1. Create a Safe Space for Authentic Conversations
Students need to feel safe to share openly. If they fear judgment—whether from their peers or leaders—they’ll hold back.

To create this safe space, encourage leaders to model vulnerability and share personal experiences (appropriately). Allow students to express doubts and wrestle with tough questions without immediate correction. When students trust that they can be real without judgment, they engage more deeply.

2. Ask Thought-Provoking, Open-Ended Questions
Avoid “yes” or “no” questions that lead to shallow conversations. Instead, ask open-ended questions that invite deeper thought and reflection.

Examples include:
• “What do you think Jesus meant when He said…?”
• “How would you handle this situation in your own life?”
• “When have you struggled with this in your faith journey?”

The goal is to shift from leader-driven lectures to student-led discussions, allowing them to explore their thoughts in a guided but open way.

3. Embrace the Power of Silence
Silence can feel uncomfortable, but it often means students are thinking deeply. Instead of filling the silence, give students time to respond. You might be surprised by the insights they share when they don’t feel rushed.
If a question isn’t landing, try rephrasing it or gently inviting quieter students to share. Providing time and space shows students that their voices are valued.

4. Incorporate Variety in Your Small Group Activities
Small groups shouldn’t just be about talking. Different students learn and engage in different ways. Mix up your approach with storytelling, object lessons, movement-based activities, or role-playing scenarios.

These varied methods can help keep sessions fresh and cater to different learning styles, leading to deeper engagement.

5. Build Community Beyond the Meeting
The strength of a small group often shows up outside of scheduled meeting times. Encourage connections through group chats, casual hangouts, or serving opportunities. When students see their small group as a genuine community rather than just another church event, they are more likely to engage consistently.

Final Thoughts
A thriving small group is not just about attendance—it’s about growth. By creating a safe space, asking thoughtful questions, leveraging silence, mixing up your methods, and building community, you can cultivate an environment where students feel known, challenged, and encouraged in their faith.

At G Shades, we are passionate about providing youth ministry resources that make small groups more effective. If you’re looking for curriculum designed to foster genuine engagement and spiritual growth, visit our site to learn more!

About Mike Haynes
Mike Haynes is a youth ministry veteran and the creator of G Shades Youth Ministry Curriculum. A vibrant contributor to the youth ministry landscape, Mike’s passion is to help students and youth pastors alike see life through the lens of the gospel. He and his wife Anna have five kids spanning elementary, middle, and high school.
Socials: @mikeehaynes on Instagram

by Guest Blogger Elizabeth Thambiraj
​
Trust meaning in English: to believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm you, or that something is safe and reliable:[1]

Jer 17: 7-8 says, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

​בָּטַח (batach) -- Trust, rely, be confident, feel secure.
Usage: The Hebrew verb "batach" primarily conveys the idea of trust or confidence. It is used to describe a sense of security and reliance, …[2]
 
Word Origin: Derived from πίστις (pistis), meaning "faith" or "belief." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H539 אָמַן (aman): To confirm, support, be faithful, to believe. • H530 אֱמוּנָה …[3]
                      
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "arkeó," the concept of contentment and sufficiency can be related to Hebrew words such as "שָׂבַע" (sava)[4] 
 
Trust is the foundation of every meaningful connection, every leap of faith, every risk one takes hoping that things will turn out well. It is the silent force that keeps one, moving forward when there are no guarantees! Trust is the unseen bridge, unseen link that carries one in troubled waters. Trust is the reason one dares to love, believe someone, and trying to love again.

In relationships, trust comes in different shapes like confiding in one friend but hesitating with another. We learn in hard ways, and trust is built in hard ways, but can shatter in an instant. All the hard efforts to trust someone can go void in an instant. So, in this process of learning to trust a person, one learns that everyone is not worthy of our trust that we long to give.

Examples: We work hard, trusting our hard work will be rewarded and our labor bear fruits. Doubt will creep in . . . what if the efforts are wasted? Trust when misplaced it can lead to loss and sometimes can lead to great financial loss even! Not everyone in this world is trustworthy. Yet, trust is the one thing that allows us to live in this world without paralyzing fear.

Life situations: We eat in restaurants without the fear if the food is hygienically prepared or not. We board a plane trusting the pilot to take us high up in the air and bring us back safely to the ground. We trust that the cables will hold for the elevator we are on. We drive a car trusting the engine will be alright, and so on.

