These youth group “church” services NEED to stop… In this video, Todd Friel discusses the issue with churches that attempt to …
24 COMMENTS
no reason to dumb down church. the motivation for some young people is their quest for the truth. they want relationships as well, and the closer they can get to god, the more confidence and direction they'll have. otherwise, they'll get bored with the shallowness, and keep searching on their own.
Well my Church youth group always does a verse of the month and we memorize it. But yes there is also fun and having fun with people who love God should not be an issue. It’s not just about playing games we spend more time going over the Bible in groups.
Youth pastor here and I disagree with some of what this guy says. I definitely think there should be bible study etc in youth ministry. But there is a big thing about meeting people where they are. Jesus didn’t want us to put hurdles in the way of children coming to him. Jesus goes out of his way to find the lost sheep. We should build relationships with young people then be positive role models. Teach them through community. You don’t see Jesus running church services. He broke bread and ate with his disciples. Taught from a place of community. If we are to disciple these young people we should eat “pizza” with them. But we need to also introduce them to Christ. Not just leave it as a club
Thank you for exposing this as I have been concerned about this very much lately .Gods Word is not the centre-just added on if convenient and doesn’t interfere with the GAMES.The last 30 years and the Seeker movement has ruined us.I am not talking about a MEGA church here either. Satan has seduced our youth leaders and young people that life is all about FUN and NOT sacrifice and NOT living in the LIGHT of Gods Word.Yes it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the Parents to live out the Christian life before them but it is the responsibility of the church to SUPPORT them in this.
You're on to something, but you seem to be mistaking the real problem. The fun and games are not the problem. There are plenty of churches who are doing all of the things you are denouncing and still having great impact and seeing genuine discipleship. But it is true that you will never entertain kids into the kingdom and it's not the games that get them to stick. In that way, we need to stop treating them like consumers, and stop trying to compete with the world to get them to buy our "product" over theirs. This is a losing battle and not God's way. Young people today need deep meaningful relationships with adults and they need the truth.
I think the young people are looking for the real God. Not religion. Just like the sixties kids see the hypocrisy of the Church. Some Churches try to attract young people threw different methods, there's nothing wrong with that. My Pastor has an open gym on Sunday evening after Church for anyone in the community. That brings out about a dozen young people who don't go to Church. Some have been coming to Church because they like what's going on on the court. We see revival on college campuses which is great. But the judgemental sticks in the mud hate that as well. Worship music should serve two purposes, one, give worship unto The Lord an give Glory., two, Connect the worshipper to The Spirit of God.
It's concerning to hear critiques like this then have them quote Bible verses that are quite literally not in the Bible. Then, cite a Bible verse that kinda says that but when looking at the context is not at all talking about what he's saying. While good points are raised here and I agree with a lot that is said, these hard shell "traditional,"un-nuanced takes are what is just as wrong with the church today as the issues that he raised. I know many that would take great offense to the insinuation that because someone preaches in jeans rather than a suit doesn't teach the Bible, disciple, or do church in small groups. Some of the churches that I know that do these things the best are "hip."
In the last days there will be two churches, the church of laodacia and the church of Philadelphia. The laodacian church is the physical wordly institution you see now. The church of Philadelphia is Christs church, its not a building, it's within you. Wherever believers are in this world, we are united in Christ. His Church can't be polluted or destroyed.
My pastor wears blue jeans 7 days a week and he preaches a far more solid biblically based sermon than most pastors who are dressed to the nines and/or vested.
Years ago, my church was interviewing a candidate for youth pastor. The board had already recommended him, and now it was time for the congregation to ask questions. Most of the questions were inane, about the kind of movies he would show, the activities he planned for the youth, and so on. I decided to jump into the fire and began to ask theological questions. What do you believe about the Bible, and what about the nature of God? What are your views on spiritual gifts? Can you explain the incarnation? What was accomplished by the atonement? And others I considered fundamental. His answers were vague at best and just wrong at worst, bordering on heresy.. Of course, the church ignored me and hired him. After the meeting, a lady confronted me, saying I was unloving and stating that he was hired to take care of the kids and he did not need to know all this "theology stuff.".
