Developing Critical Thinking Skills with our GenZ Friends

Remember when many of us were concerned about consuming misinformation through Facebook? Your aunt or uncle shared some “news” that was absolutely alarming to them but you probably saw it for what it was, some “disinformation.” Well gone are the days when we had to worry about disinformation on Facebook (at least I hope they are gone). Unfortunately, there is another social media platform that is a source of news—and disinformation—for millions: Tik Tok.

A study published by the Pew Research Center last month revealed some interesting trends. “Among adults, those ages 18 to 29 are most likely to say they regularly get news on TikTok. About a third of Americans in this age group (32%) say they regularly get news there, a higher share than in years before. This compares with 15% of those ages 30 to 49, 7% of those 50 to 64 and just 3% of those 65 and older.” If such a large percentage of adults are regularly getting news through Tik Tok you can only imagine the percentage of teenage GenZers are getting news through there as well. If you guessed that percentage was high, you’d be right. A study in the UK confirmed that Tik Tok was the highest consumed news of source for teens. If that trend mirrors percentage of users in the US (66% of teens use Tik Tok, 62% use Instagram, and 59% use Snapchat) then it’s safe to assume that Tik Tok is also the most consumed news source for teens in the US.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Who is using Tik Tok?

For example, roughly eight-in-ten Black teens (81%) say they use TikTok, compared with 71% of Hispanic teens and 62% of White teens. (There were not enough Asian teens in the sample to analyze separately.)

Teens’ use of certain social media platforms also varies by gender. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to report using TikTok (73% vs. 60%), Instagram (69% vs. 55%) and Snapchat (64% vs. 54%). Boys are more likely than girls to report using YouTube (97% vs. 92%), Twitch (26% vs. 13%) and Reddit (20% vs. 8%). (Report from Pew)

What’s the Issue?

Misleading edits, fake news stories and deepfake images make the rounds on Tik Tok and easily go viral as the algorithm continues to push the most engaged with trends. “When we enter this kind of world, where things are being manipulated or can be manipulated, then we can simply dismiss inconvenient facts,” said Hany Farid, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who sits on TikTok’s content advisory council. Sometimes the misinformation is harmless—Did Taylor Swift Really Dump Travis Kelce? I sure hope not—other times the misinformation has a significant impact on what things teens rally behind and how they interact with fellow classmates and adults in their lives. Tik Tok acknowledges the presence of videos that “that mislead users by distorting the truth of events and cause significant harm to the subject of the video, other persons or society.” All of this sounds bleak. So, what are we to do? As someone who has close relationships with kids you can use your relationship to help instill critical thinking skills which will not only help them as they consume social media—specifically news on social media—but also the skills that will transfer into other areas of life like school, the workforce, and adulthood in general.

The next time a teen shares an interesting piece of news with you—whether you think it is 100% factual or whether you think it might contain some misinformation—I would encourage you to remember the following truth:

Consumption requires reflection.

You can adopt the following paradigm—P.A.C.E.—to encourage reflection:

P-Pause: Are we assuming that what we are seeing is correct? Pause before deciding and jumping to conclusions.

A-Ask: Emotionally, why am I reacting to this news? What would be different if this news were true? What would be different if it weren’t true?

C-Curiosity: What good reasons might someone who disagrees with this have for disagreeing? How can I put myself in their shoes? What, if anything, would someone have to gain by hyping this news up or exaggerating about it?

E-Engage: If this is true, what do I need to do about it? What is a reasonable response? What responsibilities do I have to do something?

This P.A.C.E paradigm can be especially helpful as viral videos come out regarding major, world-changing events. By helping teens reflect and respond appropriate you help set them up not only to be good teenage consumers of media but you set them up for a lifetime of being careful, critical, but charitable thinkers.

