As a freshman in college, I once got kicked out of “Bible study”  for asking too many questions about scripture. It turns out I’ve been training for my current job for a long time.

In addition to running this website, I’m the director of youth and adult discipleship at my church, and I write Bible studies, book study guides and all-church study materials for adults, as well as curriculum and liturgies for our youth ministry. Scroll to the bottom to browse ministry resources, or click on the “shop” button above! Read on to learn more.

I love studying the Bible. I learned to take the Bible seriously when growing up in a conservative evangelical-ish church. I learned to struggle with it intensely during the questions and fears of my adolescence. Today, I read it to wring meaning out of it, and to visit and practice the stories I use to interpret the world. I read it differently now than I used to – less literally, but no less seriously.  

But if the church never takes the time to teach and model how to engage with scripture, we create Christians that won’t bother. The Bible, especially when read alongside the experiences and expressions of faith from our fellow Christians, creates opportunities to grow and transform and dare to become better disciples of Jesus.

Expect more from your small groups

So many Bible studies and popular theology books lack challenging and engaging content. Sometimes entire chapters are built on a single verse of scripture! I do not understand this. However, average (wonderful!) Bible study attendees don’t necessarily want to be reading academic theology all the time. The studies I write seek to bridge this gap. 

I create engaging Bible studies to parallel and go deeper into topics in pop theology books and studies, and write guides to help study groups walk through more challenging texts.

Since I joined the staff at our church, we have started a culture of doing all-church studies twice a year. I’ve learned a lot about what works - at least in our setting. We sometimes have 150% more of our congregation involved in these 6-week all church events than we have in our regular discipleship groups. I’m so proud of how we’ve equipped leaders, built momentum, and engaged our beautiful people.

Youth are people too

Alack and alas. Where to begin.

People make a lot of money marketing bad theology to youth and the people who love them. So many of the resources available (I know, not all) are heavy on gimmicks and contrived object lessons. They seem to ignore the fact that teenagers are smart and capable and know real things about life and the world. They shy away from teaching skills of interpretation and how to use them to understand the Bible and their own lives.

At their triple-worst, they ignore grief, trauma, mental health struggles, and deep suffering.

They always use too many periods. I find that good ministry is in questions marks.

Whether I’m leading confirmation or a high school youth worship service, I try to meet my youth at the center of their questions about faith and finding meaning the world. I bring with me the diverse traditions of the church, the love of Jesus, and honesty about the dark places in my own faith. Gimmicks are not an acceptable substitute for honesty – and neither are slogans, pop culture references, wearing ripped jeans, or the Comic Sans font.

I hope these resources will help you engage with your youth and create connection with and between them, that they may be lead to name and claim their own place among God’s beloved.

Small Group Resources (link to all study resources)

Audience matters, so please use these guides as starting points for your groups. Bible study companions for Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy and Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited coming soon.