Originally posted October 2009. -JB The following paragraphs are taken from CNN.com. This issue is not going away and the slide toward the normativity of sexual promiscuity is only growing steeper by the day. How can Christ-followers show the world the beauty of God’s design for monogamous sexual fidelity? Here’s the message the pop … More CNN: “Is Monogamy Realistic?”
Few studies have been more timely and pin-point accurate in it’s findings than the research of Christian Smith in “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers” concerning the religious beliefs of American teenagers. I would argue that many of these teens have learned their faith from parents with similar Christian convictions and … More American Faith: “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”
I was standing on the dock putting gasoline into the boat the other day. I happened to read the bright yellow warning sticker as I slowly poured the 5-gallons into the tank. The sticker read: WARNING: Leaking fuel is a fire and explosion hazard. Inspect fuel system often. My mind began searching for some Christian … More Warning: Explosion Hazard
“Boys get an alarmingly low average of one half-hour of direct face time with their dads per week, but over 40 hours of screen time (Internet, TV, and gaming total).” – From Fuller Youth Institute article entitled “Guys and Gaming“ by Brad Griffin
Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready” (Song of Solomon 2:7). “How far is too far?” That’s the most often asked question every youth pastor receives during those annual “Purity Month” talk series and Q & A time. Every (responsible) youth pastor is poised with the standard response: “That’s … More Virgin Lips: Another Sexual Revolution
Last night was groundbreaking (again) for Mound Westonka youth. Oh, they don’t know it yet. But there is another mustard seed movement afoot. Small, invisible at the moment. MainStreet Church is determined to join God in the power of the Holy Spirit to launch another ‘youth movement’ for Jesus. It’s called The Alley based on … More Revolutionary Teens in Mound
What do you think of these words? My thoughts follow. Certainly his words apply to some teenagers — namely, privileged kids who grew up like me, blessed with an intact family and an actual yard to mow who waste their lives away. But that’s not the family background that many troubled youth who stand in … More Teenagers need more than words
Tim was an outspoken atheist who vowed he would “never go into a church again.” But he became a regular participant at our live, local teen music spotlights in Mound during his last two years of high school. Many good conversations about faith and life grew out of our interactions at these music events. Kim … More A Church in the Marketplace
MainStreet is preparing to launch a new youth ministry in Mound to reach Westonka youth for Christ. MainStreet Church is about bringing the light and love of Christ beyond the church walls and into the marketplace — i.e., Main St. Our foundational verse is Acts 17:17 where Paul conducted his ministry “in the marketplace daily … More Welcome to The Alley!
A long time dream for Mound is getting closer to being realized. My original call to ministry was more specifically a call to bring a fresh approach to youth ministry to my home town of Mound. Most of you know that I spent a couple years leading a grassroots youth movement called Revolution in Mound … More Westonka Youth Ministry – COMING SOON!
Here’s a reposting of a message I gave to the Confirmation class in 2009. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to … More Confirmation Message: Walk the Plank!
This is a repost from a few years back. -JB Chap Clark has written a must-read book for all youth workers and those who want to understand the current world of today’s teenagers. Listen to these honest words of a (typical) high school student in Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers: “I’ve always been … More Masks & Belonging: Deeper than Nude Beaches & Palm Branches
Here’s a blast from the past. This article published in the local Mound Paper — The Laker — describes the philosophy behind the Revolution teen ministry I launched and led (2005-07). We hope MainStreet launches strong so we can re-launch a dynamic youth ministry like Revolution able to reach local teens for Christ. -JB Words … More A Look Back: Revolution 2006
I’m reposting an oldie but goodie from several years back. -JB These days, teachers in the news facing charges of “corrupting the youth” are usually repeat sex offenders. But did you know that the great philosopher, Socrates (469-399 B. C.), was also charged, convicted and ultimately executed for “corrupting the youth”? Socrates’ mode of “corruption” … More Socrates & I: Corrupting the Youth
I’m reposting this DI classic series of posts from a few years ago. Enjoy! As a youth pastor I face a room full of teenagers every Wednesday and try my best to teach them how to travel faithfully the road of Christian discipleship. For the past month, each Tuesday and Thursday evenings have afforded me the … More STUDENT DRIVER 1: This is Not a Game
I have spent most of my adult life in youth ministry. This video gets to the heart of the biggest challenge facing today’s youth — and it’s only escalating and getting worse. My dear parents, teachers, youthworkers, coaches — we need to put our heads together and make some changes before it is too late. … More Race To Nowhere: Are We Stealing Our Kids’ Childhoods?
Here’s the notes from a message I gave to a youth group awhile back. Always a timely and tough topic. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images… … More American Idols (Rom 1:22-25)
This is a good glimpse into the mind of a typical university student trying to follow Jesus:
In 2005, I was part of spearheading a teen ministry in Mound called the Revolution. This ministry used music outreach events to draw teens to hear about the revolutionary message of Jesus. Out of these “attractional” events, we invite students to join the revolution by attending The Way of the Revolutionary Bible Study that began … More MainStreet Revolution Kick-Off – Oct. 25 @ Threshold
Here’s a repost I thought relevant for youth groups kicking off a new school year! -JB Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights amidst a crooked and perverse generation. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the … More Youth Group Manifesto – Shine Like Stars!
From Doug Fields and Matt McGill on growing and utilizing student leaders: Summer is a great time for you to develop student leaders and get them more involved in the youth ministry and feeling like they are making a difference. In order for this to happen, the youth ministry leadership team will need to “raise … More Expect More From Student Leaders
The night has come and gone. Our last night of Fusion youth group. For nearly 3 years this has been home. This has been the field God has given us to cultivate. These have been the hearts and minds God has given us to nurture and grow, challenge and lead. What a wonderful season of … More Fusion Finale Snapshots
This Wednesday is a sad day. We celebrate our last official night of Fusion youth group together before Keri and I prepare to move on. For nearly 3 years these teenagers have been our gift from God and the focus of our Kingdom ministry. In honor of Fusion, here’s a couple snapshots of the kind … More Last Night of Fusion
I wrote this caption below on December 28, 2009, after our youth group Christmas party. About a week later I found out that my ministry position was being cut in the spring and this would be my last Christmas party with Fusion. For some reason I didn’t post this, thinking it may send the wrong … More An Extended Photo Caption
I just discovered that one of my previous articles was picked up and published at Youthworker.com recently under the title “Feeling Inadequate: Encouraging Words for Self-Doubt.” You can check it out HERE if you would like.
Jeremy L. Berg 