| Learning From Jesus: Dealing With Those Who Demand Our Time |
From youthministry360 on Monday, March 18, 2013 @ 5:54 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Next time you are reading in the Gospels, pay attention to two little words:"came to." The words "came to" appear in the Gospels 56 times (NIV), each time describing someone who "came to" Jesus. In each instance someone sought Jesus out. Each time someone needed something from Jesus. Here are but a few examples . . .Matt. 8:5—When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.Matt. 15:30—Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.Matt. 19:3—Some Pharisees came to him to test him.Mark 10:50—Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.Matt. 15:12—Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"John 3:2—[Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night . . .How did Jesus do it? There were so many who came to Him! It must have been virtually non-stop.Surveying the passages of Scripture where Jesus is addressing people, there seems at times to be a great tension. Here is Jesus, the God-man, walking the earth in human form, fulfilling the Plan set forth before time. He was being and doing all that was intended for Him to do. Preaching, teaching, healing, convicting . . . And yet, there were times it when the constant pull on His time and faculties had to take its toll. But even as we see this tension in Jesus, the tension between fulfilling His purpose on this earth and the nearly overwhelming demand on His time, we see that He never wavered in His commitment to be present. Jesus consistently met the needs of those who earnestly sought Him out. You can relate, can't you?As a youth worker, your time is constantly filled with demands, with people "coming to" you. People who need you. People who need something from you. They need your time and your attention. What can we learn from Jesus how to handle this demand?Jesus gave those who sought Him out a wonderful gift: His time. He gave His attention. He listened to people. He addressed their individual needs.He could have waived His hand and blessed the whole lot of them. But He didn't. It at least seems like He healed them one by one. That He took the time to heal, and answer, and dialogue. Many times His answers were different, individualized. He treated people not as the masses, but as the individual. Honestly, this owns me. We look at Jesus' death as His greatest sacrifice. It surely was the most important sacrifice! But maybe the greatest sacrifice ever made was the initial decision to step out of heaven and to take on a body that needed food and sleep and water to function properly, and to place Himself within a community that was so needy, so misunderstanding, and so demanding . . .When we think of the cross as the only sacrifice Jesus made, we're missing it.When we think of Jesus' sacrifice, we must think of everyday Jesus spent between two eternities, cloaked in humanity, dealing with the ugly, messy, tiring work of life-on-life interaction that defined His earthly ministry. Because when we think of this, we come to a new understanding of how we are called to handle those who make demands of our time and attention.Some questions for you to think about today:What changes do you need to make in your attitude toward those who demand your time and attention?How can you honor Christ today by giving of your time, even when it's not convenient?Who needs to be listened to in your life?Who needs to be provided for today?What requests, as inconvenient as they may be, need to be met with patience and compassion?How we deal with those who need us may be the easiest way we can reflect Christ today. |
| Learning From Jesus: Dealing With Those Who Demand Our Time |
From youthministry360 on Monday, March 18, 2013 @ 5:54 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Next time you are reading in the Gospels, pay attention to two little words:"came to." The words "came to" appear in the Gospels 56 times (NIV), each time describing someone who "came to" Jesus. In each instance someone sought Jesus out. Each time someone needed something from Jesus. Here are but a few examples . . .Matt. 8:5—When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.Matt. 15:30—Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.Matt. 19:3—Some Pharisees came to him to test him.Mark 10:50—Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.Matt. 15:12—Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"John 3:2—[Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night . . .How did Jesus do it? There were so many who came to Him! It must have been virtually non-stop.Surveying the passages of Scripture where Jesus is addressing people, there seems at times to be a great tension. Here is Jesus, the God-man, walking the earth in human form, fulfilling the Plan set forth before time. He was being and doing all that was intended for Him to do. Preaching, teaching, healing, convicting . . . And yet, there were times it when the constant pull on His time and faculties had to take its toll. But even as we see this tension in Jesus, the tension between fulfilling His purpose on this earth and the nearly overwhelming demand on His time, we