Building on MLK’s Legacy

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at the times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo by Mark Stebnicki on Pexels.com

On Monday we honored the work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The quote cited above could just as well be applied to King himself. Unwilling to stand in comfort and convenience, King stepped up as a leader in the most challenging of times. Over the last few days you might have read the pledge that King required everyone who marched with him in Birmingham to sign. It begins with the pledge to “Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.” King’s work for racial equality and racial reconciliation was grounded on the teachings of the Jewish Messiah who reconciled the world to Godself. King asked that his partners would “Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.” Those who marched ought to “Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men (people) might be free.” If you haven’t read the pledge I would recommend doing so, it’s certainly worth the time to check it out and meditate upon it.

Besides meditating on these commitments, how might you honor King’s work and further God’s goal of reconciliation? Intervarsity Press’s @EveryVoiceNow offers the following suggestions:

1)Research and Receive Stories about the Civil Rights Movement: With an attitude of learning, engage with both written resources and real people. Initiate conversations on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in the lives of those in you your relational sphere.

2)Engage in communal reflection: Read and reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Challenge’s to the American church. Consider discussing his exhortations with your church community group. [I would add with your YL Mission Community!]

For additional resources see:

  • Letter From a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Welcoming Justice by Charles Marsh & John Perkins
  • Birmingham Revolution by Edward Gilbreath
  • Healing Conversations on Race by Veola Vazquez, Joshua Knabb, Charles Lee-Johnson, Krystal Hays
  • Letters to a Birmingham Jail edited by Bryan Loritts
  • Howard Thurman & the Disinherited by Paul Harvey
  • How Far to the Promised Land by Esau McCaulley

The Pledge the Participants in Birmingham Would Recite

  1. Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
  2. Remember always that the non—violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation — not victory.
  3. Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
  4. Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.
  5. Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
  6. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
  7. Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
  8. Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
  9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
    10.Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration

Favorite Book of 2023 + Books I Read

It’s that time of year again, the time for people to post the book’s they’ve read, to announce their favorite books, and to share with others the books they’ve loved. This year, because I’m working on a new book on the doctrine of atonement, I focused on reading books and lots articles on various theologians’ takes on atonement. The articles don’t show up here but those books do. Also, I moved into a new ministry role this year in Young Life, so there was a new focus on learning more about GenZ. In light of all of that, I present to you the forty-three books I read this year along with my favorite book of 2023!

Youth Ministry as Mission: A Conversation About Theology and Culture – Brian Hall and Patrick Mays

This book captured a lot of what I think about how to approach youth ministry. It emphasizes the missional nature of youth ministry, not only that it emphasizes the need for cross-cultural intelligence when dealing with generations other than one’s own. Written in dialogue with Lesslie Newbigin’s theology–and including a narrative element–this book invites youth ministers to approach their ministry as a missionary would: learning to listen, hearing the cultural narratives, coming alongside, being “incarnational,” etc. I originally started my time in seminary in a missiology program. Later I switched over to theology. In the final year of my PhD in Systematic Theology I went back and finished that missiology program that I had left incomplete. Given my missiological emphasis and my new role with Young Life this book was right up my alley.

A quote from one of the narrative sections captures the heart of the book:

“All the things we did in the Czech Republic we do here. We live among the people, we learn their language and culture, we craft ways to translate the gospel, and we find creative ways to articulate and embody the gospel that makes sense in this context where God has called and sent us.” (30)

What if youth ministers approached their ministry in this way? Imagine the fruit that would bear!

Now on to the books I read this year…

January

  1. Introducing Christology – Stephen Wellum
  2. Conservatism – Roger Scruton
  3. The Satisfied Life: Medieval Women Mystics on Atonement – Jane McAvoy
  4. Aspects of the Atonement – I. Howard Marshall
  5. The Women are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics – Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb
  6. Mapping Atonement: The Doctrine of Reconciliation in Christian History and Theology – William Witt and Joel Scandrett

February

  1. Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology – Margaret Turek
  2. Cultural Identity and the Purposes of God – Steven Bryan
  3. Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards – Uche Anizor and Kyle Strobel

