Friday Review (2/20/26)
Each week we compile a list of helpful articles from other sites, in a variety of categories, for youth workers to read, reflect on, and/or discuss with parents and volunteers. If you have any articles you’d like to suggest, we’d love for you to share those in the Youth Pastor Theologian Facebook group. That’s a great way to bring them to our attention and to discuss them with like-minded youth workers! (Inclusion in this list does not imply complete agreement with the publishing source, but we have found these articles to be beneficial.)
Youth Ministry
The Doctrine Gen Z Needs to Hear About, by Ian C. Beckett (The Gospel Coalition)
As Gen Zers continue to live online and find relationships there, one of the most prominent forms of rejection they face emerges in the digital realm: ghosting. And I’ve learned to meet that fear with the doctrine of God’s unshakeable love.
How Youth Pastors Can Build a Healthy Relationship With Their Senior Pastor, by Doug Franklin (LeaderTreks)
When leadership cultures drift apart, youth ministry strategy, curriculum alignment, and long-term discipleship structure suffer. Alignment at the top creates clarity everywhere else. So how do we move beyond a functional, working relationship and into something healthier—even a mentoring relationship?
Biblical & Theological Studies
Resisting the Lure of Catholicism and Orthodoxy, by Jonathan Clark (By Faith)
Why are students drawn to Rome or Constantinople? Of course, the answer is slightly different for every student. But, generally speaking, my students are attracted to the (alleged) monolith, both in culture and history, of the Catholic church in contrast with the fragmentation of American Protestantism.
Discipling Is Inherently Countercultural, by Ajith Fernando (Crossway)
In our contemporary world, where efficiency, appearance, and marketability are high values, spending hours with disciplees seems like a waste of a leader’s time. The number of those discipled is not very large, unlike the hundreds who could be reached through an impressive discipling course of study.
Cultural Reflection & Contextualization
You Robot Will See You Now, by Andy Shurson (Center for Faith & Culture)
As medical care becomes more complex and expensive, it is unsurprising that the average American may turn to AI for help. But what happens when robots and computers become personal doctors and diagnosticians?
Pastoral Ministry
Christian Community Is Not About Your Comfort, by Caleb Davis (For the Church)
Often, this becomes our perfect picture: find a group of friends, grow in depth, share life together… and never have to do it again. But a close circle quickly becomes a closed circle. This may be community, but it is not Christian community.
Should Struggling Christians Abstain from Communion?, by Sean DeMars (The Gospel Coalition)
But is calling Christians to a private self-audit before the supper, or encouraging them to abstain if their consciences are unsettled, a valid application of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34? Is this kind of self-examination what Paul had in mind?
What We Learned from Asking a Pastor to Step Down, by Luke Mitchell (9 Marks)
The question we faced throughout the process was a difficult one: When do character deficiencies disqualify someone from a pastoral office? All Christians, even pastors, struggle with anger, bitterness, and pride from time to time. Where is the line between acceptable imperfections and disqualifying sin?
Family & Parents
Reflecting on Why You Got Married in the First Place, by Larry McCall (New Growth Press)
Rather than feeling hopeless and helpless in seeing our spouse’s failures and our own, our eyes are drawn to the limitless, unfailing love that God has for us through Jesus Christ. We are loved by God and therefore empowered to love our spouses through both good times and hard times.
Four Reminders I’m Telling Myself and My Family in the Midst of the Turmoil, by Mark Howard (Rooted)
As I try to get my bearings, I find myself repeating four truths again and again to help me regain a measure of perspective. These are truths I want my family to know, too, to help them make sense of this world. I pray they’ll be helpful for you and your family, too.
From YPT this week
ep.129: Youth Culture & Fun and Games
In this podcast, Mike and John discuss how much youth culture a youth pastor should know, and how fun and games can be part of your discipleship strategy (rather than something you do to convince kids to come).
Who Was Melchizedek and Why Does He Matter?, by Joseph Bradley
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in the Old Testament, but as a type of Christ, he offers a unique way to help our students understand the gospel.