Question to our hearts: If we trust in small things as mentioned above, how much more we should trust the Lord who is always faithful? He promised eternal life beyond the grave for believers in Christ.
Jer 17: 7-8 says, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

The tree does not fear when there is a drought, because its roots run deep and it is connected to its source. This is what trusting in God looks like. A life planted deep in His faithfulness and not withering in times of uncertainties and standing firm because of His unfailing promises.

The world teaches us to control everything, secure every outcome, monitor every move, while society glorifies independence and self-sufficiency and sells the idea that success comes only when one is in control. But God calls us to do the opposite, and it is a paradox! God calls us to surrender and let go of the illusion of control. The Bible teaches us to trust God to work everything for our good, even if we do not understand.

 Examples: Trust God in all our relationships, every outcome; hardships; difficult situation at work; our family, children, finances, health, disappointments; fears; and so on.

When we place our trust in Jesus Christ, we are planting ourselves by the rivers of water and in His faithfulness. This is like a tree with deep roots, which knows its source despite the drought around (see Psa.1). When we surrender, we are placing ourselves in His mighty hands, the One who intimately cares for our every need, because of His promises! God knows each one of us very intimately; (see Psa. 139).

Here is the wisdom: Trust is the central theme in the Bible, and the Word of God focuses on trusting in God. Scriptures always encourages believers to place their faith, confidence, trust, hope and their sufficiency in God’s unfailing promises and in His wisdom, love, and providence.

Woven in the tapestry of God’s Word is the reminder of God’s faithfulness, His power, and His desire for us to rely on Him. His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence in all of our circumstances are beyond what human minds can fathom fully. In other words, not to be content with ephemeral things, leaving the mist of doubt and fear in the valley, but to focus on the hilltops of eternal security in Christ alone, who is our real hope!

God’s Word is full of promises, with flowers of sweet fragrance, fruit of refreshing flavors, only when trust and faith overlap. Trusting God is not always easy, especially in the challenging times. In the valleys, the storms, the unknown, the fear of unknown, and in the mountain peak experiences, we can trust God because, it is written: "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  Psa, 37: 4.
 
         In a nutshell, we can say that trust in God by faith is the grace union in which we surrender our entitlements to God, by which our grace grows until all heavens fill our soul and our sinful tendencies are cast out completely!
 
 [1] Cambridge Dictionary
   https://dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › trust
  TRUST | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

[2] Strong's Hebrew: 982. בָּטַח (batach) -- Trust, rely, be confident ...

[3] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek
pisteuó: To believe, to have faith, to trust - Bible Hub

[4] Strong's Greek: 714. ἀρκέω (arkeó) -- To be sufficient, to be …

            1.  Pay your bills on time.     
     
          This is such a basic thing that I’m almost embarrassed to bring it up. If you are going to be a good steward of the worldly resources that God has put into your hands, you must start by handling your money, and your business’s money, with discipline. 
           When you chose to buy the home, rent the space, buy the car, invest in software, take on supplies, etc., you made a promise to your vendors and lenders that you would pay back according to their terms.  To not do so puts you in the position of a debtor and cedes power and influence to the person or companies to whom you owe the money.  It adds one more thing to think about to your list of worries.
           On the other hand, if you stay current with everyone, it keeps you in good standing with your vendors, marks you as reliable and responsible, and may, in the long term, open up additional opportunities for you. All that’s from a worldly perspective. 
           In a spiritual sense, it says to God, through your actions, not your words, that you believe his promise to you that He will provide.  It launches you into a new stage of your relationship with Him. You are going from just believing His Word, to actually acting on it. It’s a step up from mumbled prayers at a church meeting to actually stepping out on faith and acting on it. 
           I call it moving from belief to knowledge.  You come to rely on Him, not just because He told you to in His word, but because you have experienced it in your life.   Expect to grow closer to Him as a result.
           I have been in business for over three decades.  I’ve weathered two significant business reversals and at least three serious economic disruptions in the country. In all of that, I don’t think I have ever not paid a bill on time. That’s a testimony to God’s provision.
           If you are struggling with cash flow, decide to trust God to provide, and make a commitment to stick to the promises you made.  Ask him for a date on which you begin to pay every bill on time and trust him to help you get there.
           Money, and your attitude toward it and practices with it, is often the bridge between the world’s economic system and God’s economy.  It is how the world measures and rewards worldly success.  On the spiritual side, it is a useful tool to grow your spiritually and a test to develop your trust in Him.

