feature articles
Stand-Up Jesus
by Mark Gladman
As a stand-up comedian, one of the questions I’m constantly asked is, “Who is your favorite comedian?” I have many to choose from, but my answer is somewhat out of the ordinary: Jesus Christ.
The idea of Jesus as a comedian might seem a little unusual, even heretical or disrespectful. But the more I read the Gospels, the more firmly I conclude that Jesus was probably the most effective user of humor and comedy than any communicator who’s ever walked the planet.
I also believe that Jesus was one of the most fun leaders in history. While not necessarily obvious in the….
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The Purpose of Doctrine
by Enuma Okoro
Lessons from the Master of Humor and Fun
When I was a full-time youth minister, I sought to teach kids to love Jesus, read the Bible as much as they could, and consider how their faiths affected their actions. Like most youth workers, I suppose.
But if someone had asked me eight years ago if I were teaching Christian doctrine, I probably would’ve shaken my head knowingly and—with a deep sigh suggesting all the hard work of guiding youth—answered, “No, we’re not there yet.” (And then I would’ve locked myself in my office and frantically researched the teaching of doctrine.)
Doctrine. It sounds….
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Sort, Keep, and Toss
by Justin Spurlock
A Road through the Resource Pile
A few years back, a ministry colleague came into my office, took one look around and scoffed, “Maybe we should meet in my office!”
Although I was aware of the mess, I didn’t realize the piles of garbage on my desk and around my office felt chaotic to others. After the meeting, I reentered my office with a new eye.
Most of the piles consisted of youth ministry products that I’d received from one company or another. I believed all of this “stuff” would be helpful to me at some point in the future; what I didn’t….
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archived
February 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - Lessons From A Holy Man | February 22, 2010
- - Building a Paradigm for Your Ministry | February 20, 2010
- - The Confirmation Teacher/Mentor | February 20, 2010
March 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - A Window to Our Students’ Souls | March 10, 2010
- - Living in Post-Easter Mode | March 10, 2010
- - Leading Past Your Liabilities | March 10, 2010
- - Engaging Parents | March 10, 2010
- - A Sharpened Focus | March 10, 2010
April 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - Experimenting With Jesus | April 22, 2010
- - Creating A Hunger To Serve | April 22, 2010
- - Southern Soul Food | April 22, 2010
- - Doctrine as a Scripting Agent | April 20, 2010
- - Revealed or Concealed? | April 19, 2010
- - Play as a Theological Value | April 9, 2010
May 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - Generation Justice | May 19, 2010
- - Open Hands | May 19, 2010
- - Tossing Aside The Tract | May 19, 2010
- - 10 Ways To Connect Youth To Adults | May 17, 2010
- - Professional Youth Ministry: A Changing Landscape | May 12, 2010
- - Parents Who Fight, Kids Who Hurt | May 12, 2010
June 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - What's So Great About A Balanced Life? | June 17, 2010
- - Discovering Jesus on the Lower East Side | June 17, 2010
- - The Paradox of Phariseeism | June 17, 2010
- - Teaching Senior Highers How To Think Critically | June 4, 2010
- - Does Jesus Love Americans More Than Mexicans? | June 4, 2010
- - Helping Grown Ups Hang In There | June 4, 2010
- - Justice For The Uncool | June 4, 2010
- - Becoming Physically Present | June 4, 2010
- - What Isn't Persecution? | June 4, 2010
July 2010 (View complete archive page)
- - A Letter To My Parents | July 1, 2010
- - Indoctrinated or Educated? | July 1, 2010
- - Becoming the justice generation | July 1, 2010
- - Discipleship, Step By Step | July 1, 2010










