How do you get the youth fired up for God

[ricola_pak]

I am currently 21 and am in my 3rd year at university. I'm involved with the Campus Crusade For Christ ministry at my university, and it's a wonderful experience there.

I am constantly being equipped and discipled, and have grown immensely in my confidence in sharing my faith and just being open to strangers and friends about spiritual issues.


I've only started leading a youth smallgroup (about 8 high schoolers) about a year ago at my church, and I must say I still don't know where to start.

I pray for them, and I try to pick the most interesting biblestudy materials, but I just can't seem to fire them up. Most of the guys in the group are very quiet, and if the girls don't come on a certain day, the group dynamic just totally goes down.

No one speaks during biblestudies and I am down to talking and sharing about myself all the time.




Any idea how I can really spark an interest in God in the kids? How I can get them to be zealous for God and the Great Commission?


I know how I got my zeal and my heart - from The Word, and from the training I get at Campus Crusade, but I am not sure what I've learned can easily be applied to teenagers about 5 years younger than me.


Can anyone help?

 

[asianchexmix]

I have/had a similiar problem. Reason why I say have/had is because it has gotten better but there is still a few improvements needed to be made. Here is what I think. What is your approach? I remember that I used to be "teacher mentality" kind of dealy but now I'm becoming more real. I've noticed after that I started to become more real, the students responded. They may see you as someone who is always on that holy pedestal and that you were always like that but that is always not the case. I am stressing this because I've seen changes in our youth group. People are slowly changing and I hope that the progress keeps going. Don't worry bout the awesome material that you might bring to the table. If you don't have their attention, it means nothing. Just stick to the basic truths but expand them to their life application. Instead of reading it, ask the other people to read stuff. Assign people randomly to read whatever. That way they understand its their bible study. Well, that's just my two cents.

 

[ricola_pak]

By becoming more real, do you mean to just show the kids who you really are? Be more relational, kind of thing?

Yeah I am trying to do that. I wanna spend some one on one time with some of them, because that's how I will get to know them the most, but I think they are a bit too young to really just have a open chat.

 

[asianchexmix]

Just be who you are. I'm not saying that you should tell them your deepest darkest secrets but like just open up your life to them. When I told them I've drank before and I had a lot of friends who were druggies, they were shocked. I mean I told them who I am and some of the things I found out when I became saved. Just that kind of stuff shows that they aren't alone and that we have indeed been through the stuff they are.

 

[Hispath]

The one thing that I've learned is that they really won't care so much until they know how much you care. Not just about the material but about them.

I had a study guide that I really wasn't into and that reflects on the way it's presented and turns the group off.

Find something that will relate to them and something that you find interesting as well.

We also throw in fun days where we will do something totally unrelated, movies, bowling, social party, what ever just to mix it up.

Hope this helps!

 

[pugby]

Just be real. If you are faking excitement, they will think you are a loser. If you show your genuine excitement about God's Word and show them God's way and live what you are teaching, they will get into it. The biggest thing you can give them is an example of living the Christian life. That doesn't mean to make yourself look perfect. Make yourself look like one who is desperately seeking God in all your life. My kids have always known who I was and where I stand. They also know that I struggle and am imperfect, but they see that I am living for God and that gives them an example to follow.

 

[netwindscritic]

coming from a youth... and one who's been around enough this is my opinion based on what i've seen and experienced.
as was stated above, when you show interest in the kids themselves that is the first place to start. i'd say for one week don't do a lesson. come prepared with a few directed questions to find out where they currently are. think of things that will help you find out what they think, what they like, what gets them excited. and sometimes what they like might not the best things. but you have to some how figure out how to get to the root of why they like it. if they like movies that are full of sexual content, then maybe they're lonely... try to get to the root of things. also remember though, you have to have a trust with the kids before you actually start digging in depth into these conversations with them. but as you start to ask questions and show interest in them then they'll begin to trust you. after you get to what it is they like/don't like and why, then target your lessons around those things.. not the surface stuff.... don't target the bad movies, but target the heart of the issue. don't do it in a condeming way, but more from the angle of you love them and you want the best for them... but don't be super sappy either, you have to target their level of emotions too...
really every youth group is different... you have to take different approaches with each group of teens and with each individual teen. but pray about it and ask God to show you what He wants you to do and how He wants you to approach it specifically... ask Him to give you questions to ask... give you avenues to build relationships with the teens...
yeah, now i'm sorta just ranting.. also remember though, the health of your youth group also somewhat depends on the health of your own walk with God... are you still tight with Him? everything really depends on God, He's the only one who can get the kids on fire... He'll use you as a tool, but He's gonna be the one to do it.
yeah, ok, well i hope everything works out. prayin for you!

