancy stage performance dim lit smoke lights loud rockband concert with jumbotron video to sing-a-long like Barney & Friends morning TV show. The smaller low budget churches crammed a singing duo down the congregations throat for a full 30 minutes of the hour then 10 more minutes at the end. It's sickening....Try to view the church's service online before visiting. I attend church to hear Gods word and to fellowship NOT to be entertained with worldly junk.
I went to a youth group back in the late 1970s. All it was was entertainment, and mindless at that. Never went back.
Humm. He made this out like it was more of this generation thing.
I agree with you completely. I have been a part of the youth group at our church for almost 2 years as a leader and boy oh boy it's a total mess. Not to mention... I'm only 35 and I am 9 years older than the youth pastor and oldest member which is really sad. I'm definitely not hip haha
Don't worry I have been doing as much as possible to let these kids know they can go deeper in their faith and this set up of youth group isn't going to be it. They honestly do want more but never get it and that is why I decided to take a few of the students that truly want more and do my own Bible studies with them
My siblings and I attended the youth group of a different church than where we attended on Sundays because our church chose game nights over sound teachings. my question to youth leaders: If those kids die, are they headed for Glory because you cared about their souls, or hell because you cared about their temporary entertainment?
I have heard everything you said, and I agree, but I gotta ask!? Where'd ya get all of those light bulb-do-hickies? That's that's wild office.
I'm a fuddy duddy & am glad I am!!! It kept me grounded as a youngster, as well as many tough times over the years. For over 20 years now, I have been unable to find a church where older folks like my husband and me are made to feel welcome. We're too old to see the screens to have the words to the songs, and have such huge headaches before the sermon even starts because of the loud music. I have done lots of research in trying to find a great Expository preacher & a decent church, and there just aren't any in this extremely liberal area. Every time I think I'm narrowing in on a good one, I see they are making the first steps to trying to be "hip" & what direction they are starting to head. Sometimes I think being on the outside makes a person see the road to ruin others are heading because you aren't in the middle of the traffic. I would love to move, but so far, God hasn't opened those doors & don't imagine they will till sometime after we retire.
I’m 22 and a friend of mine that’s 26 were volunteers at our youth group. As we both grew with the Lord, this exact stuff became very clear to use and we were convicted. We stayed to be adult leaders that would read and teach the word to our students and help them navigate middle and high school life according to the Scriptures. I ended up moving away and my friend stopped going because he demoralized with the ministry being exactly what was shown here and fruitless because of it. Over half of our students came from unchurched homes whose parents used youth group as a daycare and didn’t even attend on Sundays themselves. Very sad, they are in our prayers.
Amen. Blessings.
big Amen's all around. I am a young adult, and am in a wilderness season. My car broke down, i had to quit my job because of it, and i have no way of connecting with a church. also where i live, all the people my age don't stick around in the church, they're off in university or college, doing other things. I have only met one other yound adult Christian since moving here. I really want to see some yound adults my age come together in the name of Jesus so we can do life together as we persue Christ. So far that has not been granted to me yet, but if God wills it i still have hope. Please God, send me.
I hope that God will bring Christians into your life to be a supporter in your journeys
Thank you for another great teaching video. Very helpful.
everytime I led youth I was the fuddy duddy minister. I wanted the youth to actually train up the upcoming generation. I was raised in the Anglican Church but most of my ministry time was in the non-denominational, or baptist church. I agree with this video.
Many churches have youth groups that it's all about dating. I was invited once and never returned. 💁🏻♀️
I’m so thankful I grew up in the “Fuddy Duddy” age when Bible memory and the children’s music had such a powerful impact on my life!
In my experience most kids are turned away by rote memorization. It's good to practice but the stories are what are most important and in a loving environment. Too many churches today are one extreme or the other.
@@ari3lz3ppwho cares about experience? What doth Scripture say?
@@elijahcole6786 Expository Preaching (just in easy to understand language the Children can grasp) Stories (Parables) and Rote (Study) Combined, using the milk of Scripture as the Children are not yet ready for the meat, in the nurture, and admonition, of the Lord.
@@simeonyves5940 amen
@@ari3lz3pp
Psalm 119:11 KJV - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
In Christian homeschool curriculum it's not uncommon to work on Bible memorization, as well as learning Bible stories and wholesome children's songs. They all work together. It places those things in a child's memory bank so that they can draw from them even many years later.
Many churches seem to be wanting...wanting and needing the Holy Spirit. Ty for this video.
I’m glad my church keeps God first. Wednesday the kids practice verses and then a song about God. After they get to play ball outside. Prayers before and after. Every Sunday Sunday school they add to their knowledge and are excited for church. No crazy games or worldly songs
I like that he has good points and very good suggestions without just going “Gen Z bad”, as some people (myself included) may have been expecting.
I saw this in Young Life 50 years ago.......