March

  1. Timothy Keller: His Intellectual and Spiritual Formation – Collin Hansen
  2. Youth Ministry as Mission: A Conversation About Theology and Culture – Brian Hall and Patrick Mays
  3. Speaking Across Generations: Messages that Satisfy Boomers, Xers, Millennials, Gen Z and Beyond – Darrell Hall
  4. The Masters: Golf, Money, and Power in Augusta, Georgia – Curt Sampson

April

  1. On the Tree and the Cross: Georges Florovsky and the Patristic Doctrine of Atonement – Matthew Baker, Seraphim Dankaert, and Nicholas Marinides
  2. On Writing (and Writers) – C.S. Lewis
  3. Fans First: Change the Game, Break the Rules & Create an Unforgettable Experience – Jesse Cole

May

  1. Continental Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction – Simon Critchley
  2. Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population – Tim Elmore

June

  1. C.S. Lewis: A Very Short Introduction – Roger Clark
  2. Gospel Eldership – Robert Thune

July

  1. Managing Generation Z: How to Recruit, Onboard, Develop, and Retain the Newest Generation in the Workplace – Robin Paggi & Kat Clowes
  2. Prodigal God – Tim Keller

August

  1. Calvin on Sovereignty, Providence, and Predestination – Joel Beeke
  2. Golf is Not a Game of Perfect – Bob Rotella and Bob Cullen
  3. The Election of Grace: A Riddle without a Resolution? – Stephen N. Williams
  4. God has Chosen: The Doctrine of Election Through Christian History – Mark Lindsay
  5. The US Constitution: A Very Short Introduction – David Bodenhamer

September

  1. The Defining Decade – Meg Jay
  2. A Leader’s Guide to Unlocking Gen Z – Hannah Grady Williams
  3. On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living – Alan Noble

October

  1. Four Stages of Psychological Safety – Timothy Clark
  2. Atonement: An Introduction – Jeremy Treat

November

  1. Christianity and Science – Herman Bavinck
  2. Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America’s Future – Jean Twenge
  3. Christus Victor – Gustaf Aulen

December

  1. An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the Twenty First Century
  2. Jonathan Edwards on Genesis – Brian Borgman
  3. Into the Heart of Romans – N.T. Wright
  4. Postcoloniaism: A Very Short Introduction – Robert J.C. Young
  5. Atonement – Eleonore Stump
  6. Christian Philosophy as a Way of Life: An Invitation to Wonder – Ross Inman
  7. Advent – Tish Harrison Warren
  8. Christ and Horrors – Marilyn McCord Adams

Proclaim the Gospel!

What are Gen Zers looking for when it comes to hearing the good news proclaimed? How can we meet them where they are at when they’re faced with the gospel? How will this shape how you proclaim Christ?

A study conducted by the Barna Group between the months of December 2020 and January 2021 found that when Gen Z connected with a faith-based talk, the most important thing they were looking for was that they felt a personal connection to God. This was the top thing that GenZ was looking for, much like Millennials, but at a higher rate 48% vs. 37%. The second most essential outcome for them was that they “found it applicable to their life.” This was about the same as millennials (32% vs. 34% respectively).

GenZ’s emphasis on relationship is good news for us at Young Life; we are a highly relational ministry! That’s what we’ve always been about. On top of that we’ve always focused on the “person of Christ.” So, we are poised to speak in ways that are effective. I love how Darrell E. Hall puts it in his book, Speaking Across Generations: “Charisma does not matter as much to Zers. Being relational does. It’s possible to be a charismatic personality without being a relational person. Zers would prefer their preacher be a relational person than a charismatic personality.”

The Big Idea: According to Gen Z, What Makes a Good Talk? That it’s Highly Relational!

What does this mean for us?

  • As you plan a club talk or campaigner lesson, ask yourself: Which aspect of Christ’s relational nature am I highlighting? E.g., Authenticity, Faithfulness, Safety, Inclusion, Comfort, etc.
  • Are you building the relational equity necessary to be heard? In other words, are you earning the right to be heard before you give a club talk or a campaigner lesson?
  • Open up to Luke 8:40-56. How many relational adjectives can you use to describe Jesus?
  • Sit down with your next club talk. What is the core relational truth you are talking about?
  • Listen to a club talk. Can you identify the relational theme?

