Teenagers are facing immense pressure; small groups can help.
Michael C. Mack
If I hear the same old story about Moses and the Red Sea one more time, said one minister's teenage daughter, I'll scream!
It's not that there's anything wrong with traditional methods of the church's ministry to youth, but many teens are looking for more. After years of learning Bible stories in their Sunday school classes, they are ready for an approach that makes them feel that they and their contributions ...
A father-daughter team worked together to reach the local youth, with lasting results.
Mike Osborn
It's been just about a year now since my daughter asked me if we could start a youth cell in our home. Since I was presently serving in the position of a Zone Pastor, initially I was a bit hesitant. But after praying about it, our family decided that we would take a shot at it. My 11-year-old daughter would be responsible for cleaning the house, making the refreshments, coming up with the weekly ice ...
If parents were expected to come, there would also be children. How were we to get over this hurdle?
Carol Perry
I was sure that, with all I had learned with my vast experience as a parent, I should lead a parenting small group in our church. Surely these parents could learn a thing or two from my successes and failures. So, off I set on a new adventure with my Lord.
It didn't take long for the reality to set in!
If parents were expected to come, there would also be children. How were we to get over this hurdle? ...
This five-session course provides a discussion on sex for parents.
Few topics are more terrifying to the Christian parent than sex, since we know that we must teach our teens to go against the flow of society in this extremely tempting area. To assist you in this, we have created a five-session course, which helps you not only talk to your teens about sex, but also to mentor them in Christ and boost their confidence in him. We have also created a companion series ...
Think through tough parenting issues from family planning, to educating your children, to dealing with behavioral problems.
The following 6-week course will help you and your group think through tough parenting issues from family planning, to educating your children, to dealing with behavioral problems.
Week One
Who's Teaching the Children? Biblical literacy begins in the home.
Week Two
Is Family Planning Okay? The contraceptive mentality says children are something to be avoided. We're not buying it.
Do you know someone nearing the end of their high school career? If so, you know that there are many decisions right around the corner. Help them prepare with this Bible study course intended to focus on issues such as new friendships, spiritual growth, and a healthy lifestyle.
This 7-session course will help teens discuss questions on how to prepare for life after high schoolm such as: What's exciting ...
Our ministry wasn't going well, the group was unhealthy and the students weren't connecting. Then, I tried cell groups.
Trevor Throness
My first job as a paid youth pastor was in a church of about 250 people. On a good youth group night we had 15 kids. On a bad night, we had three or none, depending on which key kids had offended each other that week. It's humiliating to fit your entire youth group in a Chevy Sprint and have one seat belt left over.
Our first retreat was truly an ordeal. Several kids refused to take part in an encouragement ...
How we started small groups for our youth, led by our youth
Wayne O. Gooden
Our youth small groups are totally student-led, with "at-hand" adult leadership available in case of needs that are outside the ability of teens. When we started out, we had one large "youth group" that usually met on Sunday afternoon from 4:30 - 6:30.
We began to share the vision with our kids and began to show them how this could work for them to strengthen, encourage, evangelize, etc. Each week ...