Parents are dumping their children on a few child carers who are getting burnt out, can’t teach anything because they are too busy managing. Terrible and in the end they will wonder why ‘ train up a child’ didn’t work for them.
Turns out just getting mad when ur child doesn’t do what you want doesn’t actually teach them anything but fear
When I first came into this video I was like ok, chill. Then I was like, yeah no, I agree!😂 Thanks man
Sad, very sad. I hope to make some difference in teaching out youth!
Equally bad is "Pie the pastor" and dunk tanks, ect. Respect for elders should be an absolute
My kids had a male principal cross dress as a reward for the students raising $400 for a missionary. We and a few other families gave directly so as to hopefully not reach the collective goal.
@@beardedbdub426 what??? Maybe you should be firing the principal and standing up for what is right instead of being so passive!?
@@anthonyprose4965 The quick judgment that I was passive is not correct. Firing people over controverted behavior is more difficult and not quickly done. After all, there were those supported the “Bugs Bunny” like humor as harmless fun. Though cartoons or even comedy sketches used to do such things as a joke, we taught that in today’s culture and the world our kids are growing up in this would not be the best representation of our church & school. A 40% or so minority doesn’t have the votes to remove the principal. That said, a number of us did teach our own kids about the situation- explaining both views and the potential sins our world would celebrate. But in agreement with your original post, there are lots of examples of “well meaning Christians” giving fake witnesses by their disrespectful and irreverent behavior.
Yes!!! So glad you mentioned this. Saw this even 20 yrs ago and was troubled by its message of disrespect. No one agreed with me😢
Psst... let me let you in on a secret.... there are some leaders in the church who are respected and aren't stick in the muds like all the reform bros are.
We used to go to a church like that. They did some absolutely gross things at camp. My children came home complaining. We got our children out of it and in a biblically sound church, without that foolishness.
Church being dictated by cultural preferences, is not the problem it's the symptom. The problem is that the church also believes message of the cross is not enough.
This is NOT church. This is a ROCK SHOW, purely for entertainment NOT for growing in the Lord and looking for the Lord to speak to you from preaching of the Word of God.
The old ways are better!
All I can say is AMEN
Love this! Thank you!
Hear! Hear!
Most of peers i had in youth group walked away. Even the 2 youth pastors walked away from the truth.
I was raised Mormon and I look back on how deeply the indoctrination went. We learned false doctrine by singing and through illustrated lessons but we were also to learn "scripture" and memorize parts of the Book of Mormon, etc. And I thought at the time: HOW BORING IS THIS? But it all stuck and after I left and subsequently came to the REAL Jesus, I found Mormonism was still stuck in my head and that lasted for many years after being saved. I was so grateful for those believers who answered my questions and helped me get the cobwebs of false theology out of my head.
I write the above to make this point: IF THE CHURCHES DON'T GO BACK TO TEACHING TRUTH INSTEAD OF ENTERTAINING KIDS, THEY'LL HAVE NOTHING TO CLING TO THAT'S TRUE. Shame that false teaching hung around for so long but that's what happens when the CHRISTIAN churches are afraid of being boring.
The fields are ripe for harvest, but who are working for the harvest?
We have the same battle now in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While we know that sound catechesis and divine services work for some reason the higher ups seem to want to deflate this centuries old system. We see traditional catechesis and divine worship feeds the people and satisfies the soul. Thankfully there are still some of us still here.
My denomination (LCMS) is losing around 85% or so of their young people. Two camps argue over how to stop this. One group says, make things more "fun". Their efforts have largely failed. The other group says, make things more traditional. Their efforts are achieving some results in certain locations. The biggest problem is a failure of parenting IMHO. Travel sports, dance lessons and all other activities have taken priority for the last four decades. Most adults are not faithful and active Christians. Is it any wonder that their kids bolt after "checking the Confirmation box?" There is no program or formula for turning around the problem accept total devotion and proper priorities by parents and pastors.
Good message Todd. Love these guys.
I totally agree with this video.
That's what I said to my pastor and the assistant pastor of the current church I go too, but all they can come up with are excuses to why the young don't want to go to church, rather than look at what the Bible said about teaching children to be raised in the word of God! "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
The children and young adults are hungry for the word of God, but the older generations have become so hypocritical and lukewarm that they don't want anything to do with them!
For those that have never heard of it, considering looking into Orthodoxy.
I was a youth leader of my charismatic church right out of high school. Most of the meetings and discussions we had were researching and planning the various games we would play before service. We would host family game nights, which were a larger-than-life Hollywood worthy production with lights, music, and sound effects. We even got to take the show on the road to a church in another city. It was a whole lot of fun! The problem was that it wasn’t much else. It was trying to hook the kids to get to the parents. I’ve since left that church and now attend a gospel preaching, Christ centered Baptist church that doesn’t have a youth group, but preaches the gospel to all ages.
