Engaging the Teenage Culture: A Model Approach Engaging the Teenage Culture: A Model Approach Dr. William Brown President Dr. William Brown President

The little boat drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t. The little boat drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t. Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots at the center. Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots at the center. Her vocabulary, was as bad as, like, whatever. He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree. John and Mary had never met. They were like two John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met. John and Mary had never met. They were like two John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

The politician was gone, but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can. The politician was gone, but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can. The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play. The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

Q: What is the greatest competition for the hearts and minds of today’s Christian youth? Q: What is the greatest competition for the hearts and minds of today’s Christian youth? A: Popular Culture & Entertainment Choices A: Popular Culture & Entertainment Choices

Q: What is the greatest frustration in what you do as a youth leader/teacher? Q: What is the greatest frustration in what you do as a youth leader/teacher? A: Helping students learn discernment in their entertainment choices A: Helping students learn discernment in their entertainment choices

What keeps you from mentoring your students in discernment? I don’t know how to discern I don’t know how to discern It’s so hard to keep up with popular culture It’s so hard to keep up with popular culture I don’t have the time to research I don’t have the time to research I don’t want to be “cheesy” in front of the youth I don’t want to be “cheesy” in front of the youth

What would you like to see accomplished in the lives of your students? To be informed about what’s popular. To be informed about what’s popular. To mentor the youth in making good choices. To mentor the youth in making good choices. To engage the youth so they talk about what’s influencing them. To engage the youth so they talk about what’s influencing them.

Give the student’s the knowledge and skills to discern. Give the student’s the knowledge and skills to discern. To present an image as being culturally relevant. To present an image as being culturally relevant. What would you like to see accomplished?

Elements of Worldview Thinking Explanation Interpretation Application Focus: Biblical Instruction Goal: Think Biblically Focus: Personal and Cultural Evaluation Evaluation Goal: Discernment Focus: Personal Decision- making making Goal: Christlikeness

Examples of Worldview Teaching 1.Explore the distinctives of the Biblical worldview. Ask, “What if... “ worldview. Ask, “What if... “ 2.Explore the distinctives of other worldviews. Ask, “How would a ____ explain or interpret this?” 3. Ask: “Why?” about everything. 4.Collect worldview current events

Examples of Worldview Teaching 5. “Enslave” yourself to everyone. Ask: “What are your favorite... songs/groups? Why? movies/celebrities? Why?” 6. So What? Ask: “What do these songs/movies/etc. tell us about ourselves? What is tell us about ourselves? What is the underlying worldview? What the underlying worldview? What values, actions, beliefs do they values, actions, beliefs do they promote? How do these line up promote? How do these line up with a biblical view of life?” with a biblical view of life?”

Engaging the Teenage Culture: A Model Approach Engaging the Teenage Culture: A Model Approach Dr. William Brown President Dr. William Brown President