Insight

Breaking the ice - using icebreakers in small groups

I've already posted articles on leading youth bible studies with ideas to promote discussion and participation. You can also download the eBook 'Creative Bible Study Methods for Youth Leaders.'

But even with creative discussion starters and teaching methods you may still need to break the ice! Do you have a new group of young people who don't know each other well, or they may be nervous about contributing to a discussion? This is where some carefully placed Icebreakers can get things moving and encourage interaction.

 WHY ICEBREAKERS?

Icebreakers (and games in general) are no substitute for a prayerfully planned programme of discipleship, linked to opportunities for young people to live out and express their faith. BUT Icebreakers can enhance your teaching by helping to stimulate friendship, cooperation and participation. They can provide positive momentum for small group study and discussion by:

• Helping a new group get to know one another.
• Helping new members to integrate into a group.
• Helping young people feel comfortable together.
• Encouraging cooperation.
• Encouraging listening to others.
• Encouraging working together.
• Encouraging young people to break out of their cliques.
• Developing social skills.
• Building a rapport with leaders.
• Creating a good atmosphere for learning and participation.

Bible study methods for youth leaders - the eBook

Three previous 'Insight' articles with bonus material, compiled into a free pdf eBook.

Download Bible Study Methods for Youth Leaders and keep these resources at your fingertips.

It's written especially for volunteer youth leaders and small group bible study leaders who, in my view, are the 'unsung heroes' of Christian youth ministry around the world. However, I hope there's something here for everyone who has a passion for discipling young people to know more of Jesus.

Prayer in our private lives - more food for thought

'Prayer that affects our ministry must first give depth to our private lives. True prayer works mighty spiritual changes. The character of our praying will determine the character of our ministries. Prayer makes our words strong, gives them power, makes them stick. No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study will supply its lack.' E. M. Bounds

'God does nothing but by prayer and everything with it.' John Wesley

'Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.' Arthur W. Pink

'Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.' Oswald Chambers

'Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?' Corrie Ten Boom

Bible study methods for youth ministry - encounters

The third and final article on creative bible study methods for youth ministry.

In the first two articles That's a good question and Fresh expressions I highlighted several bible study methods and eight creative ideas to engage young people in exploring the bible together.

In this final article I've added three more methods for those who want to dig deeper in their understanding of God and their Christian experience.

ENCOUNTER BIBLE STUDY

The goal is to help each young person discover, 'What does this passage mean to ME?' In this kind of bible study the method of sharing is different from the usual 'everyone jumps right in' discussion, allowing the quieter member of the group more time to reflect. Use only a small group of verses which can be remembered easily.

Step 1 Write your own translation.
Ask each young person to write out their own translation of the passage. Ask them to write as they would say it, or imagine they are writing a letter, or email, or text to a friend. Make it clear and keep it simple. (HINT: Try to put into your own words each of the key words and phrases before you write out your translation).

Are you healthy? - A 10 point plan for staying healthy as a youth leader

When was the last time you had a health check up? A few years ago, before major surgery, I had a series of medical check-ups at my local hospital. I can't say I enjoyed the experience, but they were really important in confirming a problem, helping the surgeons to act and eventually returning me to full health.

I've been thinking recently about what a health check-up for youth leaders might include. What follows are my thoughts and reflections about staying healthy as a youth leader. So here's my 10 point plan to stay healthy in youth ministry.

1. STAY SPIRITUALLY FIT.

Effective youth ministry flows out of our relationship with the living God. Keep Jesus at the centre of your life and ministry. Commit time every day to cultivate that relationship. Someone once said, ‘If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy!’ How can we be a spiritual guide for young people unless we're travelling ahead on the journey of faith ourselves? Ministry flows from who we are rather than what we do, and being is much more important than doing in youth ministry.

2. STAY PHYSICALLY FIT.

I don't go to a gym or jog so I guess I'm laying myself open to some comment here, but you're stuck with your body, so look after it. We all know investing in exercise and healthy eating can produce real results in extra energy, increased mobility and even a longer life.

A good night's sleep is also important, but how often do we consider our regular routine? This is a really important issue to consider when we think about longevity in ministry. OK, this is starting to sound like a health blog - but don't burnout in your 20's because you didn't stay spiritually and physically fit. You'll be a much more effective youth worker when you're 40!

Bible study methods for youth ministry - fresh expressions

The second of three articles on creative bible study methods for youth ministry.

