Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry

by Andrew Root

Think about sin and the cross—the way that salvation changes who we are and how God sees us. It’s a central part of our faith, and yet it’s one of the most confusing and difficult things to teach. Especially to a room full of teenagers. In Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry , Andrew Root invites you along on a journey with Nadia—a fictional youth worker who is wrestling with how to present the cross to her own students in a meaningful way. Using Nadia’s narrative, along with his own insights, Root helps you reimagine how the cross, sin, and salvation can be taught to students in a way that leads them to embrace a lifestyle that chases after Jesus, rather than creating teenagers who just try to “be good.”

Genres: Theology, Young Adult, Christian

128 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2012

About the author

Andrew Root joined Luther Seminary in 2005 as assistant professor of youth and family ministry. Previously he was an adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington D.C., and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.

Root received his bachelor of arts degree from Bethel College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1997. He earned his master of divinity (2000) and his master of theology (2001) degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif. He completed his doctoral degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2005.

Root's ministry experience includes being a gang prevention counselor in Los Angeles, youth outreach directed in a congregation, staff member of Young Life, and a confirmation teacher. He has also been a research fellow for Princeton Theological Seminary's Faith Practices Project.

Root has published articles in the Journal of Youth and Theology, The International Journal of Practical Theology, and Word and World.

He is a member of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry and the International Bonhoeffer Society.

Reviews

[Joel Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Root does it again. Making a compelling and creative case for why youth ministry should look different in today’s world. Where a lot of youth group books pursue things like taking kids to the cross, root reminds us that they are actually already there. That the crosses of life, of anxiety, stress, fear, and more are the exact places that teens can find the God who is portrayed as weak and dying. A god who, in their weakness, is found to be most present.

[Joshua Serrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! The more I read Root's books, the more I think he's a Lutheran. His understanding of Luther's theology of the cross is amazing. And the way he is able to show forth a way to take it to children is very impressive. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the theology of the cross, not just for youth ministry.

[Eric Clapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want an incredibly deep, yet concise primer on the theology of the cross, you can't do much better than this book. There's also a really nice introduction to what adolescence is and how it affects young people. All in all, highly recommended.

[Kayla Smrt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I’m reading as a youth worker, but it is really speaking to me like I’m in high school. I grew up evangelical - lots of “your sins are why the cross is important - take this forgiveness seriously” and “don’t mess up because Jesus would be disappointed” was told to me. Andy brings new light to the news of the cross, which is that God is with us in the suffering and “nothingness” of humanity. It’s something that I knew I believed now but didn’t have words to. This book gave me reassurance of my own beliefs and spoke to high school me who was anxious to always do the right thing because that’s what Jesus would’ve wanted. After reading this book, I feel a sense of peace and healing washing over me, and inspiration to reframe how we view the cross in my own context.

[Kenji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Root’s books consistently bring challenge to my theology and my praxis for ministry. This is the second in a series of short books discussing the theological foundations of youth ministry and what that looks like practically. He does an excellent job of presenting his thinking through the lens of Nadia, a fictional youth worker, whose journey is what moves the book forward.

[JD Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very helpful wand uniquely written. Root clearly shows how Luther’s theology of the cross and youth ministry intersect. Not only that but the narrative style of the book really brings the entire concept to life.

[Yesie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful book

This book is fascinating. I love how the Author explains the profound concept of the theology of the cross with narration. This book also provides practical suggestions for youth ministry.

[Ryan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some wonderful insights in here as Root works through a theology of the cross, and how it relates to young people. Overall, I think this one was a stronger addition than the first book in the series, as he tackles robust theological concepts in more palatable ways for a wider audience.

[Josh Trice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderfully deep, yet concise book. Andrew Root really is a master of theological contemplation in youth ministry. This should be read by all Youth Pastors/leaders.

[Garrett Behrends · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had it's high and low points. I really loved some of Root's ideas about the theology of the cross, but then disagreed with some of it as well. Root, also, seems to repeat himself a lot (maybe that is just me....) Still a good read and thought provoking look at what the cross truly means for disciples of Christ.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to summarize Root's message in one sentence I'd say: The cross is not a logo for a lifestyle, but the very location of God's presence with and for us.

I would add that the cross is not only the cross of Christ, but the crosses each of us bear in our human frailty, sin, brokenness, and impossibility. In these barren places is where God seeks to meet us. In these places is where (youth) ministry ought to dwell.

This is the second in what will be a four-part series on "A Theological Journey Through Youth Ministry." Out of his many profound books, this series might be Root's most promising in terms of reach and impact. I say this because of how he couches his theological perspective through the eyes of a fictional youth worker, Nadia, and her story. I've heard and read a lot of Root's theological content, but I was impressed by how well the narrative style here allowed the theology to strike me in the guts. Nadia's story surfaces the intense personal hopes and often conflicting outside pressures placed upon youth workers. Root carefully shows us how many of these hopes and pressures have been conditioned by a faulty understanding of ministry, adolescence, and faith itself.

One of the gems in this book, for me, was Root's understanding of adolescence. Basically, rather than viewing adolescence as primarily a time of progress and development, Root argues that we observe that adolescents are "those newly conscious of their struggle between possibility and nothingness...in adolescence we are now able to reflect fully upon our very selves, yet have not learned how to ignore or hide from this struggle between possibility and nothingness as we often do later in life."

This is a great book, not only for youth ministers, but for anyone willing to grapple with the foolishness of the cross, a wider and deeper understanding of sin, and a theology of the cross that seeks to understand not only justification, but revelation.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book. It is a little dark but but it places Christ in the edgy part of life which is where you want Him. If you want theology, it is there and documented. If you want an alternative to deeper than substitute salvation, this is your book. Christ is in our lives when He is needed - when things get difficult. Sin vs sinning, the cross in our daily lives and how God is walking with us through the pain, etc. This all translates to practical theology - that can be used with youth.

[Jeremy Serrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am impressed with this series, but especially this book. Root explains Luther's Theology of the Cross in an accessible way. Though this book is for youth ministers it should be read by anyone interested in theology (just remember the original audience).

I also highly recommend this book and series to any Youth Workers. Even if you have been in youth ministry for 12 years like me, this book has something to say to you.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

the second of Roots Taking Theology to Youth Ministry narrative. This one focused on where the cross meets youths' lives. The cross is more than a place to deal transactionally with our sin problem. It is Where Christ encounters us in abandonment, loneliness isolation.

The narrative format is interesting and of course what Root writes is broadly applicable beyond youth ministry

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important theological work for youth ministry