Thursday, February 22, 2007

Teaching Teens to Worship

1. Worship Creates Hunger. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).

When is the last time you heard a teen say, “When can I go and meet with God?” When you hear that phrase you know you’ve met a worshiper. Entering the Lord’s presence through worship creates satisfaction and hunger simultaneously.

2. Raise Your Praise. “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!” (Psalm 47:1).

In the blank provided write the name of the last professional football event that you attended that was quiet: __________________________. Is the blank still blank? Do you know why? Because the people in the stands are worshipping what’s happening on the field (at least one group of fans). When God is active in our field of life we respond with praise.

3. Let God Find You. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).

God is looking for us. He is seeking us. Will He find us? If we had a special pair of glasses that revealed true worshipers, how many people would be in the pews Sunday morning? How many would God find?

Zone Members: Read the complete article of "10 Tips for Teaching Teens to Worship"

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al


Join the Zone now and pre-load your 2007 with resources and materials!

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

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

Monday, February 19, 2007

Teen Faith Development

Teen Faith Development

 

1. God's power. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father draws Him" (John 6:44). This is the number one tool for a teen's faith development. God draws a teen into a relationship with Him. God convicts the heart and creates the need for salvation. God grants grace and forgiveness. God's power makes all this possible.

                       

Relying on God's power will forge true faith in a teen. Relying on our power may result in the teen's faith being in us. Paul wrote that he came "to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, less the cross be emptied of it's power" (I Corinthians 1:17). Our human wisdom only weakens the message.  Let God bring power to your group.

 

2. Daily Bible Study. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). The Bible contains the actual words of God. A teen's faith matures when he or she believes that statement and lives it.

                       

Before turning to their friends, teach your group to turn to God first. Our sinfulness allows us to rationalize almost any wrong into a right. God's Word, however, remains true. The more an individual reads and lives the Word, the stronger their faith gets, and the more dependent on God they become. (Teen Life Slide Rules are a great tools for getting teens into the Word.)

 

3. A faith that works. Provide opportunities for your teens to put their faith into action. James, Jesus' brother, recorded it this way, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

                       

There exists a direct correlation between faith and works. When we have faith we work. When we work for the Lord, faith develops. You've seen it before. A teen with great faith believes God will do great things, so she saves all the money she can for the mission trip. Another teen holds weak faith and goes on the trip for fun. But as he sees God changing lives through his group, his life changes and his faith grows.

 

Zone Members Read the complete article here: http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/teen_faith_development/

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

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

 

 

Zone Members Only

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

http://www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

Lesson of the Week: Romans Lesson 4 : God's Threshing Floor

 

 

Watch Your Teens Grow In The Lord (Feb 16, 2007 at 11:29 AM) - Just about every time I think about "hanging up the cleats" one of my teens of the past comes to mind. Right now I am thinking of a young man who dealt me all kinds of problems. He was involved in everything but the Lord.

Am I the Only One? (Feb 14, 2007 at 1:02 PM) - "That's great for them, but that would never happen to ME."
 

 

 

Travel Zone

 

Book your personal/group travel online www.5TalentsTravel.com

 

If you or your group travels extensively, consider becoming a referring agent. www.5TalentsBiz.com

 

Resource Highlight

 

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

 

 

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

 

www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

 

 

Friday, February 16, 2007

Balancing Ministry and Family

Balancing Ministry and Family Time

 

1. Date your spouse.

Even after you are married, you need to date your spouse. Schedule a night once or twice a month for a night out together, without the children. You and your children will benefit from making your marriage a priority. If you can't afford a baby-sitter, find another couple with whom you can trade off baby-sitting duties.

2. Wherever you are, be all there.

When you are about the Lord's work, remember it is Christ you are serving. A poor work ethic invites ridicule and diminishes credibility. On the other hand, don't dwell on ministry problems and responsibilities after you leave the office. Flip off the switch when you head for home. If you're preoccupied, you time with your family won't really count. Let your loved ones know that they are truly cherished.

3. Eat dinner together.

A common thread among successful people is that most grew up eating dinner with their families. The benefits of eating meals with your family are both obvious and numerous: Manners are taught, principles are modeled, and lessons are learned.

 

Zone Members: Read the complete article of "10 Tips to Balance Family and Ministry"

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

 

 

 

Get in the Zone

 

January is ALMOST over. Join the Zone now and pre-load your 2007 with resources and materials!

