Comments on: Input Welcome.

By: David M

David M — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:08:02 +0000

I’m one of those ‘with the end in mind’ guys (natural bent for me, not ’cause someone published that this is ‘better’!!) so I have us constantly evaluating what we’re doing against (1) what we’re wrestling with personally, (2) what former students are doing well at, poorly, etc., and (3) the ever-changing, self-created standard of Perfection (ha!).

As for ‘current issues’ we look at the rise of female homo/bi-sexuality, meth, meth-and-sex, gossip, friendliness/kindness, SHAPE-type stuff, lying, deception-as-lying, how to create small pockets of ‘positive peer-pressure’ that make it easier to live life the way one wants (the ‘pressure’ is to do what they already think is a good thing: ex. not swearing or smoking, laughing easily, no need to be universally wanted because they are ‘locally’ accepted), the drive for significance or security or acceptance, what’s a girl/boy-friend even for, how to spend your/your parents’ money.

When it comes to Christian Doctrines, we’ve seen that over the years, it’s those lessons that allow kids to _become_ that are the most influential. Having former-students in their 20′s and 30′s say “Now I get it!” implies they heard but didn’t fully grasp (and/or apply) what was taught in Jr. High. So rather than coming up with doctrines we all think/thought are/were ‘foundational’ we started thinking in terms of doctrines that will – eventually – be the ones that call them into deeper trust, intimacy, truth, right-living, etc. For example: not just the doctrine of ‘the Body of Jesus’ in-itself but what it ‘could’ be like if it worked. Or what “sold out” means – not for today but as an ever-increasing way of life. How do ‘lead’ and ‘love’ go together? HOW to be and be-becoming a follower (since the VAST majority of people are NOT leaders – influencers, yes, but Leaders!).

Another excessively long comment,
David Malouf

By: cmcgill

cmcgill — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:51:37 +0000

Something we are doing with our JH is a series called “One Verse Wonders.” Basically, we are covering some main doctrines and themes using just one or two key verses from the Bible. If it’s helpful, here is a link to my site where I explain it a little more completely… http://cmcgill.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/one-verse-wonders/. The topics are included there too.

Something else we’ve used that might be helpful is “You’re Next” by Dare2Share. The topics they cover can be easily expanded upon.

By: markeades

markeades — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:22:50 +0000

Cesar – I like where you are going in doing a transition year for your new middle schoolers during their 6th grade year. We have the 6th graders with us from the start to help us we use the summer as a transition time. The children’s ministry and a couple of middle school adult leaders starts it then the children’s ministry “fade out”and the middle school adult leaders keep it going right into the next school year. We also stick with character studies and middle school survival stuff at the beginning of the school year and move to more doctrine/tough stuff at the end of the year.

By: Cesar Santamaria

Cesar Santamaria — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:44:44 +0000

Here in our church, we’ve thinking to have special small groups for 6 graders, before making them jump in the youth ministry wagon. The main purpose could be just bonding their friendship, so they can feel as a team when they pass to youth ministry small groups. The idea of it is to create the path for connecting children’s ministry with the youth one. We still don’t have that cleared.

By: thadd

thadd — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:47:58 +0000

fantastic! thanks for the clarification. I see you have only 7-8 grades. what are your thoughts on incorporating the 6th grade into junior high student ministry?

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:21:04 +0000

Thadd,
We have a two year program (7-8 grades) which gives us about 104 weekends at church over those two years. We cancel a few times a year for Christmas, Easter etc. which leaves roughtly 99 remaining weekends. That’s how I came up with the 33 topics for each of the three categories.

By: Thadd

Thadd — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:56:31 +0000

you have 99 times that you teach junior high students? could you clarify when you teach what you teach?

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:06:41 +0000

I’m going into my 10th year of Youth Ministry and this is something I’m struggling with. One thing that we’ve decided to do is spend one quarter every other year going back to basics and covering the core beliefs of Christianity. That still leaves plenty of time to cover other things like you have mentioned. I’ve been really struck by how many of our teens get into Jr. High not really knowing the basics of Christianity.

By: kj

kj — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:37:20 +0000

David, keep thinking about this stuff! I like where you’re headed. But wonderig if what you listed in some way falls better under the “JH survival skills” set of lessons?
Eri(k), DUDE you are doing my job for me! Thanks.

I do think Andy Stanley’s 7 checkpoints will find their way into my “JH survival skills” in some form.

By: Aaron Powers

Aaron Powers — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:16:13 +0000

First of all, your ministry is a blessing to me, so thanks for all you do!

Secondly, if I had to pick two bible themes to make sure I would talk to junior highers about regularly, it would be wise choices and grace. And I would come at grace hard and from a TON of different angles… grace is forever, grace is sufficient, you can’t our run grace, where sin increased grace abounded, grace, grace, grace. I find that guilt and shame are the key “faith killers”that young Christians deal with. They feel unworthy, and rather than running to the one who forgives, they run from Him.

For what it’s worth.

You’re the man. Keep it up!