 

[nyyster]

One of the main things is environment. Go hang out and just do it there somewhere unsuspecting.

 

[nyyster]

Continue from the above post since i accidently press enter. There is only so many ways in describe the message. Use the environment and salesmenship to use a personalized message that is direct with environment effects.

 

[asianchexmix]

This is my third time in this thread....don't know how I have anything else to say but definitely I am. I just say have that passion and just brutally just show that you care which we have said. Just open up things to them and show them that being a Christ follower doesn't mean you gotta be Mr./Mrs. Perfect because we aren't. We are just being used by God and just be real (which I've said before). Just remember to be their friend and teacher and remember the fine line...sometimes you need that teacher face and sometimes you need that friend face....just ask God for the wisdom of when which is needed at that time. If that doesn't work, set a fire and make them jump up for Jesus...fired up for Jesus...hehehe!

 

[oneshot012]

Well I came from a youth group that got the fire and then lost and I will tell you one thing the fire starts with you. John Wesely said get on fire and peole will come from miles around to watch you burn. I mean we really need to come the point were we first the fire and it will flow out of us. Also being Youth Pastor myself as it was already said they don't care about anything till they know that you care. You have to minister out of compassion. That is so key, finally nothing can substitute praying everyday for the fire of God to come down and burn in there hearts.

So:
1. Pray
2. Get on fire yourself- live it so they won't think you are a hypocrite youth hate hypocrites
3. Show them you care- don't be fake

 

[flywithchrist06]

i agree with alot of these posts.

Definetly..be yourself
pray before you go in...prayer as i'm sure you know helps greatly.
I don't really know how you handling the group so please don't take offense to anything.
try to make it exciting...try to make it an exciting thing to learn about God and discuss things. How can they be excited and fired up for God if you dont seem to be..i'm just saying that because i had a youth director that didn't really seem to have their heart in it.
as a youth...i'm really quiet and like to sit back and kind of watch, not really the one to volunteer...but everyone needs to be involved...ask questions, challange them..do spontanious unexpected things.

 

[Linny]

So far everyone's said some very good stuff, and I agree with it all but here's a few things I want to add:

If the people in the group don't know eachother very well, then it can be a problem to try and get them to talk about their experiences and views etc. Try to get everyone to find out about eachother, even if it means you have to take them camping in the middle of nowhere and leave them until they know about eachother.

Do fun things on a ragular basis, again it builds up relationships, not only with people they know, but also any newcomers you might have would get a chance to know everyone's personalities. Note that forcing people to talk to eachother for long periods of time is very awkward and they'll end up sitting there in silence (which is NOT fun!) give them something to do at the same time.

Make them do silly things, play pointless games, doing this breaks down boundaries and they'll just let themselves go a bit more!

Talk about things that will interest them. If they are the sort of people who hang around on the street and aren't very connected to God, talk to them about experiences with drugs and sex etc which they might be able to familiarise themselves with. But if you have the sort of youth who have been Christians for a long time, (the sort who read picture books of Noahs Ark as toddlers, boasted about how many Veggietales movies they'd seen as kids, and now knows the name of every person in the church) then humour would be a slightly better way to go than stuff about sex and drugs (they might like a talk on rock'n'roll though heh)

Basically (I'll stop ranting I promise) get to know every one, make them get to know eachother, then base your talks around the sort of things you think they'd enjoy!

It's a hard life for youth leaders, most of the ones I've had so far have quit *sigh*

 

[Maiya]

Teens like youth leaders who can be silly and just have fun. Maybe your youth like a certain Christian band. So maybe have a worship night or something like that. Or if they don't listen to Christian bands then maybe share some with them.

