{"id":464037,"date":"2025-12-16T14:22:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T19:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go\/?p=464037"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:30:15","slug":"how-to-help-teenagers-know-use-their-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growcurriculum.org\/go\/how-to-help-teenagers-know-use-their-gifts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help Teenagers Know & Use Their Gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a lot of reasons why many of us stepped into youth ministry. Maybe it was the promise of regular pizza parties, the thrill of reliving our former dodgeball stardom, or the profound joy of seeing a teenager actually laugh at one of your jokes. These are all valid reasons\u2014but underneath all the fun, we were really motivated by the possibility of helping teenagers grow in their faith.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the heart of what we do. We want to see students know Jesus, follow Jesus, and build a faith that lasts. But as you already know, helping students grow is a whole lot more complicated than simply wishing it into existence.<\/p>\n

How do you measure spiritual growth?<\/p>\n

What \u201ccounts\u201d as progress?<\/p>\n

Which metrics actually matter\u2014and which ones just keep us busy?<\/p>\n

For many of us, when we think about spiritual habits, our minds go straight to the classics\u2014reading the Bible, praying, going to church. And yes, those are incredibly important. But what if we could zoom out and think about discipleship in a more holistic way?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why our discipleship strategy<\/a> focuses on four spiritual habits\u2014Spending Time with God, Spending Time with Others, Using Your Gifts, <\/strong>and Sharing Your Story<\/strong>. We believe these habits sit at the center of spiritual growth, and they shape how you plan your year\u2014your teaching calendar, your events, your parent strategy, and even how you equip your volunteers.<\/p>\n

We want to help teenagers build these four habits\u2014and anytime we see a student practicing even one of them, we can celebrate it as a sign of real spiritual growth. So in this blog, let\u2019s zoom in on just one of these habits\u2013<\/p>\n

USING YOUR GIFTS<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Every student in your ministry needs to know that God made them unique, on purpose, and equipped them with specific gifts, talents, passions, and resources. And when they begin using those gifts to love God, love others, and influence the world around them, something changes. Their identity grows clearer. Their confidence deepens. Their faith expands.<\/p>\n

So how do we help teenagers learn to Use Their Gifts? Here are a few practical ways to start\u2013<\/p>\n