Thoughts on Youth Groups? | Doug Wilson

In this episode of Ask Doug, pastor Doug Wilson answers a question about youth groups and youth ministry.

Ask Doug is presented by Canon Press.

[newlywedbeth]

Voddie Baucham mentions a similar trend. Youth get used to a certain church experience - entertainment and less teaching. They grow and need a separate church from the old fogeys. So they have college church. Then they have college/career church. Then they turn the main church into entertainment. And here we are.

[amyk]

Our daughter (14 yo) was allowed to go to youth group for the first time last night. We homeschool and raise our children in an "old school" way. Within 90 min she was asked about how hot the boys were and which ones she liked, was told that most of the kids smoke and drink and was asked how much profanity does she listen to in her music. This is in a rural "safe" town of 1500 in Oklahoma. Needless to say we'll not be back but it was an encouragement to us as parents on why we homeschool.

[LetsTalkChristMinistries]

Wholeheartedly agree with this pastor. In saying this, I loved my youth group growing up. I was truly discipled and it laid the foundation for me spiritually, as my mother, immediate family, etc. were not really followers.

[zapazap]

My son in his early teens most enjoyed being in the elderly group. They enjoyed him too -- to the consternation of the pastor!

[timothy]

Balanced, Biblical, and wise thoughts on youth groups. Sometimes youth groups can be harmful, but sometimes, done right, youth ministry can be fine. The one thing it can't do is usurp the authority of the parent to teach their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Proverbs 1:8, Ephesians 6:4). Many times youth ministry is geared towards replacing the parent, emphasizing fun and games, and separating youth from the parents in the matter of worship and discipleship. As Christians, we want to be careful about how we approach youth ministry because we want to be part of their sanctification by the truth of the Word (John 17:17), not disciple them in a way that would be a detriment.

[aonewatchman]

Youth's Groups are a cop out for the XYZ Generations. When I was growing up (i.e. the Great Generation) the word teenager wasn't an excuse in the church ... we were called young men and young ladies!

[johnwarren]

Its hard to get a concise answer about anything theological out of Doug.

But after I do hear his answers, Its worth it.

[michaellautermilch]

Great questions and great answers in this video! We can acknowledge that youth ministry can be done well, without ignoring the fact that it usually isn't.

[brianpeters]

I had a different experience...kept my kids at a confessional, small church with few people and general lack of concern from others in the church. I regret that. Now I take my kids to a non-denominational church that has those who love Christ and a "youth group" that is imperfect but objectively better than where we were going.

[knownuniverse]

I don’t agree with everything Doug says but he is EXACTLY right here....spot on

[wesparsons]

I’m looking at assuming a pastoral role in a Church and one of the duties will be to lead/oversee the youth group. I am considering running it as partly an apologetics class by which I can prepare them for the attacks they will hear often when they get to college, also a focus on gender roles and an understanding of Biblical manhood and womanhood, these two issues for a start with the primary being of course a solid Biblical understanding of the Gospel which would be a constant unchanging theme. I’m unsure as to how I might continue their education while re-teaching these principles to new members. Also I’m wondering how much time should be given to team building activities ect to try to create a unity between them for strong and enduring Christian fellowship. Any ideas?

[morganandwong]

When I went to Florida I rejected three churches in a row partially based on the youth group. All they want to do is play football or shoot marshmallow guns or some such nonsense. It's absolutely absurd.

[RINSHOUJO]

The biggest issue with youth groups is isolation, which so happens to be the biggest issue of all youth today. All too often what'll happen is that when youth groups are organized, the youth will get together in their cliques. They'll stay within their cliques and never branch out to make friends, especially for those who need it the most. Also, the kids who need youth ministry the most don't come to it, which is another aspect of the isolation.

This is how you get a lot of them to stray away from the church.

We need to RETVRN to the ways of early christians. We are far too isolated despite being so close. It was an incredible feat from the early christians to make Christianity the religion of Rome when they were getting persecuted for it. Surely we can can repeat that same feat by being more extroverted in our faith.

And the primary aim of youth groups needs to be about Christian life somehow and not about worldly activities. You go there to draw closer to god. You are also the fellow successors to the ministers. You go to youth ministry not for warm milk, but for the strong meat.

Also, the men and women are divided. It's fine to divide them for their gender, but you also need them together, for it is not good that women and men know little and are uncomfortable about each other.

[PlacidorHaora-nqlz]

Hey my community is spiritualy enforcing a palms children healing ministry in my home province which i believe it really works to get the sick to and in pain relief from their long sick in bed. I truely believe and support this palms children healing ministry working alongside the catholic and Anglican churches. They commonly combined Anglican and catholic powerful healing prayers which i witness miracles do happen. I do support this palms childrens healing ministry here in the solomon islands. They are not working against any church but remain to maintain the catholic faith to bring youths who are lost to return in the catholic church. It also to convince all Anglicanism to return to the Roman catholic church the only true church.

[sdubs]

so many parents in my church have a "drop off" mentality.
they just put the whole responsibility of discipleship onto the youth pastor.
and there is no spirituality in their homes from monday to saturday.
that's why so many kids leave the church, because of their parent's hypocrisy.

[PlacidorHaora-nqlz]

I truly believe that the learning process should be able to get the young youth to be able to get the basic learning about the church encouraging them to be catholicism as their true church..

[gentrylandman]

Yes the parents are often ignored and the kids are “pastored” but at pick up the parents are barely spoken to at all.

[Prentiss.Yeates]

Common theme in youth group- you’ll have a married youth minister and he’ll pick an assistant. And the person is usually a type A .. female from the youth group. Now is it me or is the something terribly wrong with this formulation.

[SundancerrMusic]

While i am very thankful for Doug i think he refutes himself a few times in this video. By drawing on Ephesians 6 he points out that Paul addresses various groups within a congregation, much like would happen in a family integrated church sermon.
Then he also advocates that pastors also teach children not just parents. Which again also happens in a family integrated service. No one is saying kids shouldnt learn from anyone else.
Basically, his references strengthen his opposition and expose his own eisegesis on this matter which is heavily influenced by philosophy not Scripture

[MaccaBased]

My concern is this points pastors to gathering the "right type of people" so that they might minister to the poor, or the non-Christian young people in their locale.