Honestly I think it's extremely common for young people to wander from the church for a bit, but if there is a strong foundation they will come back. People always ask what they did wrong, as if playing games and worshipping to contemporary Christian music is a problem. Maybe they didn't do anything wrong. Maybe straying for a bit is necessary and normal. My church made sure we memorized scripture and it has stuck with me all these years later. Many people I grew up with strayed and came back to the church as well. Worship style and having too much fun at church have absolutely nothing to with it.
You can have some fun… just make sure you're sharing truth !! This is very sad stuffy arrogant ",Christians" ripping on you name it …fun , music , dress. Modern day Pharosee's.
All do respect my brothers and sisters but Most of y’all have never taught a class or preach to a youth group in your life but are quick to judge people who have . The weight of having the responsibility to lead kids to Christ in the world we live in today is very difficult. As a youth pastor I’ve have never seen a verse in the Bible that speaks against having fun with the kids and playing games if you can find that scripture please enlighten me. As a Shepherd there is nothing wrong with having fun with the sheep and having fun at church. Meanwhile kids can have fun else where like at school, their homes and etc. but not the church?😅 Christ is and always will be the center of it all. And if not then God will remove you himself. The real problem is that most parents don’t have a real relationship with God and they send their kids to church on a Sunday and Wednesday expecting leaders to raise their kids up in the ways of the Lord. But the Truth is that is the Parents primary job not the church’s. So you can keep jumping from church the church going from pastor to pastor, leader to leader and nothing with change. Until the parents start having Church at home and start being Pastors and leaders to their own children.❤ FYI everyone having fun is not a sin it is a gift from God because it is evidence of joy in your life and joy is a fruit of the spirit. If you’re serving God and not having fun while doing I will definitely be praying for you!❤️💯
no reason to dumb down church. the motivation for some young people is their quest for the truth. they want relationships as well, and the closer they can get to god, the more confidence and direction they'll have. otherwise, they'll get bored with the shallowness, and keep searching on their own.
Preach Justin!! Lord have mercy on him and America! Thank you for showing great 🙌🙏🏽boldness 😢
When the "church" looks more like the atmosphere of a night club or a rock concert, there's something very wrong!
Well my Church youth group always does a verse of the month and we memorize it. But yes there is also fun and having fun with people who love God should not be an issue. It’s not just about playing games we spend more time going over the Bible in groups.
Youth pastor here and I disagree with some of what this guy says. I definitely think there should be bible study etc in youth ministry. But there is a big thing about meeting people where they are. Jesus didn’t want us to put hurdles in the way of children coming to him. Jesus goes out of his way to find the lost sheep. We should build relationships with young people then be positive role models. Teach them through community. You don’t see Jesus running church services. He broke bread and ate with his disciples. Taught from a place of community. If we are to disciple these young people we should eat “pizza” with them. But we need to also introduce them to Christ. Not just leave it as a club
Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.
A.W. Tozer
Thank you for exposing this as I have been concerned about this very much lately .Gods Word is not the centre-just added on if convenient and doesn’t interfere with the GAMES.The last 30 years and the Seeker movement has ruined us.I am not talking about a MEGA church here either. Satan has seduced our youth leaders and young people that life is all about FUN and NOT sacrifice and NOT living in the LIGHT of Gods Word.Yes it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the Parents to live out the Christian life before them but it is the responsibility of the church to SUPPORT them in this.
This look like college behavior.
You're on to something, but you seem to be mistaking the real problem. The fun and games are not the problem. There are plenty of churches who are doing all of the things you are denouncing and still having great impact and seeing genuine discipleship. But it is true that you will never entertain kids into the kingdom and it's not the games that get them to stick. In that way, we need to stop treating them like consumers, and stop trying to compete with the world to get them to buy our "product" over theirs. This is a losing battle and not God's way. Young people today need deep meaningful relationships with adults and they need the truth.