“Belonging” Resource – CQ Conversations

The Bible beautifully weaves together various images and metaphors to illuminate the identity of God’s people. Whether portrayed as a body, a marriage, or a building, these vivid depictions help us grasp who we are. Among these images, one especially stands out in current cultural landscape: Family.

“I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:18).

“Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matt. 12:49-50).

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

When a family thrives there is a sense of safety and belonging. Unfortunately, not all have experienced safety and belonging within their families of origin. Even worse, some have yet to experience that feeling of belonging within the family of God. It is God’s desire for us—be it through church interactions, missions, or collaboration with fellow Christians in ministry—to feel that we belong, because ultimately we belong to Him.

In the ministry I work for, Young Life, we say we’re committed to the concept of “belonging” but sometimes it can be hard to know how to move towards a greater sense of feeling like we truly belong and making others—staff, volunteers, and kids—feel like they really belong. I’m sure that the ministry you may be a part of would say the same thing! In light of that I’m offering this monthly Belonging Resource. We’ll cover things like Cultural Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Diversity, Equity, and a host of other topics that can help us move towards a deeper sense of belonging.

This month I’m recommending a podcast episode. It’s not very long but I think it’s worth the time! In it you’ll be introduced to CQ—something I’m well aware that you might already be familiar with—and you’ll be posed with a question that might be useful for sparking some interesting conversation.

In this podcast episode you’ll hear a question posed about the courage to be your authentic self. This is ultimately a question about belonging. 

“How much courage is required for me to be my authentic self on this team?”

You might want to process that question with the teams you lead and the teams you are a part of. You might even want to reflect on how the kids you lead answer that question for your ministry. Remember, though, this is a question that demands vulnerability and safety to answer honestly. But if you set that tone when you ask it, I bet you’ll get some thought-provoking answers that will help you move towards a space where people won’t feel the need to feel courage to be who they really are. And that will lead to a greater sense of belonging.

T.F. Torrance and Evangelical Theology Podcast

Luke Stamps and I talk with Jordan from the London Lyceum about T.F. Torrance and evangelical theology. We cover topics like: Why don’t most evangelicals know him? How does Torrance relate to evangelical theology? Differences? Similarities? What does Torrance think about atonement? What about theosis? And much more.

You can find the podcast here: London Lyceum

You can find the book here: T.F. Torrance and Evangelical Theology

Favorite Book of 2022 + Books I Read

This year I focused on reading books and articles on the doctrine of creation, theological anthropology, vocation, and prayer. However, I still went back to my first love: Doctrine of Atonement. In light of that, I present to you my favorite book of 2022!

Rethinking the Atonement New Perspectives on Jesus’s Death, Resurrection, and Ascension by David Moffit

The blurbs on the back of the book should be enough to catch any reader’s attention. Richard Hays says that this book “compels us to rethink what we thought about the New Testament.” Amy Peeler writes that Moffitt has changed how she conceives of her faith. Kevin Vanhoozer calls this book a “Copernican Revolution” in atonement theology. Alan Torrance declares Rethinking Atonement to be “field changing.” Can a book really live up to that level of praise? While I’m not ready to join those top-scholars in how they extol the virtues of this book I’m more than willing to say that this book really led me to consider some key elements of how atonement happens. This book makes a forceful case for thinking about atonement in a broader sense—including the entire atoning work of Christ, from incarnation to ascension, and not just the work of the cross—without ignoring the narrower sense of atonement. This is actually something I’ve written about elsewhere, so I really appreciated the exegetical arguments Moffitt makes for a broader sense of atonement. However, what really gave me something to ponder—and I’m guessing it is what the scholars who endorsed this book are referring to—is that the heart of atonement, where atonement climaxes is Jesus’s work as the heavenly high priest that happens in the heavenly holy of holies. As Moffitt writes, “Hebrews’ emphasis on Jesus’s living presence in heaven—the location where the author consistently claims Jesus made his offering—implies that it is not the death/slaughter of Jesus that atones [he means the “narrow sense”] but the presentation of his life before God in the heavenly holy of holies.” (98) To be honest, I’m not sure what I make of these claims. Nevertheless this has served as the most provocative, and exegetically robust, account of atonement I’ve read in years.

