ENGAGING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN SMALL GROUPS IS SOMETIMES CHALLENGING; OTHER TIMES, IT MAY SEEM IMPOSSIBLE. She was awkwardly staring me down, like only a middle school girl with a little too much attitude could. We had dismissed into small groups a while ago. I had asked her a simple question, “Why aren’t you in your […]
YOUTH MINISTRY SACRED COWS! WE ALL HAVE THEM AT OUR CHURCH AND MINISTRY. WE FEED THEM, RAISE THEM, AND KEEP THEM AROUND. MAYBE IT IS TIME TO PUT THESE TEN “OUT TO PASTURE”!? 10. We still feed kids junk food, even though we know it’s terrible for them—Our body is the “Temple of the Holy […]
Things Have to Change Post-Covid! Whether it is finally, truly over, is to be seen but it would seem like after exactly two years, we are emerging from Covid. Schools, restaurants, stores, and yes, the Church. Now as we come out of this as churches and youth ministry, it is time for us to […]
Level Up One Night: A video game themed “done-for-you” resource for one complete night of youth ministry on the topic of “Hope” KEY OBJECTIVES Students will develop a better biblical understanding of the power of Godly hope in their everyday lives and during difficult times. KEY VERSE “May the God of hope fill you with […]
“TUNNEL RATS” (BIG GROUP GAME) IS A GREAT GAME FOR GROUPS OF ANY SIZE. EASY, NO-PREP GAME! SUPPLIES: • 2 cones (*or consider using a foam “Wisconsin cheese head”, it is what I use) GAME PLAY: Quick explanation: A combination between a race and steal the bacon. Players will have an assigned number, when their […]
Youth Pastor pesky stereotypes about who we are and how we act?!! Every Group has them, people in youth ministry do too!
An Uncool Calling to Youth Ministry? This thought began as I read the Instagram post from Skillet frontman John Copper, called “Make Pastors Uncool Again,” a while ago. In it, he addresses the continual trend of cool and hip pastors that acts more like rockstars than pastors… “..promotes himself, builds his brand, and entertains people..” […]
An Honest to Goodness, List of Ten Real Reasons, I Have Personally Heard Over the Years for Not Coming to Youth Group! 10. I am grounded from youth group? (seriously how bad do you have to be that your parents take away God and church.. “That is IT young lady, no God for you, 2 […]
A Ran-Dumb Top 10 List for Church-Based Reality Shows, that SHOULD BE Real Shows?!! 10. Church Rescue– Bar Rescue and Restaurant Impossible tries to help flip a declining church….with a bit more yelling but just a little less cussing? 9. Little Youth Pastors, Big Churches- Drop a fresh out of seminary know-it-all youth pastor into a mega-church […]
“In the Beginning”, a 3-Lesson Series about the partnership of Faith and Science. A great lesson for middle school or high schoolers. It is easy-to-use and a done-for-you set of lesson presentations. Each lesson addresses the topic of God’s creation of the world, us, and purpose as they intersect faith and science to reveal to […]
