Youth Group Devo: Rock-Solid Identity Lock

Quick BackdropThe daily grind was named just that for a reason. Through the course of a day, it's easy for our frustrations, temptations, anxieties and pressures to grind us down to a nub, leaving nothing but t...

Meek Attack

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).Many years ago, during a youth mission trip to Denver, we worked in a homeless shelter one afternoon. Our time there was punctuated by meal p...

Youth Culture Lesson: Boston Strong

Finding the Courage to Go on After CatastropheGet downloadable PDF.Get downloadable PowerPoint presentation.About/DisclaimerWhat HappenedThe Boston Marathon was run Monday, April 21, the day after Easter. About...

Soul Journaling: The Art of Capturing Time

Nearly 15 years ago, I plunged into the world of youth ministry with great boundaries, strong spiritual disciplines, and a desire to pour into others. I was living the dream of implementing all that I had learn...

Youth Group Devo: Destressified

The BackdropMaybe you've seen the results of a recent survey by the American Psychological Association on stress. The survey's sweeping conclusion: Teens are more stressed than adults. On a 10-point scale,...

The Crying Game: Learning to Grieve

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4).Some years ago, I encountered a widow who refused to grieve her husband's death. It wasn't that this woman didn't love her husband, but she...

Statue, Elephant, Mummy

This game, played the same way as "Rock, Paper, Scissors" in concept, can be played with a large group. One person serves as leader for each round and stands in front of the group. On the count of three, each p...

Out of a Clear Blue Sky

Do you remember the color of the sky behind the burning and smoking twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001? What began as a normal and beautiful day, gorgeous and cloudless blue September skies, changed forever once the...