We get honest about why our old sermon-then-small-groups flow kept producing regurgitation discussions and squeezing out meaningful response time. We share the simple service-order tweak we made and the four-question Bible study framework that’s helping students and leaders grow in biblical literacy.
• spotting the limits of post-sermon discussion groups for discipleship
• building biblical literacy by teaching students how to read context
• moving small groups before worship and the message
• using the same four Bible study questions weekly
• adding a short context guide and pointing leaders to Bible Project
• shifting leaders from teaching to facilitating while correcting error
• preaching “second layer deep” once students already read the text
• creating space for altar response and leader-led prayer ministry
• rolling out change through vision, training, and a semester-long pilot
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Support the show

🔗 Click Here to see Pastor Caleb's RED Leader Training
🔗 Click Here to see one of Caleb's Discussion Guide for his Youth Ministry

Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry.

https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals

Connect with the hosts!

Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation

📸 @eranholt

Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church

📸 @calebmleake

This episode is sponsored by:

World Serve International

🔗 Click Here!

Allison Park leadership Academy

🔗 Click Here!

We talk honestly about Pastor Jeff Leake’s legacy and how spiritual fathering shapes a healthier way to lead in youth ministry. We share five lessons that move relationships from transactional to transformational so students and leaders grow with security, trust, and purpose.
• spiritual fathering as a core youth ministry calling and the “third voice” students need
• belonging before becoming, giving a secure place without performance
• shifting away from transactional ministry with students and leaders
• seeing potential early, speaking affirmation, and trusting people with opportunity
• protecting the person before the platform, including rest, therapy, and sabbatical wisdom
• measuring success by what others become rather than what we personally build
• carrying legacy forward without becoming clones, letting a mentor’s voice keep shaping how we lead
If you love this episode, make sure to share it with somebody. If you know somebody who’s walking through something like this, and it could be of any help, please share it with somebody. Do us a favor, you know, give us a review on you know one of the one of the platforms, whatever platform you’re listening on. Leave a comment on YouTube, subscribe, like, hit the button, share all the good stuff.

Support the show

Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry.

https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals

Connect with the hosts!

Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation

📸 @eranholt

Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church

📸 @calebmleake

This episode is sponsored by:

World Serve International

🔗 Click Here!

Allison Park leadership Academy

🔗 Click Here!

We come back from a long hiatus to honor Pastor Jeff, Caleb’s dad and our lead pastor, after his sudden death and the shock that followed. We talk candidly about carrying grief while still leading people, and how God meets us with grace when we feel like we’re not ourselves anymore.
• recounting the night of the medical crisis and the hours that changed everything
• naming the unique weight of grieving as a church community while still gathering to worship
• rejecting the idea of “normal” grief and releasing the need to perform healing
• reframing the goal from getting over grief to growing enough to carry it
• holding the paradox of joy and loss during new milestones and major life change
• exploring biblical lament, honest prayer, and the comfort of God’s nearness
• learning from sitting Shiva, presence, silence, and shared memories
• practicing support that works, including community, counseling, boundaries, and self grace.

Support the show

Check out the FREE youth ministry resource Vitals for Youth Ministry by clicking below! It has everything you need from free sermon series, training resources for your leaders, and tools to help you assess the health of your ministry.

https://www.leadthegeneration.com/vitals

Connect with the hosts!

Eran Holt - Director of Lead the Generation

📸 @eranholt

Caleb Leake - Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church

📸 @calebmleake

This episode is sponsored by:

World Serve International

🔗 Click Here!

Allison Park leadership Academy

🔗 Click Here!