see that He never wavered in His commitment to be present. Jesus consistently met the needs of those who earnestly sought Him out. You can relate, can't you?As a youth worker, your time is constantly filled with demands, with people "coming to" you. People who need you. People who need something from you. They need your time and your attention. What can we learn from Jesus how to handle this demand?Jesus gave those who sought Him out a wonderful gift: His time. He gave His attention. He listened to people. He addressed their individual needs.He could have waived His hand and blessed the whole lot of them. But He didn't. It at least seems like He healed them one by one. That He took the time to heal, and answer, and dialogue. Many times His answers were different, individualized. He treated people not as the masses, but as the individual. Honestly, this owns me. We look at Jesus' death as His greatest sacrifice. It surely was the most important sacrifice! But maybe the greatest sacrifice ever made was the initial decision to step out of heaven and to take on a body that needed food and sleep and water to function properly, and to place Himself within a community that was so needy, so misunderstanding, and so demanding . . .When we think of the cross as the only sacrifice Jesus made, we're missing it.When we think of Jesus' sacrifice, we must think of everyday Jesus spent between two eternities, cloaked in humanity, dealing with the ugly, messy, tiring work of life-on-life interaction that defined His earthly ministry. Because when we think of this, we come to a new understanding of how we are called to handle those who make demands of our time and attention.Some questions for you to think about today:What changes do you need to make in your attitude toward those who demand your time and attention?How can you honor Christ today by giving of your time, even when it's not convenient?Who needs to be listened to in your life?Who needs to be provided for today?What requests, as inconvenient as they may be, need to be met with patience and compassion?How we deal with those who need us may be the easiest way we can reflect Christ today. |
| Flashback Friday (Mar. 15): This Week's Links From The Youth Ministry Blogosphere |
From youthministry360 on Friday, March 15, 2013 @ 7:01 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
One of the things we are committed to at ym360 is Networking. Our vision for networking is connecting you to people and organizations doing awesome youth ministry.Flashback Friday is a feature where we give you the run down of some of the awesome posts from the past week across youth ministry blogs. Consider it our way of keeping you connected with what is going on. This week's posts from the ym360 BlogThe youthministry360 Easter Vault by Andy Blanks When The Youth Ministry Grass Isn't Always Greener by Bill NanceYouth Worker BOOST: Building On A Solid Foundation by Richard ParkerYM Essentials: The One-Sentence Secret To Growth by Andy Blanks Linked Post: A Different Way to Build Relationships With Students by Austin McCann Posts From Other Awesome PeopleWe search the Internet to bring you relevant information to help you be a better youth worker. Here are some links from posts we thought were pretty great.A Different Way to Build Relationships with Your Students by Austin McCannHow to Recruit First-time Small Group Leaders by Andrew MasonBuild Relationships Exponentially by Brian LucasFirst Steps In Youth Ministry by Christopher WesleyI inherited a ministry I didn't really understand by Joshua FuentesThree Ways to Tell if Your Youth Group is in Trouble by Jonathan PearsonPartnering with Parents in Youth Ministry: FREE Training Video – Part 1: First Thoughts by Leneita Fix5 Overly Honest Confessions Of A Youth Pastor by Mark CoxWhy Stories Matter by Paul MartinBang With Friends. . . We've Got an App For That! . . . by Walt MuellerThat's all the links for this week. As always, have an awesome weekend . . . And THANK YOU for the chance to serve you as part of the ym360 community. |
| Advice to Small Group Leaders |
From Youth Specialties on Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 2:09 PM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Last weekend I had a great time with Doug Fields, Mark Matlock and Megan Hutchinson training 700 youth workers at YSPalooza in Chicago!
One of the sessions I taught was “How to Lead a Small Group without Losing Your Mind.” This was a fun session where I offered 5 tools that help small group leaders (one of them was duct tape).
Before the session, I went around with my phone and filmed people in the lobby, asking them, “What advice would you give a newbie small group leader.” I synced my phone with my laptop really quick, threw the responses together using iMovie (gotta love Mac) and showed the crowd what advice they had to give to newbie small group leaders.
Here’s that video:
(Click here if you don’t see the embedded video)
I think Doug was the most profound… don’t you? He said a mouthful!
This whole weekend of training was a lot of fun. Those who follow me on Twitter saw some of the highlights of the weekend, including the picture I shot of the crowd… and of course, my lunch at Giordano’s Pizza!
