Hey Gang! I am on vacation and wasnt going to post anything for this week but decided to share a few great videos to use in your ministry. Have a great week and next week we will be back to our normal column!
Showing posts with label free ministry ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free ministry ideas. Show all posts
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Free Youth Ministry Ideas
Crack-a-Grin:
“Acting Up In Church”
One Sunday in a Midwest City, a young child was "acting up" during the morning worship hour. The parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew but were losing the battle.
Finally, the father picked the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out.
Just before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to the congregation,
"Pray for me! Pray for me!"
Hot Topix:
“Evolution vs Creation”
With the 200th Anniversary of Darwin’s birth bearing down upon America, the debate over whether Evolution or Creation is correct is the hottest topic in the science and religion communities. Sadly, many people have made a decision to believe in evolution without first getting both sides of the story.
We youth leaders have a heavy burden to provide our students with just that, BOTH sides of the story. We know which side will win but if we want them to not only believe but to know why they believe, we will lay out the evidence for both. So take your class on a journey to discover the truth together. Don’t start freaking out and thinking, “Well I don’t have all the answers!” Begin studying and use the resources at the end of this section to aid in your research, as they are reputable sites. And remember….you don’t have to know all the answers…..just where to find them.
Recently I picked up a copy of “The Charles Darwin Bible” for a few bucks at my local Life way store and Christians everywhere should have at least one copy in your personal library and a few to hand out to those who doubt God because of Darwin’s theories. It is the New Testament but it has the basics of the theory of evolution, Darwin’s beliefs, and common “contradictions” to the Bible throughout its pages.
If you have read my column regularly then you know how much I believe in having regular discussions to learn where your students are on any given topic. This is definitely a discussion topic. Spend 2-3 meeting periods on it and plan on using the first night to allow your teens to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the class and you. Then use the 2nd (and 3rd if you need it) to share both sides of the story. NOW is the time to give your students a clear understanding of this debate so they are prepared to share their faith. And as soon as you can, take your class to The Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky. It is a must see destination for everyone!
Resources:
A. The Case For Christ video (also comes in book form)
B. www.leestrobel.com
C. www.answersingenesis.com
D. www.creationmuseum.org
Stat-O-The-Week:
40% of Americans believe in evolution according to a 2005 John D. Miller Michigan State University statistic published on www.data360.com .
Free Resources:
A. The Rebelution – More than likely you have heard about and potentially read Alex and Brett Harris’s The Rebelution. They have added to their website, www.therebelution.com, articles from a variety of the most respected Christian leaders and will soon be adding video and audio files. All of us should encourage oiur teens to join the rebelution. Buy a copy of the book for each of your students and if you don’t have it in the budget host a fundraiser. It is a must read and it will help give them the courage they need to discover God’s plan for their life.
B. Lifelinepro.com – This isn’t a fancy website but the group uses everyday comedy to bring to life some of the most common struggles we all face. They have ten free ~30 second clips to listen to. Use them as an opening for your youth meetings to grab your teen’s attention. If you are really thrilled with their material order a cd chocked full of them!
C. Parenting Today’s Teens – Founder and Host Mark Gregston gives one minute daily tips throughout the week for parenting teens and on the weekend produces a ~ 30 minute program. Mark and his wife also founded a boarding school and counseling center for struggling teens known as Heartlight Ministries. While the site is geared towards parents, there is plenty of good advice for us youth leaders. You can also use the information you gather from Mark to pass along to the parents of your students. Visit his site at www.parentingtodaysteens.com to listen online, read articles, or You can also download his podcast episodes from iTunes.
Encouragement For The Road:
Rejoice in hope, endure in tribulation, and persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Free Youth Ministry Ideas
Welcome back my fellow Youth Leaders! I have many free youth ministry ideas and resources this week. Make sure you leave your comments and share your ideas. If you would like to be a guest writer let me know and we'll see what we can do.
Crack-a-Grin: "My Dad's Job" - Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The 1st boy says, "My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem and they give him $50.00 for it. The second boy says, "That's nothing! My dad scribbles a few words on paper and calls it a song, and they give him $100.00 for it! Little Johnny says, "I got you both beat! My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
Hot Topix: "The Dreadful D and Breaking The Cycle" -
It is unfortunate but roughly 50% of married couples, christian or not, end up divorced. This is in part due to our country's loosening morals which is teaching teens and adults that marriage is an issue to take lightly. Our students are being taught through their parents, their friends, and the media the ideas of sexting, casual sex, watching media that contains sexual scenes that depict two people (opposite or same sex) engaging in inappropriate sinful behavior.
Our kids are under the impression that lust is the same as love and that if you are "in love" then it is ok to go ahead and have sex. Our teens are not being taught to respect themselves and their bodies and they do not understand God's plan and purpose of relationships and marriage. So as youth leaders we have a heavy burden weighing on us because in most cases it is only through us that they will hear and understand God prefect plan.
This is a topic that warrants at least two class periods one in which I suggest having an open discussion on marriage (include same-sex), dating, pregnancy, courting, purity, and so forth. Make sure you guide the students in discussing the benefits and pitfalls of each topic.
Use the second class period to clearly lay out Gods plan and what the bible says on all issues you guys have touched on in your discussion. Challenge your teens to swim against the current and to make the hard decisions. If you want to you can add a third class period where you divide up the boys and girls to discuss how they should treat the opposite sex and more personal issues that are focused on their gender.
Don't be afraid to challenge your students and don't shy away from this tough subject.
Stat-o-the-Week "39% of children born today are born to unwed mothers. In the 1960's the rate was only 5%, according to Freddy Scott while on Christian Radio Magazine in March of 2010.
Free Resources: "Free, Free, Free" -
A. Lesson/Illustration: "Without spiritual fuel we become stranded Christians"
B. Christian Radio Magazine - A great program for teens and adults alike! They cover all sorts of relevant topics for all Christians. Visit them at www.christianradiomagazine.com where you can listen, as well as read a devotion or use their free bible study tools.
C. Answers In Genesis - This website is a tool that should be in every Christians favorites list. It is a great site to send doubting teens to or those who simply want to learn answers to common questions brought up by believers and atheists. You will find devotions, mini-sodes that touch on relevant topics in an entertaining way, read hilarious cartoons or their free e-newsletter, resources to use in the classroom, and so much more. The bottom line is that it's a great site to find answers on creation. Visit them at www.answersingenesis.com .
A Glimpse of God's Word: "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as his garment," says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. Malachi 2:16
Crack-a-Grin: "My Dad's Job" - Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The 1st boy says, "My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem and they give him $50.00 for it. The second boy says, "That's nothing! My dad scribbles a few words on paper and calls it a song, and they give him $100.00 for it! Little Johnny says, "I got you both beat! My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
Hot Topix: "The Dreadful D and Breaking The Cycle" -
It is unfortunate but roughly 50% of married couples, christian or not, end up divorced. This is in part due to our country's loosening morals which is teaching teens and adults that marriage is an issue to take lightly. Our students are being taught through their parents, their friends, and the media the ideas of sexting, casual sex, watching media that contains sexual scenes that depict two people (opposite or same sex) engaging in inappropriate sinful behavior.
Our kids are under the impression that lust is the same as love and that if you are "in love" then it is ok to go ahead and have sex. Our teens are not being taught to respect themselves and their bodies and they do not understand God's plan and purpose of relationships and marriage. So as youth leaders we have a heavy burden weighing on us because in most cases it is only through us that they will hear and understand God prefect plan.
This is a topic that warrants at least two class periods one in which I suggest having an open discussion on marriage (include same-sex), dating, pregnancy, courting, purity, and so forth. Make sure you guide the students in discussing the benefits and pitfalls of each topic.
Use the second class period to clearly lay out Gods plan and what the bible says on all issues you guys have touched on in your discussion. Challenge your teens to swim against the current and to make the hard decisions. If you want to you can add a third class period where you divide up the boys and girls to discuss how they should treat the opposite sex and more personal issues that are focused on their gender.
Don't be afraid to challenge your students and don't shy away from this tough subject.
Stat-o-the-Week "39% of children born today are born to unwed mothers. In the 1960's the rate was only 5%, according to Freddy Scott while on Christian Radio Magazine in March of 2010.
Free Resources: "Free, Free, Free" -
A. Lesson/Illustration: "Without spiritual fuel we become stranded Christians"
B. Christian Radio Magazine - A great program for teens and adults alike! They cover all sorts of relevant topics for all Christians. Visit them at www.christianradiomagazine.com where you can listen, as well as read a devotion or use their free bible study tools.
C. Answers In Genesis - This website is a tool that should be in every Christians favorites list. It is a great site to send doubting teens to or those who simply want to learn answers to common questions brought up by believers and atheists. You will find devotions, mini-sodes that touch on relevant topics in an entertaining way, read hilarious cartoons or their free e-newsletter, resources to use in the classroom, and so much more. The bottom line is that it's a great site to find answers on creation. Visit them at www.answersingenesis.com .
A Glimpse of God's Word: "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as his garment," says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. Malachi 2:16
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