Fuller Seminary’s Library

Now on to the books I read this year…

Total Books Read in 2022: 48

January

1.Recovering our Confessional Heritage – James Renihan

2.An Orthodox Catechism – Hercules Collins

3.God without Passions: A Primer – Samuel Renihan

4.Divine Ideas – Thomas Ward

5.Accessible Atonement: Disability, Theology, and the Cross of Christ – David McLachlan

6.Gentle and Lowly – Dane Ortlund

7.Plain Theology for Plain People – Charles Octavius Boothe

February

8.Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World – David Livermore

9.The Good News of our Limits – Sean McGever

10.On the Priesthood – John Chrysostom

March

11.Deeper – Dane Ortlund

12.Axioms of Religion – E.Y. Mullins

13.Refutation of the Heretical Doctrine by the Rev. Edward Irving Respecting the Person and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ – J. A. Haldane

April

14.Why I am a Baptist – Tom Nettles & Russell Moore

15.Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer – Joel Beeke and Brian Najapfour

16.You are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World – Alan Noble

May

17.Believing Philosophy: A Guide to Becoming a Christian Philosopher – Delores Morris

18.Metaphysics – Anna Marmodoro and Erasmus Mayr

19.From Chaos to Cosmos – Sidney Greidanus

20.Planting a Church Without Losing Your Soul: Nine Questions for the Spiritually Formed Pastor – Tim Morey

21.Monotheism and the Rise of Science – J.L. Schellenberg

22.Gospel Fluency – Jeff Vanderstelt

June

23.Empower: 4 Keys to Leading a Volunteer Movement – Jeff Martin

24.Preaching for the Rest of Us – Rob Gallaty and Steven Smith

25.The Trinity: An Introduction – Scott Swain

July

26.What Great Ministry Leaders Get Right – Jimmy Dodd and Renaut van der Riet

27.A Discourse Concerning God’s Act of Adoption – Anne Dutton

28.How to Be a Patriotic Christian – Richard Mouw

August

29.Why I am a Christian – John Stott

30.Junipero Serra: California’s Founding Father – Steven Hackel

31.Becoming Human: Meditation on Anthropology in Word and Image – John Behr

September

32.Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith – Adam Christopher

33.Eastern Orthodoxy and Science – Christopher Knight

October

34.Jonathan Edwards and Deification – James Salladin

35.Uncovering Calvin’s God: John Calvin on Predestination and the Love of God – Forrest H. Buckner

36.What is Experiential Calvinism? – Ian Hamilton

November

37.God and Abstract Objects – Einar Duenger Bohn

38.Liturgy in the Wilderness: How the Lord’s Prayer Shapes the Imagination of the Church in a Secular Age – D.J. Marotta

39.You Need a Better Gospel: Reclaiming the Good News of Participation with Christ – Klyne Snodgrass

40.Cultural Intelligence: Living for God in a Diverse, Pluralistic World – Daniel Bock

41.Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself) – David Zahl

December

42.Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation – Parker Palmer

43.Rethinking Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus’s Death, Resurrection, and Atonement – David Moffitt

44.Resolving Everyday Conflict – Ken Sande

45.The Call, 20th Anniversary Edition – Os Guinness

46.Your Calling Here and Now: Making Sense of Vocation – Gordon T. Smith

47.Divine Missions – Adonis Vidu

48.Exploring the Glory of God: New Horizons for a Theology of Glory – Adesola Joan Akala

Leading a Young Life Cabin Time: Before Cabin Time Eat, Pray, Love, Look…

Eat. Think about snacks. Why snacks? What kind of snacks? Will crinkly candy wrappers and crunchy potato chips be a distraction in your cabin?