We received really positive feedback from the trainings as well as all the current resources YS offered in their YSPalooza store. My book CONNECT actually sold out at the event, and my books 10-Minute Talks and More 10-Minute Talks were rapidly disappearing (maybe people liked those small group questions at the end of each of those talks).
I can’t wait to teach again with Duffy, Kara and Mark at YSPalooza Philly!
Taken from the original post on JonathanMckeeWrites.com |
| Advice to Small Group Leaders |
From Youth Specialties on Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 2:08 PM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Last weekend I had a great time with Doug Fields, Mark Matlock and Megan Hutchinson training 700 youth workers at YSPalooza in Chicago!
One of the sessions I taught was “How to Lead a Small Group without Losing Your Mind.” This was a fun session where I offered 5 tools that help small group leaders (one of them was duct tape).
Before the session, I went around with my phone and filmed people in the lobby, asking them, “What advice would you give a newbie small group leader.” I synced my phone with my laptop really quick, threw the responses together using iMovie (gotta love Mac) and showed the crowd what advice they had to give to newbie small group leaders.
Here’s that video:
(Click here if you don’t see the embedded video)
I think Doug was the most profound… don’t you? He said a mouthful!
This whole weekend of training was a lot of fun. Those who follow me on Twitter saw some of the highlights of the weekend, including the picture I shot of the crowd… and of course, my lunch at Giordano’s Pizza!
We received really positive feedback from the trainings as well as all the current resources YS offered in their YSPalooza store. My book CONNECT actually sold out at the event, and my books 10-Minute Talks and More 10-Minute Talks were rapidly disappearing (maybe people liked those small group questions at the end of each of those talks).
I can’t wait to teach again with Duffy, Kara and Mark at YSPalooza Philly!
Taken from the original post on JonathanMckeeWrites.com |
| When The Youth Ministry Grass Isn't Always Greener |
From youthministry360 on Thursday, March 14, 2013 @ 8:42 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
Image courtesy of shutterstock.com / (c) Serg64
I was sick. I didn't realize how badly I was infected until recently. I had tried every cure I could think of but I just couldn't kick the disease. It was eating me alive. I'd been going from place to place for the past 10 years trying to get healed. It just wasn't working. What malady infected me? I had a case "Grass is always greener-itis."Chances are, many of you may be infected as well. It's a chronic disease that causes you to continually look at other churches, ministries, and youth pastors and say, "If only…" You'll be hard pressed to find two words as harmful as these! Over the years they've caused a ton of heartache and frustration for youth workers. They build on the feeling that our present circumstances are untenable and add an unreal vision of "what could be." "If only I had "X" I'd be happy." In ministry, we often face struggles in our ministries. Maybe our Senior Pastor came down on us for no reason. Or a parent we thought was our friend went behind our backs gossiping or complaining. Maybe the star student we'd been mentoring for graduated from high school and his or her faith. When we get rocked with these types of struggles, we then look at our paltry paychecks, our office in the corner of the basement with the computer from 1995, or whatever else is eating at us that particular day and we think, "Its GOT to be better somewhere else!" Let me tell you friends, from a recovering "grass is greener-it is" sufferer, the grass isn't always greener. I know from experience.I thought in my first ministry, a part time ministry where I got little pay and less respect, that IF ONLY I got a full-time ministry things would be great. I got that full time ministry, but I ran into some fairly significant issues with an individual leader. I remember thinking that IF ONLY I found a place where the leadership was all on the same page things would be great. After a couple of more stops where things weren't perfect, my illness would kick in. I would hear the "if only's" in my head, and my neck would begin to crane looking for the next patch of greener grass. The problem is that I missed a lot of what was right in front of me looking for the next perfect fit.Each stop along the road I thought that I would find true ministry happiness somewhere else. The cliché holds true: The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Just because you see all the smiles, and hear all the good things about another church or ministry doesn't mean its all sunshine, and rainbows, and puppies. You are where you are, for better and for worse. If we really believe in God's sovereignty, we have to believe that God knew you'd be where you are. He didn't stop you. He allowed you to be in your specific context. Our goal should be to grow where God has planted us, even though it might be a challenge. Let your roots grow deep in his love and grace. These strong roots will nourish you in times of famine, protect you when the wind blows, and connect you to others to gain their strength as well. And these deep roots are a sure-fire cure for "grass is greener-it is." |
| Game Time With Les Christie: Episode 2 |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:15 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
When picking games you want to :
Pick games that are fun to watch, Like Flamingo Football: guys hopping around on 1 foot, watching girls tackling them. Its super fun to watch.
