I’m Sick of Youth Group Talks!
You’d be hard-pressed to find a student minister who doesn’t use some kind of lecture strategy as a fail-safe way to communicate the gospel to students. The youth sermon has been around since the beginning of Student Ministry. (in other words – forever) Now don’t get me wrong, I have been a Student Pastor for 17 years, and for pretty much all 17 years I did a form of a Group Talk on a consistent basis. So I’m guilty, am I’m writing this to myself as well.
Why am I sick of youth group talks? Here’s why. There’s a mountain of research that discounts lecturing as an effective way to help people learn, especially young people. But that’s not all. Even if you’re a big believer in youth talks, you likely can’t point to a sermon or message that actually changed your life. Life change is almost always the result of an experience followed by some kind of debriefing. I could use my fingernail to drive a screw into a piece of wood, but I’d rather use something that’s more effective, like a screwdriver
When I talk to and ask Student ministers around the country to tell me the most effective way they teach their students spiritual truths, youth talks and sermons are their last choice. Though youth talks are popular, they’re not all that effective. So why do Student Ministers use youth talks so much?
Here are a couple theories. What do you think?
1. Sermons require less time, work, creativity, and risk. Time is a driving factor. In order to come up with something different, it takes lots of effort and creativity. It’s hard to find or make the time to do something different. If you try something new, many times that involves having group leaders or others involved and it simply takes more preparation. There’s also the risk factor. It’s a risk to try something new.
2. Youth talks are traditional in ministry – that’s how most student ministers were trained to teach, and they’ve always done it that way. Most people like to stick with what is familiar, regardless if it works or not! If student ministers have been to seminary or Bible college, they’ve had a preaching class that taught them that that’s how you teach.
3. There are few resources that help youth leaders teach in active and interactive ways. I’m not sure about this one because I always created my own stuff, but I think it’s probably true. Good resources for student ministries has always sucked.
4. It’s all an issue of control. Pastors have issues of control. If they present a half-hour talk on some topical, and they direct the questions, it’s more under control than otherwise. So I’m sick of youth talks.
Let’s try to figure out ways to better teach students.
What do you think?
October 5th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I think all 4 of your theories are legitimate resons for student ministries relying so heavily on lectures.
Over the years youth group has become less and lees of a valuable influence aiding in my spiritual growth and development. This is partly due to, I think, to “youth talks”or at least the way in which they where delivered. Rarely have I come across a speeker at youth group who I didn’t feel was constantly undermining my inteligence or trying to put me in a box and rarely do I find thier discusions seriosly thought provoking (Johnathan Catherman being one of the exceptions). I’m all for less talking and more doing through hands on experiences that alow and equip teens to live out thier faith in the real ways in a real world and not just talk about it.
I’m not trying to say that lectures can’t be valuable (under the right surcumstances) just that when relied on as the main means of reaching teens in most casses they dont efectively accomplish thier goal.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I stumbled across your site again randomly. And I read your stuff and it made me happy. I totally agree on this post (as a trained educator myself), and you’ve got some good things going on in the others as well. And all with a few laughs! AND Franks!!! That makes me happy- very happy.
Heartfelt greetings from the cold state of Ohio (still). Friends from Chicago keep calling me, but I just don’t know…
November 29th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Well I see what you say. We do talk on basis of simpler
things. I have been on your class for about two months and believe that how you are teaching me and my fellow classmates about God and the bible, but we are not learning directly we re learning in different ways than normal.
November 29th, 2009 at 4:26 am
I stumbled across your site while doing research for some real thought provoking activity tomorrow in my ABF – yes adults (generally 50+). Here are my thoughts:
Why limit the scope of this discussion to youth talks? I agree with you, but would expand your concept to Adult SS or ABF time too. Here is my contention – it is usually about control. We like to dictate the topic and tell people how to see or believe things. I am trying something different.
Two things:
One – Don’t tell me about it on Sunday – if I can’t use on Monday thru Saturday!
Two – NO “church answers” Be real! – Let’s look at Scripture and let’s look at life. Let’s look at our questions of Scripture – the inner doubts, the conflicts, etc.
My son (just graduated from youth group) informed me that most answers youth with throw out during a “youth talk” are God, Jesus, and Bible – basically anticipating the pastor’s question being answered by one of those words…. PITIFUL
Anyway, I was taught that Jesus taught his disciples with real issues in life – illustration, word pictures, creativity, imagery, etc. I am trying to make that apart of my “lesson activity” Your thoughts?