1. Its all about relationships.

 

2. Your philosophy of youth ministry needs to be rooted in a biblical understanding of salvation, discipleship, the church and the world.

 

3. You have gifts, your leaders have gifts, your students have gifts. Figure them out and utilize them.

 

4. You must have medical release forms.

 

5. Parents have more influence on their children than you do. Deal with it.

 

6. Youth Ministry is a long-term investment, five year results are more important and more honest than five month results.

 

7. Develop students who are loyal to the kingdom, not to you or your programs.

 

8. Know who you are teaching; Know what they need.

 

9. You are teaching them Jesus; Jesus is what they need.

 

10. All rabbit trails lead somewhere. It's your job to know where.

 

11. Technology is cool. Use it because you have to, not because you can.

 

12. Never compromise your integrity. You won't get it back.

 

13. Kids today have far more money than you did. Teach them to use it.

 

14. Teach your students how to learn on their own.

 

15. Learn how to lead a discussion; Teach how to lead a discussion; Never stop discussing.

 

16. Give your ministry away.

 

17. Every close friendship is not a clique.

 

18. The best questions explore student's opinions, experiences, and beliefs.

 

19. Create your own traditions.

 

20. A Christian never walks alone. So don't.

 

21. Your youth program must be rooted in theology.

 

22. The fewer concepts students are asked to retain, the more likely they'll retain them.

 

23. Regularly read James 1:19.

 

24. When serving food, it's always better to have left-overs than to run out.

 

25. Learn names as quickly as possible.

 

26. Don't expect to teach those whose names you don't know.

 

27. Always be aware of the moment. This is God's world and everything in it can teach us about Him.

 

28. Laugh a lot.

 

29. Don't underestimate the value of these three words, "We missed you!".

 

30. Cultivate relationships with parents. They need to know you are on their team.

 

31. Deeper is better than wider.

 

32. First, train adult leaders. Find leaders who want to share their lives with students, not teach them material.

 

33. Regularly affirm students in front of other students.

 

34. Ask questions. Encourage questions. Answer questions with questions.

 

35. You are not a teenager anymore. Don't act like one.

 

36. Regularly explain to students WHY you do what you do.

 

37. Be intentional with your meeting space.

 

38. Lay off the Mountain Dew. Seriously.

 

39. Don't settle for the "Sunday School" answers. Don't ask questions that beg the "Sunday School" answers.

 

40. Parents love their children more than you do. Remember this.

 

41. True community will stick with your students longer than any program or event.

 

42. The more points you try to make, the less effective each one will be.

 

43. The presenting issue in a crisis is almost never the causal issue.

 

44. Sunday morning is a horrible time for teaching teenagers. Donuts help.

 

45. Teach students that they are responsible for one another.

 

46. Know your destination.

 

47. Be willing to change your destination.

 

48. You aren't always right.

 

49. Regularly invite adults to pray for your students.

 

50. A flexible template always beats a rigid agenda.

 

51. Good systems enable good communication and limit dropped balls and emergencies.

 

52. Ask your leaders for specific commitments; and then don't ask them for more than they've agreed to.

 

53. Be inclusive.

 

54. Never give a student an answer which they are capable of discovering for themselves.

 

55. Never agree to complete confidentiality.  Always maintain strict confidentiality.

 

56. Be flexible.

 

57. Never allow one student to assault another (physically, emotionally, verbally, spiritually, etc.)

 

58. Be approachable to students; be approachable to parents; be approachable to volunteers.

 

59. Call volunteers "partners".

 

60. Approach students; approach parents; approach partners.

 

61. Always have a planned schedule.  Never stick to it perfectly.

 

62. Point your students to people who are better examples than you.

 

63. The Holy Spirit can do more with someone who is prepared than with someone who is not.

 

64. If someone can't afford what you are doing.  You're doing the wrong thing.

 

65. If you can't afford what you are doing.  You're doing the wrong thing.

 

66. Vision, Mission, Purpose... If you have to have them, they should never be static.  They should always be evolving.

 

67. Clutter will kill an environment.

 

68. Music as performance destroys students ability to properly understand worship.

 

69. Use positive language whenever you can.

 

70. Never, never, never be alone with someone of the opposite gender.

 

71. Learn how to say "no" nicely.

 

72. Be creative with your meeting space.

 

73. Be flexible with your meeting space.

 

74. Every student is at a different level of maturity.  Don't expect them all to act the same.

 

75. Never be critical of other authority figures in your student's life.

 

76. Don't try to fix every problem your students have, teach them to use the Bible as a guide in life.

 

77. Use curriculum written by others, but make it your own.

 

78. Leave a little wiggle room in your budget.

 

79. Van/Bus rides are ripe discipleship opportunities.

 

80. Be in a small group yourself.

 

81. Understand your church's expectations of you.

 

82. You're either "cool" or you're not.  If you're trying to be... you're not.

 

83. You're either "relevant" or you're not.  If you have to tell people you are... you're not.

 

84. Coolness isn't as important as you think.

 

85. Teach your students to embrace paradox.