WELS National Online Teen Bible Study
The WELS National Online Teen Bible Study is an opportunity for teens across the country to digitally connect with each other around the Word.
The online Bible study is not intended to replace local ministry efforts but complement existing ministries like the WELS International Youth Rally and area WELS Youth Nights. The goals are:
- To encourage greater spiritual growth during critical teen years.
- To encourage greater relational connections with other WELS teens locally and across the country.
2026–2027 online Bible studies
For the 2026–2027 school year, the National Online Teen Bible Study will focus on four different topics: my self-worth, accepting change, resisting temptation, and finding peace.
Jon Enter, campus pastor at Saint Croix Lutheran Academy in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, will be leading the four online interactive Bible studies via Zoom.
My Self-Worth: 2 Samuel 9
Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. Central
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. That phrase is a lie. Words hurt. Their wounds sometimes take decades to heal. And the deepest pain is found in words spoken against yourself. I’m worthless. I’m a failure. I’m not good enough. Mephibosheth knows your pain. His short yet powerfully personal Bible story will guide you to see yourself differently, to see yourself as God sees you: beloved, worthy, and his.
Accepting Change: Judges 6-8
Sunday, November 8 , 2026 at 6 p.m. Central
Life gets out of balance. It changes without warning and often steals our confidence. The fear of the unknown and fearing failure can freeze us in worry, even in despair. There’s an incredible and lesser-known narrative in the Bible that speaks peace into this reoccurring life lesson. It is Gideon’s story of failing, life shifting, and God’s seemingly impossible ask on this broken man. Your loving Lord is in the business of asking what appears impossible, so that we know what truly is: joyful confidence and resiliency. Where do you need balance back in your life?
Resisting Temptation: Genesis 3
Sunday, February 7 , 2027 at 6 p.m. Central
The devil is so good at his craft. He has been successfully hunting human souls since the beginning. He has not changed his ways… because it works! You have felt the presence of that prowling lion’s persistence. From this study, you will reinforce safeguards around your heart and be on guard to flee from the liar’s alluring traps. It is hard to eat forbidden fruit if you are not next to it! There is great wisdom in learning what traps are ahead and great peace in knowing you walk not alone.
Finding Peace: Psalm 23
Sunday, April 4 , 2027 at 6 p.m. Central
It is so easy to feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, and alone in this sin-broken world. It’s exhausting. Yet there is incredible, lasting peace waiting for your heart in the undiscovered word-pictures of Psalm 23. Don’t miss this one! You will never see this psalm the same again! Your present and purposeful Good Shepherd adores you, runs after you, and anoints you with his grace. Come learn something new from this favorite Psalm and know how deeply, dearly loved you truly are!
Registration details
About Jon Enter
Jon Enter grew up in rural Minnesota and wanted to be a surgeon since he was a little child. While on a youth rally in Colorado, the Lord changed his pathway leading him to work instead on healing people as a pastor using God’s grace. Since 2004 he has focused on youth ministries to grow his mission church in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2018, he moved from sandy beaches and sunshine to snowdrifts in Minnesota to work full time with teens as a campus pastor, football coach, and mission trips coordinator at St. Croix Lutheran Academy. He married his best friend, Debbi (she still is!), and they are running around everywhere to sports and choir concerts to support their four daughters: Violet, Lydia, Eden, and Maggie.
More about the WELS National Online Teen Bible Study
Why an online teen Bible study?
The idea originated with a teenager.
After attending a WELS youth rally, Oliva came away with immediate friendships and connections with other teens across the country. But how do you keep spiritual engagement and relationships going in a culture that makes it easy for teens to disconnect from church and faith? Oliva’s idea was to harness the youth rally strengths of relationships and faith and continue it for WELS teens who may feel alone in their faith or be isolated due to distance.
How does it work?
- Teens will be able to sign up using their phones to register for an upcoming one-hour Bible study via Zoom quarterly.
- Bible study topics will be relevant and led by various WELS pastors.
- Teens will be able to interact with one another through breakout rooms.