            2.  Give more.          

                 This refers to the quantity as well as the quality of your giving.
           In terms of quantity, if you are giving a fixed percentage of your income, no matter how you calculate it, you can add a percentage point today.  So, you can go from 10% to 11%, or whatever applies to you.  When you do that, regardless of your current financial circumstances, you take the same step I mentioned above.  You say to God, through your actions, not just your words, “God, I trust you.” You move from a worldly attitude toward money to a Kingdom-oriented view of it.
           Everyone reading this post can do that today — even if you are in adverse financial circumstances. I know that sounds a bit off, but I have, whenever I was in a time of financial pressure, decided to increase my giving.  It was a statement to God that I trust His word, I trust Him and I’m going to act on that trust.
           If you own a business and are not giving through the business, now is the time to consider giving from the business, out of the business cash flow.  The same rationale applies.  It moves you out of the realm of purely worldly values and begins to acknowledge that the business is God’s, and you are a steward of its assets and resources. (See these posts:  Are You Too Comfortable in The Marketplace to Be Effective in the Kingdom?, I am Too Busy to… )
           Because a business is potentially a larger and more significant enterprise than just you personally, it has greater resources, in terms of money, people and influence, and therefore offers the possibility of greater impact.  Deciding to give through the business, and then acting on that decision, is a first step toward a larger role in the Kingdom and more influence in the world.
           But, just as important as the quantity of giving is the quality of your giving. Few Christians give concept this much thought, and it’s too bad because it offers a huge opportunity to impact the world through the Kingdom.
           First, understand that the Bible offers no examples of giving to institutions. Every gift in the New Testament was made by individuals to other individuals. (see Am I Required to Give My Tithes to the Local Church) That’s probably not a message you have ever heard before. 
           What would happen if you could strive to (understanding that it is not always possible) to make your gifts directly to individuals in your sphere of influence whose life could be enhanced by a gift of money?
           Following this idea, here’s what my wife and have done for decades.  Instead of writing a check to a church or non-profit, we set aside, out of each piece of income, a certain amount, and deposit it into a special checking account which we call the Give account.
           This follows the biblical teaching in 1 Corinthians 16
           Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.  On the first day of every week,     each   one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it     up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
           At this point, the money has been given, but it hasn’t yet been distributed.  We then look for people in our world that may need a gift of money. We both agree and make a gift, seeking to be anonymous and giving it in Jesus’ name. It’s not always possible. A check, for example, has our name on it. But that is the standard to which we strive.
           This makes us, in conjunction with the spirit guiding us, responsible for the gift and forces us to be more attuned to the needs of people around us.  And, it fits the model taught in the New Testament.
           What if you did something similar with your personal funds, and began a similar approach with your business giving? Suppose you created a business fund dedicated to ’giving” and then asked for input from your employes, vendors, and maybe even customers as to people whose lives could be impacted by a gift of money.
           These are two easy, small things you can do today that will eventually have a huge impact on your spiritual journey and nudge you further along the road of living a Christ-centered life in the marketplace.
 
Related Resources
Can Your Business Become a Spiritual Juggernaut?
Want to Come to Know God?  Start a Business.
Should We Compartmentalize Our Christianity?

Is it enough to be active in church and honest in business?

​About Dave Kahle:
​
Dave Kahle has been a Bible teacher, elder, house church leader, short-term missionary and Christian executive roundtable leader.  For 30 years, he has been an authority on sales and sales systems, having spoken in 47 states and eleven countries.  He has authored 13 books, including The Good Book on Business.  His books have been translated into eight-plus languages and are available in over 20 countries. He holds a B. of ED from the University of Toledo, and MA in Teaching from Bowling Green University.

He and Coleen split their time between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Sarasota, Florida.  He is a father, foster father, adoptive father and grandfather to 14 children.

by Guest Blogger Mike Haynes

Peer pressure is nothing new. For generations, it has influenced the choices and behavior of teenagers. But in today's hyperconnected world, that pressure is not only more persistent but also much harder to escape.
 
The constant buzz of social media creates an always-on environment where the need to conform feels never-ending. Cancel culture amplifies the fear of rejection, urging students to fit in at all costs. Fear of missing out (FOMO) can drive students to agree to things they know aren't right.
 
As youth leaders, we can't simply tell students to "be strong" or "make good choices." They need a deeper foundation—one rooted in the gospel—to view peer pressure through God's perspective.
 
