Group Magazine, Author at YouthMinistry.com

Do You Trust God With the Past, Present and Future?

Group Magazine — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:20:26 +0000

GETTING PAST THE PAST
1. Yellow Passport—(You’ll need a TV, a VCR, a video copy of 1998’s Les Miserables, water-soluble markers, and white blindfolds.) Start by showing a clip from Les Miserables, beginning at 3:20 when the woman says, “Knock on that door” and ending at 6:16 when Valjean sits up (00:00:00 studio logo appears).…

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In the Beginning: Studying the Story of God

Group Magazine — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

The Story of Creation (Genesis 1)—Why did God create the world?
Supplies: You’ll need Bibles; pencils; colored pencils; pieces of poster board; three to six movie posters (or DVD covers); and a box of random items (one per participant). Also, create and photocopy a handout divided into three columns: atop one column, draw a triangle; atop the next, draw a human stick figure; and atop the last column, draw a circle.…

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Can Your Students Hear God Now?

Group Magazine — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:34:40 +0000

This youth-led worship service is perfect for a lazy, hazy summer day or night. Your kids learn what it takes to hear God’s voice by experiencing Elijah’s story. This worship service doesn’t require a special location; the youth room will be fine.…

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Why Life Skills Are Essential for Resilient Teenagers

Group Magazine — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:02:46 +0000

The last time I saw Aaron, he was learning about life skills at a training session for at-risk teenagers. At the time, he was close to the cliff’s edge—where kids who are drug-addicted and homeless slip into oblivion. His parents didn’t know or care where he was.…

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Re-examine Your Definition of the Gospel

Group Magazine — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:14:57 +0000

Every fall, youth groups all over the planet refocus for the new ministry year with kickoffs, events, retreats, and messy games. Youth workers with high hopes are eager to communicate the gospel to young people in their care. When all the activities are stripped away, however, our definitions of “gospel” often remain abstract.…

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How to Survive the Sleep-Deprived Nasties

Group Magazine — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:34:56 +0000

It’s day four. You’re sitting in a fast-food booth with three teenagers. There’s a greasy double-decker burger sitting five inches from your belly—mocking your pathetic “healthy eating” vow. It’s your third this week. The kid sitting across from you is drinking his milkshake, and you can tell he’s nearly done.…

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Do Christian Teens Really Believe in Jesus?

Group Magazine — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 23:30:49 +0000

Charlie Chaplin, the legendary silent-film actor, once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like contest at a crowded vaudeville theater in San Francisco. Apparently the competition was fierce, because the real Chaplin lost. In fact, he didn’t even place among the finalists. Charlie’s own fans didn’t recognize him in their midst—even those who were trying to imitate him.…

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Youth-led Worship Service: Celebrating Pentecost

Group Magazine — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 23:13:17 +0000

by Steve Case
What better way to celebrate the birth of the church than with a youth-led worship experience? This isn’t a long service—you won’t want to build an evening around it. The purpose is to capture the spirit of Pentecost (literally), and it can be incorporated into a regular morning worship service.…

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Bible Study: “Who Does Jesus Say I Am?”

Group Magazine — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 21:02:18 +0000

by Kelli and David Trujillo
Jesus: Who Do You Say I Am? – The Meaning of Allegiance
Editor’s Note: This is the third of a yearlong series of Bible studies that will help your teenagers answer Jesus’ profound question in Luke 9:18-20—”Who do you say I am?”…

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What Happens When We Forsake a Better Hope

Group Magazine — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:52:02 +0000

Recently, a friend said something intriguing: “As believers, we aren’t promised a better life but a better hope.” Personally, I wouldn’t mind having both an awesome life and a bright future. My guess is that if I live with rock-solid hope, then the odds go up that I’ll live a more purposeful life.…

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