The Word in Youth Ministry - A CPYU Podcast

Kyle, Linda, and Matt respond to a listener e-mail regarding planning a scope and sequence for youth ministry. What are the benefits of long-term planning? How long should we plan out for, a year, 4 years, longer? Should we be picking topically, books of the Bible, something else? We provide thoughts and good practices we can implement as we work to develop a scope and sequence for the teaching that takes place in our youth ministry settings. Linda suggests we think about the kinds of students we hope to produce as one aspect of thinking through what we choose to teach. We also discuss making sure that the teaching goals of the youth ministry align with those of the larger church. We also stress the need to intentionally build in some flexibility in our teaching plans.

Kyle, Matt, and Linda dive into 1 John. They look at various themes that can be addressed, and how they might approach teaching this particular book of the Bible to students. Matt introduces us to 3 different "tests" that John weaves through his epistle to help us answer the question as to whether we are truly part of the family of God. Linda shares some helpful insights from recently teaching 1 John to students in her ministry.

Kyle, Linda, and Matt answer questions sent in from a listener and fellow youth worker about teaching the Bible to students. In the series of questions, they provide insights on what lesson preparation looks like for them, how they avoid getting "stuck in the weeds", effective methods of teaching, making lessons accessible to a wide range of ages, and more.

What's the best way to approach teaching passages of Scripture to teens? In this episode Kyle, Linda, and Matt talk about various approaches, like taking a small passage and going through it slowly over the course of several weeks vs. tackling a larger passage or whole book of the Bible and covering it in only a week or two. What are the pros and cons of each? What does it look like to slow things down? Are there things we need to be concerned with or avoid if we take this approach? Dive into this episode to learn more.

Pastor, Author, and Professor Mitchell Chase joins the podcast to discuss using Typology and Allegory in our teaching of the Word of God to students. Kyle, Linda, and Matt ask him questions about his book, 40 Questions about Typology and Allegory, and how to best utilize and model these hermeneutical approaches as we engage in Scripture in our youth ministries. Mitch provides practical insight for seasoned seminarians and lay-leaders alike.

Our summer series concludes as Kyle, Linda, and Matt take a look at Chapter 4 of God's Four Part Story - Consummation.  Matt helps us see consummation as the bringing together of heaven and earth, or of God and man. Linda helps us see that what we are looking forward to is not just a restoration of what existed in the Garden, but something even better. We also think about vocation, creativity, and relationships in the new heavens and the new earth. How do we get our students to understand that the best is yet to come, and joyfully live into that longing and expectation?

Our summer series continues as Kyle, Linda, and Matt take a look at Chapter 3 of God's Four Part Story - Redemption. We answer the question, "What is the Gospel?" and discuss various ways we can encounter and teach the truths of the redemption to our students. How do we walk along students and encourage them to realize Jesus as their savior, first and foremost, rather than as just an example to follow? Matt helps us understand redemption as Jesus "buying us back" from sin because he delights to have a relationship with us.

Kyle, Linda, and Matt continue our summer with part two of a four part podcast series. Over the summer we are going to be looking at God's four part story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation. In this episode we take a closer look at the Fall. We discuss sin and the effects of the Fall and how it impacts our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, and our relationships with others. We also discuss how we see the effects of the Fall within creation itself. Rebellion, separation from God, guilt, shame and more are all topics covered in this episode.

Kyle, Linda, and Matt begin our summer with part one of a four part podcast series. Over the summer we are going to be looking at God's four part story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation. In this episode we take a closer look at Creation. We discuss God as creator, God's image, humans as God's image-bearers, the cultural mandate, and more.

The book of Jonah is the passage of Scripture that Kyle, Linda, and Matt dive into in this episode. They discuss various approaches to teaching the book of Jonah, including outlines and themes. Historical context is discussed to help listeners, and in turn, our students better understand the setting, meaning, and message of this text. Ideas of evil, sin, and the greatness of God's mercy are topics covered. We also address the possibility that students are so familiar with this story that they may have missed some of the key elements we can learn from, and how to encourage them to dig deeper in the Bible study.