Here's how to guide teenagers in navigating peer pressure in a way that is both biblical and genuinely transformative. ​

1. Reframe Peer Pressure Correctly

Students often think peer pressure happens only  when someone tries to force them into bad decisions. However, it is much broader. Peer pressure is any influence—positive or negative—that nudges students to act in ways they might not otherwise.
 
Help students recognize that: Peer pressure is not always overt. It isn’t just about saying no to big temptations like drinking or drugs. It can be as subtle as conforming in everyday choices. Not all peer pressure is harmful. The right friends can inspire wise choices, deeper faith, and obedience to Christ. Jesus Himself faced peer pressure—from societal expectations to cultural norms and the world’s standards of success.
 
When students realize peer pressure is about choosing God’s path over the world’s, they start to view it differently.

        2.  Explain How Peer Pressure Works
Peer pressure often manifests in three key forms:
Direct Pressure – When someone explicitly urges them to act. (“Just try it once!”)
Indirect Pressure – When they feel compelled to conform without anyone saying a word. (“Everyone’s doing it, so I should too.”)
Internal Pressure – When their own fears push them to follow the crowd. (“If I don’t do this, I’ll be left out.”)
 
Engage students in reflecting on when they feel these pressures most—whether it’s from friends, social media, school, or family expectations. Identifying the source is a critical first step in resisting negative influences.

       3.  Address the Heart Behind Peer Pressure
At its core, peer pressure is not merely about actions but about identity. Students often fall into peer pressure because they believe lies like this: “I need to fit in to be valued.” “People’s approval is more important than God’s.” “Standing out means being alone.”
 
The gospel offers a counter-narrative. When students understand their worth in Christ, they are freed from the need to earn acceptance from others.

Share scriptures like these:
 
Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
1 Peter 2:9 – “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”

       4.  Equip Students with Practical Tools
Help students develop a five-step strategy for handling peer pressure:
 
Pause – Take a moment before reacting. Avoid snap decisions made to impress others.
Pray – Ask God for guidance. Even a quick, silent prayer can shift perspective.
Plan – Prepare simple responses for difficult situations. (“No thanks.” “I’m not into that.”)
Pivot – Change the topic or walk away if needed.
Partner Up – Build friendships with those who encourage Christlike choices.
 
Encourage role-playing these strategies in a safe environment so students feel more prepared when real-life situations arise.

       5.  Affirm That They Are Not Alone
A significant fear for many students is the thought of standing alone. Reinforce the truth that when they resist negative peer pressure, God is with them.
Share scriptures like these:
 
Joshua 1:9 – “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Matthew 28:20 – “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

     6.  Challenge Them to Lead, Not Follow Encourage students to move beyond merely resisting peer pressure. Teach them to create positive peer pressure by being influencers for Christ.
This involves:
 
Upholding what is right, even when it’s not popular. Encouraging others to make godly choices. Living in a way that draws others to the truth of the gospel.
 
When students realize they can set the culture rather than merely adapt to it, they find strength to stand firm in their faith.
 
Final Thought: Equip Students for the Spiritual Battle
Ultimately, peer pressure is not just a social issue but a spiritual battle. It’s a test of whether students will follow Christ or conform to the crowd. By grounding them in the gospel, you help anchor their confidence in Christ—enabling them to withstand the pressures of the world.

By guest blogger Dave Kahle

​Some recent surveys have indicated that the population of Christians in this country has gone from the majority to a size approaching a remnant.  It’s time for everyday Christians to break out of their reliance on the failed institutional church system and exert leadership in their lives.

Based on a study conducted by Arizona Christian University during 2020 – 2023, born again Christians deeply committed to practicing their faith fell from 88% to 46%. Worse yet, this study discovered that only 6% of professed Christians have a biblical worldview. Instead, most have a smorgasbord view of their faith, picking and choosing what they believe.

The trend is obvious.  Here’s another study that found similar results. ​

In a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 65% of adults in the United States identified themselves as Christians. [“Measuring Religion in Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel”. Measuring Religion in Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel | Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.]

 Here’s what that means:
• As a percentage, there are fewer self-proclaimed Christians today than at any time in the country’s history.
• Of those, that subset of Christians who are deeply committed has fallen in half.  
• Of those self-proclaimed Christians only 6% have a Biblical worldview.

So, there are fewer Christians, most don’t know exactly what they believe and fewer are really committed. Truly, we are down to a remnant. 

