How to Increase Bible Engagement in Your Youth Ministry | Beyond The Youth Room Podcast • Ep 70

Ellen Hembree • February 17, 2025

Boosting Bible Engagement in your Youth Group

Check out the podcast here!

Want to see real transformation in the lives of your teens? Ryne and Keith from the Beyond the Youth podcast highlight a key factor: Bible engagement. They point to compelling statistics: while Bible sales are up 22% this year, fueled by first-time buyers, only 37% of Christian Gen Z teens have read the Bible outside of church or youth group in the past week. This disconnect presents a real opportunity for youth leaders.

Ryne and Keith emphasize that a foundation of valuing God's Word is essential in any youth ministry. But beyond that, what practical steps can you take to encourage teens to engage with Scripture? They share a powerful strategy they've implemented: giving Bibles to new students and new believers.

This practice, started in October 2024, has become a core part of their ministry's outreach. Initially, they gave Bibles to students who made a first-time profession of faith. However, they soon realized that many first-time visitors also lacked a Bible. So, they began offering Bibles to all first-time attendees, asking if they have a Bible at home that they like. This simple question often reveals that while a teen might own a Bible, it may be an older translation or one they find difficult to understand.

Giving Bibles to first-timers has several benefits. It demonstrates the importance of Scripture to the entire group. It also creates a connection between the Bible and the youth group. Teens who receive a Bible at the ministry are more likely to bring it back than those who received one from their parents. This sense of ownership and connection can be a powerful motivator for engagement.

Ryne and Keith continue their discussion on increasing Bible engagement in youth groups, moving beyond simply providing Bibles. They emphasize the importance of training teens to use and understand Scripture for themselves.

While Ryne acknowledges the appeal of simpler translations like the NLT, he maintains that some level of complexity encourages deeper study. He clarifies that The Message is a paraphrase, not a translation. The discussion then turns to the practicalities of providing Bibles. Ryne mentions using ESV Bibles, including the Teen Study Bible, and purchasing them from Amazon or christianbook.com. He notes the significant financial commitment involved but highlights the incredible support they’ve received, including a successful fundraising auction where a seven-layer dip sold for a staggering $1,800!

The second key strategy is requiring students to use physical Bibles during youth group. While acknowledging that some might use devices, Ryne emphasizes the importance of interacting with a physical copy. He explains that during lessons, only the reference is displayed on the screen, encouraging teens to locate and engage with the passage themselves. This practice not only familiarizes them with the Bible’s layout but also creates opportunities for peer mentorship as more experienced students can help others find specific books and verses. Small group questions also incorporate scripture, ensuring that the Bible is central to all discussions. Ryne also mentions using the inductive Bible study method (observation, interpretation, and application) in small group questions to reinforce this practice.

Third, Ryne stresses the importance of encouraging scripture memorization. He shares examples of how students in his group chat actively memorize verses and how the youth room displays a verse of the week. He notes the positive impact of memorization, giving teens confidence and sparking further exploration of Scripture. He suggests pairing students up during small group to recite verses to each other as a simple way to incorporate memorization. He also discusses the potential for focused scripture memorization during retreats or camps, perhaps focusing on a theme passage like Psalm 46:10 for a "be still" themed camp.

Fourth, the focus shifts to training students in how to study scripture. Ryne emphasizes the goal of creating a training ground, not just a feeding ground. He describes “guided reading series” where students work through passages in small groups, answering questions and exploring related articles. He mentions using this approach with books like 1 John and major passages like Romans 8. This method provides practical experience and builds confidence in personal Bible study. He also mentions the creation of devotional booklets for students after camp, designed to maintain spiritual momentum by guiding them through a book of the Bible or a specific theme like the parables of Jesus, using the inductive Bible study method.

Finally, Ryne introduces the fifth point: training students in the importance and reliability of Scripture. He mentions Wes Huff as someone known for this. The post ends here, leaving the reader anticipating the next point in their strategy for increasing Bible engagement.

Ryne and Keith conclude their discussion on increasing Bible engagement in youth groups by focusing on the importance of demonstrating the reliability of Scripture and guiding teens toward consistent Bible reading habits.

They highlight the work of Wes Huff, who has gained recognition for his engaging presentations on the trustworthiness of the Bible, even appearing on popular podcasts. Ryne emphasizes the importance of helping teens understand that the Bible is not simply a "game of telephone," but a collection of texts with original manuscripts in Greek and Hebrew. He shares an anecdote about a conversation with an atheist parent who had misconceptions about the Bible's transmission, illustrating how a solid understanding of textual criticism can equip teens (and adults) to defend their faith. He also uses the example of the feeding of the 5,000 to illustrate how seemingly minor discrepancies between gospel accounts actually provide evidence of their authenticity. By understanding these nuances, teens can develop a deeper confidence in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

The conversation then shifts to the topic of Bible reading plans. While Ryne's church doesn't currently use a church-wide plan, he emphasizes the importance of training teens to find and utilize a plan that suits them. He avoids simply recommending a specific plan, instead focusing on equipping teens with the skills to choose one and stick to it. He acknowledges the common problem of "Bible roulette" – randomly opening the Bible and reading – and aims to provide teens with a more structured approach. He mentions their new believer workbook as a resource that guides new Christians through specific passages and addresses common questions.

