DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help students understand and analyze the development of youth disciples within the context of communication theory and praxis. This course provides an understanding of Christocentric communication in four primary youth ministry contexts: evangelism, small group discipleship, instructional teaching, and biblical preaching to an adolescent audience. Special emphases will be placed on integrating elements of the contemporary youth subculture, family dynamics that affect youth's receptivity to the gospel, and expanded training implementation for volunteer youth leaders.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to (1) grasp both the philosophies and methodologies involved in effective communication to adolescents in evangelistic, small group, teaching, and preaching settings (cognitive); (2) recognize and appreciate the personal and relational dynamics involved in youth ministry communication (affective); and (3) develop talks, sermons, and small group meetings that are appropriate to teenagers in diverse ministry contexts (skills).

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Long-term life transformation within the youth context occurs as young people are exposed to a clear and relevant presentation of scriptural truth. Current and prospective youth ministers must therefore learn how to link the dynamic truth of Scripture with a largely biblically and spiritually illiterate youth audience.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is comprised of both lecture and practicum components. Initial class meetings involve lecture and Socratic dialogue presented by the professor, while subsequent class meetings will also integrate small group, teaching, and preaching exercises presented by the students. This course will meet once each week for a three-hour session.

REQUIRED READING:

Lambert, Dan. Teaching That Makes a Difference. Zondervan, 2004 (223 pages).

Lowry, Eugene L. The Homiletical Plot. John Knox Press, 1980 (248 pages).

Pagitt, Doug. Preaching Re-Imagined. Zondervan, 2005 (100 pages).

Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box. InterVarsity Press, 2000 (192 pages).

Course reader.

Davis, Ken. How to Speak to Youth and Keep Them Awake at the Same Time. Zondervan, 1996.

Losey, John. Experiential Youth Ministry Handbook. Zondervan, 2004.

Myers, Joseph R. The Search to Belong. Zondervan, 2003.

Vella, Jane. Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach. Jossey-Bass, 2002.

1. Develop outlines for four youth communication arenas, two of which will be given in class (30%).

2. Develop a 12-15 page written plan for training volunteer youth leaders to communicate to youth in the context of either small group discipleship or biblical preaching (20%).

3. Interview six young people (2 of whom are not believers) about communication influences and submit a 4-page analysis/reflection paper (15%).

4. Midterm exam covering texts and class lectures/discussions (15%).

5. Final exam covering texts and class lectures/discussions (20%).