I am not a youth ministry expert. In fact I never wanted to lead a youth group or teach a teenage class. And yet, after 23 years of ministry I have managed to do just that for all 23 years. I have taught and worked with teenagers year after year in both a class setting and a youth group setting.

I am also not a teen expert. And yet, I have four boys who are all teenagers. One is on the top side at 18 and one is on the bottom side at 13. I live and breathe teenagers at my house everyday.

With that said, let me share a couple of insights or keys I have about reaching the next generation with the message of Jesus.

1. Your Commitment is King. Teenagers recognize if you are one person on Sunday and another through the week. They recognize when you skip church, don’t serve and disregard other people. The flip side is also true. They recognize when you are sold out on what you believe and try to live it out everyday.

2. Attention is a Drug. All children are desperately seeking attention. They will find it in negative or positive ways. Once they find it they are addicted to it. Giving a child attention will make them connected to you in a deep way. This can be a double-edged sword. You will love it and hate it.

3. Friends are Foundational. Young people fill their lives with relationships. They may be in person or in some digital format. They will be highly influenced by this group of people. They will need positive role models of all ages but especially in their group of friends.

4. Fun is Not Optional. This is one I am learning. The next generation is serious about their sports, their video games and doing anything they enjoy. I have been wrestling with this. How does the church leverage this truth for outreach? How do parents use this truth to influence their children for Christ? I think one big key is to learn their likes and step into their world. It will create a trust that will let you speak into other areas.

5. Discussion Opens Doors. Because of the enormous amount of information available to today teenagers they want to discuss what they are hearing. I believe Christians need to teach the truth but then take time to discuss it. I am not great at this, but I see the need and I am trying to get better. Teach but then listen and talk. When you respect their thoughts and views it opens up their minds to learning.

Like I said, I am not an expert but I do play one at Church:-) I am trying to constantly learn how to reach the next generation with the gospel. God has been teaching me a few things that you might find helpful too. They need Jesus and we need to help them find him. I think these are some of the keys. Do you have anything to add to my list?