I’m so thankful our church is committed to truly teaching God’s Word even at a young age. My husband and I teach 5th graders and we are learning about God’s providence. I wish we had had this as teens!
[Stunted-adolescent] pastors wearing untucked shirts and blue jeans with rips are not “under the delusion that being relevant works,” they’re living for this world and its accolades. They’ve lost their first love and are failing their flocks.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
I am a pastor now, but was a youth pastor at one point as well. In the youth group I ran the focus was always on the Word above all else: we studied it, I had the kids memorize it, and ask questions. The kids loved coming to youth group, because they were drawn to the Word.
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Prefer the KJ
As I'm watching this an ad for Dominos pops up.
I didn't like my youth group when I was a teenager because it was all about the cliques and if you weren't popular in school, you were considered an outcast in the youth group.
That just goes to show you that all it was was a social club.
Being relevant means teaching and preaching the Scriptures.
the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
This is exactly why I am currently writing Christian VBS curriculum
Bible based with the goal of presenting the gospel
Speaking to them concerning sin and repentance
This is done lovingly and age appropriate
Also crafts and games that reinforce this
Directed many VBS programs
Disappointed with the watered down message I decided to do something about it
Please pray for me to finish this race
all of these reasons are why I personally refuse to go to youth groups, but no one my age understands it. Thanks for making this video, so hopefully some people will learn from it.
the church youth group I grew up in and loved so much did me tremendous harm spiritually
You can't blame anyone by but yourself
@@lisawesome7588relax. Offer some encouragement or solutions rather than just dumb criticism. Wait, you don’t have anything of value to add.
This got me thinking about our summer camps which would have be back in the 1980s. They didn't have us memorize Bible verses although I wish they had. What they did so however was have a short service every morning after breakfast. Attendance was mandatory by the way, for services, and then we had another service that evening. Also, during the day whichever counselor that had our group would usually do a short Bible study with sort a of question answer segment in there somewhere. But when we weren't doing that we did learn things like archery, there was some events with races and volleyball, softball, kick ball and some crafting and basic classes on living off the land or camping etc. Those were wonderful days for me as a kid.
Indeed. Not just the youth groups, but the regular church, too. I don't have the words to express my FRUSTRATIONS over this, for a LONG TIME.....
Our church just finished a VBS from “Answers In Genesis”. Excellent material explaining the gospel and it was fun, exhausting, rewarding. I think we sell kids short. They can understand the gospel and desperately need to hear it.
I love that my pastor (and most of the men) wear suits on Sunday.
Wearing a suit doesn’t correlate with preaching the Gospel. Mormons and JWs wear suits to church.
In spite of the fact that christ taught to go out into the highways and biways and bring people in. The Bible says man focuses on outward appearance but God focuses on the heart. He is not impressed with your fancy clothes.
Christ doesn’t give a rip about suits. Recenter your priorities.
😂 i would run from that church.
@@AsAugustSleeps That's true, but it is a Bible-preaching, Bible-Believing church with great people. It doesn't hurt, in my opinion, that we take time to spruce up a bit for God (not for each other.)
In our Presbyterian church, we have no Elders. Pray for us. We're like sheeps 🐑 without a pastor.
The longer we stay bound to Rome, the worse this will get. It’s time to get back to our spiritual roots, within the text.
A Weed in the Church by Scott T Brown is an interesting read. Also, A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Chris Schlect.
Whenever I faced my doubts and learned theology and apologetics my faith became real and tangible instead of just something I do with my parents. I couldn’t recommend taking this video’s advice more.
Call me a fuddy duddy then. We just switch from a SBC church and PCA. I’m working through the Westminster standards with my sons.
@SC_153 I've left the PCA when they dared to ordained a minister who was on third wife, with two unbiblical divorces (they said he did all that before conversion, and told me I'm misinterpreting 1Timothy 3 elder qualifications). Thankfully that minister left PCA after a year of being a minister, but not before I renounced my membership in protest. PCA has many problems too, it's not immune from wordliness just because it has Westminster standards.
My pastor is a 61-year-old who wears bowling shirts
He seldomly ever dresses up in a suit and tie because if he does, we will all give him a bad time about it
He’s up there with all the lights shining on him and his bald head
We don’t want him to get overheated and faint on us… He’s a big man
But he is a very solid Bible teacher that teaches first verse chapter by chapter sometimes it’s more like paragraph by paragraph
Huge Living Waters plug. Those men know how to make biblical disciplines
Unfortunately, modern Evangelicalism has played a significant role in the degradation of Church culture in general. I say this as a Lutheran who was once nondenominational (basically just a Baptist). The Church needs to be a sacred place. Tradition is crucial in maintaining that sacredness. Yes, scripture is the only infallible authority, but tradition is still important. Without tradition, the Church culture dies and foolishness like this takes its place.
This just makes me love my local church even more. ❤
I'm with you on this one. Our church hasthis on our sign: lighthouse Baptist: where church is still church.