I have never been more encouraged about young people than I am of this generation in youth groups today. As I preach in summer camps, teen retreats, Christian school chapels, and evangelistic youth events, I’m moved at the enormous potential this generation possesses to change the world. 

It’s always easy to look at young people and see their inadequacies. But the truth is, God can use this next generation in spite of their youth, inexperience, or lack of ability. They don’t know everything, but neither did David, Daniel, or Josiah. Age has never limited God’s power to work through a yielded heart.

But I believe God is going to use today’s young people because of what this generation uniquely possesses—their faith, their humility, and their honesty. They believe God can do great things. They respond tenderly to His Word. They’re searching for what’s real and genuine, not another performance or program. Like Josiah, they have a heart that is sensitive to truth and ready to obey it.

That’s why I believe God can do something special through this generation. The question for youth leaders is: How do we help them?

1. Provide Encouragement 

Young people need leaders who believe in them. When God called Gideon a “mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12), Gideon certainly didn’t feel like one. But God saw what Gideon could become. That’s the kind of vision youth leaders must have.

Your encouragement gives teens confidence that God can use them. Speak faith into their lives. Remind them that the same God who used Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon can use them today. See something in them that they don’t yet see in themselves.

Faith-filled encouragement can turn insecurity into confidence and doubt into direction.

2. Provide Instruction

Encouragement is vital, but it’s not enough. If we want this generation to change the world, we must equip them with God’s Word.

Paul told Timothy that Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). That phrase “instruction in righteousness” is key for youth ministry. Young people need spelled out instruction on what it means to live a godly life in the many challenges of this culture. They don’t just need you to tell them what to do; they need you to show them, from Scripture, how to live it out.

True equipping means giving young people more than general truth; it means giving them specific truth for the specific battles they face.

We can’t just tell a teen, “Stop being depressed.” We must show them from Scripture how to think biblically about hope and joy. We can’t simply say, “Stand for truth.” We must give them verses, principles, and steps that show them how to do it.

For example, a question I’m often asked by teens is “What do I say to friends who claim to be Christian but claim to be trans?” I usually begin by showing them Psalm 100:3: “It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” I’ll tell them that they can tell their friend, “You’ll make thousands of choices in your life, but one choice you’ll never make is your gender. God has already determined that.” 

Equipping means showing them what the tool is (the Word of God) and how to use it. It’s training them through discussion, role-play, and application so they know how to handle real-world questions and struggles with biblical confidence.

When teens leave your youth Bible study or weekly meeting, they should walk away holding something solid—specific truths that address the real issues they face and a clear plan of action for how to use those truths in daily life.

3. Provide an Example

The most lasting lesson you’ll ever teach your youth group is the life you live before them.

Be an example in your home. Love your wife. Cherish your kids. Let your students see a joyful, godly marriage and a home filled with grace and truth. When they watch you, they should think, That’s the kind of family I want someday.

Be an example in your attitude. Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” If you don’t serve with joy, you’re not helping the cause of Christ—you’re hindering it. Your spirit will either draw young people closer to Christ or drive them away. They’ll follow someone who serves with gladness long before they’ll follow someone who serves out of obligation.

And be an example in your walk with God. Every teen in your group should know that the most important thing in your life is your personal walk with the Lord. And they should see a consistent Christian testimony that flows from that walk. 

God Is Able

If you believe God is able, lead like it. Encourage your teens by believing in them. Equip them with truth that meets their real struggles. And live as the example they need to see.

God is raising up a generation that can change the world. Let’s make sure we’re the kind of leaders who help them do it.

Dr. Jim Schettler serves as an instructor at West Coast Baptist College, teaching classes in Bible, Youth Ministry, and Counseling.

This article originally appeared in Issue 39 of the Baptist Voice. To read the full digital edition, click here.