Youth ministry can be a wonderful experience for children, and one that could very well much build up the next generation. However, that is not to say that youth ministry is not without its problems. Handling today's youth (or the youth of anytime for that matter) posts its own challenges especially in getting the right messages across.
Just like ministering to any age group, students and teens can often take a lot of teachings out of context. Here are only some of the very many, but some that are very common and how to address them.
"I like my youth pastor because he wears skinny jeans." As true as it is that youth workers should "package" themselves to make them more approachable for the youth, it must never come to the point where the packaging becomes a hindrance to the true message. Package yourself as much as you can, but remember that packaging is just packaging and that you must offer something beneath all that wrapper- the love of Christ.
"I didn't cry in worship so the Holy Spirit wasn't there." Often in youth services, worship can turn into a cry fest where youth can experience God's love and fall on their knees while singing through the sobbing. As leaders in our youth ministries, we must be the one to show what else there is in times of worship. It's great that your students are getting emotionally healed during the service, but worship is also a time to give glory to God and allowing Him to speak instructions to us.
"My parents are legalistic because they won't let me stay out late with church friends." It's not that your parents have anything against your church friends. It's probably just because they don't want you to stay out late. In fact, if you're the one to judge your parents for caring about you too much to worry about your safety, chances are they're not the ones who are being legalistic.
"It's okay to be physical with my girlfriend/boyfriend as long as I honor God." In today's culture, the definition of romantic relationships are being altered radically, but God's definition is still the same: Sex and physical intimacy are reserved only for husbands and wives.
As youth leaders, how are we to balance these wrong notions and many others? There's nothing we can do except pray for our youth members and rely on the grace of God to transform their thoughts and give us the ability to teach these kids what it means to be under the Lordship of Christ.
