Monday, April 30, 2007

Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry - P.E.E.R. A.R.M.Y.

 

This week we continue the P.E.E.R.  A.R.M.Y.  series. Hopefully, these brief lessons will help you turn your teens into an evangelistic force. We often talk about peer pressure, but now we're talking about using peers for a positive purpose.

 

The second "E" stands for...

 

Evangelism.

 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

 

It's at this stage that teens begin to get intimidated. They don't feel that they have know enough, do enough, or are pure enough to share the good news of Jesus.

 

Evangelism is not about perfection, but acceptance.

 

First, they have to accept that it is their responsibility to share Jesus. Without their willingness to tell others about Jesus their friends will be lost.

 

Second, they have to accept the fact that none of us know everything and that sharing Jesus is not difficult (it's the doctrinal differences that usually cause the problem.

 

Here is the simple, uncomplicated gospel message...

 

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," I Cor. 15:3-4

 

That's what we arm students with. The straightforward good news of Jesus.

 

Next week, we'll look at "R."

 

Note to Zone Members: Checkout the updates below for two resources added this week to help you with your youth evangelism.

 

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

P.S. Pass this issue of the Monday MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

 

P.S.S. For previous issues: http://tinyurl.com/3724k8

 

 

This Week's Updates for Zone Members

Members: Login to your account for access to this week's updates.

 

Evangelism (Apr 30, 2007 at 11:32 AM) - 2 tools to help your teens become more evangelistic. A 4 week bible study and a PowerPoint that teens can use to share their faith with their friends.  

Entire Romans Series (Apr 30, 2007 at 11:20 AM) - The entire Romans series is now available for download....     

Daily Bible Readings (Apr 27, 2007 at 9:54 AM) - Challenge your group to get into God's Word everyday through daily Bible readings.

GOD, I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION (Apr 25, 2007 at 11:54 AM) - At some point in time in my ministry I have wanted to ask God a few questions. Why did Pete have to die with aids? Why did Janet leave the church after we worked so hard to lead her to you? Why did that car crash have to claim Oney's life? Why are people hungry in our city? Why? Why? Why?


 

 

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Thursday, April 19, 2007

Youth Ministry : Family Meetings

Feel free to copy, paste and send to the parents of your youth group...

1. Choose A Convenient Time.

Finding a time when the entire family can be together may take a combination of sacrifice and commitment. Even thirteen-year-olds seem to have a schedule that keeps them busy every hour of the day.

Ask each family member to turn in a schedule of their average week. Look it over and pinpoint the times when a majority of the household does not have conflicting events and plan to meet during one of those times.

2. Set A Maximum Meeting Length.

Make the meetings short and precise. If discussion carries the meeting over the prescribed time that's fine, but covering a list of unimportant material will only make further meetings dreaded.

Cover everything that touches each family member early in the meeting. If your allotted time is one hour, save anything that would not specifically include the children until last and let them leave after the set time.

3. Cover The Meeting With Prayer.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Worry about nothing, pray about everything." Begin and close every time together by talking to the Father. Take prayer requests and mention each individual during the prayer time.

Rely on spontaneous prayer during the meeting. If a family member mentions a problem or shares a need, stop and pray.

ZONE MEMBERS: Get all 10 Tips for Family Meetings to pass along to parents.

Your Partners in Ministry,
Paul & Al


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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Youth Ministry Teen Quiet Time

Youth Ministry Teen Quiet Time

Feel free to copy, paste and send to your group...

 

It was one of those nights; you just wanted to chill and watch TV or play your video games. You might even want to spend time loading your ipod with your favorite tunes. Whatever the case, you didn't get your homework done and time is running out before the next semester's grades find there way to your parents. You get to school a little earlier the next day and someone lets you copy their homework. Man, you are relieved. When you hand your work in, your teacher says, "This is great, did you do this by yourself?" What do you do now? How do you answer that question and still be pleasing to God?

1. Have you ever been in a situation similar to the one above?

2. What did you do?

3. What should you have done?

4. What was the final outcome between you and God?

Proverbs 12:22 says, "The Lord hates those who tell lies but is pleased with those who keep their promises."

Read:
Ephesians 4:25; John 8:44; Proverbs 19:9; Psalms 34:11-14.

 

 

Your Partners in Ministry,

 

 

Get in the Zone

 

Join the Zone now and get an gain instant access to a Youth Ministry Goldmine! Over 300 Bible Lessons -Over 800 Youth Ministry Training Articles Plus a Whole LOT more!

 

Not a Member of The Youth Ministry Zone? Get the details here

 

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

 

 

 

Monday, April 9, 2007

Youth Ministry Easter Part 3

Youth Ministry Easter - Part 3

 

We hope you had a GREAT Easter!

 

Often we work hard getting ready. Making sure we have the perfect lesson. Trying to guarantee a good impression.

 

But now the REAL work begins. It's time to follow-up with the guests.

 

Take the time this week to do one of the following...

 

1. Call. Make a brief phone call to guests to thank them for attending and to see if they have any questions. (Be careful with this one because parents can be sensitive about an unknown religious person calling their child.)

 

2. Card. Send a thank you note. Nothing more. You do not have to use any heavy "conversion" techniques. Just an honest thank you is fine.

 

More important than what you do is what your group does. They need to be making the phone calls. They need to be sending cards. They need to be emailing, chatting and texting. They need to make the next invitation.

