Lecture 10: Issues to Consider

All right. Lecture 10: Issues to Consider.

I suppose I could have said problems to consider, but I don’t know if all of them are problems.

I had the opportunity to lead a youth group while I was in seminary. I spent a year in the Philippines teaching youth at a Bible college. In my first church, I was not only the lead pastor, but I was also in charge of the youth group—or at least the spiritual part of it.

So, I know from experience that things come up. Some of the things that come up in youth ministry, you can’t predict. That’s just the way life is.

So, I tried to pick out some major things that I think would be helpful for you to think about ahead of time—before they come up—so that you’re not completely caught off guard and so you have at least some idea of what you might do.

So, let’s just dive in.

1. Mental Health Issues

Many young people struggle with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, and the pressures of academics, social expectations, social media, and life transitions.

Of course, everyone experiences these things at some point—regardless of age. But in that window of youth, these struggles often become amplified.

This is the stage of life where kids are trying to figure out who they are. They’re not children anymore, but they’re not quite adults yet. They have no idea who they really are.

They live in the land of Who knows what’s going to happen?
They live in the land of All things are possible!

And they don’t yet have the experience to know that:

  • Things happen, and then they don’t happen.
  • Friends come, and friends go.
  • What seems so important one day may not matter the next.

I just had my 50-year high school class reunion.

Back in my senior year, I was the drum major in the marching band. At the start of our program, they would call my name, and I would prance through the other band members, come out to the 50-yard line, and jump in the air before landing.

One rainy day, the band director warned me: Be careful. The grass is wet.

I thought, Yeah, I’ll be careful when I land.

So, when my name was called, I came marching out with the cymbals crashing. I jumped in the air… and when I pressed my foot down to launch myself up—I slipped.

Right in front of everybody.

I thought, This is the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

And in the second half of the game, when we started our program again, people actually stayed to watch—just to see if I’d fall again! People even wrote about it in my yearbook.

And yet, at my 50-year reunion?

Not one person mentioned it.

Not one.

That’s the thing about youth—you think everything is about you.

Everything is either the best or the worst.

And kids don’t yet know that life is full of ups and downs. They’re just experiencing it for the first time.

So, as a youth leader, you need to be that calming presence. You need to walk with them, give them a space to talk, and help them see that yes, negative things happen—but it’s going to be okay.

That’s part of the Christian walk.

With God, there’s always a plan.

And that’s the message you keep repeating—through examples, through testimonies, through your own life:

"You are a loved and gifted child of God. No matter what happens, God will use both the good and the bad to shape you into the person He created you to be."

2. Substance Abuse

Substance abuse—including alcohol and drug use—continues to be a major concern among youth.

Why do kids use substances?

  • Peer pressure. Everyone else is doing it.
  • Experimentation. I just wanted to try it.
  • Escape. I feel stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed.

It’s readily available. It’s like candy—offered everywhere. Some kids try it just once, but others get worn down over time and give in.

3. Broken Homes

At least 40–50% of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce.

That means a huge number of young people are growing up in two households with two different sets of rules, bouncing back and forth, trying to figure out who they are in the middle of it all.

Parents tell their kids:
"Just because Mom and Dad are divorcing doesn’t mean we don’t love you."

But for the kid, they think:
"You pledged love to each other, and that fell apart. How do I trust what you’re saying to me?"

Divorce shakes their security.

4. Lack of Purpose

Our culture has become increasingly secular over the past 100–200 years.

More and more people are squeezing God out of the equation.

Atheism is on the rise. Christianity is often seen as outdated.

And that leaves young people asking:
"If I’m just the result of a long evolutionary process… if life has no personal meaning… then what’s the point?"

Without a sense of purpose, why should they struggle? Why should they fight for something?

This is one reason suicide rates are increasing.

5. Uncertain Future

Change is happening faster than ever before.

Politically. Economically. Nationally. Globally.

Young people feel like they’re stepping into a world of complete uncertainty.

And where do they fit into all of this?

6. Technology & Social Media

Over the last 100 years, technology has exploded:

  • TV—people spend 4–5 hours a day watching fictional lives.
  • The internet—infinite knowledge, endless scrolling.
  • Phones—constant noise, constant distraction.

What does that do to a young person’s ability to concentrate?

They live in a world of constant stimulation—always something to watch, something to do. Never a quiet moment to reflect.

And social media?

Young people now measure their worth based on:

  • Likes.
  • Followers.
  • Comparison to others.

"I got 10 likes last time. If I don’t get 12 this time, I must be failing."

It’s never enough.

Their self-esteem is on the line with every post, every moment.

7. Sexuality

Sexuality is a gift from God.

But in today’s culture, it has been separated from commitment.

The act of intimacy—once tied to marriage and family—has now been reduced to mere recreation.

And what’s the result?

More heartbreak. More broken relationships. More confusion.

And young people—even in the church—are asking:
"Is waiting for marriage really necessary? No one believes that anymore."

But here’s the truth: God’s design is for our best.

The challenge for youth leaders is not just to say, "Do this because the Bible says so."

It’s to show young people that God’s boundaries exist for their own joy, fulfillment, and well-being.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the many issues young people face today.

And you can’t do it alone.

  • Rely on your pastor.
  • Rely on your church.
  • Seek out resources.

You don’t have to have all the answers.

But you do have to walk with young people through their struggles.

All right. That’s it for now.

We’ll see you next time.

Last modified: Monday, March 3, 2025, 11:00 AM