Have you ever asked the question, why do my students come to youth group?
There are two answers, and they’re not always the same: The answer students give if you ask them directly (conscious or perceived motivations), or what really motivates them (true motivations).
To figure out what really attracts students to meetings, you have to watch them. What’s the first thing they do when they come in? What do they spend the most of their time doing? What do they seem to enjoy the most, and the least? Here are the …

Here’s a youth ministry idea that you can try with your students: Online Bible Trivia
If you have a website or facebook page or group (probably works best with the facebook page or group) you can place a bible trivia question of the day or week on there and the first student that can give you the correct answer along with a scripture reference wins. They could actually win a prize or you could accumulate entries for a prize at the end of the month or quarter.
Some good things:

Keeps them coming …

Adam Mclane and Youth Specialties recently produced this video for this falls NYWC (National Youth Workers Convention). If you never have been to one – I want to encourage you – (as a great Youth Ministry Idea) to go. Worship with other youth leaders, go to workshops, and make sure you RELAX and have fun!

Last week I spoke with Shane Waldrop who is a pastor of a multi site venue church called Fuel Church. He has spoken to and worked with youth for 15 years. Here is some information about him if you would like to contact him for speaking to your group:

Shane Waldrop has been a speaker/pastor for more than 15 years, with experience from cities as large as New Orleans, LA, to communities as small as Pocola, OK. His diverse, multi-cultured background with people in all walks of life …

I actually thought this was a great youth ministry idea after seeing all the different too light too heavy bud-light commercials. This is an activity that can be developed around a passage or passages of scripture or themes.
I’m not sure how theologically this will line up, but there are certainly many scripture passages like in I Tim. which speaks about elder qualifications and speaks of people with great sober minded character and not a person with extreme sides to them.
How to do this:
Have clip of the commercial ready to go …

I’m just curious and would love to hear your input as to why teens would buy a brand new ipad and then destroy it.
This post is just for discussion, please leave your thoughts and if you are a teen I would love to hear your thoughts.

I’m holding in my hand this years ConGRADulations CD and it’s a great gift for your graduates in youth ministry. Mark and I dicussed over the phone that this years colors even look cooler. Here’s what he had to say:
Get a FREE ConGRADulations! Class of 2010 (gift for graduating seniors) sample by going here: grad2010.com/free_grad. It is a low-cost but very impactful grad gift that includes a Music CD, Media DVD, and Grad Gift Book. More info is below…
With over 1,000,000 copies given to graduates by 25,000 churches, ConGRADulations! is …