What an incredibly sad state of affairs.  Satan must be proud of himself.  It’s like the NBA championship game, and your team is leading by 50 points at halftime.  You can start to celebrate, even though the game is only partially over.  

There are multiple reasons for this sorry state.  There is enough blame to spread all around our culture, including:
• The entertainment industry that continues to portray Christians as either hypocrites or buffoons. 

• A political environment where both parties have sacrificed moral positions for political advantage.

• An educational system that champions perverse concepts at the expense of moral values that have served mankind for centuries.  

• An institutional church system that has failed in its core mission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. [Mark 16: 14-16  (NET)]

• Several generations of business and professional people who have traded more principled positions for the pursuit of comfortable lifestyles.

I’m sure we can list contributing factors for pages. My concern is for only one: the lack of Christian leadership.  There are so few leaders, it’s no wonder that the people have lost their way.  

Leadership in today’s world does not mean pastors sermonizing in large services.  That model has failed and is dramatically losing adherents.  We don’t need more pastors, worship leaders, youth ministers, etc. 
Leadership today is defined as someone influencing someone else by the actions they take.  Leadership is ordinary Christians who, in thousands of small actions, manifest the message that God is alive and lovingly active in the lives of His people.

Leadership today is far more about what one does than what one says.

Leadership is something every Christian can demonstrate.  One visit to a sick neighbor can say more about Christianity than any episode of “The Conners” or “Young Sheldon.” One gift of money made directly to an individual in need sends a positive signal of God’s involvement in the lives of his people. One offer to pray for a grieving acquaintance says more about Christianity than the media portrayal of Christians as hypocrites and buffoons. One unexpected act of kindness, in God’s name, says more about real Christianity that the pronouncements of the local pastor.

It is time for Christians to step up and realize that the institutions they have relied on to nurture Christians and make disciples, have failed.  It’s time to take the Bible at its word and begin to act like we believe it. 
Everyone reading this can, in the next 24 – 48 hours, create some small act of leadership, that will impact someone with the grace of God, and begin to turn the tide.  It is time to act and to lead.  We can’t put it off any longer.

Related Resources
www.davekahle.com/you-or-him-gods-plan-business
www.davekahle.com/business-model-leadership-character
www.davekahle.com/myths-of-sales-management-the-entrepreneurial-salesperson

​About Dave Kahle:
​
Dave Kahle has been a Bible teacher, elder, house church leader, short-term missionary and Christian executive roundtable leader.  For 30 years, he has been an authority on sales and sales systems, having spoken in 47 states and eleven countries.  He has authored 13 books, including The Good Book on Business.  His books have been translated into eight-plus languages and are available in over 20 countries. He holds a B. of ED from the University of Toledo, and MA in Teaching from Bowling Green University.

He and Coleen split their time between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Sarasota, Florida.  He is a father, foster father, adoptive father and grandfather to 14 children.

By guest blogger Mike Haynes
Every youth pastor knows the pressure of getting a sermon ready for Wednesday night. The countdown is on, and maybe the outline is set, but something feels off. Perhaps the message isn’t connecting to real-life situations, or you’re worried students will zone out five minutes into the talk.
The truth is, how we prepare our sermons shapes how students receive them. Unfortunately, there’s one significant mistake many youth pastors make—one that can leave students feeling disengaged, confused, or even indifferent to the gospel message.
​
The #1 Mistake: Prioritizing Delivery Over Discipleship
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that a great sermon is all about:

· Delivering a dynamic and engaging performance
· Sharing funny or relatable stories
· Getting positive feedback from students like, “That was great!”
But here’s the reality: youth ministry isn’t about delivering a polished TED Talk—it’s about forming lifelong disciples of Jesus. Students don’t need the most entertaining sermon; they need a clear, gospel-centered message that fosters real spiritual growth.
The Pitfall of Performance-Based Sermon Prep
When youth pastors focus too much on performance, it often shows up in these ways:
1. Stories Overshadowing Scripture
While stories can make sermons engaging, they should never take precedence over the Bible. If students remember your funny story but not the gospel truth behind it, the message has missed the mark.
Solution: Always let Scripture lead the way. Stories should serve as illustrations to clarify biblical truths, not the main attraction.
2. Chasing “Wow” Moments Instead of Heart Change
Object lessons, viral videos, or shocking statistics might grab attention, but without a clear application, they can become distractions.
Solution: Ensure every illustration leads to a concrete “so what?” moment that helps students apply the lesson to their lives.
3. Focusing on Energy Over Depth
While building energy in the room is good, lasting faith is built on depth. If students are only engaged because of your charisma, their faith may not hold up outside of youth group.
Solution: Equip students to engage with the Bible on their own, beyond just hearing your words.
Shifting to a Discipleship-First Approach
To move from performance-driven preaching to transformative discipleship, try these sermon prep strategies:
1. Define the “Why” Before the “What”
Before you start writing your sermon, ask yourself:
· What key truth do I want students to take away?
· How does this message point to Jesus?
· What real-life application will this offer?
If your message doesn’t lead to transformation, it’s simply information.
2. Make Scripture the Foundation
Instead of crafting a theme and finding a verse to match, start with Scripture. Let the Bible shape your message rather than using it as an afterthought.
· Read the passage multiple times to understand its context.
· Ask what it reveals about God and how it applies to today’s world.
· Focus on biblical depth over superficial inspiration.
3. Keep the Gospel Central
Regardless of the sermon topic—whether it’s relationships, anxiety, or identity—ensure the gospel is always at the heart of your message.
· Don’t assume students already understand the gospel.
· Highlight how Jesus is the ultimate answer to every struggle.
· Offer opportunities for real-life application and growth.
4. Preach for Monday, Not Just Wednesday
A great sermon doesn’t just resonate during youth group—it equips students to carry their faith into the rest of the week.
· Provide practical steps for students to live out biblical truths.
· Prepare them to think biblically when facing real-world challenges.
Transforming Sermon Prep for Real Impact
The goal of a sermon isn’t just to engage students for 20 minutes—it’s to cultivate a faith that endures. When youth pastors shift their focus from performance to discipleship, they help students:
· See Jesus more clearly
· Understand Scripture deeply
· Apply biblical truths to their everyday lives
Avoiding common sermon prep mistakes is crucial, but having the right curriculum as a foundation makes the process even smoother.

However, teaching the cross goes beyond recounting the events. It requires helping students understand the 'why' behind the crucifixion. Why did Jesus have to die? Why did it have to be the cross? This is where theology meets real life. Introduce concepts like atonement, substitution, and redemption. Explain that Jesus took on the punishment we deserve, bridging the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. Romans 5:8 is a powerful verse to anchor this truth: 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

To make this teaching resonate, connect the cross to students' everyday lives. The cross is not just a past event but a present reality that offers freedom, forgiveness, and new identity in Christ. Share stories of transformation—whether from scripture, historical figures, or your own life—that illustrate the power of the cross. Encourage students to reflect on how the cross impacts their identity, their struggles, and their relationships.

Make It Interactive
Creating opportunities for response is crucial. This could be through worship, reflective journaling, prayer stations, or even a physical representation of nailing burdens or sins to a wooden cross during a retreat or service. When students actively engage with the message of the cross, it moves from head knowledge to heart transformation.

Avoid overly simplified or clichéd explanations. Teenagers are more perceptive than we often give them credit for, and they crave authenticity. Be honest about the tension of the cross—the sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday. Teach them that living in the light of the cross means embracing both sacrifice and resurrection, both repentance and grace.

Finally, create space for questions and doubts. The cross can raise difficult theological questions, and students need a safe space to wrestle with them. Rather than offering quick answers, guide them through scripture and encourage them to seek God’s truth through prayer and study. When students are allowed to explore their faith honestly, the cross becomes more than a doctrine—it becomes the lens through which they see the world.

Teaching about the cross is not a one-time lesson but a continual journey. By revisiting its truth through different angles and applications, you help students build a faith that is deeply rooted in the gospel and resilient through life's challenges.

Millions of people lost to the Kingdom who could have been saved.
One way the "cosmic powers in the darkness around us” attack us is through errant beliefs. These are ideas and paradigms which we have internalized and then shape our behavior. They often sound reasonable and are often held by others around us, but they are false and they serve to lead us down the wrong paths.
           One such errant belief is this: “If I go to church on Sunday, and remain active in the institutional church, I don’t have to worry about what I do in the marketplace.  Christianity is for church, but business is something else.” 
           Since we believe this false idea, we compartmentalize our faith and our careers.  We don’t see our careers as our ministries; we don’t see business as the first venue for God to work with us. So, we lead lives in the marketplace that many people characterize as hypocritical. 
            We rob all those people who we encounter in the marketplace – our colleagues, our customers, our vendors, etc. – of the opportunity to see God’s love and providence manifested through our lives. Over generations and geography, millions of people who could have been nudged into a relationship with God never were because generations of Christian businesspeople separated their faith from their businesses.
           This must be Satan’s greatest ploy.  Through this false belief he has kept millions of Christians on the sidelines of the great battle between good and evil.  And, in so doing thwarted the potential influence of an army of Christian businesspeople. 
           The damage is incalculable.
 