Keith shares a different approach, explaining that his church uses a whole-church Bible reading plan, which often forms the basis for sermon series. He mentions past plans like the Robert Murray M'Cheyne plan and their current use of the Bible Project's reading plan. However, he also acknowledges the challenges of such plans, particularly the potential for teens to fall behind and feel overwhelmed. He notes the value of shared reading experiences and accountability within a church community.

Ultimately, Ryne and Keith encourage youth leaders to share their own successful strategies for increasing Bible engagement and to continue seeking ways to effectively shepherd the next generation. They express excitement for what God is doing among young people and emphasize the importance of faithful leadership.

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4 Skills Every Youth Pastor Needs in 2025

By Ellen Hembree • July 15, 2025

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5 Warning Signs Your Youth Ministry Needs a Revamp

By Ellen Hembree • July 8, 2025

Is Your Youth Ministry Stuck in a Rut? Five Warning Signs It's Time for a Revamp Are you a youth pastor or leader feeling uninspired, overwhelmed, or just going through the motions? You're not alone. A recent Barna Group study revealed that only 16% of Christian teens in the U.S. have a strong understanding of their life's purpose connected to their faith. This statistic, combined with many leaders' struggles, signals a clear need for re-evaluation in youth ministry. This post will explore five warning signs that your ministry might need a revamp and offer actionable steps to turn things around. Think of these as dashboard lights for your ministry – ignoring them won't make the problems go away! 1. Your Students Don't Know the "Why" Imagine walking into your youth group and asking the average student, "Why do you meet?" What would they say? Would they talk about fun and friends, or a deeper mission? If the "why" isn't clear, students often feel like they're just "meeting until they graduate... then meeting until they die, move, or graduate." As Michael Hyatt says, "People lose their way when they lose their why." Action Steps: Set a Bold Vision: Clearly define the purpose and mission of your youth ministry. What is God calling your specific group to do? Communicate Constantly: Use visual reminders, consistent messaging, and empower students by handing them the mission. Don't just invite them; challenge them to own it. Secret Shop Your Ministry: Consider having trusted (even non-believing) individuals or teens from outside your group "secret shop" your ministry to get honest feedback on clarity and impact. 2. You're Not Excited to Go to Youth Group (and You're Not Sure Why) We all have off nights or exhausting weeks. But if you find yourself regularly dreading youth group without a clear reason, it's a red flag. This isn't about faking enthusiasm, but recognizing a deeper issue. Ryne shared a recent experience where focusing on tasks instead of connecting with students drained his excitement. Action Steps: Evaluate Your Life Holistically: Burnout often stems from imbalances. Examine your physical, emotional, relational, and financial health. Is ministry becoming an idol? Talk to a Trusted Mentor: Share your feelings with someone who can offer perspective and ask insightful questions. Schedule Vision Retreats: Take time away, even if it's just a few hours, to get alone with God, re-evaluate your calling, and plan for the next season. Resources like retreathood.com can help connect you with free retreat spaces for ministry leaders. Reflect: When was the last time you walked into youth group with passion instead of pressure? Has it become more of a job than a calling? 3. Prayer is a Last Resort, Not Your First Oswald Chambers famously said, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work." If you're constantly rushing through tasks and prayer becomes an afterthought, your ministry might be running on fumes instead of divine power. Action Steps: Study Jesus' Prayer Life: He modeled consistent, intentional prayer, even amidst intense ministry. Pray for Students by Name: Implement a system to regularly pray for individual students and specific schools or areas within your community. Make Prayer a Part of Your Ministry: Dedicate time during programs for collective prayer and teach students how to pray. Linger with the Lord: Beyond daily rhythms, seek extended times of prayer and communion with God. 4. You're Just Copying What Works Elsewhere Are you reacting to popularity or listening for purpose? While borrowing methods isn't inherently bad, exclusively copying other successful ministries without discerning God's unique call for your context can lead to an inauthentic and less impactful ministry. Ryne shared the "cutting the ends off the roast" analogy – doing things simply because they've always been done that way, or because someone else does them, can stifle true innovation and purpose. Action Steps: Ask "Why" for Every Activity: Go through your weekly activities and programs and genuinely ask why you do each one. Are they serving your unique mission? Embrace Your Ministry's Uniqueness: What is God uniquely positioning your church and youth ministry to do? Are you reaching an overlooked group or addressing a specific need in your community? Utilize Spiritual Assessments: Tools like the "four-tier assessment" can help you measure spiritual growth in your students. This helps determine if what you're doing is actually working and aligning with your goals, rather than just copying a trend. 5. You've Lowered the Bar Just to Keep Them Coming This warning sign manifests in various ways, from avoiding discipline with disruptive students to shying away from deeper biblical truths to attract more people. Lowering the bar not only alienates serious students but also communicates a lack of vision for growth. Just as you wouldn't use "baby talk" with a child forever, you shouldn't "dumb down" biblical truth. Action Steps: Define and Uphold Your Standards: Clearly articulate the behavioral and spiritual expectations for your ministry. Prioritize Growth Over Popularity: Focus on discipleship and challenging students to grow in their faith, even if it means a smaller initial attendance. Address Issues Directly: Don't avoid difficult conversations or disciplinary actions, as this can lead to a loss of respect from other students. If any of these warning signs resonate with you, it's a sign to pause, pray, and re-evaluate. Remember, God has a unique purpose for your ministry, and by addressing these areas, you can lead a more vibrant, effective, and fulfilling youth ministry. Which of these warning signs hits closest to home for you, and what's one small step you can take this week to address it?

