The Youth Group Podcast

3.0 (2)
Christianity
Updated Weekly

A bunch of youth pastors talk about their youth groups to help you think about yours. It's for youth leaders. It's for youth pastors. It's for youth group enthusiasts (that's a thing right?).

2d ago

Mustard Seed Mess, Follow Up, and Samwise Gamgee

Tim pretended to be a hobbit. Tom stressed out over mustard. If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/ AI wrote a summary of the episode for us: Mustard seeds, David and Goliath, and a brutally practical question for every youth leader with a family - how do you keep serving well without your home paying the price? Tom French and Tim Blagg swap youth group stories, laugh their way through airport hide-and-seek and catering trucks, and then get into the real stuff: what actually happened when their leaders ran the night, how a Lord of the Rings obstacle course turned into a live picture of Samuel, and why a PhD-led talk on 1 Samuel 17 uncovered fresh insight even seasoned leaders had missed.You’ll discover: how a blindfolded Frodo, a guided Samwise, and a Mount Doom obstacle course helped teach obedience, courage, and trustwhy the David and Goliath story is bigger than “God helps the underdog”how Jesus as champion changes both salvation and everyday courage to obeywhat happens when a youth group goes all in on mustard themed games, mustard art, and mustard or custard donutsthe simple follow-up systems that help new and missing youth feel seen without leaving leaders guessing Tim also shares a practical approach to following up first-time visitors and absent teens through parent contact, friend check-ins, and attendance review, while Tom reflects honestly on the tension of ministry and family life, especially when a wife has to make the call that he needs to come home early. Perfect for youth leaders, parents, and anyone trying to build a healthy ministry that lasts. If you want laughter, real ministry stories, and a refreshingly honest conversation about courage, care, and calling, this one is worth your time.
Aug 13

Camels, Pipe Organs, and a YouTube Film Festival Refresh

Lauren had a Winterfest outreach event. Tom's youth ran a camel themed night of youth group. You can get Before it Starts here: https://takelove.org.au/pages/before-it-starts If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. AI went all out on the description this week: Youth group chaos meets real ministry insight in this episode, where Tom and Lauren unpack what happens when you hand the room to teenagers and let them run with it. From a giant youth-run youth group in Melbourne to a Winterfest rethink in Sydney, this conversation is full of practical takeaways for anyone trying to build youth ministry that actually works. Tom shares the wild, funny, and slightly terrifying story of a youth-run night that included camel-themed chaos, a returning book review feature, and a near-miss with an unsecured pipe organ. Lauren reflects on Winterfest, the challenges of balancing outsider-friendly events with insider in-jokes, and why she’s thinking hard about what should stay, what should change, and what might need to be retired altogether. You'll discover: why giving young people freedom often produces more imitation than innovationhow to tell when a long-running youth event needs a refreshwhat Lauren is changing in a four-week domestic abuse prevention programwhy small-group discussion and case studies are getting the most timehow shifting online gender rhetoric is affecting the way teens hear prevention materialTom and Lauren also dig into the bigger question behind all of it: when do you keep a ministry format because it’s useful, and when do you change it because the culture, the kids, or the purpose has moved on? They explore how youth leaders can create space for teenagers to lead while still guiding them toward fresh ideas, better safety, and better formation. Lauren is a youth minister and baker in Sydney, and Tom is a youth minister, author, and speaker in Melbourne. Together they bring honest, funny, and deeply practical reflections on the realities of youth ministry, from event planning to safeguarding to gospel clarity. Essential listening if you lead teenagers, plan youth events, or want to think more carefully about how ministries stay faithful, flexible, and actually worth showing up for.
Aug 5

The Queen of Rock, Paper, Scissors, Getting Youth Leader Nominations, and Institutional Knowledge

Tim had his first week in his new venue. Tom ran a low-key game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. You can get Welcome to Youth Ministry here: https://youthworksmedia.net/products/welcome-to-youth-ministry If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/ AI wrote a summary of the episode for us: This episode is a funny, conversational catch-up between two youth leaders, mixing movie chatter, absurd game ideas, and real ministry reflections. It starts with playful banter about The Odyssey, Bluey, and wildly overqualified stunt doubles before turning into a lively recap of youth group life: finding serviettes in a new building, racing the clock before church starts, and running gloriously bizarre games like green eggs-and-ham-style lotteries and a “queen of scissors paper rock.”
Jul 29

