How do I discipline and still keep students attending and participating with a positive attitude?
• Perhaps “discipline” is the wrong idea. Rather than constantly pointing out students’ wrongs, on an individual basis (especially calling youth out by name in front of the group), perhaps we should address general, widespread behavior problems in a group setting. Speak to the group as a whole (although it may still be necessary to pull certain “ring leaders” aside or address serious behavior problems on an individual basis). Either way, this should not become a constant focus on the negative that the students would confuse as “griping” or “nagging.” Instead, the youth minister should seek to affirm the students and remind them of whom they are in Christ (or could be in the case of new Christians), pointing out their strengths rather than their weaknesses. Neil Anderson, in his book Victory over the Darkness, says that it is impossible for us to consistently behave in a way that contracicts what we believe about ourselves. If we affirm those appropriate behaviors and encourage the yout
