Hey Volunteers: The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers

Episode 20 | Back to the Basics: A spiritual check up. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all the work we’re doing “for” God and not realize that we’re not walking with the Lord like we should. In this episode, we take a look at some spiritual basics that will help help us stay close to Jesus.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, Back to the Basics: A spiritual check up

1. Importance of Prayer

2. Daily Bible Study/Quiet Time

3. Engaging in worship through singing and listening intentionally to sermons

After listening to this episode, what stood out to you as a spiritual area you need to get back to the basics on?

Why is it hards sometimes to stay close to Jesus?

What are some things you’ve done for daily Bible study that you’ve found especially helpful?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 19 | How to Support Your Youth Pastor. Being the leader of a youth group can be challenging. Join us in episode 19 as we talk about ways you can be an encouragement to your youth pastor, or whoever leads your youth group. 

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 6 Ideas on How to Support Your Youth Pastor

1. Pray, Pray, Pray

2. Do your best to not just point out failures, but celebrate success… show them respect

3. Choose to be one of their biggest fans! Have their back. (Not saying follow them blindly) *** This includes being a recruiter for your youth ministry

4. Help them get stuff done… admin, clean up, etc

5. Respect their boundaries… days off, work hours, etc… 

6. Bless them in tangible ways when possible…

 - Volunteer to watch their kids for free so they can have a date night (more than, let me know if you ever need anything)

 - Drop them a thank you note with a gift card

 - Drop them a note without a gift card

 - Celebrate them publicly, including social media

What are some ways you and the other volunteers could bless your youth pastor?

What are some ways you’re seeing God work through your youth pastor?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 18 | Join us as we discuss Being a Youth Ministry Volunteer vs. Being a Chaperone. In this episode we talk incredible impact a youth ministry volunteer can make in the life of a teenager when they think of themselves as more than a chaperone. You’ll be challenged to lean into building great relationships with teenagers.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 4 comparisons we made between Being a Youth Ministry Volunteer vs. Being a Chaperone were:

On task vs On Mission (event/trip)

Observation vs Participation (worship service)

Keeps it private vs. makes it personal (small group moments in Bible study)

One Day vs. Long Term (not simply checking the box on Sundays)

Have you ever thought of yourself as more of a chaperone than a volunteer(as talked about in this episode)?

What are some of the biggest challenges with teenagers of going deeper than being a chaperone?

What are some ways you feel your youth group could go deeper than just chaperoning teenagers?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 17 | Join us as we discuss How to Talk One on One About Difficult and Sensitive Topics. In this episode we discuss appropriate ways to discuss confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and when to bring others into the conversation.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 5 things to remember when talking one on on about difficult and sensitive topics:

1. Never promise confidentiality 

2. Be mindful of mandatory reporting

3. When approached with an issue, consider bringing someone into the conversation on the spot

4. It is your job to take them serious

5. Be mindful on the when and where conversations happen

What is most challenging when it comes to discussing sensitive conversations with students?

Do you think today’s teenagers are facing more challenging issues that ever before?

What are the best ways to encourage students who are going through loneliness, stress, or anxiety?

What is your church’s policy on what to do if a teenager says they are being harmed or are thinking about self harm?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 16 | Join us as we talk about How to Teach Difficult and Sometimes Sensitive Topics. In this episode we discuss the challenges of teaching certain topics in 2023 and we share some ideas on how teach those topics in an appropriate way. 

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 6 Ideas on How to Teach Difficult and Sometimes Sensitive Topics

1. Be Prepared: Study up, pray, think through possible difficult questions

2. Avoid sensationalism 

3. Remember, the Bible is full of difficult and sensitive topics

4. Instead of approaching topics from the “Don’t Do It” standpoint, focus on God’s plan and purposes.

5. Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers

6. Never promise confidentiality. 

Of the 6 ideas, what is one you think you could implement pretty easily?

How do you typically handle difficult and sensitive topics?

What is the most challenging topic you feel we face these days?

Would you say your youth group does a pretty good job addressing difficult topics or would you say you have room to grow?

