Blog - Deep Discipleship

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What’s the deal with Deep Discipleship Premium?

3 Questions Every Ministry Should AskIf you’re comparing subscription options inside Deep Discipleship, the real question isn’t just what’s included? It’s this: What kind of discipleship culture are you trying to build?Here are three key questions to…

Built Different: A Free Summer Camp Kit That Goes Beyond the Event

Every time you put kids in a van and drive them outside of town, God has a chance to do something really radical in their lives.The distractions fade.The noise quiets.The walls come down.Camp has always been that way.I grew up going to camp every sum…

Why Student Leadership Might Be the Most Overlooked Advantage Inside Your Youth Ministry Curriculum

Most youth ministries don’t have a student attendance problem.They have a student ownership problem.Students show up.They listen.They participate.But they don’t lead.And when students don’t lead, something subtle happens: ministry becomes adult-drive…

Youth Ministry Budgeting: Practical Tips to Build a Realistic Ministry Budget

Budget Like a Boss: Practical Tips for Youth PastorsLet’s be real—most of us didn’t get into ministry because we love numbers and spreadsheets. In fact, probably only math teachers and accountants love those things. But when it comes to leading a hea…

Maximize Your Deep Discipleship Free Trial

A Risk-Free Way to Explore a Discipleship-First StrategyWhether you are brand new to stepping into youth ministry—or looking for fresh tools to give life to what you already do—the Deep Discipleship Free Trial is a game-changer. You get a real taste …

Engaging Foster and Adoptive Families in Your Community

Educate. Equip. Empower.Scripture has a lot to say about caring for the orphans.“You shall not oppress any widow or orphan.” — Exodus 22:22“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” — Psalm 82:3“Pure and undefiled…

Nurturing Faith: The Importance of Preteen Ministry

Why Mixing Kids and Preteens Is No Longer EnoughMixing grade school students and preteens at church is not working anymore. Preteen students want more engagement and depth. They are ready for something more than simple and silly. We must find a way t…

Spiritually Hungry Students

Connected More Than Ever—Yet Quietly Searching In a world saturated with information, connectivity, and constant stimulation, students today are more connected than ever before—however, the majority feel deeply empty. They are constantly bombarded wi…

Discipleship-Driven Youth Ministry: A Guide for Lead Pastors

Casting Vision for a Youth Ministry That Forms Disciples, Not Just AttendeesAs a lead pastor or senior level leader within your church, you carry the weight of casting vision and stewarding the spiritual health of your entire congregation—including t…

4 Tips to Welcome New Families at Church

Why First Impressions Shape a Family’s Choice to ReturnWalking through the front doors of a new church can bring an array of emotions. From smiles of⁣excitement to nervous tummy butterflies, choosing to a new church can be a big deal for both⁣kids as…

Unleashing Preteens At VBS

Helping Preteens Find Purpose at VBSSummer is in full swing, and for many churches that means one thing…VBS. When it comes to VBS at most preteens are in limbo, too old to be participants and too young to serve. Even if they are counted as participan…

3 Ways to Cure ‘Happathy’ in Your Youth Ministry

When Hype Falls Short Happathy arises when efforts to engage students in church revolve around games, high-energy music, and flashy events. While this approach may generate short-lived happiness, it often results in long-term apathy. Many students in…

How Games Can Deepen Discipleship in Your Student Ministry?

How fun can fuel real faith. When we think about discipleship, games probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. The correct answer seems to be Bible studies, small groups, and worship nights—sure. But dodgeball? Minute-to-win-it games? Captu…

4 Keys to Go Deeper in Preteen Ministry

Depth isn’t about complexity—it’s about connection.A common misconception in preteen ministry is that it lacks depth. Many leaders struggle to find fulfillment when they can’t go “deeper” with students. However, I believe depth is present if we seek …

Solitude: A Forgotten Key to Spiritual Growth

When the Noise Fades, God SpeaksSolitude can be one of the most beneficial spiritual disciplines to engage in and yet it might be the single most challenging one...especially for church leaders. With a never ending to do list and more work than hours…

How to Have Hard Conversations with Teenage Girls

When the Conversation Gets Real“It’s bad,” she says, as she awkwardly shifts in the chair across the table from you, “you’re going to hate me for this.” Committing our lives to discipling teen girls requires us to meet them in all areas of their live…

Helping Kids Transition from Preteen to Middle School Ministry

Helping Preteens Make the JumpThe jump from preteen ministry to middle school ministry is more than just a grade-level promotion—it’s a major shift that can shape a young person’s faith journey in many ways. Preteens are often still grounded in famil…

How to Build a Church Leadership Pipeline Starting with Preteens

The Leadership Shortage Starts Earlier Than You ThinkAfter over two decades in ministry, I’ve seen a troubling trend: a growing gap between vacant ministry positions and qualified candidates. Most churches lack a leadership pipeline, often relying on…

Building Trust in Preteen Ministry: How Safety Shapes Faith

Preteens Need More Than Just a Place—They Need a Safe HavenEvery year I look at the preteens who come through our doors and I am reminded how young they are. Sure, they talk a good game about wanting to grow up, but they are still so small and vulner…

Nurturing Preteens and Their Spiritual Growth

Preteen students are a different kind of animal. They've outgrown children's ministry but aren't quite ready for youth ministry, leaving them stuck somewhere in between. Unsure of how to approach preteen students, most churches choose to do nothing s…