We just rolled in from our annual ski trip…and I’m just praising God for it’s ministry success! Even though its true that one of our students literally flew head first off a 20 ft. cliff just to not plow over another skier, another student skied down the steepest hill and wound up in the trees, and one of our guys fell and landed on one of our girls in a sitting position on her face…the trip was still amazing! Continue reading
Monthly Archives: December 2008
Framework #22 – “Doctrine of God: God is Good”
Free files for youth pastors:
03 – Doc of God – God is Good (mp3)
03 – Doc of God – God is Good (ppt)
03 – Doc of God – God is Good (lesson notes)
03 – Doc of God – God is Good (fillout sheet)
Go ahead and be thinking to yourself: “In what ways are humans like God and not like God?” What does it mean that we were created in God’s image? Did God fully make us like Him? Can we fully become like Him? Did He share everything true about Himself partly with us? Can we become more like Him if we’re already in His image? Continue reading
Christmas Message: “Will The Real Jesus Please Stand Up?” (Isaiah 9 and Revelation 19)
Free files for youth pastors:
Isa 9. Rev. 19 – The Real Jesus (mp3)
Isa 9. Rev 19. – The Real Jesus (order of service)
Isa 9. Rev 19. – The Real Jesus (fillout sheet)
Isa 9. Rev. 19 – The Real Jesus (sermon notes)
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud that all may hear.” Elf, Fred Claus, and even Talladega Nights are all movies that reveal how our culture and society views Christmas. Everywhere the world turns, they see a nativity scene with baby Jesus lying there. I often wonder if they think we believe in baby worship. What do they think when we lead our children to sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus? What about you? How do you picture Jesus over Christmas? Is He just a cute, cuddly, fat, and pudgy baby? Or, is He the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of your life and this world? Continue reading
Framework #21 – “Doctrine of God: God is Great”
Free files for youth pastors:
02 – Doctrine of God: God is Great (ppt)
02 – Doctrine of God: God is Great (mp3)
02 – Doctrine of God: God is Great (fillout sheet)
02 – Doctrine of God: God is Great (notes)
One question I love to get students thinking about is “What kind of spouse do you want to live with for the rest of your life?” I want them to go ahead and think of those real important qualities that truly matter as that will affect both who and how they date. If you’re a student reading this, go ahead and do that now… In the same way, God has qualities and characteristics. They are what we call His attributes. Who do you imagine God to be? Do you know what God is REALLY like? God wants us to know Him! Continue reading
Book Study: “The Grace and Truth Paradox” (chapters 1 & 2)
Free file for youth pastors:
The Grace and Truth Paradox (chapter 1 and 2 discussion)
I don’t want my students to be either a bunch of theoogical egg-heads or a group of jerks walking around and debating theology. I so desire them to be like Christ. I want them to be full of grace and truth just like Jesus is (John 1:14). I want my students to be able to love a Mormon, to give to an Atheist, to help a Muslim, etc. At the same time, I want my students to defend the truths of Scripture, the proclaim the gospel, and to be willing to die for Christ. I pray for them to be full of grace and truth like Jesus. Continue reading
SMI’s: Student Ministry Internships
Free file for youth pastors:
Student Ministry Winter Intern (document)
Student Ministry Internships can come in all shapes and sizes. Internships can be done for up to and over a year, other internships can be done for the summer. Some interns are used to get lots of extra work done, and others are for the specific purpose of training them to do what you do.
The interns we went after and hired are members of our church who God has called into full-time ministry (one guy and one girl). The purpose of our internship is to equip them for ministry, give them supervised ministry experience, and to use their gifts to benefit our student ministry. If you want to see more specifically what we’re having them do, make sure to check out the booklet attached. Continue reading
Christmas Par-tay: “So, what’d yall do for Christmas?”
“So, what’d you do for Christmas?” That is a very common question among pastors to students. I love asking my other student pastor buddies that because they give me such good ideas. I’m so not creative. This year, I thought I’d tell the cyber-youth ministry world what we did just to get all the creative juices flowing.
Last Christmas was my first Christmas here. We had all the student ministry meet at a neighborhood clubhouse (about 5 miles away), and we Christmas caroled throughout the neighborhood. This year, we did a very similar event, but with a serious twist. You won’t believe the brilliance! We actually held the event at our church (GASP!) and used it to make an impact in our immediate community (WHAT?). Yeah, isn’t that crazy? Haha, but seriously…we did all meet in our student building at 6pm. At 6:30 we sent out three groups (7-8th, 9-10th, and 11-12th grades) to hit up three of the closes neighborhoods to the church. We drove-up, we caroled, we gave them Christmas cards with our best CHRISTmas wishes and our church information, and we left alone. We didn’t even prank them (some of youth pastors need to hear that as a word from the Lord). Continue reading
Seminary and Student Ministry (part 7): the issue of speaking in TONGUES
Free file for youth pastors:
Paper: “To Speak or Not to Speak: The Issue of Tongues Today”
Teenagers are always asking me what I think about the issue of “speaking in tongues.” I really think that they are fascinated with the whole concept. What if the Spirit really does take control of our mouthes and help us to speak only His words. Of course they are fascinated. I am fascinated with the concept! Getting to speak another language without even knowing it. Getting to speak “babble” as worship to God with words that aren’t understood. Getting to share the gospel with someone of another culture and they hear it in their own language. Having someome stand up in church, speak in tongues, and then someone else interpretting it as direct words from God. THAT IS FASCINATING! But is it true? Is that what God through the Holy Spirit still does. Continue reading
Seminary and Student Ministry (part 6): the importance of teaching on the SPIRIT
Free file for youth pastors:
Paper: How does Acts teach about the Holy Spirit?
When we talk about the Holy Ghost, we scare little children. When we talk about the Holy Spirit, we excite teenagers. So many people look at the Holy Spirit as either a spiritual energy drink Who’s going to make them feel the energy of Jesus, or more like a spiritual shot Who’s going to make them lose all control. Have you ever thought any of these questions to yourself: Continue reading
Framework #20 – “Doctrine of God: God is One”
Free files for youth pastors:
01 – Doc of God – God is One (mp3)
01 – Doc of God – God is One (ppt)
01 – Doc of God – God is One (fillout sheet)
01 – Doc of God – God is One (sermon notes)
Right behind our church stands a huge Hindu Temple. Can you believe it? In Alabama “the Bible belt” of all places! If you’re not aware, Hindus believe in many gods: polytheism. If you’re a monotheist like me, then you think they are nuts, too. But honestly, our American culture has gone so “postmodern” and there is no belief in absolute truth anymore. So here’s what I’m thinking…if postmodern people try to tell us that their belief is true for them and our belief is true for us, then that means both their God is real and our God is real. And if that’s true, then why can’t they just be honest and admit that what they are really saying is either: “all this God stuff ain’t really true” or “there is really more than one God.” In other words, postmodernism (tolerance) really is no better than polytheism (Hinduism). But Scripture teaches monotheism: there is only one God who exists, and He exists in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Continue reading