What is your understanding of teaching “Don’t Do It” vs. “Focusing on God’s plan”?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

Episode 15 | Join us as we talk about How to Get That Kid That Never Talks to Speak Up. In this episode we talk through ideas on how to create a culture in your small group that allow all students to speak up and encourages even introverted or unengaged students to add to the conversation. 

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 6 Ideas on how to How to get that kid that talks too much to be quiet

1.  Remember the goal is not to change an introvert into an extrovert, but create an environment where they will speak up

2. Talk with the parents… not to get the kid in trouble, but to gain insight 

3. Talk to the kid who is quiet “one on one” first. Relationship

4. When asking a question, don’t be afraid of silence.

5. Take advantage of teaching methods: 1. Hand out a sheet of paper and get everyone to answer 2. give them multiple choice questions and ask them to unpack that 3. talk with a partner OR Some questions should be easy, anyone can answer, questions

After listening to this episode, would you say your group is pretty good at handling these situations or do you need some improvement?

Of the 6 ideas, what is one you think you could implement pretty easily?

How do you typically handle getting a kid to speak up and feel comfortable in your group?

Are there other things you’ve done that you’ve found helpful in getting students to speak up?

What stood out most from this episode?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

Episode 14 | Join us as we talk about How to Get That Kid That Talks Too Much to Be Quiet. In this episode we talk through ideas on how to deal with that kid that struggles with talking too much and interrupting your class or small group.

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 6 Ideas on how to How to get that kid that talks too much to be quiet

1. Get to know the kid.

2. Create House Rules or expected behaviors mainly respect.

3. Use creative methods that allow discussion.

4. Know your steps and how you will respond.

5. Have another adult sit next to that student. 

6. Positive Reinforcement

After listening to this episode, would you say your group is pretty good at handling these situations or do you need some improvement?

Of the 6 ideas, what is one you think you could implement pretty easily?

How do you typically handle getting a kid to talk less and not be an interuption?

Without turning this into a gossip session, is there a particular student in your ministry that is challenging in this area? What have others done that they’ve found helpful?

What stood out most from this episode?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

Episode 13 | Join us as we talk about Creating a Welcoming Culture in Your Group. We talk through 7 practical ideas on how you can help every student that comes to your group welcome whether is their first time or they’re coming back after a long absence. 

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 7 Creating a Welcoming Culture in Your Group

1. Know each kid by name

2. Room set up matters 

3. Talk up to the kids, not down

4. Creating a welcoming culture also takes place outside of your meeting time: Follow up on prayer requests

5. Food - Pro tip: do a food sign up with your parents 

6. Ask your regular attenders to be welcoming

7. Don’t be pushy - how you teach matters 

After listening to this episode, how good of a job do you think your group does with making others feel welcome?

Of the 7 ideas, what is one you think you could implement soon?

How do you typically handle connecting with a kid that hasn’t come in a while?

Are there any changes you think need to be made to your meeting space?

What stood out most from this episode?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

Episode 12 | Join us as we talk about Setting Goals as a Youth Ministry Volunteer for 2023. We’ll talk through how to evaluate 2022 and think through a few practical ideas you can focus on in 2023.

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Discussion Questions:

As a reminder, our 6 ideas on Setting Goals as a Youth Ministry Volunteer for 2023

- Starts by evaluating the last semester 

- Connect Weekly - Automate when possible and make a plan

- Reconnect with students who have stopped coming AND make it easy for them to get reconnected.

- Do some type of gathering outside of your normal meeting time

- Connect with parents

- Pray 

What are some things in your small group that went really well in 2023? What are some things you feel like did not go well?

Of the 6 ideas, which one stands out as something you think you should focus on in 2023? Why?

What are some ways you’ve found success in connecting weekly with your students?

What are some gatherings outside your normal meeting time that have been successful? What has been difficult about gathering outside your group time?

What would it look like for your youth ministry team to implement a prayer strategy in your youth ministry?

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You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by a couple youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

Episode 11 | Join us on our Christmas Spectacular with the whole team PLUS a new special guest. In this episode we discuss how to stay connected with teenagers during the holidays. 

You can reach Chris & the team at https://gabaptist.org/nextgen

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share show ideas or give us feedback.