There is the story of the bamboo seed which, in its introduction into the soil, takes months actually to germinate and sprout. However, once the bamboo begins to grow, it is one of the fastest-growing plants ...

"I planted the seed. Apollos watered it" (1 Cor. 3:5, NIV). In his writing to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul used the metaphor of a seed to describe the way God works in the human heart. As any fa...

Back in the days of radio and the genesis of television, a popular show was "The Lone Ranger." This program featured a solitary cowboy (along with his trusty companion, Tonto) riding the vast range, looking...

This game will build trust and bonding into a fun activity. Each person in the group chooses a partner. One person is blindfolded, and the other person guides his or her partner through a safe obstacle course...

By now, many youth leaders and pastors have heard of orange, the concept of combining colors of yellow and red to form a new approach to church. Orange is about combining the passion we have for God with th...

Among the many insights that John Maxwell shares in his impactful books on leadership is one special law, the law of influence. Here Maxwell reiterates the importance of influence, which he defines as "a person...

Family genealogy is all the rage now, and research centers are popping up all over the country. Online services help families complete their own research—even uncovering historical photos or gleaning valuable...

This cerebral game works well as an ice-breaker for a large group and requires very little set-up/ preparation. Begin by creating a list of 20 to 25 people (celebrities and people in the news) who might be di...

Although we now live in a sports-crazed culture, there are some aspects of athletics that can carry over quite well into youth ministry. Coaching is one of those points...or more specifically, the willingness t...

Here's a quiz. You are a child travelling to grandma's house. The car ride feels as if it's taking forever. In the backseat, you start fighting with your sibling, and Mom tries to get you to stop your antic...