Youth Ministry » youth ministry

Remember Who You Are

Paul and Al — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:41:39 +0000

Remember Who You Are

As youth ministers we wear many hats and we are expected to become many things.

One thing that we really need to be aware of is that we cannot get on the level as our teens.

I’m not saying that you can’t have fun or hang out with them because you should.

I’m not saying that you can’t get out and play football with a group of students because you can.

I am simply saying that when it gets down to making tough decisions it would not be in yours or their best interest for you to try to be their best friend.

You might need to look at yourself as a school teacher or a school principal. You can get along with the students but there will come a time when things need to be said or actions taken care of that would not happen among best friends.

Remember, you are a minister to lead your students into a better relationship with Jesus and to prevent them from doing anything which might separate them from Him.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,
Paul & Al

Teen Life Members, check out the Dawn Till Dusk one-day retreats.

These were written specifically for you as a youth leader! Get away. Get into God’s word. Get renewed!

http://teenlifeministries.com/youthministry/dawn

Not a member? Join now and access that link immediately…

http://teenlifeministries.com/thezone

5 Ways to Involve Parents

Paul and Al — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:48:32 +0000

Small Group Bible Study Leaders

Some of the most powerful classes and lessons learned come from a small group atmosphere. Use parents to lead these groups. You will be amazed at how much the parents grow as well as the teens.

Phone Tree Coordinators

When you need to get the word out in a hurry (everybody’s not on facebook) why not ask parents to coordinate the effort?

Adoption Coordinators

There always seems to be a teen or two who doesn’t have parents that attend your church. Ask a parent to adopt the teen. No, they will not take the place of their parents they will simply be their encouragers. Ask them to send notes, make calls or anything that would make them feel wanted and needed.

“Happy Birthday” Coordinators

Ask a parent to be in charge of keeping up with everyone’s birthday. If you they want to go the second mile, they will have a time of celebration.

Life Coaches

There are numerous times when teens just need to know about life. How valuable would it be to have parents available to help teens through some of their tough times? Teens may not want to share with you as their youth minister or their parents.

Wednesday Is Here Again!

Paul and Al — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:16:12 +0000

We just got back from our staff retreat.

It was a great time away to help us refocus and refresh. We spent a
lot of time in prayer and worship to help us all work together as a
team.

But you know what?

Wednesday night is here again!

Even though we spent the past three days focusing on the Word and
ministry, our responsibilities remain. It going to be a great night
tonight at church.

Regardless of how class goes, it’s always a success when the Word
is shared, God is exalted and people are loved.

Have an AWESOME night tonight at your church! Give the teens your
best!

“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”-
Psalm 40:8

Blessings!
Paul & Al
www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

Devotional on Respect

Paul and Al — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:55:22 +0000

Respect
We beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
I Thessalonians 5:12-13

Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is to teach students the concept of respect and to apply it.

Passage:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in everyway. I Timothy 2:1-2
I Corinthians 8:13; Romans 12:10; I Timothy 5:3; Leviticus 19:32; I Timothy 5:17; James 2:1; I Corinthians 12:22-23; I Peter 3:7; I Peter 2:17; Romans 13:1; I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Philippians 2:3; Ephesians 6:2-3.

Props:
You will need paper, pens and envelops for each student.

Plan:
Ask:
What does it mean to really respect someone?
What would cause you not to respect someone?
Who is someone in this class that you really respect and why?
Read and discuss each of the passages under the passage section.
Ask the students to comment on the passage.
Give each student a pen, paper and envelope. Each student should write a letter to someone in your church whom they totally respect. Take up the letters and mail them.

Performance:
Challenge your students to memorize Ephesians 6:2-3.
Challenge your students to pray about being a respectful person.

Jesus’ Pattern

Paul and Al — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:53:54 +0000

Luke 6: 12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to
pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he
called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also
designated apostles:

Mark 1: 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus
got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when
they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby
villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus’ Pattern…

Prayer… Purpose… Pursuit

First, he prayed. Through the night. Early in the morning.

Second, the prayer revealed his purpose. His direction. What he was
to DO.

Third, he DID it. He pursued what he knew the Father wanted.
Choosing the twelve. Which town to go to next.

What we have always loved about ministry is that we get to ask God
what HE wants. It’s not about us being smart enough or talented
enough. It’s about being surrendered enough! Which isn’t always
easy.

Spend some time praying today.

As we all prepare for Sunday, let’s follow Jesus’ pattern.

BLESSINGS!
Paul & Al

www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

Youth Leader Retreats

Paul and Al — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:20:49 +0000

Al and I are spending the next 2.5 days on a church staff retreat. About once a year we get away as a team to refocus and refresh.

We ALL need that.

Our youth groups need retreats.

Our leadership teams need retreats.

Our families need retreats.

Even Jesus needed retreats. (Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:32; Luke 4:42)

Pulling away from the hustle of life helps us get back on track. It helps us see more clearly. It helps us remove distractions and refocus on what really counts.

Take some time this week to get away.

Just go to a park with the word and a prayerful spirit. Enjoy time
alone with the Savior.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,
Paul & Al

P.S. Teen Life Members : Login to your account and go to
http://tinyurl.com/onedayretreats There are 25 personal retreats
waiting for you there. Even if you do not have time for a full day
right now, block out a couple of hours. Take one of the guides and
use it to refresh your spirit.

www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

Thanking Youth Ministry Volunteers

Paul and Al — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:14:43 +0000

It is often hard to come up with ways to show appreciation to those who lay-it-on-the-line for you each week. I hope the following helps get you started. Be creative and add to this list and pass it on to your friends.

Take one or two volunteers to lunch as often as possible.
Help your youth group mow their lawn.
Let the youth group chip in for a gift certificate.
Make them a personalized prayer journal.
Give them movie tickets.
Invite them to your home for dinner.
Wash their vehicle.
Get a couple of teens together to clean their house.
Have a banquet in their honor.
Write thank you notes to each volunteer each quarter.

All 30 Can Be Found Here

Nuclear Vision

Paul and Al — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:11:01 +0000

Roy H. Williams wrote in his book, The Wizard of Ads:

Nuclear fusion fails in comparison to nuclear vision. Nuclear fusion is a fueling source and nuclear vision is a dreams to reality source.

John F. Kennedy showed us nuclear vision when he said, I’m going to put a man on the moon. Do you want to help? The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. shared his nuclear vision by shouting, “I have a dream!” The sailors who joined Columbus were willing to risk falling off the edge of the world because of his nuclear vision.

When undertaking any endeavor, vision is the ability to see the end in the beginning, and leadership is the ability to communicate that vision to the people around you, to accurately describe what you believe will happen.

Visionary leadership is not a matter of genius – it is a matter of courage.

If a visionary leader such as Kennedy or King or Columbus knew what you knew and had your job, what do you think he would do?

Of course we would add…

What could be done if we possessed the vision of Christ? What if we could see what he sees? Act as he acts? Go where he goes?

The examples of Kennedy, King, and Columbus are powerful examples of vision in motion. But nothing can compare to the power of Christ flowing through a believer’s life. Do we have the courage to live it?!

Your Partners in Youth Ministry!

Paul and Al