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Tips for Leaders

Helpful youth ministry ideas for youth pastors and Sunday school teachers. Everything from lesson preparation to managing the class.

  

Recommended Reading: 
     A Conversational Commentary by Titus Benton  
     An Introduction of the Holy Spirit to Teenagers by Les Rengstorff

Additional Ministry Resources


Tip Date
A Conversational Commentary A Conversational Commentary
One man's thoughts on the Bible in a refreshingly honest, conversational style
04/13/18
Accountability: Remembering Who You Work For Accountability: Remembering Who You Work For
One of the most difficult things about working with youth is understanding who it is you really answer to.
08/29/08
Accountability: The Praying Youth Worker Accountability: The Praying Youth Worker
It’s been said that when we work, we work; however, when we pray, God works.
09/27/08
Behavior Issues: Counseling Teens in Crisis Behavior Issues: Counseling Teens in Crisis
What do you do in moments that demand instant response? How do you react when a kid is in crisis? Who can you tell? Who do you have to tell?
01/20/10
Behavior Issues: Discipline Behavior Issues: Discipline
When teaching teens, dealing with disciplinary issues just comes with the territory.
08/15/07
Behavior Issues: Disruptive Behavior Behavior Issues: Disruptive Behavior
What do you do when students seem out of control? How do you deal with disruptive behavior?
01/19/11
Communication: Active Listening Communication: Active Listening
Active listening will dramatically improve the way in which you communicate.
07/16/07
Communication: Connecting with Volunteers Communication: Connecting with Volunteers
If you lead a ministry in which you have a number of people helping you, it is important to foster an environment of good communication.
05/27/11
Communication: How to Lead a Good Discussion Communication: How to Lead a Good Discussion
In any group, discussion can be a hard thing to lead. However, if you keep in mind a few things, the discussion will flourish and bring your lesson to life.
07/19/08
Communication: I Wish I Knew Communication: I Wish I Knew
Twenty-one things I wish I knew when I began in student ministry.
02/07/14
Communication: I’m Not Just Kidding Communication: I’m Not Just Kidding
Using Humor Effectively in Teaching Teens and Young Adults
05/20/08
Communication: Organizing Groups for Discussion Communication: Organizing Groups for Discussion
Methods to organize small groups for better discussion.
10/06/11
Communication: Partnering With Parents Communication: Partnering With Parents
Four practical suggestions on how to invite parents to participate in the discipleship of their student.
09/05/12
Communication: The Newcomer Communication: The Newcomer
Bridging the communication gap between the newcomer and the rest of the class
07/09/07
Communication: Youth Ministry - The Rule of Thirds Communication: Youth Ministry - The Rule of Thirds
There is one thing every successful student pastor does that should be passed onto all the wide-eyed hopeful rookies out there.
02/07/14
Communications: Praying for Your Students Communications: Praying for Your Students
Prayer needs to be an essential part of youth ministry.
03/06/14
Group Building: Becoming One (Achieving Unity) Group Building: Becoming One (Achieving Unity)
A question often asked is, “How can we unify our group?” Whether you encounter aggressive boys or drama among the girls, there are many obstacles along the path toward mutual respect and unity.
02/05/09
Group Building: Don't Do It Alone Group Building: Don't Do It Alone
Some of us try to build our youth ministries alone even though we do not live any other part of our lives that way.
01/28/11
Group Building: Faces in the Crowd Group Building: Faces in the Crowd
In your group, you have a wide variety of kids. Knowing how to manage these differences is important for successful group discussion.
09/01/09
Group Building: No Solo Flights Group Building: No Solo Flights
Ministry is, by its very nature, a team effort. Don't try to do it alone.
03/14/09
Help for Youth Ministry Help for Youth Ministry
You've got the calling. You've got the resources. But you still need some help!
04/13/18
Motivation: Appreciating Volunteers Motivation: Appreciating Volunteers
Four tips to let your volunteers know you appreciate them being on the team.
06/27/11
Motivation: Defeating Discouragement Motivation: Defeating Discouragement
Overcoming Discouragement and Staying Motivated.
05/13/09
Motivation: Getting Started Motivation: Getting Started
One of the hardest parts of ministering to teens is how to get started. What do you do when you have absolutely nothing? Where do you even begin?
11/26/08
Outreach: Event Ideas Outreach: Event Ideas
Great ideas to help your teen or youth group become involved in reaching out to others for Jesus.
08/27/07
Outreach: Getting Them to Show Up Outreach: Getting Them to Show Up
Question: What is the best way to get students to show up to your meetings?
05/14/08
Outreach: Planning a Gathering Outreach: Planning a Gathering
Teenagers love to get together. No matter what kind of gathering you are holding with your students, it’s important that you set things up to succeed.
