What should every parent expect from a Biblical youth ministry?  In August of 2010, I posted a short and somewhat simple response to this question.  Hopefully this will be a good refresher.

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There are three main areas that a parent should see their child growing in, as it relates to the ministry of the church.

Is the teen growing in his or her relationship with the Lord? Is your teen challenged weekly to walk with the Lord? Do you see a greater desire for dedication or devotion to the LORD as a result of the youth ministries’ influence?

Is your teen growing in their relationship with you [the parent]? A strong Biblical youth ministry will emphasize Biblical truth, and one key truth is submission and obedience to Godly authority, beginning in the home.

Lastly, is your teen growing in his or her relationship with the pastor of that church? The Lord Jesus Christ gave pastors to lead churches. The youth pastor is simply and extension of the pastor of that local body.

If you would like to see what is being emphasized and put into the heart of your teen at youth services on Sundays and Wednesdays, listen to your teens speak, when they do not know your are listening. What are they talking about when they leave church or youth events? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh! What is in the heart is what has been allowed in through the eye-gate and the ear-gate. When your teen walks into the youth ministry or the church, they are immediately influenced in one way or another. Be honest with God and with yourself. If the social aspect is highlighted above God and His Word, there is something truly wrong.