Pick games that are fun to describe. Get the students involved, engaged and ready for fun!
Pick games that are fun to PLAY. If the people playing are having fun, the audience will have fun with them!
Have some tips or tricks of your own? We are always looking for online contributors, send any program, game, or other related content to Trending@youthspecialties.com.
Les Christie has spent more than forty years in youth ministry, including more than twenty years in the same church. An energetic speaker, Les also chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University. He's the author of more than a dozen books and lives in California with his wife, Gretchen, where he no longer has to discipline his two grown sons, Brent and David. You can find some of his resources in the YS Shop |
| Game Time With Les Christie: Episode 2 |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:15 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
When picking games you want to :
Pick games that are fun to watch - Like Flamingo Football, guys hopping around on 1 foot, watching girls tackling them, its super fun to watch
Pick games that are fun to describe, it gets the students involved, engaged and ready for fun!
Pick games that are fun to PLAY, if the people playing are having fun, the audience will have fun with them!
Have some tips or tricks of your own? We are always looking for online contributors, send any program, game, or other related content to Trending@youthspecialties.com.
Les Christie has spent more than forty years in youth ministry, including more than twenty years in the same church. An energetic speaker, Les also chairs the youth ministry department at William Jessup University. He's the author of more than a dozen books and lives in California with his wife, Gretchen, where he no longer has to discipline his two grown sons, Brent and David. You can find some of his resources in the YS Shop |
| The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:05 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich
Small groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives.
Often in youth ministry, success is measured by attendance. But having good attendance isn’t what makes your small group ministry successful. It’s what happens to your students once they get there. If we don’t take the time to answer key questions like, Why are we using this ministry strategy? or What are we hoping to accomplish? we can find ourselves with frustrated leaders, directionless students, and very little life-change. In one small group, after weeks of meeting together, a student asked his leader, “Why are we here anyway?” A question like that—though typical of adolescence—is a sign that something may need to change.
Small groups can be exciting, challenging, and spiritually trans- forming. But again, they are the starting point of ministry—not the end. Each group needs to have an intentional goal and vision that is embraced by every member.
Before we dig into what that all means, here are three founda- tional principles every small group leader should understand:
1. SMALL GROUP MEETINGS ARE VALUE-DRIVEN, NOT CURRICULUM- DRIVEN. The significance of getting kids to connect is always greater than the goal of finishing a lesson. Therefore, a successful small-group experience is defined by whether or not kids participated in a mean- ingful discussion, not whether or not the lesson was completed.
How many times have you heard from a small group leader who came equipped with a lesson plan and was ready to fire away—only to leave discouraged because her students didn’t “get into” the meeting? (This is especially frustrating when that leader is you.) All it takes is a long sigh, a distracting comment, or the notorious “nap jerk” to realize you just aren’t reaching your audience. And therein lies the problem: Your students have become an audience.
Sometimes a leader is unintentionally more committed to the lesson plan than the spiritual growth of the students. This happens when spiritual growth is understood as the transmission of informa- tion rather than the understanding of biblical truth. This basic differ- ence can make a group curriculum-driven rather than values driven.
As a small group leader, it’s important to evaluate your group on the basis of your values. This takes some honest thought about what is happening—and what you want to happen—in your small group. That’s what this book is about.
Your values, whether stated or unstated, will drive your small group ministry. If you don’t take the time to explore those values, your small group may reflect values you don’t really have. This book will help you develop clearly stated values that make small groups worth leading—and give you ideas and activities for how to experi- ence those values in your group.