07/16/07
Outreach: Printable Postcards Outreach: Printable Postcards
Colorful, attention-grabbing, printable postcards, perfect to drop in the mail to make students feel special.
06/24/08
Outreach: Retreats and Camp Out Ideas Outreach: Retreats and Camp Out Ideas
Ideas for Retreats and Teen Camp Outs
03/12/09
Special Events: Celebrating Rites of Passage Special Events: Celebrating Rites of Passage
One of the most satisfying things in working with teenagers is watching them grow from kids into young men and women.
05/30/11
Teaching: Age Appropriate Teaching Teaching: Age Appropriate Teaching
To keep students interested, it is essential to use age-appropriate teaching.
07/18/08
Teaching: Building Better Relationships Teaching: Building Better Relationships
It is absolutely essential and crucial for the leader of a small group to deepen individual relationships on a personal basis with each person in his or her small group.
01/03/12
Teaching: Co-Learning Teaching: Co-Learning
Sometimes, those of us who teach can take ourselves too seriously. We get stressed out about our roles, confused about our audience, and worried that we're going to mess something up.
01/31/11
Teaching: Constructing a Lesson Outline Teaching: Constructing a Lesson Outline
Whether you use our lessons or write your own, crafting a good outline is essential to teaching well.
01/20/10
Teaching: Creative Spaces Teaching: Creative Spaces
Jesus taught using creative spaces, so consider space as part of your lesson. Creative spaces can be great teaching tools.
07/06/11
Teaching: Creativity Counts Teaching: Creativity Counts
The most effective lessons are those the students remember. Memorable lessons require a certain amount of creativity.
04/02/09
Teaching: Expect the Unexpected Teaching: Expect the Unexpected
Nobody wants to be caught off guard when teaching. But we’ve all had those “uh-oh” moments when the discussion went further than what we had planned.
01/03/12
Teaching: Getting Help Teaching: Getting Help
No one person can effectively minister to a hundred students. Jesus only had twelve disciples with whom He was really close, and three of those seemed closer than the rest. No matter what the size of your group is, you could probably use some help finding the right people.
12/27/10
Teaching: Good Leaders Follow Teaching: Good Leaders Follow
The Bible makes it plain that if we want to lead, we need to conquer following first.
09/01/09
Teaching: How to Make Youth Ministry More Fun Teaching: How to Make Youth Ministry More Fun
How to make youth ministry more fun
07/10/23
Teaching: Involving Parents Teaching: Involving Parents
As leaders of youth ministries, it should be our goal to minister with parents, not around them.
11/18/10
Teaching: Keep Learning Teaching: Keep Learning
If you are going to teach the Bible, you have to keep learning yourself.
09/05/12
Teaching: Know Your Audience Teaching: Know Your Audience
Before you ever get up and teach a lesson it’s important that you know your audience.
08/19/10
Teaching: Knowing Youth Culture Teaching: Knowing Youth Culture
The work of a youth leader is often very similar to that of a cross-cultural missionary.
07/16/09
Teaching: Ministering outside of the lesson Teaching: Ministering outside of the lesson
Teaching: Ministering outside of the lesson
07/10/23
Teaching: Remembering Names Teaching: Remembering Names
A name is important to students. Learning their name is crucial to effectively leading them.
09/26/12
Teaching: Teaching Like Jesus Teaching: Teaching Like Jesus
By using the teaching style of Jesus as a model, we'll surely grow in our effectiveness of instructing others about Jesus Himself.
06/27/11
Teaching: The Importance of Being Biblical Teaching: The Importance of Being Biblical
It may sound obvious, but as a teacher of students, it is essential that your teaching remain Bible-centered.
01/06/09
Teaching: Why Choose an Online Curriculum? Teaching: Why Choose an Online Curriculum?
Why choose an online curriculum? The answer is simple: Convenience, Cost Effectiveness, Customization, and Quality.
11/09/10
Time Management: A Deep Well Time Management: A Deep Well
How to keep spiritually fit. Even Jesus couldn’t keep pouring Himself out again and again without recognizing His own need to fill His well.
09/27/08
Time Management: A Good Tired Time Management: A Good Tired
Are you tired? As a youth minister, there are many demands for your time and numerous expectations to fulfill. Do not be discouraged.
05/18/09
Time Management: Balancing Act Time Management: Balancing Act
How to ride a teeter-totter without falling off. (Balancing the Ups and Downs of marriage, ministry, and everything else.)
10/31/08
Vision: Are You Called to Teach Teens? Vision: Are You Called to Teach Teens?
This is an important question that we hear often: How does one really know if they are called to minister to teens?
01/06/09
Witnessing: Sharing the Gospel Witnessing: Sharing the Gospel
“God wants all men to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. We, as leaders of students, share that passion, and everything we do is focused on introducing Jesus to our students.
06/30/09
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