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 three primary youth ministry contexts: 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 and expanded training implementation for volunteer youth leaders.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

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

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:

Fields, Doug, and Duffy Robbins. Speaking to Teenagers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007 (249 pages). ISBN: 978-0310273769. Pub. Price: $18.99.

Heath, Dan, and Chip Heath. Made to Stick. New York: Random House, 2007 (291 pages). ISBN: 978-1400064281. Pub. Price: $26.00.

Hipps, Shane. The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006 (176 pages). ISBN: 978-0310262749. Pub. Price: $18.99.

Lowry, Eugene L. The Homiletical Plot. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2000 (248 pages). ISBN: 978-0664222642. Pub. Price: $20.

Pagitt, Doug. Preaching in the Inventive Age. Kansas City: Sparkhouse Press, 2011 (228 pages). ISBN: 978-1451401486. Pub. Price: $14.99.

Additional articles made available during class meetings.

1. Develop outlines for four youth communication arenas, two of which will be given in class (40%).

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

3. Reflect upon The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture in a 3- to 5-page paper that includes implications for youth ministry communication (10%).

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

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