Pray. Paul instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). So when it comes to cabin time when should pray? Right when you start? At the end of the meeting? Yes, but more than that… Pray on your way to club, during club, and as you head back to cabin time. What should you be praying for? Pray that the Holy Spirit will move in kids’ hearts, provide you with wisdom, and guide conversations.

Love. The depth you are looking for in cabin time is built on a foundation of trust. If the kids don’t trust you then you’ll get a bunch of surface level responses to your questions. [This also applies to how much the kids trust one another in the group.] If you’re taking leaders to camp who do not know kids well, do something together before getting on the bus. Give new leaders an opportunity to learn kids’ names, and give kids an opportunity to feel comfortable around leaders. Cabin time starts before you even get on the bus… Still, the bus is a great opportunity for developing a foundation for cabin time. Why do you think that’s so? What could you do on the trip to camp?

Look. Look over questions before club. Then, as you listen to the talk, think about which cabin time questions will be best for your group. You may not need to ask every question provided, but know that the speaker has suggested these questions knowing the details of the talk.

Leading a Young Life Cabin Time: Cabin Time Problems

Cabin time is such a crucial time at Young Life camp; it’s where kids get to process the talks they’re hearing and ultimately process their response to the gospel. Sadly, some of our cabin times can get a bit derailed. Here are some issues that you might want to be aware of. Keep these in mind as you lead cabin times this summer.

Problem 1: I’m not safe here. A student might not verbalize this but you might figure it out based on their body language or even some other things they say. You might just know that they feel that way because of who else is in the cabin! Emphasize that this is a safe place to share. How can you do that? One suggestion: Clearly state the “Vegas rule” of cabin time: What’s said here, stays here.” (Aside from mandated reporter type situations, so keep that in mind.) Students don’t have to share their deepest things with the entire group, but as a small group leader, encourage them to talk with someone with whom they feel safe.

Problem 2: No Time to Think. Our tendency is to answer the questions we ask. Two seconds of silence can seem like an eternity. A good practice is to ask a question and then mentally count to five. It will seem awkward at first, but it will allow for people to think and answer when they are ready.

Problem 3: You don’t go with the flow. If discussion is going great on some question, don’t force the cabin to move on to the next question just for the sake of the agenda. Go with your kids and dig deeper into the areas with which they connect. That’s what processing is all about. You can only know where your kids are at and understand the direction of the conversation if you are giving full attention to the group. As the cabin time leader, do not plan your next question or your next announcement while students are sharing. Let your students’ responses shape the movement of the discussion. Be a good and compassionate listener, and be ready to care for students who express hurt, uncertainty or strong emotion related to their own journey.

Problem 4: (I don’t get what you’re asking) Confusing Questions. If you wait several seconds and it seems no one understands the question, then you can rephrase it, but do so carefully. Keep the small group discussion questions open-ended. Do not answer it or change it to a “yes or no” question. Questions with one-word answers do not promote processing. For example:

If the question is, “After what you saw today, how do you feel?”

Do not rephrase it to “Do you feel sad about what you saw?”

Instead, rephrase it to “What do you think about what you saw today?” (This helps students transfer abstract feelings to concrete thoughts and keeps it open to a wide range of possible answers.)

Problem 5: Derailed Conversations. Abandoning your plan when kids are engaged in great group discussion is fine, but be aware of the tone of the conversation and redirect if your small group wanders into unhelpful territory. As the cabin time leader you should pull the conversation back by gently jumping in (trying not to interrupt but waiting for a break) and refocusing the conversation.

Discussions have a tendency to go off the rails. As the leader you have to take responsibility and ownership for guiding the conversation. You don’t want to be too rigid, but you can’t hesitate to speak up and provide direction, bringing the group back to the topic at hand.

What are some reasons that cabin times get derailed?