2. SMALL GROUP RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SMALL GROUP ATTENDANCE. The core of small group ministry is relation- ships, not attendance. In his book, God at the Mall, Pete Ward says, “Relationships are the fuel on which youth work travels. To be en- gaged in building relationships with young people is an intentional activity.”
Leanne loved the other girls in her small group and loved shar- ing life with them, but when her life fell apart, she pulled back. Leanne didn’t want to talk about the mess at home, so she withdrew. Leanne’s leader would see her every couple of months at church, but when she asked her to stick around for small group, Leanne always found an ex- cuse to duck out. Two years passed before Leanne was finally willing to come on a trip with her small group. It was then that she recommit- ted her life to Christ. Her telling comment was, “I can’t believe you let me come back. You always let me come back.”
“GOOD LEADERS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS OUTSIDE THE MEETING”
Small group attendance doesn’t guarantee a good relationship be- tween leader and student anymore than a lack of attendance guaran- tees a lack of relationship. A student can meet with his small group religiously but fail to bring himself to the table. In contrast, a student may have poor attendance, but have a vital connection with the group. Good small group leaders develop relationships with students not only by leading them during the meeting, but also by pursuing them out- side of the meeting. Remember Jesus’ strategy with his sheep. When 99 showed up, he went looking for the one who didn’t.
Jesus lived out this strategy with his disciples in a more pro- found way. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might be with him” (emphasis ours). Being with Jesus was the first and most important goal for this renegade small group. The unbelievable invitation of Jesus is that he calls us to a min- istry of inviting kids to be with us—so that they can be with him!
3. SMALL GROUP MINISTRY GOES BEYOND THE SMALL GROUP MEETING.
Our impact on the lives of kids is not limited to the 70 minutes we have their attention. (Let’s make that seven minutes for those who work with junior high.) Good leaders are always on the lookout for ways to make connections with kids outside the meeting. If there is a spiritual understanding within the meeting, look for how it can be experienced in the real world of the students. If there is a spiritual or relational deadlock, look for avenues outside the gathering to over- come these obstacles.
“THE MISSION OF A SMALL GROUP LEADER IS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO THE PEOPLE GOD DESIGNED THEM TO BE.”
Small group leaders should look for ways to foster spiritual discovery with their students beyond “once-a-week.” This requires taking the ministry beyond the four walls of the meeting and placing it in the field where kids live, eat, play, and breathe the stresses of everyday life. This isn’t to say that the safety and intimacy of the meeting is not important. Transforming leaders simply look for ways to springboard faith connections into the real world. Conversations with kids during an afternoon of cookie baking can make a bigger impact on them than three weeks of carefully planned curriculum. It’s all about having the willingness to move beyond the usual confines into everyday life.
YOUR MISSION
The mission of a small group leader is to develop meaningful relationships with students and to help shape them into the people God designed them to be. Small group meetings, and the activities and ideas that go along with them, are not the mission. They are the vehicles we use to accomplish the mission—namely, spiritual transformation in the lives of our kids.
In the following chapters, you will find strategic change to approaches to small group ministry that will help you accomplish this mission. You will learn how to run a small group meeting in such a way so that your students will be ministered to personally and effec- tively. You will learn not only how to nurture your students’ spiritual development by evaluating where they are, but also how to encour- age them toward the next step. Finally, you will be equipped with meaningful ideas and activities that are specifically designed to help students live out their faith at every level of spiritual growth.
The goal is clear—your students will discover who Jesus is and embrace the relationship he has for them. While you can’t control their spiritual journeys, you can provide a nurturing context for growth to take place. This book will help you do just that.
Get your copy of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich today. |
| The 3 Foundations to Small Groups You Must Know |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 10:04 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of "Small Group Strategies" by Laurie Polich
Small groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional ap- proach to HOW small groups will nurture and shape students’ lives.
Often in youth ministry, success is measured by attendance. But having good attendance isn’t what makes your small group ministry successful. It’s what happens to your students once they get there. If we don’t take the time to answer key questions like, Why are we using this ministry strategy? or What are we hoping to accomplish? we can find ourselves with frustrated leaders, directionless students, and very little life-change. In one small group, after weeks of meeting together, a student asked his leader, “Why are we here anyway?” A question like that—though typical of adolescence—is a sign that something may need to change.
Small groups can be exciting, challenging, and spiritually trans- forming. But again, they are the starting point of ministry—not the end. Each group needs to have an intentional goal and vision that is embraced by every member.
Before we dig into what that all means, here are three founda- tional principles every small group leader should understand:
1. SMALL GROUP MEETINGS ARE VALUE-DRIVEN, NOT CURRICULUM- DRIVEN. The significance of getting kids to connect is always greater than the goal of finishing a lesson. Therefore, a successful small-group experience is defined by whether or not kids participated in a mean- ingful discussion, not whether or not the lesson was completed.
How many times have you heard from a small group leader who came equipped with a lesson plan and was ready to fire away—
8 SMALL GROUP STRATEGIES
only to leave discouraged because her students didn’t “get into” the meeting? (This is especially frustrating when that leader is you.) All it takes is a long sigh, a distracting comment, or the notorious “nap jerk” to realize you just aren’t reaching your audience. And therein lies the problem: Your students have become an audience.
Sometimes a leader is unintentionally more committed to the lesson plan than the spiritual growth of the students. This happens when spiritual growth is understood as the transmission of informa- tion rather than the understanding of biblical truth. This basic differ- ence can make a group curriculum-driven rather than values driven.
As a small group leader, it’s important to evaluate your group on the basis of your values. This takes some honest thought about what is happening—and what you want to happen—in your small group. That’s what this book is about.
Your values, whether stated or unstated, will drive your small group ministry. If you don’t take the time to explore those values, your small group may reflect values you don’t really have. This book will help you develop clearly stated values that make small groups worth leading—and give you ideas and activities for how to experi- ence those values in your group.
2. SMALL GROUP RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SMALL GROUP ATTENDANCE. The core of small group ministry is relation- ships, not attendance. In his book, God at the Mall, Pete Ward says, “Relationships are the fuel on which youth work travels. To be en- gaged in building relationships with young people is an intentional activity.”
A FEW IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS 9
Leanne loved the other girls in her small group and loved shar- ing life with them, but when her life fell apart, she pulled back. Leanne didn’t want to talk about the mess at home, so she withdrew. Leanne’s leader would see her every couple of months at church, but when she asked her to stick around for small group, Leanne always found an ex- cuse to duck out. Two years passed before Leanne was finally willing to come on a trip with her small group. It was then that she recommit- ted her life to Christ. Her telling comment was, “I can’t believe you let me come back. You always let me come back.”
“GOOD LEADERS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS OUTSIDE THE MEETING”
Small group attendance doesn’t guarantee a good relationship be- tween leader and student anymore than a lack of attendance guaran- tees a lack of relationship. A student can meet with his small group religiously but fail to bring himself to the table. In contrast, a student may have poor attendance, but have a vital connection with the group. Good small group leaders develop relationships with students not only by leading them during the meeting, but also by pursuing them out- side of the meeting. Remember Jesus’ strategy with his sheep. When 99 showed up, he went looking for the one who didn’t.
Jesus lived out this strategy with his disciples in a more pro- found way. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might be with him” (emphasis ours). Being with Jesus was the first and most important goal for this renegade small group. The unbelievable invitation of Jesus is that he calls us to a min- istry of inviting kids to be with us—so that they can be with him!
10 SMALL GROUP STRATEGIES
3. SMALL GROUP MINISTRY GOES BEYOND THE SMALL GROUP MEETING.
Our impact on the lives of kids is not limited to the 70 minutes we have their attention. (Let’s make that seven minutes for those who work with junior high.) Good leaders are always on the lookout for ways to make connections with kids outside the meeting. If there is a spiritual understanding within the meeting, look for how it can be experienced in the real world of the students. If there is a spiritual or relational deadlock, look for avenues outside the gathering to over- come these obstacles.
“THE MISSION OF A SMALL GROUP LEADER IS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO THE PEOPLE GOD DESIGNED THEM TO BE.”
