Back to the Basics of Youth Ministry

By Chris Talbot

Youth ministry has experienced a significant shift over the past two decades. It has become more theological and thoughtful, as demonstrated by organizations and podcasts like the Youth Pastor Theologian, Rooted Ministry, D6 Academic, and Youth Ministry Institute at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

One could also point to books such as Dean Borgman’s Foundations for Youth Ministry: Theological Engagement with the Teen Life and Culture, Mike McGarry’s Biblical Theology of Youth, Kendra Creasy Dean and Andrew Root’s The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry, or Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry from The Gospel Coalition. Academic journals are taking this ministry seriously, from the Journal of Baptist Theology and Ministry and the Journal of Youth and Theology to the Journal of Youth Ministry. Moreover, institutes for youth ministry have been established at institutions such as Fuller Seminary, Princeton, and Yale.

To be sure, some of these resources are not friendly to Bible-believing Christians. Yet, they seem to contain a more critical engagement with youth ministry. Perhaps we have achieved what we have hoped for: a more theologically-rich focus on youth ministry. But we also must assess whether this shift is taking us in the right direction.

The Fundamentals

As we seek to point theologically-rich youth ministry in the right direction, we should remember the fundamentals. A quick illustration may help. Last fall, my two older sons began playing tee-ball. One was four, the other almost six. They learned a few things, but, for the most part, it was all we could do to make sure they ran the bases in the right direction and did not play in the dirt.

The following spring, my older son turned six and started coach-pitch. To his surprise, many of the other kids had played coach-pitch already. He felt he was a little behind and was hesitant to play. But I told him he needed to work on three things: throwing, catching, and hitting: the fundamentals.

At first, it was like pulling teeth to get him to practice in the backyard—that is, until he saw himself improving. After seeing improvements, we frequently headed to the back yard to throw the ball back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Then we would hit the ball, hit the ball, hit the ball. We even went to a minor league game, where I pointed out to him that these guys, who were good, practiced before each game by throwing, catching, and hitting: the fundamentals.

How does this story relate to those involved in youth ministry? As we observe changes in youth ministry, including possible improvements, we must ask: what should we do?
I recommend we remember the fundamentals.

The Five Solas

We must answer the real question: what are the fundamentals of theological youth ministry? The five solas of the Protestant Reformation are a great starting place: sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, and soli Deo Gloria. You may have heard them as: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone.

These five solas orient youth ministry (and ministry in general) away from individual desires and back toward God. The solas focus on God’s Word, His gift, and His grace. This perspective flies in the face of any kind of person-centered ministry. It also lays an axe to ministries and/or ministers who have too deeply bought in to the success syndrome. Two quick examples may help.

Focusing on sola Scriptura in youth ministry means Scripture is sufficient for instructing us how to grow a ministry. A sola Scriptura ministry practices the clear ways God revealed in Scripture to grow His Church. We find these practices throughout the New Testament, and they are prominently displayed in the book of Acts. Often, people refer to them as “ordinary means of grace” because these are the things we do ordinarily.

Ordinary means of grace are not some kind of “silver bullet” or quick fix. They are week-by-week, day-by-day ways of growing in the Lord individually and corporately. While rooted in Scripture, they are not flashy. You might even wonder, “Is this it?” Yes, this is it. The simple lyrics from the familiar children’s song hold true: “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” These simple, ordinary means of grace found in Scripture are the ways to grow in the Lord.

We find another example when applying solus Christus to youth ministry. If salvation is through Christ alone, then my ministry must be Christ-centered. With this perspective, Christ becomes the focal point of all we do in ministry. Everything we do and say revolves around Him—not just in our teaching but also in our motivation. We desire to know Jesus and to make Him known. Your teens should never leave a youth meeting without hearing something about Jesus.

Making Christ the center of our ministry causes all of us to live missionally. We want others to experience the same grace and faith we have found in Christ. This approach forces us to push back against moralistic or performance-based ministry. Instead, we make much of King Jesus.

These five solas, when rightly applied, emphasize the distinction between what Martin Luther called a theology of glory and the theology of the cross. While we might think a theology of glory is good, it is really a theology of self-glory. Imagine two columns. On one side, a theology of glory emphasizes human effort, sees God as the means to an end, views evangelism as arguments to be won, and focuses on self-protection and legalism. On the other stands the theology of the cross.

This theology emphasizes God’s work, sees God as the end of all things, views people as His image-bearers, and focuses on self-sacrifice and grace. A world of difference stands between these two approaches to ministry.

At the end of the day, theology drives methodology. What I think about God and His truth affects everything I do in ministry. I must get my theology right, and my methodology will follow. Let us make sure, as we head into a more theologically-rich era of youth ministry, not to forget the fundamentals.

Cling to the basics of Scripture alone, by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.

About the Author: Chris Talbot is the youth and family ministry program coordinator and campus pastor at Welch College. He is the author of Remodeling Youth Ministry: A Biblical Blueprint for Ministering to Students (Welch College Press). Learn more: Welch.edu.