In our physical lives, there can be a tendency to base our happiness and freedom on the materialism in front of us. But what if there is something more permanent, beyond this world and everything in it, that we can experience by investing in a relationship with Jesus and the kingdom of heaven? …
I was born on the front pew of a church during a Sunday night worship service. Before I could say momma, I said Jesus. Enough exaggerating. I wasn’t born on a pew, but I was born a preacher’s daughter. Going to church was more important than anything else in our world.…
Every small group has some genuinely quirky personalities. I know because I’ve been one of them. In high school, I accepted a friend’s invitation to his youth group. Then he wanted me to check out his small group. Each member had a perceptibly unique influence on the conversation about God and life, but somehow the diversity worked.…
In a ministry context, summer is a serial liar. I mean, summer is NOT a slower time for youth ministry, and it’s NOT chock-full of margin. We won’t have a more relaxed schedule, and we won’t have time to catch our breath.…
People can spend their whole lives searching for meaning in their lives. Although we all have different answers to what matters to us, what would it look like to look to Jesus to help us feel truly alive? Join Rick and Becky for a series exploring the essential questions everyone has and the ways Jesus can answer them. …
Whenever bad things happen, we can’t help but wonder, why? Though it can be difficult to look beyond the why, what would it look like to focus on the lessons Jesus reveals to us during these times? Join Rick for a new series exploring the essential questions everyone has and the ways Jesus can answer them. …
You need a break, right? Of course you do. The struggle is real. Ministry is hard and demanding. You’re running a church-within-the-church that likely has its own worship team, small group ministry, administrative needs, and teaching cycle. Toss in the larger church calendar, and you’re one busy youth worker.…
Wondering whether God is real is a question many are tempted to answer with evidence or scientific proof. Instead of focusing on this approach, what would it look like to focus on our relationship with God as “proof” of his presence?…
If you’re a volunteer youth worker who needs to take a break, this article might help you. If you’re a youth pastor with maxed-out volunteers, this article might give you perspective. I am a longtime volunteer youth worker and full-time staffer at my church in a non-youth ministry role. …
Life can often feel like a huge mystery filled with many questions, with one of the biggest being “What’s my purpose?” Instead of just relying on ourselves to figure it all out, what would it look like to invite Jesus in to help solve that mystery with us?…
 Essential Questions—Is This All There Is?){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—What Is the Meaning of Life?){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—Why Do Bad Things Happen?){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—Is God Real?){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—What’s My Purpose?){kind=link}