Aaahhh, the glorious youth retreat. No matter what season, these weekends can be some of the biggest momentum-gainers (and, simultaneously, the biggest time suckers) in Student Ministry. No matter which way y...

Game for Tweens continues groundbreaking approach to retelling the Bible as a Steampunk adventure Struggling to get your kids to engage with Scripture? Point-and-click game The Aetherlight continues to draw ...

Here’s the story of a youth worker guy I know and the mistake he made that led him to getting fired. Immediately. I thought I was doing a good thing. I planned the lesson series around Christian Faith and Hu...

Supplies needed for this game include two flashlights (or more for larger groups).  Divide the teenagers into two teams, with each team occupying a separate room or space in a single hallway.   This game is ...

Visit a local dollar store and purchase low-cost Christmas supplies for two or more teams.  Items could include strings of lights, bags, tins, boxes, sacks, or any other Christmas-related things.  Purchase so...

This game is a spin-off of the traditional “ugly Christmas sweater” competition.  Invite the teenagers to wear their ugliest Christmas sweater for this competition, but ramp it up a notch by supplying the ...

Christmas is a time for many traditions, and one of these has to be proverbial fruitcake—the one that no one wants to eat.  This is a fun game to include in your annual youth Christmas party.  To begin, pur...

At the wise old age of 16, my best friend, Brian, and I created a list of modesty rules for the girls in our youth group. You can imagine how this went over. While on a mission trip to Mexico, we formed a b...

A number of years ago, our church began to take seriously the call to spiritual formation. We became aware that it is quite possible to be busy with church activity, yet not transform in any meaningful way. W...

It can be difficult to engage teens in a conversation about Christmas. Here's a Bible study that will help you get them talking, and digging into scripture. We've also created a downloadable powerpoint and pdf ...