For Example: If some of them like Avril Lavigne then introduce them to Krystal Meyers Music. She sounds so much like Avril but potrays Gods love through her songs. Or if they like Eminem, show them KJ-52.
Another thing, most teens I know love Veggie Tales. Maybe have a veggie tales night and what one and then we can talk about. Like Jonah, watch it then talk about the book in the bible and then maybe have a question time and think of about 5 questions about the book, and get them to interact.

To get to know them better maybe start out with an ice breaker. For example: our youth leader brought a big bag a skittles and he told everyone that they could have as much as they wanted but we couldn't eat them yet. Then he told us that we had to say stuff for the skittles. Like for every orange one we had to say one of our hobbies, for the green was pets, and blue was personal like what school you go to, or how old you are, just stuff like that. It got us all talking and it was a really cool ice breaker....and we got candy

Another idea, have a fear factor night. Try to put one fun thing in each time to make teens want to come back. One thing that I think is very important is to make every youth night different. Don't play the same games over and over again because that just bores teens and gives them no desire to come back.
I hope this helps!

 

[jubilaki]

Hey, as a youth on fire for God this is an area that i'm desperatly trying to bring into my own youth group and have been radicly placeing into my youth group this year.

I think the most important thing is that your on fire for God yourself, You walk into a church where the youth pastor is quiet and tells his message with no emotion and thats what all the youth are like but if you walk into a church where the youth pastor is crazily on fire for God and jumps around and shows everyone that his got Jesus in him then thats what the youth are going to be like.

Also play music, get them interested in Christian bands... POD, do you know how many teenagers don't acturly know that POD are Christian but they love their music. An awesome worship band called Planethsakers who also have their own Church in the City of Melbourne Australia have the fastest growing youth ministry, all through the powerfull praise and worship they have. If the kids enjoy the music the msgs behind them will rub off on them also...

Also be there mates... I can't stand half my teachers at school, when I go to Small group I don't want to have another teacher, I want somone that is going to be my mate and tell me more about Jesus in a fun enviroment, we gereraly have food and drink and spend ALOT of time talking about life experiences. If you can get them talking let them go, Youth want to be heard, if you let them speak their mind then they are going to enjoy it alot more.

And totaly just relly on God as in what to do, spend time in his word beforehand and time speaking to Him about what He wants you to do with them, afterall it's Him that will be doing all the work through you,

Hope your able to get them all pumped and on fire for God, Good luck!!

God Bless You!!!

 

[dancin_dude]

In our church, we got them involved in outrech. Things like baking cookies and taking them to the homeless shelter weekly.
The other thing is, most of the young kids can dance or would love to dance. There are some wonderful Christian hip-hop instructional videos by Worship Steps. Check them out on the net.
Just get those kids involved in some godly activities they like.

 

[eyesofmystery]

Using music is always a good way to get people to become enthusiastic. If you have friends who play guitar or other instruments, get them to help you with music ministry - sing/play a few Christian songs before the meetings, and at the end. Try using lively songs and if you know of any actions or silly dances that go with them, teach them to the group.

Also, if the people are still nervous about interacting with each other, use some fun icebreakers. One that is becoming popular at retreats in my area is getting people to pair up, draw a picture of each other while chatting, and in the end each person introduces their new buddy using the picture and interesting things they've learned about each other.

 

[Tinese]

You can get the youth fired up for God by doing things that they are interested in like christian parties and sleep overs. Do thing that grab their attention.

 

[Ugilino]

It's a hard life for youth leaders, most of the ones I've had so far have quit *sigh*

if you knew that none of your kids would ever catch the fire, and mabye worse they would fall away....

or if you were talking to someone who has never met jesus, and never will....

and you knew all of this by divine revelation, because God himself audibly told you so...

would you still try... would you still love them.... would you still value them... would you show them they are loved... would you chase them to the four corners of the earth to let them know that they are worthy of being loved?

just a simple question... but put it in your heart... spend lots of time with the Lord seeking the answer.

If you would, if you were willing to give unconditional love, and recieve no fruit and no satisfaction in the end... that kind of love will take care of any ministry problem... youth and beyond.

 

[EliteHayes]

Keep it fun, and when you giving the sermons ad in some humor to keep everyone in to it. Also worship find fun and jump up and down songs.