VY Blog

Written by vineyard youth workers,

for vineyard youth workers.

Now is the Time

Now is the Time

The past month at youth group has been rough. Attendance has been lower than normal. The teens who were present seemed to have a hard time focusing or caring about the lessons. I started to worry the youth group I worked hard to build in the past four years was...

And This Too Shall Pass

And This Too Shall Pass

When I was a teenager, all bad things in the moment felt like the end of the world. My Grandma was a fantastic listener so I often complained to her about the troubles I was facing. She would always listen to me as if I was the center of her world in that moment. When...

Sharpening the Saw: Starting the Right Away

Sharpening the Saw: Starting the Right Away

I don’t know much about computers but I do know there is a factory reset on most, or at least the ability to reset the computer to its original intent. My iPhone has that ability for sure. Every once in a while I have messed things up enough to consider resetting my...

Right Now Media

Right Now Media

If you are anything like me, you are always on the look-out for quality content that is easy to access for youth group. Once in a while on this blog we will review something like that for you. A year ago my church, CityLight Vineyard, decided to purchase a year's...

Three Ways to Gauge What Your Teens REALLY Believe

Three Ways to Gauge What Your Teens REALLY Believe

If we are totally honest, youth ministry can sometimes feel like a rat race of crazy games, junk food and making sure that the middle schoolers stay alive before their parents arrive. This is especially true if you are bi-vocational and youth ministry is your “second...

Communicating Theology to Teens

Communicating Theology to Teens

When it comes to communicating theology to teens, the real question is what is your own theology? And then, what is the Vineyard’s theology? When you spit out a generated “pat” answer to one of your teen’s questions, are you pausing to see if you even believe it? I...

5 Reasons You Should Be Using Discussion More Often

5 Reasons You Should Be Using Discussion More Often

Last night at youth group it happened again. It can be a regular occurrence if you create space for it. I was leading discussion, and one of my teens proposed an idea that was, frankly, just not in the Bible. My reflex was to correct her right away, but I've learned...

What Will They Remember?

What Will They Remember?

Every once in a blue moon I get an actual real live phone call from a previous student typically in need of a job reference or wanting to share news. I absolutely love catching up with young adults who I was privileged to spend time with in their teen years. Often...

Preaching Without Words

Preaching Without Words

I remember a conversation I had with my baseball coach on a cool Spring afternoon during my senior year in high school. He was talking to me while I was waiting on deck to take batting practice and like many of our conversations, this one had nothing to do with...

I Wish I Knew: Who Isn’t Here?

I Wish I Knew: Who Isn’t Here?

We are going to write a few articles this month about things we wish we knew when we started out in youth ministry. I had the joy of doing youth ministry for twenty years and there are many lessons I've learned. One that came to mind this morning was something that...