Giving Up Gimmicks: Reclaiming Youth Ministry from an Entertainment Culture

The lights dim . . . the smoke rises . . . the band starts playing. It's a familiar scene, as youth ministries everywhere use entertaining and trendy approaches to draw in teens. But when the lights come on and the fog clears, what do we find?

Far too many teenagers raised in Christian homes drift away from the church after high school. Why is this true? Could it be because youth groups, in seeking to elevate experience over truth, have left teens dissatisfied and hungry for that truth?

Brian Cosby demonstrates a ministry approach that nurtures teens and brings them back for more—one solidly grounded in Christ and patterned after the means of grace: the Word, sacraments, prayer, service, and community. Learn how much teenagers not only need a deeper ministry, but want one too.

Endorsements

“If you want true success in your ministry, here is the thought-through operational blueprint.”

—R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois

“Many youth ministry books are outdated almost as soon as they are published. . . . This book is different, grounding a vision of gospel-focused youth ministry in the permanent things of apostolic Christianity.”

—Russell D. Moore, Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Brian Cosby steps forward . . . and does something that has been unheard of: marrying solid biblical theology to youth ministry methodology. If you are concerned on any level about seeing young people in your church build a faith that will last, then I highly recommend this book to you.”

—Danny Mitchell, Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America

The Author

Brian H. Cosby

Brian Cosby is senior pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA) on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and visiting professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta.