Steve Wakefield

Youth Bible Lesson (Genesis 1) God the Creator & Your Creative Life

Use this free Bible study in your youth group ministry to teach about creativity and God the original creator from Genesis 1. The discussion and teaching will help High School and Middle School students realize how their creative nature reflects back on the glory of God. Teaching Resources: 30 minutes Deep space Webb Telescope picture A picture of DNA One or two Youth supplied musical instruments A page of sheet music Bibles and the students can use their phones to look up scripture Bible Lesson: God The Creator “In the beginning God Created”   Genesis 1 Chapter1 The Macro – The Cosmos – Webb Telescope picture (show it) A tiny piece of the universe was photographed and it has 10,000 galaxies! The … Read more

You Calling Others: Bible Lesson for Teenagers from Matthew 4:18-22

Calling Others to Follow Jesus

Use this free Bible study in your youth group ministry to teach about calling others from Matthew 4:18-22. The discussion and teaching will help High School and Middle School students realize how they are part of Jesus’ plan to invite them youth group or Sunday School. This lesson is part 3 of 3 in a Bible study on Jesus calling his disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. Teaching Supplies: Time 25-30 minutes A candle and lighter/matches A White poster board and marker The Message Bibles. The youth can also look the scriptures up on their phones. We include the text below for reference. Lesson Review: Called & Choices Take a few minutes to recap the past two lessons for students who missed … Read more

CHOICES: Youth Bible Study from Matthew 4:18-22

CHOICES: Youth Bible Study from Matthew 4:18-22

Use this free Bible study in your youth group ministry to teach about choices from Matthew 4:18-22. The discussion and teaching will help High School and Middle School students realize how the calling from Jesus leaves them with a choice to obey. This lesson is part 2 of 3 in a Bible study on Jesus calling his disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. Teaching Supplies Time 30 minutes Step by Step recording sung by Rich Mullins Copy of the lyrics of the Step by Step song A note card and pen for each youth to write the refrain of Step by Step Bibles or let the youth use their cell phones to look up Matthew 4:18-22 Previous Lesson Review Reread Matthew 4:18-22 … Read more

CALLED: Bible Lesson for Youth from Matthew 4:18-22

Called Youth Ministry Bible Lesson

Use this free Bible study in your youth group ministry to teach about calling from Matthew 4:18-22. The discussion and teaching will help High School and Middle School students realize how they others loved them enough to invite them to the youth group or Sunday School. This lesson is part 1 of 3 in a Bible study on Jesus calling his disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. Teaching Supplies: Time needed 30 minutes Bibles or the youth can use their cell phones to look up the scripture Matthew 4:18-22. Pick a translation for them to use for consistency. NIV included below for reference. A fishing net.  Borrow one from someone who fishes a lot.  The week before ask one of the youth … Read more

Mentoring Adult Volunteers for Youth Ministry

Mentoring Adult Volunteers for Youth Ministry

It’s critical for you to recognize how much you need volunteers to make youth ministry relational and how much they need you. Youth are always watching what adults do and say.  That’s why it’s important to tell volunteers to be authentic.  Explain what it means to be authentic. Every Ministry Volunteer Needs Coaching When they start, most have a lot of apprehension about fitting in and they lack confidence on how to be relational.  Tell them that there isn’t any pressure to know it all.  If they have a question, come to you. Tell each volunteer to park their need to be busy to feel valuable at the door.  That they are contributing by taking an interest in each youth.  … Read more

How to Recruit Youth Ministry Volunteers

How to Recruit Youth Ministry Volunteers

Most adults, including parents, are apprehensive about interacting with a group of youth in “ministry”.  That’s because most think it requires them to be knowledgeable (experts) about the Bible and be able to answer all the youth’s questions.  That’s the first misconception that has to be explained away as a starter in any recruiting discussion.  They need to understand why you need them as a volunteer. What do most youth need today?  Adults to be present, to ask them about their lives, to listen, and to “see” each of them.  This lets the youth know they matter.  Volunteers can show them this because they know their names and ask about what’s going on in their lives.  Adults that show up … Read more

The Value of Adult Volunteers in Youth Ministry

importance of adult volunteers in youth ministry at church

It’s convenient as a Youth Ministry Director to try to do it all yourself.  Because, that’s a quick fix to getting things done.  And it’s your job, right?  You have the passion.  You have the energy.  But the long term result of this approach is burnout and a small group of youth that rely only on you.  That’s limiting. Doing it yourself is an approach that has you ignoring the Way Jesus modeled.  If doing it yourself was the Christian model, then why did Jesus call and equip disciples? Jesus invited disciples to join him in his ministry.  Why did he do it?  Why should you invite adult volunteers to join you in youth ministry?   Make a list of the … Read more

How to Grow the Youth Ministry at Church

Growing a youth group ministry adding new students to your church ministry

All student pastors should want to grow their youth group program. But how can we attract more teenagers to participate in our student ministry? What are the things that cause a youth program to grow? This post will help you make a list of ideas and inspire your own creative thoughts. Ultimately, growing the student ministry means reaching and helping more teenagers to grow spiritually. It’s about making room for the Holy Spirit to work in in the lives of more High School and Middle School students in your community. Hint!  One source for ideas is to ask the youth. Sometimes if the program is small the youth might want to keep it that way!  It can have a comfortable close … Read more

Youth Group Activities: Why We Do the Things We Do in Youth Ministry

Youth Group Activities: Student Ministry Ideas for Teenagers at Church

Leading a youth ministry program has the potential to change lives if done well.  It’s about planting seeds that may take years to germinate.  The ministry that is accomplished can be life changing for teens. From Middle School to High School, we only have a few years to reach them for Jesus Christ. As youth leaders we need to carefully consider why we choose to do the things we do at Youth Group.  We need to equip teens with knowledge and engage them in activities that they can use to experience Kingdom living today. We need to explain the “why” to the youth each time we do something.  Repetition is a powerful learning tool.  After you have practiced this explaining … Read more

Relational Youth Ministry: It Starts with Our Personal Experience of the Bible

relationship with the Bible

How do we share Jesus with young people? As Christians, we know that relational ministry is key. We need to connect with them on a personal level, and show them that we have experienced the love of Jesus Christ firsthand. But how do we do that? It starts with our own personal experience of the Bible. In this blog post, we’ll explore why it’s so important for us to connect with the Bible on a personal level, and how that will help us minister to others. As a youth group leader, reflect on your own relationship with the Bible. Does reading along in the Bible sometimes turn into reading to get through It? Does reading the words at the same … Read more