Simple Thought: Jr. High Tangents

Kurt on December 22nd, 2006

As a long-time junior high small group leader I have often felt frustrated by the very thing that frustrates most of my volunteers: Tangents! Oh, tangents….those wonderful diversions that we have tried to, but will never, get rid of.

MAYBE THAT’S OKAY!

Here’s my simple thought on tangents: Go with ‘em.
Seriously, my thinking is that any spiritual conversation among junior highers is good conversation. So, if in the middle of your enlightening study of Exodus, a 7th grader suddenly asks why bad things happen to good people….go with it. If your 8th grade girls are in the mood to talk about dating….go with it.

Tangents that have no spiritual value may need to be cut short and allowed to be explored at a later time, but tangents that are simply taking you down a different spiritual road than the one you planned can lead to some great discussion.

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  5. Simple Thought #5: Youth Ministry In 50 Years

Share Discuss (1)

Jason Raitz at 7:53pm December 22

I couldn’t agree any more. I actually think, still thinking it through, but tangents or “asides” (in the drama world) can be effective from a teaching platform as well. But, still thinking on that.