Personalities

Long answers

Disagreement between two people

Bad theology

Gossip

Unrelated tangents

Phrases for bringing the conversation back…

  • Let’s hold on that for the moment, but I want to hear more about that from you after our meeting.
  • I’d love to hear more about that when we’re done, but I want to make sure we have time for others to share on this topic right now.
  • Thanks for sharing! Many people feel the same way. On the other hand, many Scriptures point to . . .
  • Thanks for sharing! Many people have the same question. There are many scholars who interpret that Scripture to mean . . .
  • Thanks for sharing! I have a few more thoughts I’d like to share with you about that after we’re done tonight. In the meantime, does anyone else want to chime in?

Problem 6: Forced Answers. There’s a time to teach and a time to listen. Before you or your fellow leaders jump in with the right answer, let students grapple with hard questions on their own. Injecting your answers into discussion will silence productive conversation.

Problem 7: I’m not respected by my leader. I’ve seen small groups where someone shares and the leader moves on to the next person or question with little to no acknowledgement of what was just said. After you’ve listened to what they have to say, let them know you heard them. Engage with each member’s contribution, and affirm what they’ve shared. Here are some ways to do that:

  • “Thanks for sharing that!”
  • “That’s really good!”
  • “What I hear you saying is . . .”
  • “Can you tell me more about that?”
  • “Thank you for your honesty.”

This is a small way that you can reward the people in your group for their participation. It makes them feel heard, valued, safe, and encouraged to share again.

What are some other ways that a kid might feel disrespected by a leader?

I wasn’t followed up on. After the discussion is over, don’t miss your opportunity to follow up with students about what they said. Ask a student if he still has questions. Invite further conversation. Tell a student that you appreciated what she said. Small group discussions can lead to incredible one-on-one conversations.

Conclusion

Of course there are other things that can go wrong in cabin time but these are just a few examples of things that you might want to keep in mind as you get ready to lead cabin time at camp this summer.

New Testament Commentaries Written by Women

There’s no shortage of good commentaries written by men (and also, tbh, some really bad ones). However, we miss out on something vital when we ignore the voice of women as they read and interpret the Scriptures for us. Because we’re left impoverished if we don’t hear women’s voices when studying the Bible for our club talks I offer to you a list of my favorite commentaries and New Testament resources written by women.

Commentaries on The Gospels

In Young Life we are in the gospels on a weekly basis. Because of that I recommend having some commentaries on the Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The NIV Application commentary series is my favorite for YL. There is also one called the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series which is really affordable. A one volume set you could invest in is the Expositor’s Commentary – Abridged New Testament. Besides these general commentaries I’d recommend the following ones written by women on the gospels. The ones marked by “***” are the ones I would ESPECIALLY recommend.

Matthew

  1. Matthew: Two Horizons – Jeannine Brown and Kyle Roberts
  2. The Sermon on the Mount – Jen Wilkin

Mark

  1. Gospel of Mark: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture – Mary Healey

Luke

  1. Luke: New Covenant Commentary Series – Diane Chen***
  2. Spiritual Practices of Jesus: Learning Simplicity, Humility, and Prayer with Luke’s Earliest Readers – Catherine Wright

John

  1. John: New Testament Library – Marianne Meye Thompson***
  2. Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John: A Literary and Theological Commentary – Alicia Myers
  3. Discovering John: Content, Interpretation, Reception – Ruth Edwards

Other New Testament Resources

These books are either written by women or have useful chapter written by women:

  1. Africa Bible Commentary – Tokunboh Adeyemo
  2. When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul – Beverly Gaventa***
  3. Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Sermons from Paul’s Letter to the Romans – Fleming Rutledge
  4. 2 Corinthians: Story of God Bible Commentary – Judith Diehl
  5. Galatians: Understanding the Bible – L. Ann Jervis
  6. Ephesians: New Covenant Commentary – Lynn Cohick***
  7. Philippians: New Covenant Commentary – Linda Belleville
  8. Philippians: Story of God Bible Commentary – Lynn Cohick***
  9. Colossians: Two Horizons – Marianne Meye Thompson
  10.  Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire – Sylvia Keesmaat and Brian Walsh
  11. Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles – Karen Jobes

If you have any other suggestions I’d love to hear them below!