They make it fun because no one wants to attend. Same reason they changed their music to lure in the kids
I GO TO CHURCH TO LEARN ABOUT THE BIBLE OR GOD . NOT JUMP UP AND DOWN ,OR HAVE SOMEBODY TELL UNGODLY WAS TO ACT . FALSE CHURCHS
I think the young people are looking for the real God. Not religion. Just like the sixties kids see the hypocrisy of the Church. Some Churches try to attract young people threw different methods, there's nothing wrong with that. My Pastor has an open gym on Sunday evening after Church for anyone in the community. That brings out about a dozen young people who don't go to Church. Some have been coming to Church because they like what's going on on the court. We see revival on college campuses which is great. But the judgemental sticks in the mud hate that as well. Worship music should serve two purposes, one, give worship unto The Lord an give Glory., two, Connect the worshipper to The Spirit of God.
It's concerning to hear critiques like this then have them quote Bible verses that are quite literally not in the Bible. Then, cite a Bible verse that kinda says that but when looking at the context is not at all talking about what he's saying. While good points are raised here and I agree with a lot that is said, these hard shell "traditional,"un-nuanced takes are what is just as wrong with the church today as the issues that he raised. I know many that would take great offense to the insinuation that because someone preaches in jeans rather than a suit doesn't teach the Bible, disciple, or do church in small groups. Some of the churches that I know that do these things the best are "hip."
In the last days there will be two churches, the church of laodacia and the church of Philadelphia.
The laodacian church is the physical wordly institution you see now.
The church of Philadelphia is Christs church, its not a building, it's within you. Wherever believers are in this world, we are united in Christ. His Church can't be polluted or destroyed.
When I went to vacation bible, we study the word. They are being stumbling block, ending in hell.
I saw a so called youth group church event that had the girls swallow living goldfish whole.
This is all very true, but you can learn the Bible and have fun sometimes too.
My pastor wears blue jeans 7 days a week and he preaches a far more solid biblically based sermon than most pastors who are dressed to the nines and/or vested.
Years ago, my church was interviewing a candidate for youth pastor. The board had already recommended him, and now it was time for the congregation to ask questions. Most of the questions were inane, about the kind of movies he would show, the activities he planned for the youth, and so on. I decided to jump into the fire and began to ask theological questions.
What do you believe about the Bible, and what about the nature of God? What are your views on spiritual gifts? Can you explain the incarnation? What was accomplished by the atonement? And others I considered fundamental. His answers were vague at best and just wrong at worst, bordering on heresy.. Of course, the church ignored me and hired him. After the meeting, a lady confronted me, saying I was unloving and stating that he was hired to take care of the kids and he did not need to know all this "theology stuff.".
Honestly I think it's extremely common for young people to wander from the church for a bit, but if there is a strong foundation they will come back. People always ask what they did wrong, as if playing games and worshipping to contemporary Christian music is a problem. Maybe they didn't do anything wrong. Maybe straying for a bit is necessary and normal. My church made sure we memorized scripture and it has stuck with me all these years later. Many people I grew up with strayed and came back to the church as well. Worship style and having too much fun at church have absolutely nothing to with it.
You can have some fun… just make sure you're sharing truth !!
This is very sad stuffy arrogant ",Christians" ripping on you name it …fun , music , dress.
Modern day Pharosee's.
we just played this game at youth group tonight 0:12
Truth
All do respect my brothers and sisters but Most of y’all have never taught a class or preach to a youth group in your life but are quick to judge people who have . The weight of having the responsibility to lead kids to Christ in the world we live in today is very difficult. As a youth pastor I’ve have never seen a verse in the Bible that speaks against having fun with the kids and playing games if you can find that scripture please enlighten me. As a Shepherd there is nothing wrong with having fun with the sheep and having fun at church. Meanwhile kids can have fun else where like at school, their homes and etc. but not the church?😅 Christ is and always will be the center of it all. And if not then God will remove you himself. The real problem is that most parents don’t have a real relationship with God and they send their kids to church on a Sunday and Wednesday expecting leaders to raise their kids up in the ways of the Lord. But the Truth is that is the Parents primary job not the church’s. So you can keep jumping from church the church going from pastor to pastor, leader to leader and nothing with change. Until the parents start having Church at home and start being Pastors and leaders to their own children.❤ FYI everyone having fun is not a sin it is a gift from God because it is evidence of joy in your life and joy is a fruit of the spirit. If you’re serving God and not having fun while doing I will definitely be praying for you!❤️💯