Youth Group in a Bar, Food Games, and Moving Locations

Tim welcomed a new baby and his church moved venues. Tom has been writing books and looking at Luke with his youth group. You can get Welcome to Youth Ministry here: https://youthworksmedia.net/products/welcome-to-youth-ministry If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/ AI wrote us a 1970s summary of the episode: Whoa, man, this episode was a real trip. Tom and Tim are back after a mega-long break, and Tim’s been totally swamped with family life, a new baby, and all kinds of youth group chaos while his church is moving venues. The old place got a full-on goodbye treatment with graffiti and all sorts of wild send-off vibes, and now youth group is happening in a super temporary new space with beanbags, popcorn, and a whole lot of figuring-it-out-as-you-go energy. Tom’s been buried in writing devotions for Luke and getting the youth ready for youth-run nights, while also doing a food-themed youth group kickoff that included taco destruction, marshmallow spaghetti towers, and cake decorating. Then they answered a listener question about books for new youth leaders and gave a shout-out to Welcome to Youth Ministry by Graham Stanton — a solid pick for anyone trying to figure out this whole youth ministry scene. It’s basically an episode about change, community, and trusting that even when everything’s moving around like a crazy dance floor, God’s still got it all under control.
Jul 22

Collapsing Ceilings, Laser Tag, and Glasgow's Finest - with Special Guest Samuel Dow

Tim chats to Samuel Dow from sunny Scotland about youth ministry in Glasgow. If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/ AI gave us an overexcited summary of the episode: In a world where youth ministry is under siege by distraction, doubt, and disconnection, one small team in Glasgow rises as an unlikely force for good. Samuel Dow leads a humble but mighty mission: to protect a generation of young people with safety, love, and authentic connection. No flashy tech. No grand spectacle. Just real relationships, fearless faith, and a relentless belief that every young person deserves a place to belong.When renovations, limited space, and mixed backgrounds threaten to slow them down, Samuel and his team turn adversity into advantage. Through creative games, open conversations, and a radically welcoming environment, they transform a simple youth group into a thriving community where unchurched kids keep coming back—and bring friends with them. In this episode-sized origin story, the true superpower isn’t strategy or scale. It’s love, consistency, and the courage to show up for people exactly as they are.If you’ve ever wondered whether small teams can make a massive difference, this story proves they can. It’s a high-stakes, heart-forward reminder that the greatest battles are often won not with force, but with faithfulness.
12/17/2025

Cracker Jokes, Stealing, Mistakes, and Thankfulness - It's a 2025 Review

Lauren, Tim, and Tom review 2025, and give you some ideas you could steal. Here's the Phone Hotel: https://www.teaching.com.au/product/teachables-mobile-phone-storage-stand If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/
12/10/2025

100th Episode! Chris-mas, Christmas Parties, and Body Spray

Tim and Tom had Christmas Parties. Chris Mophew came back to play a game with us. Giant ball review: https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/7vfxix/this_amazon_review/ If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Chris at https://chrismorphew.com/ and Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/ AI made us a gushing summary: Celebrating the 100th episode of the Youth Group Podcast is nothing short of a milestone worth gushing over! Hosts Tom, Tim, and Chris have truly outdone themselves, bringing their unique blend of humor, insight, and warmth to every episode. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their dedication to youth ministry shines through in every conversation. Whether they're sharing stories about youth group antics or diving into deeper discussions, they manage to keep listeners engaged and inspired. Here's to 100 episodes of laughter, learning, and love for youth ministry, and to the amazing hosts who make it all possible!
12/03/2025

Vegemite, Relationships Panels, and War

Tim's youth group had a relationships. Tom's ran some workshops. If you have a question, or suggestion, email us: hello@youthgrouppodcast.com Get more podcast resources at https://tomfrench.com.au/youthgrouppodcast Find more from Tom at https://tomfrench.com.au. Find Tim's other podcast, Family Perspectives here: https://www.trinitycity.church/resources/podcasts/

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2 Ratings

A bunch of youth pastors talk about their youth groups to help you think about yours. It's for youth leaders. It's for youth pastors. It's for youth group enthusiasts (that's a thing right?).