 

There are those teens who need an "adult figure" in their life, but MOST need peer influences. Your role as youth leader is not to do the teens' work for them, but to train them. Starting next week we will begin a series called P.E.E.R.  A.R.M.Y.  Hopefully, these brief lessons will help you turn your teens into an evangelistic force.

 

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

P.S. Pass this issue of the Monday MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

 

P.S.S. Zone members. Don't forget to download Discipleship 101 to use in your group. http://tinyurl.com/yrxls7

 

 

This Week's Updates for Zone Members

Members: Login to your account for access to this week's updates.

 

 

Lesson of the Week: Romans Lesson 11: The Debt to Love

 

 

Value (Apr 6, 2007 at 6:39 AM) - How do you measure value? Start by thinking about material things you have. Maybe the value is in the cost of the item; perhaps the item has sentimental value to you but would be worthless to someone else; we also place value based on our favor toward the item.

Teaching Tip (Apr 4, 2007 at 5:09 AM) - Your students badly need to know that you care about them.

 

Blogger Set Up (Mar 31, 2007 at 4:50 AM) - How to set up a Blogger.com blog, use it's tools, and make posts via email.

 

 

Resource Highlight

 

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

 

 

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Thursday, April 5, 2007

Youth Ministry Quiet Time

Youth Ministry Quiet Time

 

Feel free to send the following to your group for use in their quiet time...

 

Think of a time in your past when someone forgave you of something. Maybe it was something small or maybe you were shown forgiveness on a large scale. As a seminary student I once cheated on an internet test…I know, cheating is bad; but cheating in seminary has to be an all time low! Even worse, I cheated on a test given by my favorite professor- a man I respected and considered my mentor.

 

I didn't sleep much that night because I felt so guilty. Have you ever been in that situation before? The next morning the first thing I did was go to him and tell him what I had done. Right in front of him and a few other students I broke down and started to cry in my shame. I deserved to be accused and have my grade changed to a zero. Instead, he grabbed me and hugged me and said, "I respect your honesty and I feel a close bond with you that I know will last through our lives." Then he told me that he forgave me and would never hold what I did against me. In fact, he didn't even change my grade!

None of us deserve forgiveness when we do something wrong, but fortunately forgiveness is about getting what we don't deserve. God calls that grace! As a Christian you have been shown the most amazing grace ever: forgiveness from all your sins! David had a pretty amazing understanding of God's forgiveness. Read Psalm 51:1-12 and underline or write down the words you would equate with forgiveness.

Memory Verse this week: Psalm 130:3-4


"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are to be feared." (NIV)


The Message says it this way: "If you God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped."

In your prayer time today thank God for His forgiveness and remember that is continual. God doesn't keep score of our sins, but He willingly forgives us. You can pray something like this: Jesus, thank you for my freedom from the bondage of sin! Continue to open my spiritual eyes to see you more clearly. You bore my sins- I'll bear your Majestic Name!

Quote of the Week:
No man ever loved like Jesus. He taught the blind to see and the dumb to speak. He died on the cross to save us. He bore our sins. And now God says, "Because He did, I can forgive you." - Billy Graham

 

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

 

Click Here for 6 Plus

 

 

 

Get in the Zone

 

Join the Zone now and get an gain instant access to a Youth Ministry Goldmine!

Over 300 Bible Lessons -Over 800 Youth Ministry Training Articles

Plus a Whole LOT more!

 

Not a Member of The Youth Ministry Zone? Get the details here

 

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

 

 

 

Monday, April 2, 2007

Youth Ministry Easter - Part 2

Youth Ministry Easter - Part 2

 

Last week we mentioned having a pre-Easter event to help teens understand what it's about and what your church will be like on that day.

 

This week they need to be invitation crazy.

 

1. Call or email your entire group daily to remind them to invite.

 

2. Create a special invitation card if you haven't already.

 

3. Add an "about Easter" page to your website for your teens to send friends to.

 

4. Post an Easter message on your blog. (Zone members if you don't have a blog, see the updates below for the link to the video series for blog setup and use.)

 

5. Set up an Easter message on your voice mail and have the teens give the number to their friends.

 

6. Whether you like it or not, many of your teens have MySPace and FaceBook accounts. Get them to post information about Easter on there.

 

Those are just a few ways to get the word out this week about the most important message on the planet...

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

P.S. Pass this issue of the Monday MAXimizer along to 3 youth ministry friends.

 

 

This Week's Updates for Zone Members

Members: Login to your account for access to this week's updates.

http://www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

Lesson of the Week: Romans Lesson 10: Sacrifice, Service and Submission

 

 

Bible Fools (Mar 31, 2007 at 11:19 AM) - Small group discussion guide on foolishness.

Spiritual Growth Video Training (Mar 31, 2007 at 10:50 AM) - 7 video segments and PDF study sheets for spiritual growth.

Blogger Set Up (Mar 31, 2007 at 10:50 AM) - How to set up a Blogger.com blog, use it's tools, and make posts via email.

Youth Ministry Videos (Mar 31, 2007 at 10:47 AM) - Video training on classroom set up, deepening your youth ministry, five levels of leadership, follow-up, and more...

Daily Bible Readings (Mar 30, 2007 at 9:55 AM) - Daily Bible readings will help your teens learn God's Word and form a habit they will use the rest of their lives.

Staying Strong (Mar 28, 2007 at 11:32 AM) - This article was written by Sam Evans who is the 13 year old son of Paul Evans. Sam is a great leader and has the heart of a servant.

 

 

Resource Highlight

 

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