105: Youth Ministry as Catechesis & the YPT Curriculum!

In this episode of the Youth Pastor Theologian podcast, Mike McGarry and John Gardner explore the significance of catechesis in youth ministry, emphasizing its relational nature and the importance of intentional discipleship. They discuss the need for a structured approach to teaching that considers the different stages of spiritual maturity among youth. Ultimately, they advocate for a return to historical practices of catechesis as a means to effectively disciple the next generation.

Chapters

1:00 - What do we mean by discipleship?6:50 - The Role of Catechesis in Youth Ministry12:30 - Components of Effective Discipleship17:01 - Challenges and Misconceptions in Discipleship18:58 - The Nature of Catechesis21:06 - Understanding Different Stages of Catechesis23:39 - Cultural Sensitivity in Youth Ministry25:26 - Intentional Discipleship in Youth Ministry27:21 - The YPT Curriculum! 36:32 - Learning from Historical Practices

Recommended Books:

A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry, by Mike McGarryGrounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way, by JI Packer & Gary ParrettThe New City Catechism

(Note: Amazon Affiliate links are shared above, which provide a small financial benefit to YPT without any additional cost to you, which we use to develop the resources you enjoy. Thank you for your support)

Send your question to Mike and John for the podcast here, and make sure to tell us you've left a rating/review to get bumped to the top of the list. Mike McGarry is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as a youth pastor for nearly twenty years. He's written four books for youth workers and teenagers, his latest is releasing in August '25, Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World. Follow Mike on Instagram or X/Twitter. John Gardner is the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Grace Church in Longmont, CO. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. Follow John on Instagram. Together, Mike and John co-lead the YPT Teaching Workshop, a one day training session to equip your volunteers and other area youth leaders to teach the Bible to teenagers with depth and clarity. GO HERE to learn more about how to host a workshop at your church.

Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)

Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian

Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian

Subscribe to YPT's website to receive our newest articles and updates sent directly to your inbox. We won't spam you, but you will receive a link to download our ebook for free... Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry is a collection of articles from the blog archives to help new YPT readers catch the vision for theological renewal in youth ministry.

Youth Pastor Theologian believes that youth ministry is theological ministry. That’s why each episode features a conversation at the intersection of youth ministry and theological reflection. We want to help youth workers make disciples who endure and offer practical advice about what that type of ministry looks like.

Cohosted by Mike McGarry and John Gardner, each episode is filled with decades of youth ministry experience and plenty of laugher. Visit youthpastortheologian.com to learn more about YPT and how to bring Mike and John to your church.

• No. of episodes: 100
• Latest episode: 2025-06-10
• Religion & Spirituality Christianity

Where can you listen?