Friday Review (5/30/25)
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
When You Feel Like a Misfit as a Female Youth Minister, by Mimi Lam (Rooted)
But as I wrestled with these doubts, God began to reveal something deeper: my leadership didn’t need to look like anyone else’s because he had made me uniquely for his purpose. If you experience insecurities as a woman in ministry, you’re not alone. Here are three truths from Jesus’ ministry to anchor you in him.
Biblical & Theological Studies
The Myth of the ‘Irreligious World’, by James Eglinton (The Gospel Coalition)
What should Christians in the West think about this kind of global survey, particularly as the “irreligious world” narrative increasingly runs out of steam?
Was Mary Born Without Sin?, by Leonardo De Chirico (Ligonier)
Tough questions demand complex answers. “Was Mary born without sin?” is not a tough question, and the answer is pretty straightforward: No. Period.
Cultural Reflection & Contextualization
AI and Work (Some Predictions), by Cal Newport
I’ve been spending a lot time in recent years, in my roles as a digital theorist and technology journalist, researching and writing about this topic, so it occurred to me that it might be useful to capture in one place all of my current thoughts about the intersection of AI and work.
What Our Individualism Costs Us, by Amy DiMarcangelo (Crossway)
In Western culture, the high regard for autonomy and obsession with individualism has come at a cost: community. This lack of community (coupled with other factors) has contributed to rising loneliness, impacting our physical and mental well-being. In the church, it’s impacting our spiritual health too.
Pastoral Ministry
3 Ways Your Church Can Communicate God’s Presence to Foster Kids, by Jessica Mathisen (Lifeway Research)
If families in our churches are welcoming foster children into their care, how can we be equipped to come alongside these families and help communicate God’s presence to foster kids?
The Defensive Pastor – Seven Deadly Mistakes, by Chris Green (Ministry Nuts and Bolts)
Because any pastor is going to be in that situation at some point, and more than once. So I wanted to learn how things went so badly wrong from the pastor’s side of the equation. Because that’s the side I’m normally coming in from.
Family & Parents
The Little Church at Home: Why Family Worship Isn’t Beyond You, from Growing Young Disciples
Your children need to see that following Jesus is not about having perfect quiet times but about coming to the Saviour, again and again, with open hands and hungry hearts. And what better place for them to learn that than from the people who love them most?
When Ball Becomes Baal, by Jim Elliff (Christian Communicators Worldwide)
In the process, we teach our children that devotion to sports is more important than both devotion to God and loyalty to our spiritual family. Have you considered that you may be teaching your kids to worship sports? Here are some ways to put sports in the proper place:
The Sunday Standoff: Discipling Teenagers Who Are Resisting Church, by Katie Polski (Rooted)
A teen resisting church is a familiar struggle for many parents. Statistics show this trend is likely to continue for the next generation. But even when it’s hard, we must not lose sight of the importance of worship in our teen’s lives. With God’s strength and wisdom, we’re called to both empathize with and exhort our teens toward attending church.
From YPT this week
ep.104: Asking Good Questions, Chat GPT, Engaging Students with Scripture
YPT Podcast ep.104 covers how to ask good questions, whether or not youth workers should use ChatGPT and AI, and how to engage youth with Scripture.
How to Understand and Teach the Gospel of Luke by Ryker Lutjens
What are some of the key themes in the Gospel of Luke that set it apart from other gospels, and how does that shape the way we teach and apply it to youth?