5 Youth Ministry Myths YOU Probably Believe

By Ellen Hembree • July 1, 2025

Five Youth Ministry Myths Busted: Unpacking Hidden Assumptions for Deeper Student Growth Check out the podcast here . For years, many of us in youth ministry have held onto certain "truths" that seemed foundational. But what if these deeply ingrained beliefs are actually hindering the spiritual growth, leadership, and impact of our students? In this post, inspired by a recent discussion with Ryne , we're diving into five common youth ministry myths that might be negatively impacting your work and revealing the liberating truths behind them. Myth 1: Students are the Church of Tomorrow This is a common refrain, but it's a limiting one. While students certainly will lead the church in the future, the more critical truth is that students are the church of today . This isn't just about giving them roles; it's about recognizing the Holy Spirit's immediate work in their lives. As Ryne highlighted, there's "no junior Holy Spirit." A seven-year-old who trusts Christ has the same Spirit living within them as any adult. Think of King Josiah, who began his reign at just eight years old and became one of Israel's most faithful kings. Or consider Jesus's instruction to "let the little children come to me, for such as the kingdom of heaven." If our primary goal is to make disciples, and we know that most people make a decision for Christ during their youth, then investing heavily in kids and student ministry isn't just a good idea—it's essential for the church's health now and in the future. We need to equip them to be the church today, not just someday. Myth 2: You Need a Large Youth Group to Make a Difference Many youth pastors feel the pressure to grow their numbers, believing that a larger group equates to greater impact. However, this is a pervasive myth. The reality is that God moves through the faithful, not necessarily the large groups . The average youth group size is often cited as around 12—a number with some interesting biblical parallels! Think of the impactful stories of D.L. Moody and Billy Graham, both of whom were led to the Lord by Sunday school teachers with only a handful of students. David Livingstone, the missionary, saw only one convert in his lifetime of faithful service, yet his groundwork laid the foundation for widespread Christianity across Sub-Saharan Africa. God's increase may not always be visible in your lifetime, but faithfulness in the small things often yields exponential, unseen results. Myth 3: Students Need More Theology Before Being Used This myth suggests that students need to accumulate a vast amount of biblical knowledge or attend countless classes before they can truly live out their faith or share the Gospel. The liberating truth is: If they know enough to believe, they know enough to share. Consider the woman at the well, who immediately went to tell her town about Jesus after their conversation, or Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, whose encounter in a chariot led to the spread of the Gospel in Ethiopia. Even the slave girl who told Naaman about Elijah—she had "bad theology" in the sense that it was God, not Elijah, who could heal him, yet her simple faith led to Naaman finding God. When students are encouraged to share their faith, even with incomplete knowledge, it often deepens their dependence on the Lord and prompts them to seek answers to questions they didn't even know they had. Students, especially those in public schools, are surrounded by thousands of peers daily—a mission field far larger than most adults encounter regularly. Leveraging this time for them to share their faith can lead to incredible growth and impact. Myth 4: Youth Ministry Success Equals Church Attendance After Graduation While we certainly desire for students to remain connected to the local church after they graduate, measuring youth ministry success solely by post-graduation attendance is a false metric. The true goal is lifelong transformation and a genuine commitment to living for Christ. Studies have even suggested that a significant portion of regular churchgoers may not have a true relationship with Christ. The church isn't successful when it's full; it's successful when it's faithful. Our aim isn't to create lifelong "consumers" of church services, but to equip students to be active, growing, and serving members of the local body of Christ. Are they serving? Are they growing spiritually? These are better indicators of lifelong transformation than mere retention. Myth 5: Students Don't Want Authority In an increasingly uncertain world, it's a myth that students inherently reject authority. In reality, they crave guidance . What they reject is hypocrisy. Post-COVID studies revealed a significant decline in trust in institutions like government and healthcare, but one group that maintained high trust among teens was "elders"—those older than them. Students are looking for authentic, relational authority figures who will speak truth to them, even if it's challenging or uncomfortable. They want to know what's true, and they will flock to those who are willing to share it with love and integrity. These five myths have perhaps been unknowingly shaping our approaches to youth ministry. By shifting our perspective and embracing these truths, we can better equip and empower our students for genuine spiritual growth and impactful lives for Christ, today. What myths have you believed that have been busted in your ministry journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!