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Student Discipleship, Honestly
Articles for youth pastors, Christian school leaders and parents on helping students move from knowing about Jesus to knowing Him for real. By David Anes.
Why do students who grow up in church or Christian school walk away from faith?Are They Owning It? Why Students Who Know the Answers Still Walk AwayMost students in youth group and Christian school know the right answers. The question is whether their faith has become their own. David Anes on the gap between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him for real.
What does Romans 12:2 mean for how we disciple teenagers?Mind Renewal, Not Behavior Management: What Romans 12:2 Means for Student DiscipleshipMost student ministry drifts toward managing behavior. Romans 12:2 aims somewhere deeper. David Anes on why real change in students starts with the way they think.
How do I fit a discipleship series into chapel, Bible class or advisory, without a Bible specialist on staff?How to Run a Ten-Week Discipleship Series in a Christian SchoolA practical guide for Christian school leaders on running a ten-week discipleship series in chapel, Bible class or advisory, including scheduling, who can lead it, and how to involve parents.
Should middle schoolers and high schoolers use the same discipleship curriculum?Middle School and High School Discipleship: What Changes and What Doesn'tSixth graders and seniors need the same truth, but not the same delivery. David Anes on what should stay the same and what should change when discipling middle school and high school students.
How do you teach a teenager to hear God's voice?Helping Students Learn to Hear GodMost students think hearing God is for super-Christians, or means an audible voice that will never come. Jesus describes something far more ordinary. David Anes on teaching students to recognize God's voice through the noise.
How do I choose a discipleship curriculum for my youth group or Christian school?Choosing a Youth Discipleship Curriculum: Questions Worth AskingA fair guide for youth pastors and Christian school leaders choosing a student discipleship curriculum: nine questions that separate material that informs from material that transforms.
What does knowing Jesus personally mean beyond knowing the facts about Him?Knowing About Jesus Is Not the Same as Knowing JesusKnowing Jesus grows through trust, prayer and obedience rooted in Scripture. How to help students respond to Him without measuring faith by emotion.
How can parents and leaders help students personally trust the faith they have been taught?Borrowed Faith vs. Owned Faith: When Does a Student's Faith Become Their Own?Inherited faith can become deeply personal. Help students ask honest questions, trust Jesus and take responsibility without forcing a crisis or a performance.
How can leaders help students recognize everyday influences and bring them under the truth of Scripture?Something Is Shaping Them: Who Is Discipling Your Students?Students learn what matters through screens, friendships and adult examples. A practical way to recognize those lessons and respond through Scripture.
How can we help students continue following Jesus when school, youth group or family routines change?Will Their Faith Survive When the Structure Is Gone?Help students carry faith into a changed routine through Scripture, honest prayer, church community and a thoughtful transition beyond youth group or school.
What does one surrendered step look like when God is the one who transforms us?One Degree Changes Everything: Why Transformation Begins With One Surrendered StepOne surrendered step is a response to God's grace. Learn to name a concrete act of obedience without turning transformation into a self-improvement project.