 

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

 

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

 

 

 

Monday, February 12, 2007

Youth Ministry Myths

Youth Ministry Myths

 

1. All Play and No Work. Whoever believes this one has never hosted a Junior High Lock-In. As in any ministry, working with youth has many unaccounted hours that the members never see. They see the cookout, but miss the 1 a.m. call from the police station. They see the beach retreat, but miss the flat tire along the way. They see the pizza party, but miss the 10 hour drive back from the work camp.

                       

Tip: Combat this myth by keeping the congregation more informed about mission trips and service projects and less informed on the "fun" activities (since that's all they think you do anyway).

 

2. Keeping the Church Informed Will Solve Any Misconceptions. Don't use this as an excuse to keep people in the dark, but there will be some who think the worst of you and your ministry no matter how hard you try to explain it. Some will think the lock-in is a sex-in. Some will think the contemporary praise is Satan's tool.

                       

Tip: Combat this myth by thoroughly explaining the purpose behind each event.

 

3. Working with Christians Is Easy. Christians can be some of the most unforgiving, harsh, and judgmental people you will ever encounter.

                       

Tip: Combat this myth by being like Christ no matter how unChrist-like some of the people you work with may seem.

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

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

 

 

Zone Members Only

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

http://www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

Lesson of the Week: Romans Lesson 3 : God's Sovereign Choice

 

 

Living Art (Feb 9, 2007 at 1:09 PM) - Have you ever considered yourself a work of art? Genesis 2:7 says, "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

What Does It Mean To You? (Feb 7, 2007 at 1:39 PM) - Sudden Impact is designed for you to cut, paste and e-mail to your teens.

Valentine's Games (Feb 7, 2007 at 10:53 AM) - Valentine's Day can lead to talks about love, dating, purity, or even lust and pornography. Some of the discussions will open the door to talk about the "junk" that we're allowing in our life that doesn't belong there

10 Bible Images (Feb 5, 2007 at 9:00 PM) - Preview of the bible images. Members, there is a direct download link from the page.

 

 

 

Travel Zone

 

Book your personal/group travel online www.5TalentsTravel.com

 

If you or your group travels extensively, consider becoming a referring agent. www.5TalentsBiz.com

 

Resource Highlight

 

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

 

 

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

 

www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

 

 

Friday, February 9, 2007

Youth Group Counseling

Don't of Teen Counseling

 

1. Don't force a teen into counseling. Want a quick way to shut teens down? Make them come to you for counseling. If it's not their idea to come, or at least partially their idea, little will be accomplished. By nature teens like to have control, and when pushed into a corner they feel trapped and unwilling to share.

                       

We need to let teens know that we are available for any problem they may have.  Listening to them well in casual conversations will make them more likely to come to us for private consolation. Encourage, but don't force, teens to visit you for counseling if you notice a problem that may call for it.

 

2. Don't act shocked. If a teen tells you that he has a sexually transmitted disease and he thinks he has given it to three girls, remain calm and resist saying, "You think?"  Be prepared for anything. A teen may enter your office with anything from suicide to homicide on his or her mind. When we act shocked and give one of those of all the people, I never would have thought looks, it makes a teen feel very small.

 

3. Don't be too professional. Is the office the best place to meet with teens? Perhaps walking around a park would work better, or meeting at a fast food place near their school. If you have a close relationship with a teen, an informal setting may work best. No one likes being called to the office.

                       

Do you wear a tie as part of your daily attire? Ditch it and take off your coat. The more serious you look, the more serious a teen may perceive their problem to be. On the other hand, if you're rubbing tanning lotion on when a teen comes to talk, she may feel that you don't take anything seriously. You'll be professional enough for a teen if you're dressed casually, and tuned into their needs.

 

Zone Members: Read the complete article of "10 Don'ts of Teen Counseling"

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

 

 

 

Get in the Zone

 

January is ALMOST over. Join the Zone now and pre-load your 2007 with resources and materials!

 

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

 

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone

 

 

 

Monday, February 5, 2007

Youth Ministry MAXimize

Youth Room Decor

 

1. Wild Welcome Center. What is the first thing guests see when they enter your youth room? What impression do you think they receive?