SYMBOL STUDY

This is a very effective method of introducing young people to bible study. Ask a member of the group to read the chosen bible passage aloud. Everyone then takes a sheet of paper and writes the five symbols down the left hand side. After quietly reading through the Bible passage again, each person writes (next to the appropriate symbol) what they think the passage is saying.

After 10 minutes of individual work, encourage the group to share their findings together. Where individuals have questions, encourage group discussion to try to find out the answers together. Take a few minutes to summarise what you have discovered and close with a prayer to act on anything learned.

• ARROW POINTING UP Write something theses verses tell us about Jesus/God
• ARROW POINTING DOWN Write something these verses tell us about human nature
• A LIGHT BULB Write down any new discovery you have made reading these verses
• AN EXCLAMATION MARK! Write down the most exciting verse in your opinion and why
• A QUESTION MARK? Write anything you don't understand or want to ask about
• ARROW POINTING TO SIDE Write down something these verses say we should do

The symbol method is a tool used to explore the bible together in small groups and encourage the participation of all. It can be used with parables, psalms and many sections of the epistles. Examples of passages you could use are: Psalm 104, Psalm 107, Psalm 139, Romans 8:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-16, Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Peter 1:3-16, 1 John 1:1-7.

Servant leadership - pick up your towel!

Watch the TV news, read a newspaper, look at the world. What comes to mind when you think of leadership and leaders? I guess ambition, power and control could be regarded as some of the clearest expressions of leadership today.

However, Christ's demonstration of servant leadership is in sharp contrast to the world. Jesus himself set the example for us, 'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

His model of the leader as a servant reveals an example of leadership that embraces deep humility, disregards personal gain and ambition, and puts the needs of others first.

'You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.' Mark 10:42-45

Jesus was speaking to his disciples and he knew very well their tendency to want glory for themselves and to fight for position. James and John had just demonstrated that. Jesus was very clear. He could not afford them to miss the heart of His Kingdom: serving one another in love.

Youth ministry - what should it look like?

What are we trying to achieve in youth ministry? What is our goal? What should youth ministry look like? Only by answering these questions can we set our compass and set off in the right direction.

Here I'll share four insights which have helped me chart my own course in youth work.

1. YOUTH MINISTRY SHOULD BE INCARNATIONAL

'You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.' Philippians 2: 5-7

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi reminds us of how we should live and lead. Jesus became a man. Without ceasing to be God, he became a human being. Born a human baby, he grew up through childhood and lived as we do. In his humanity, he shows us everything about God's character that can be demonstrated in human terms. The incarnation shows God identifying with mankind. Jesus became a servant.

Like Christ, we need to give of ourselves. It's not just about youth ministry programmes. Young people want to know someone who cares about them, someone who will give them time, and someone who listens and cares about their problems. The kind of people we ARE is the most important thing in Christian youth work. We need to reflect Jesus.

'The key to effective Christian youth work is people - people in whose lives Christ is alive, and who will open themselves to young people, not talk down to them, not dominate them with attractive personalities, but who show them how to love one another as Christ has commanded.' Mark Ashton, Christian Youth Work, Kingsway 1986

'The youth worker is not primarily a talker or organiser; he is a model, a person who by the power of his Christian example motivates a dedication to Jesus Christ.' Lawrence Richards, Youth Ministry, Zondervan 1972

Bible study methods for youth ministry - that's a good question!

The first of three articles on creative bible study methods for youth ministry.

As Christians, how can we make sense of our world, our relationships and our faith without some knowledge and understanding of the Bible? Well, I guess we can't! Finding ways to help young people explore, understand and apply scripture should be high on our 'to do' list in Christian youth work.

So we organise, creative, stimulating and engaging opportunities to explore God's word together as a group. Hmm. Easier said than done. In this series of articles I want to share some simple ideas and creative bible study methods I've found helpful.

Over the years I've tried to read widely and adapt ideas to work with different church youth groups. I'm indebted to friends and colleagues who have given me new ideas and inspiration in times of need! What follows is a compilation of ideas that have worked for me. But first, three key values for studying the bible with young people.

Welcome to Insight

Why 'Insight?' I've been serving as a Christian youth worker and trainer for 27 years and hopefully age and experience sometimes brings a little wisdom. Thanks for visiting.

From the sidebar you can download my free youth ministry eBooks or click on the category links to view my leadership reflections, icebreakers and games, team building activities, discussion starters and other resources.