Story, Signs, and Sacred Rhythms: A Narrative Approach to Youth Ministry

by Chris Folmsbee

'Today’s teens are even more passionate about changing the world than the generation before them. They are learning just how closely their lives tie in to God’s sweeping story of redemption. And as they see how their journeys of faith are connected to an ongoing story, they are asking how to go deeper into that story. So how can we help align their passion with God’s mission so that their lives and the world can be changed? Story, Signs, and Sacred Rhythms presents a new model for youth ministry that is relevant to the missional church and the changing culture. After challenging youth pastors around the world to consider A New Kind of Youth Ministry, Chris Folmsbee now brings a practical approach to youth ministry that * offer a clear and compelling vision of a narrative-missional youth ministry * present a theologically rich and accurate summary of God’s story and mission * equip you with an approach to youth ministry that enables you to create, sustain, and refine environments for Christian transformation * unpack a ministry design that’s customizable, measurable, and evaluative, allowing you to refine and change course as needed * empower you to transform an emerging generation, resulting in teens joining God in his mission to restore the world By exploring a narrative approach that is about God’s story, looking at the signs of God, which are God’s images and metaphors to guide our lives, and discovering the saintly cadences that provide the connection between God and mission, you’ll find concepts and ideologies of an entirely new way of thinking about and doing youth ministry.'

Genres: Theology

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2010

About the author

Chris Folmsbee is an author, speaker, volunteer youth worker, youth ministry consultant, and the director of Barefoot Ministries, a non-profit youth ministry training and publishing company located in Kansas City.

Reviews

[Trevor Limberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a refreshing addition to any youth minister's shelf. Chris does a good job of communicating clear messages, defining terms, identifying where God might be in our midst, and practices which may be helpful in our pursuit of becoming better ministers.

[Tim Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a nice book that equipped me to help explain the story arc of the Scriptures... the story of God is something i feel most students do not connect with. it appears to be difficult for many to connect their story with God's story.

Folmsbee tackles this issue with this book. i have been drawn to 'story' and have tried to help my students connect with theirs and God's... but often i've wondered if they really are getting it.

i don't know that what i read was anything new - but Chris Folmsbee does do a good job connecting the dots, so to speak... connecting the God story and the Gospel story with Our story. he also gives guidance for any youth leader who may be courageous enough to use 'story' as a backdrop of teaching students about God and themselves.

this book takes the reader from Revelation to Foundation to Implication to Integration and finally to Application.

the most practical part of the book was his overview of the Story of God - from creation thru restoration. that was refreshing and simple.

After reading, i have some things to think about and digest.

This book fits with where i think God has been calling me in leadership and discipleship of students.