Verbal puzzles work great as time wasters, transitions, or puzzles of youth group tradition. Standing in line at an amusement park for three hours seems to fly by with a handful of these at your disposal. Most of them ask for a participant to repeat a relatively simple task that, to your observers, seems quite […]
This series of questions is designed to stimulate conversation, understand values, and have fun in the process. Ask several in a row or just one at a time. Let the participants defend their choice and most importantly, make sure they don’t answer with “neither one,” “both,” or “I don’t know.” Each camper (and the counselor!) […]
Walked on stilts?
Eaten cow tongue or heart?
Helped an animal give birth?
Eaten two raw oysters?
Been to a professional world championship game?
Written a letter to the editor?
Climbed a tree to rescue a cat?
Played catch with a raw egg?
Kept a piece of chewed gum overnight and chewed it again?
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How do you get to know someone? Your first impression tells you very little. It is impossible to get to know youth if you don’t ask them questions. These “Getting to Know You” questions are designed to be used for several different reasons.
They can be good conversation starters when you first meet your campers.
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Many young people desire to please God in their lives but wonder how a book full of events from long ago can have any relevance for them today. Diligence is required of their youth leaders, parents, pastors, or mentors to teach them how to use the Bible in a practical way, but it can be […]
After carefully studying a passage to determine what it says and what it means, it is time to apply the message of God’s Word to our lives. Without such application, we may as well have never heard the message in the first place (James 1:22–25).
Pray and ask God to show you something from His […]
People do not think unless they write or talk. If discussion is a valuable way to help people learn, then writing, which is done individually, can be just as valuable if not more so. In order to write, a thought must be generated and then put in written form. Use these ideas to get your […]
General Principles
Insist on the proper respect—don’t allow disrespect for the Word of God or prayer.
Talking
Posture
Mental wandering
Playing around
Encourage group participation on occasion in reading, application, discussion, or prayer.
Try to finish devotions just before lights out.
Remember the following:
Most campers, probably 90%, don’t have family devotions at home.
All […]
Introduction
Not every problem is a discipline problem; some problems are personal.
Problems develop when a situation deviates from God’s will.
Most problems involve improper actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes.
General Principles
Every problem has a solution.
Youth problems are usually an extension of home problems.
Don’t ever expect teenagers to act like adults. They’re not […]
Teacher—know thoroughly and familiarly the lesson you wish to teach. In other words, teach from a full mind and a clear understanding.
Learner—gain and keep the attention and interest of the pupils on the lesson. Refuse to teach without attention.
Language—use words understood in the same sense by both teacher and pupil—language clear and […]