           

Well, you know what they say, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Get a couple of your friendliest teens and station them at the door to warmly welcome visitors. Have a table set up as a welcome area that has resources about your group such as newsletters, class outlines, etc. Also, ask that they fill out a card with their address so you can keep them informed of upcoming events. Hey, while you're at it, offer some light refreshments.

 

2. Youth Group Posters. Most youth rooms adorn their walls with contemporary bands, Christian sayings, and bulletin boards that haven't been changed since 1953.

                       

Be different. Take some photos of your group to a local copy shop and get them blown up to poster size. To take the idea a step further, ask the shop what software they use with their equipment. Find someone in the church who has the same software, scan the pictures, change the background, rearrange the people, and add your own headline.

 

3. Themed Décor. Does your group have a particular name or a verse they love? Why not use it as the theme for your room?

                       

Let's say the group has adopted the sermon on the mount. You could decorate the room with a mountain theme, or maybe even like a jungle. Your praise time could be called Jungle Jams. You could do lessons about Jesus the King of the Jungle. When you have refreshments you can call the sodas Jungle Juice. (Okay, so it's possible to take the theme too far. Just use common sense and make the room fun.)

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

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

 

 

Zone Members Only

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

http://www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

Lesson of the Week: Romans Lesson 2 : Faith Change

 

 

Fruit of the Spirit (Feb 3, 2007 at 6:06 AM) - 9 Lessons on the fruit of the Spirit have been added to the Member Submissions area.     Zone Members Click Here to Download

Never Teach a Half-prepared Lesson (Feb 2, 2007 at 7:30 AM) - Never forget--teaching is great!

Games (Jan 31, 2007 at 5:03 PM) - Some are old and some are new but they are all just plain fun.

Daily Bible Readings (Jan 31, 2007 at 6:47 AM) - Get your teens in the Word through daily Bible readings

Team Builders (Jan 31, 2007 at 5:17 AM) - events and games to develop teamwork

Mixers & Icebreakers (Jan 31, 2007 at 5:09 AM) - A couple dozen mixers and icebreakers.

Gridiron Gang, The (CHANGE) (Jan 31, 2007 at 4:37 AM) -   Main Point: Our Faith in God Starts a Change in Us Attention Grabber:  Movie – The Gridiron Gang Clip Every once in a while a film is released that reminds youth workers that we can make a difference: Coach Carter, Stand and Deliver, Renaissance Man… this is one of those films.  If you haven't seen it, stop by the video store tonight and pick it up.

25 Backgrounds (Jan 29, 2007 at 10:32 AM) - Backgrounds for use in your youth ministry.
 

 

 

Travel Zone

 

Book your personal/group travel online www.5TalentsTravel.com

 

If you or your group travels extensively, consider becoming a referring agent. www.5TalentsBiz.com

 

Resource Highlight

 

Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here

 

 

Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up for this free newsletter at:

 

www.teenlifeministries.com

 

 

 

 

Friday, February 2, 2007

Youth Ministry Thursday

Service Projects

 

1. Cookout for city sanitation workers. Have you ever noticed those guys who ride around and pick up the trash on your curb? Have you ever thought they may not feel appreciated? In most cities the sanitation workers meet a couple of times a week for lunch in the area they're working. Call the city and ask where the sanitation workers in your area meet and on what days. Once you have this information, get your group together and plan a cookout for the workers. Make invitations and deliver them a week in advance. Go ahead and ask if they will come. Chances are good they won't turn down a free meal. When they arrive at the cookout, seat them, serve them, and clean up after them. The only thing they have to do is show up, eat, and be honored.

 

2. Bake and take. Meet at the church building or a home and bake a large batch of cookies. Have the teens do all the cooking, packaging and cleaning. When the cookies are ready take them to area nursing homes, or to the nurse stations at the hospitals. Try to arrange with the hospital to come at a shift change so the nurses leaving can take some cookies home, and those who are coming on can start their shift on a positive note.

 

3. Clean houses. Teens do not have the reputation for keeping their rooms neat. Blow your congregation away by offering their house cleaning services. Designate a Saturday and ask your church members to sign up a week in advance to have their house cleaned. Provide the service free of charge, but humbly accept any donations to add to the youth fund.

 

Zone Members: Read the complete article of "10 Great Service Projects"

Your Partners in Ministry,

Paul & Al

 

 

 

 

Get in the Zone

 

January is ALMOST over. Join the Zone now and pre-load your 2007 with resources and materials!

 

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

 

http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone