Hey Simply Insiders! There are a million and one theories, strategies, and methods out there for how to approach youth ministry. In Rick Lawrence’s new book, Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry, all those tactics are sliced through to get back to the core of who youth ministry is truly about- Jesus. It’s all about moving from Jesus-plus [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry Instagram Contest!
↧
↧
Be Careful How You Teach
Today I was looking through some really excellent small group curriculum. I loved the way it dug into lead students in going deeper with their relationship with Christ. However, it also held one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to pre-written curriculum: It was really written for an adult, not a student. [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
7 Days with Lifetree Adventures: Honduras, Day 6
Siesta. I’m reluctant to write this post, since I feel tremendous guilt for sharing what I’m about to share. Nonetheless, here goes… our missions team went to the beach today. That means I don’t have a great story about the orphans, nor can I tell you what I helped build, clean or fix today. I [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Sexual Abuse and Faith
Last night I had the pleasure of being a part of an event called, Loveology. It’s actually the title of a new book that my friend John Mark Comer wrote. I just sat on a Q&A panel for the event, but I endorsed the book and did so, not just because JM is my friend, [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Media Photoshop Fails and The Image of God
It could be shoddy workmanship or a graphic designer hopped up on Red Bull and no sleep. However, in the last month three retailers have come under attack for their “photoshop fails.” Target took a giant chunk out of a bathing suit’s backside. The Limited took so much “meat” off of the arms on [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
↧
7 Days with Lifetree Adventures: Honduras, Day 7
“Now what?” That’s the question that most people struggle with on their last day of a mission trip. You first entered into a foreign culture with all of your country-isms intact, wondering how weird this was all going to be. Around your third or fourth day in, you ironically became somewhat critical toward the very [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Numbers DO Matter in Small Church Uthmin – Part 3
Been following along with my train of thought about numbers? Then you know that I said Part 3 is about how to figure your youth ministry budget. (For Part 1 on youth participation and Part 2 on volunteer requirements, see post from 3/18 and 3/20). $1000-$1500 per active student: Its an easy amount to figure; [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Parenting: Our Kids Didn’t Choose This Way Of Life!
When Kayla was born, Rachel and I made an immediate decision that has fundamentally shaped our approach to raising kids. It was a decision based on a reality: Our kids didn’t choose to be born into a pastor’s family! My wife and I together choose the way of ministry, of our own free will. It [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
7 Steps To Confronting Homosexuality!!
I was just at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference and sat through a workshop by Shawn Harrison the author of Ministering To Gay Teenagers. I would definitely grab his book, it’s a great resource. The workshop was great also, but revealed that the silence of the church on this topic has placed us at a disadvantage in many [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
↧
National Student Devotional Day Sale!
HAPPY NATIONAL STUDENT DEVOTIONAL DAY! To Celebrate ALL Books for Students are $5…TODAY ONLY! Over 30 resources to help your students make sense of the “God stuff” and discover how awesomely amazing it can be to lead a Jesus-centered life. They’re great gifts for graduating seniors and cool ways to welcome first-time guests and visitors. [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
The 2 Questions We Need to Ask Over & Over
If I ask you why you care students are in your youth ministry, you will probably say something about helping them growing in “their faith.” I inquire, “Okay, who do you want them to be?” You say something about them being fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Yet, if we are honest when we take a [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
10 Ideas to Maximize Cell Phones in Ministry
Almost every student in our ministry has a cell phone and they are itching to get it out and use it. I do not want to encourage misuse and distraction, but I figure if it’s available and has ministry potential, I might as well try and leverage it. Here are some ideas you can use [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Do We Need To Say Anything?
I was doing some research for a study I was writing and came across this video from The Skit Guys called, “The Mourning Booth.” It is a very powerful look at how we handle the “valley” times in our own lives and that of others. I was convicted deeply that when the tough times arise how [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
↧
Numbers DO Matter in Small Church Uthmin – Part 4
I’ve already covered the ratio for attendance goals, ideal # of volunteers, and a budget formula in the three previous posts. Now onto what a healthy staffing ratio looks like because none of that other stuff matters if your church’s youth director is over-worked, under-paid, over-done, and under-fed. Truthfully, when assessing churches? There usually isn’t [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
NEW RELEASE: Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry
WHAT DEFINES YOUR MINISTRY? Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry Moving from Jesus-Plus to Jesus-Only by Rick Lawrence There’s a surging hunger among teenagers for Jesus. In fact, that desire is so deep, it’s #1 on their “wish list” for what they’d like to talk about at church. So what would a youth ministry look like if it [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
How To Deal With Your Senior Pastor’s Different Ministry Philosophy
Working in ministry can be a challenging calling regardless of our circumstances. But it is even more difficult when we are working in an environment that is led by someone who has a different ministry philosophy than we do. In youth ministry, this can often be the point of much friction. I’ve talked with countless [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Random Randomness
A variety of Randomness! * What is the best book/tool/resource you’ve come across clearly explaining and helping teenagers articulate and share the Gospel? * Saw Divergent last night. Although it wasn’t completely true to the book (movies rarely are…isn’t that true, Noah?), it managed to “feel” like the book, to me. Watching it pretty much [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
↧
Forget Final 4, Try PICK 6!
Pick 6 works like this! Click here (after you finish reading) Click on the 6 downloadable products you want Hit “Add to Cart” Reap the savings!! By grabbing 6 books you not only get great youth ministry resources, but you can save over $50! Check out the selection to see if that book you have [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Numbers DO Matter in Small Church Uthmin – Epilogue
So I was laying in bed last night thinking about this series on uthmin numbers (sad, I know) and a few more numbers popped into my head: 1) 3 Hours per 1 Hour: Want to figure how much time your leadership job should take? Here’s a formula I’ve always used: For every hour of actual programming [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
Best Dad Award!
I know and play with motion graphics a little but these home videos are beyond me. I would love having a motion graphics designer half this good on my team. I heard about these videos today on the morning news. Check out these videos that were put together by a dad for his kid to [...]![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
