Today, we are wrapping up our ideas for leading better discussion. DONT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS….too quickly Silence is uncomfortable for most people and most youth workers seem to want to quickly fill the void. Set the tone for your teenagers by letting them know that there will be times when silence appears and it’s within the silence that everyone has a chance to think without listening to others.…
Conversations can be the “meat and potatoes” of discipleship since they build community and develop spiritual understanding. We’re picking up where we left off yesterday and exploring a few ideas for leading better discussions: ASK GREAT QUESTIONS Asking good questions is a science and an art.…
Discipling teenagers is a critical element of a healthy youth ministry. Part of dis-cipleship is helping teenagers learn to make decisions that will impact their lives for decades. It’s our experience that good discipleship happens best within the context of a caring and accepting relationship.…
Neither of us have very dramatic testimonies. We never did drugs (although Doug smoked a straw in 5th grade pretending it was a cigarette). We were never addicted to alcohol (Diet Coke is another topic). We aren’t cat burglars (Matt would consider it if he was flexible enough).…
Leading a small group of teenagers can be rough: It’s impossible to be “on” week after week and not hit some kind of a roadblock: • Our teaching can feel flat • Our personal lives can become too overwhelming • None of our students seem to “get it” Of course there are other roadblocks…these were just a few.…
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mt 22:37–38) We know you’ve read and heard this passage many times.…
This week, when we refer to a small group, we’re not talking about the size of your overall youth ministry. We’re referring to the few teenagers that have been entrusted to your care (assuming some have). When an adult leader shepherds/guides/coaches/leads/etc… a small group of teenagers…that’s great youth ministry!…
