Postmodern Youth Ministry

Slide 1: postmodern youth ministry: connecting a changing generation to an unchanging message

Slide 2: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Every generation is formed by and reacts against those who came before. Postmodernism is formed by but is a reaction against the modern world view.

Slide 3: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Individualism Community Absolutism Relativism

Slide 4: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Two Key Elements of Postmodern Youth-Ministry Relationships Stories

Slide 5: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Why Relationships are Important in Youth Ministry Relationships establish community/belonging Relationships establish credibility

Slide 6: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Types of Relationships in Student Ministries Adult to Adult Modeling Adult to Student Molding Student to Student Motivating

Slide 7: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Five Levels of Relationships 1. A foundation of Trust 2. Ground rules of Honesty and Acceptance 3. Structure of a Covenant

Slide 8: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Five Levels of Relationships 4. Ongoing Accountability 5. A Shared Vision and Purpose

Slide 9: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Building a Relational Community for Students Know your students Allow your students to know you Love your students tangibly

Slide 10: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Building a Relational Community for Students Enforce a “safe community” Create a communal environment Keep your focus and perspective

Slide 11: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Why Stories are Important in Youth Ministry Stories help us know ourselves and those around us better. God chose to communicate to us through a story

Slide 12: postmodern youth ministry: a changing generation Using Stories to Communicate Truth This is my story. What is your story? This is God’s story? What is your story?

Slide 13: postmodern youth ministry: Connecting a Ch a ng ing G e ne ra tion to an Unchanging Message