Almost two years ago I published a list of “100 blog topics I hope YOU write” addressing various aspects of youth ministry. Many people responded, used the list as a springboard of ideas for their own blogs, and covered over a third of the content I suggested. Earlier tonight I was skimming through some of the old posts people wrote and there’s a lot of real gems of wisdom here.

Let’s try to complete this list! Take one or more of these ideas and run with it. Take the best ideas from whatever these spark in you and keep coming back to this page as often as you want to see what topics people are covering. Or just use them as a way to bounce into better posts of your own. Make podcasts, blog posts, whatever. Have fun and be creative.

One favor? Would you include a link somewhere back to http://www.studentministry.org? I’ll do my best to keep up with these topics around the blogosphere as your incoming links show up in blog’s dashboard and will then link the appropriate title in this post back to your blog post so others can read your insights.

1. How to use Facebook for ministry
2. How to build community among teenagers
3. Technology I use in youth ministry [also posted here and here]
4. How to write Bible study lessons for youth group
5. Conversation starters to ask a student you just met [also posted here]
6. How to get parents involved in their kids’ lives
7. How to handle confrontation
8. How to teach students with learning disabilities
9. How to market your events
10. How to effectively use visual aids in teaching
11. How to make time for personal prayer and devotions
12. How to empower your youth leaders
13. How to follow-up with new believers
14. Using podcasts in youth ministry
15. How to engage students in worship
16. How to deal with a suicide in your ministry
17. Everything a youth worker should know about eating disorders
18. Addressing porn and masturbation at youth group
19. How to help parents prepare their students for college
20. Recommended books for every youth worker’s library
21. How teenage girls best relate to each other
22. How teenage guys best relate to each other
23. Teaching students to evaluate their media consumption
24. How to equip your students to achieve their dreams
25. Sermon presentations versus small group discussion Bible studies
26. Necessary elements for any youth meeting
27. Balancing youth group events with athletics, homework and jobs
28. How to achieve longevity in youth ministry
29. What students need from their youth leaders
30. How to take an idea and make it happen
31. How to plan a youth ministry budget
32. The real influence of celebrities on students
33. How to change a teenager’s world forever
34. Why youth ministers should read their students’ blogs [also posted here]
35. How to evaluate ministry and implement change
36. Addressing sin in your own life
37. How to make youth group visitors feel welcomed [and how NOT to here]
38. How to use the arts in youth group
39. The youth event no one has ever seen
40. What I wish every Sr. Pastor knew about youth ministry [ and What YPs should know about Sr. Pastors ]
41. Balancing youth ministry with my personal life
42. The difference between part-time and full-time youth ministry
43. How to fix your mistakes in ministry
44. How to develop students to be spiritual leaders
45. When I feel frustrated in ministry… [or with colleagues]
46. Youth group strategies for evangelism
47. How to come up with creative ideas
48. How NOT to introduce visitors to the youth group
49. What every youth worker needs to know about Jr. High students
50. What every youth worker needs to know about Sr. High students
51. How to earn the trust and respect of your Sr. Pastor
52. How to lead a youth group when you’re the only volunteer
53. How to help a student break an addiction
54. How to teach through a book of the Bible
55. What youth group students need from each other
56. Internet tools I use for youth ministry
57. How to develop a world missions strategy for your youth group
58. How to simplify your life and ministry
59. The future of youth ministry
60. How NOT to use video in youth ministry
61. How to handle the most common youth ministry struggles
62. How to keep God’s Word fresh for teenagers
63. How to work in a church that doesn’t support it’s youth ministry
64. What to do with “God sightings” stories in your youth group
65. Tools for working with hurting teenagers
66. How to get kids plugged in to God’s Word
67. Youth ministry topics that need more coverage
68. How to become a student-led youth group
69. Expectations to hold for any youth worker volunteer
70. How to turn conversations toward Christ
71. How to respond to criticism
72. Ten youth ministry sites I like and why
73. How to work with the hyper-active kid
74. How to address self-esteem at youth group
75. How to get your kids sharing and contributing to small groups
76. A story of how Christ changed my youth group
77. When to let go of a student and trust God take care of the rest
78. How to recharge your emotional batteries
79. How youth ministry made me go crazy!
80. How to make the most of a youth group retreat
81. How to shake a student from their apathy for God’s Word
82. Things to consider before purchasing a curriculum
83. American youth ministry and how I would change it
84. How to give yourself away
85. How NOT to give advice to a student
86. The top 10 excuses every youth leader makes
87. The top 10 excuses every youth group student makes
88. How to settle a disagreement with your Sr. Pastor
89. Common mistakes to avoid in youth ministry
90. Guidelines to follow for selecting new youth leaders
91. How to facilitate communication between students and parents
92. How to partner with parents in youth ministry
93. Reaching rural kids versus reaching urban kids
94. How to support a student through difficult times
95. The #1 best thing you can do for the kids in your youth group
96. How to promote an attitude of prayer in daily life
97. How the Internet is changing students’ perspective of community
98. Why I’m in youth ministry today
99. A passage of scripture every student should know
100. How to get students involved in the rest of the church body

Posted on June 2, 2010