Small group leaders should look for ways to foster spiritual discovery with their students beyond “once-a-week.” This requires taking the ministry beyond the four walls of the meeting and placing it in the field where kids live, eat, play, and breathe the stresses of everyday life. This isn’t to say that the safety and intimacy of the meeting is not important. Transforming leaders simply look for ways to springboard faith connections into the real world. Conversations with kids during an afternoon of cookie baking can make a bigger impact on them than three weeks of carefully planned curriculum. It’s all about having the willingness to move beyond the usual confines into everyday life.
YOUR MISSION
The mission of a small group leader is to develop meaningful relationships with students and to help shape them into the people God designed them to be. Small group meetings, and the activities and ideas that go along with
A FEW IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS 11
them, are not the mission. They are the vehicles we use to accomplish the mission—namely, spiritual transformation in the lives of our kids.
In the following chapters, you will find strategic change to approaches to small group ministry that will help you accomplish this mission. You will learn how to run a small group meeting in such a way so that your students will be ministered to personally and effec- tively. You will learn not only how to nurture your students’ spiritual development by evaluating where they are, but also how to encour- age them toward the next step. Finally, you will be equipped with meaningful ideas and activities that are specifically designed to help students live out their faith at every level of spiritual growth.
The goal is clear—your students will discover who Jesus is and embrace the relationship he has for them. While you can’t control their spiritual journeys, you can provide a nurturing context for growth to take place. This book will help you do just that.
|
| *Trending: Week of March 13th, 2013 |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 8:33 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
This week in youth ministry:
How Letters from a Stranger Saved a Teenager's Life - CBS News
PlanetWisdom 2013 Recap - Matthew McNutt
Unedited Advice to Teen Guys - Jonathan McKee
Lent Ideas for Youth Ministry - ReThink Youth Ministry
4 Principals for Raising Your Kids, While Doing Youth Ministry - Doug Fields
Video of the Week: World's Most Insane Rope Swing |
| *Trending: Week of March 13th, 2013 |
From Youth Specialties on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 8:33 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
This week in youth ministry:
How Letters from a Stranger Saved a Teenager's Life - CBS News
PlanetWisdom 2013 Recap - Matthew McNutt
Unedited Advice to Teen Guys - Jonathan McKee
Lent Ideas for Youth Ministry - ReThink Youth Ministry
4 Principals for Raising Your Kids, While Doing Youth Ministry - Doug Fields
Video of the Week: World's Most Insane Rope Swing |
| Youth Worker BOOST: Building On A Solid Foundation |
From youthministry360 on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 @ 4:17 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
ym360 knows youth workers. We know what an incredibly rewarding, yet incredibly challenging job youth ministry can be. There are days when your spirits are sky-high, and there are days when you could use a bit of a "pick me up" from God's Word . . . That's why we're happy to offer Youth Worker Boost, one of the many valuable resources on the ym360 Blog. Boost is a short, weekly piece of encouragement designed to, well, "boost" your spirits and encourage you as you minister to students. We consider it yet another great opportunity to serve you and your ministry. Suscribe To The E-Boost and get them all delivered right in your inbox! "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ."--1 Corinthians 3:10-11If you are a youth minister or a youth worker, then you are a builder. We help build our students' knowledge through studying the Bible. We help build active faith-lives through encouraging them to apply their knowledge of God and His ways to their lives. We help build relationships through one-on-one and small group gatherings. We help build compassionate hearts through mission trips, and other service activities. It's an awesome privilege to be able to play even a small role in shaping the faith-lives of our students.Sometimes, however, being a builder can be tough. It's not easy work. Unlike building a house, sometimes it's hard to know if the structure is really coming along. The part we play as spiritual builders can be a complicated one. BUT, the great news is that we're not starting from scratch. The Bible says a solid foundation has already been laid. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith and should be the cornerstone of everything we do in student ministry. With this solid foundation in place, we can devote our attention to laying out a great floor-plan for students. That plan should help them learn not only how to accept Christ, but to grow in their faith and experience, ultimately, calling them to powerfully demonstrate evidence of growth in all areas of their lives.Jesus broke ground and laid the most solid foundation imaginable. He paved the way for us to do our jobs. Now, let's go out and follow His plan.Our prayer for you: We pray that you would continue to see your "job" as a builder as something that impassions and inspires you. We pray that you would embrace the task of building solid spiritual structures on the true foundation of Christ, and that you will continue to find purpose and encouragement from the students whose lives you play a role in shaping. Look for a new Youth Worker Boost each week on the ym360 Blog.Last Week's BOOST: Learning To GiveNext Week's BOOST: I Am Weak, But He Is Strong Get more BOOST articles HERE! |