The culture growing darker and falling apart around us.
Any half-way literate person can see that our culture has slid downward rapidly in the past few years. Behavior and life styles that were once anathema are now celebrated.
           Christians are characterized by the legacy media and some aspects of government as ‘hateful” and are beginning to be singled out for ridicule. Rational discourse is being replaced by mob rule, and even in our most respected universities, some administrators side with the mob in shouting down speakers who happen to have a different point of view. 
           A few decades ago, America would have been characterized as a Christian country, while today it seems like the tide is moving in the opposite direction.
           The “cosmic powers in the darkness around us” are celebrating their progress.
 
On a personal level, business and careers remain in mediocrity instead of victory.
           There must be hundreds of thousands of Christian-owned  businesses whose ownership is focused purely on worldly values.  In so doing they put barriers up to the active involvement of the Holy Spirit in the development of their business.  Their pursuit of money and power render them impotent in the Kingdom and unavailable to the guiding and enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
           The same can be said for thousands of those whose careers, sidetracked by the pursuit of worldly gains, never reach their potential to have an impact for the kingdom.
 
           And for those who do try to make a difference – the potential for personal suffering and  catastrophe.
           We have the example of Job, where the “rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around”  were allowed undeterred access. The result was personal catastrophe: Job lost his business, his family, his wealth and even his health. 
         But perhaps the most poignant example of the consequences of allowing the “evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm” to take control was Judas. He walked and talked with Jesus, and yet became so twisted in his thinking and abhorrent in his behavior that he betrayed Jesus for worldly wealth, and ended up killing himself.
           In our times, I am sure that many of us have experienced the attacks of the ‘forces of evil.’  Typically, we become depressed, discouraged and often fearful.  Instead of proactively venturing out, we fall back to discouragement and withdraw from the battle.  Every time the forces of evil cause one of us to hesitate and slink back out of fear and discouragement, they have won a battle.          
           So, on a cosmic scale, from a national perspective, and even from our personal lives, the
consequences of not seriously confronting the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm” can be catastrophic.
 
           Let’s take this seriously.
 
WAS-193

 Related Resources

www.thebiblicalbusiness.com/spiritual-warfare
www.thebiblicalbusiness.com/the-cure-for-christianity
www.thebiblicalbusiness.com/lost-culture
www.thebiblicalbusiness.com/weve-lost-the-culture-2

1. It Prioritizes Jesus Over Behavior Modification
A truly gospel-centered curriculum never settles for behavior modification as the end goal. Instead, it challenges students to examine their hearts through the lens of the gospel. Rather than asking, “How can I be a better person?” students should be led to consider, “How does Jesus change my perspective and transform my life?”

2. It Offers a Clear Biblical Foundation
Scripture should be at the core of any teaching material. While creative teaching methods and engaging activities are valuable, the curriculum must ground every lesson in God’s Word. The gospel is not an afterthought or a closing prayer—it is the thread that weaves through every topic and discussion.

3. It Equips Students to See the World Through a Gospel Lens
Life as a teenager is complex. A gospel-centered curriculum provides students with the tools they need to navigate their world with a Christ-centered perspective. Whether discussing friendships, challenges, or cultural trends, the material should guide students to apply the truth of the gospel to real-life situations.

4. It Balances Grace and Truth
A strong gospel-centered curriculum doesn't shy away from hard truths but always presents them through the lens of grace. Students need to understand both God’s holiness and His incredible love for them. This balance prevents teachings from becoming either harshly legalistic or overly permissive.

5. It Encourages a Missional Mindset
Discipleship doesn’t stop within the walls of the youth room. A gospel-centered approach equips students to live missionally—to take what they learn and share it with their peers, their families, and their communities. The gospel compels us to action, and a good curriculum reflects this by providing opportunities for students to put their faith into practice.

Choosing a youth ministry curriculum is more than a logistical decision—it’s a spiritual one. By prioritizing a gospel-centered approach, you’re investing in a resource that will help guide students not just toward good behavior but also toward a vibrant, Christ-centered faith. At G Shades, we are passionate about offering tools that make this kind of transformative discipleship accessible to youth pastors everywhere.

Twenty five years ago my husband and I "adopted" a young Ukrainian pastor who had just graduated from Bible college.  Zhenia had been a criminal – a violent gang leader – wanted in four countries by the age of fourteen.  He was finally captured and sentenced to nearly nine years in a Russian prison.  During his incarceration he became increasingly more hardened and violent, but near the end of his sentence he met the Lord through a local prison ministry.  The transformation was astonishing!  As he devoured the Words of Life, his despair was gradually exchanged for joy, his violence was replaced with gentleness, his venom with peace, his greed with generosity, and his bitterness with an overwhelming love for the God who had forgiven him.  He became a new creature in Christ!  He had entered those wretched walls as a hardened and bitter boy, but emerged as a soft and gentle man, filled with the joy and love of Jesus.  His new dream was to share the love of God with all who would listen.  

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 of 2022, Zhenia was a local pastor in Nova Kakhovka.  The city was occupied from the earliest days of the war.  Russia has long held the practice of immediately kidnapping or killing pastors, priests, and chaplains, thus disheartening the people, so within the first few days a warning went out for all clergy to evacuate!  Even though his name was put on the KGB "kill list,"  Zhenia decided to stay, for he could not leave his people.  No challenge was too big, no sacrifice too great, no place too dangerous to go.  He, indeed, teetered on the edge of eternity.

Thus began the most amazing story of God’s incredible faithfulness and protection over Zhenia’s life.  Time after time the Lord delivered him from harm.  It sounds like a fast-paced thriller, but is, in fact, the true account of the Lord’s miraculous protection. 
 
Within a few months after Russia attacked Ukraine, my husband began telling me I should write Zhenia’s story.  Each time my response was the same: "No way!"  I had written and sold various articles over the years but found it to be very hard work.  An entire book?  Not on my bucket list!  But before long, the Holy Spirit began repeating the same message to my heart, but I had the same reaction:  "Absolutely not!’"  What followed were eight of the most miserable months of my life as the Lord and I battled about it . . . I strenuously resisting and He gently prodding . . . until I finally submitted.  And repented.  Why couldn’t I, like Mary of Old, have immediately responded by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled"?

And so . . .  I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.  And discovered anew the incredible faithfulness of the Lord.  Writing this book was not work at all, but pure joy!  Never have I been more overwhelmed by the sheer privilege of being used by Him.  He was with me every step of the way!  Many nights, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I would see a perfectly crafted sentence in my mind and would know exactly where it should go in the book. Those sentences were not from me!

Within a few weeks of my initial writing, I googled "how to submit a manuscript for Christian publication."  I immediately received an inquiry box asking for my contact information, the genre of the book and a short synopsis.  I filled out the form and sent it back, not even knowing who it went to. The next morning Maria, an acquisition agent from Covenant Books called to ask more questions.  We talked for nearly half an hour.  After that, she contacted me at least once a month to check on my progress and answer any questions I had. Publishing companies will not normally look at manuscripts until they are completed, but after about a year, Sheree asked me to send her my unfinished manuscript so she could "take a peek and gauge their level of interest."  Although I was very apprehensive (because it was so raw and unfinished), I emailed it to her.  A week later she called and offered me a contract.  Little did I realize how unusual this was – new authors normally attempt to get their books published for several years.  

The Lord went before me and smoothed the way every step of this amazing  journey in writing.  Who knew He had this planned for my life in my mid-70s?     

Linda Wicks has been married to her husband, Tom, for 52 years.  They have three grown children and ten grandchildren.  She is an avid reader and loves quilting and nurturing relationships with family and friends.  She finds special joy in investing in her grandkids – having Bible studies with them, taking trips together, frequent texting, and hosting Grammy Camp every summer.  

Linda is a 1971 graduate of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri.  Her life-long passions have been mothering and missions.  It was her great joy to serve as Mission Director at her church for over 14 years.  She has been a frequent speaker at MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and MOMs groups, as well as leading workshops at Hearts at Home Conferences, women’s conferences and mission events.  

Linda’s adventurous spirit has led her on mission trips, global travel and even two skydiving experiences with grandsons for her 70th and 75th birthdays.  She and Tom reside in Columbia, Missouri.