"You are the salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13, NRSV).In southern Indiana, there is a limestone quarry, the largest in the world. Most of the finest quality limestone is cut from this massive shelf of limestone, a...

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10, NRSV).At a recent youth ministry conference, one of the speakers related a story about her years o...

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matt. 5:9, NRSV).When we think of peacemakers, we often consider illustrious names such as Ghandi or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.m but in th...

"Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions" (Acts 1:17, NRSV).In 1983, while I was serving as a student pastor in rural North Carolina, there was a young girl in our yout...

Here is a throwback game that now can be played easily in this Internet age. Assemble a list of popular songs from iTunes. (Some of the teens can do this for you!) Set up speakers so you can play portions of th...

This game can be played on a rainy day and makes a fun retreat or overnight option. Take a photo of your youth group (or mission team, retreat participants, etc.) and then have a poster-sized photo made. These ...

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matt. 5:8).A few weeks ago, my grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday. Or, perhaps I should say our family celebrated. Although my grandmother did not ...

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (Matt. 5:7).He was prisoner number 46664 and he served a 27-year sentence—18 of those years in forced hard labor, shackled to rock. He was given a ...

If you looking for a fun game to play in a wooded area—or on a campout—try Walking Sticks. Invite each of the teenagers to find a walking stick in the woods—and then tell the group why he/she ...

"After these things, Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias" (John 21:1).The Gospel of John ends with the disciples in Galilee. After hearing the news that Jesus has risen, they retu...