| YM Essentials: The One-Sentence Secret To Growth |
From youthministry360 on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 @ 8:20 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
I spend a lot of my life taking in information. So do you. It seems like much of the info I take in is aimed at improvement of some sort . . . Improving some aspects of our ministries.Improving some aspect of our personal relationship with God. Improving some aspect of our marriages and/or parenting. Improving some aspect of our creative process.Improving some aspect of our careers or vocation.And so on . . . Now, I'm a big believer in improvement in general, but especially in each of these previously mentioned areas. Complacency kills, especially when it comes to our faith. Improvement equals growth, and growth is good. But, if you're like me, the push to grow can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if we're focused on growing in a holistic way. How do I grow in my ministry effectiveness, my marriage, my personal life, and my faith? I'll pass along a one-sentence solution God has been teaching me lately. I haven't mastered it, by any means. But when you break "growth" down in this way, it's so much easier to handle. You see, growth in any major area is simply a product of countless small decisions. If we want to improve in any area of our lives, we simply must make the next right decision. Growth doesn't happen by accident. Intentionality is the genesis of improvement. And when it comes to the many small decisions we make each day, if we're intentional about making the right choices, growth is the by-product.Make the next right decision.You want to grow in your faith? Make the next right decision. When faced with the decision to spend your ride to work listening to a morning talk show or having a time or prayer and reflection as you drive, choose God.When faced with the next decision that impacts your ministry, make the right one, not the easy one or the popular one. When you find yourself in a situation where you must respond to your children, make the decision that's right for your child, not that makes you feel good, or that makes them happy.If you have a chance to choose to meet your needs over the needs of your spouse, make the right decision. Choose to meet his or her needs. Do you have spare time at work that you often use to check Facebook or ESPN? Make the right decision. What your friends are doing on Facebook won't help you grow in your vocation. But spending twenty minutes at a task that will make you more productive will. We need to grow as ministers. As Christ-followers. As spouses and parents. And as individuals. We can see the vision! We know where we want to go. Getting there doesn't have to be overwhelming. The journey starts at intentionality. You get there by making the next right decision. And then the next. And the next. And so on.You'll get a chance to make your next right decision soon. Maybe you need to make it right now. How will you choose? |
| Linked Post: A Different Way to Build Relationships With Students |
From youthministry360 on Monday, March 11, 2013 @ 7:37 AM PST
in the "Resources" Category.
At ym360, everything we do falls into one of four categories: Bible Study Resources, Training, Community, or Networking. For us, networking means highlighting great content, great people, and great ministries. When we find something valuable, we share it. This happens most frequently on our Flashback Friday posts. But it happens in other ways, as well.One of the ways we focus on Networking is by linking to solid content we encounter on blogs or websites. Austin McCann is one of our favorite youth ministry voices. He's a contributor for the ym360 Blog and writes his own excellent blog over at austinmccann.com. He wrote a post we ran across and really ejoyed. We think it offers a great take on a life-driven (instead of a program-driven) approach to building relationships. Below we've posted an excerpt of Austin's post "A Different Way to Build Relationships with Your Students." Read the excerpt, then head over to Austin's blog to read the rest.A Different Way to Build Relationships with Your Students, by Austin McCannBuilding relationships with students is one of the most important things we do as student pastors and youth workers. Even though it's an important part of our ministry it's hard to do. Why? Because we are busy. Student ministry demands much more than just relationships with students.There are talks to prepare, events to plan, leaders to train, parents to partner with, and meetings to attend. Unfortunately we cannot sacrifice these things and hangout with students all day. So on top of our already busy schedules we try and build relationships with students. There has to be a better way and I believe there is . . . Click here to head over to Austin's blog and read the rest of "A Different Way To Build Relationships With Your Students." |
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