Normally we do the Kids Camp Talent Show on Thursday night, but due to the rain we moved it up to Wednesday night. The students always seem to pull out funny and off the wall acts and performances. We were able to catch most of them on video. Enjoy! Pig Sweaking Laik R. performs his […]
This past year in Followers, we were asking the question: “What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?” Below are most of the Bible verses that the students interacted with in the pursuit of understanding, thus living out what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
King Josiah’s dad and grandfather were kings, and not very good kings at all. Josiah became king at the age of 8, and it wasn’t until the 18th year of his reign that in the process of repairing the Temple a scroll was discovered. It was the Book of the Law (the Torah). King Josiah […]
On Wednesday, April 13, 2011 @ msy YOUTH we showed the students a 22-minute video from Willow Creek called “Old Testament Rewind”. It walked the students, humorously, through the storyline of the OT. To help give the students some structure as they watched this video, I hung up two strings across our 30′ stage. On […]
Last Wednesday night (March 16, 2011), a missionary from Wycliffe Bible Translators by the name of Nard Pugyao spoke to the middle and high school students. It was a great message! source Vimeo
A couple of weeks ago I had sent a couple of our Main Street Teachers to a leadership class during our Sunday morning children’s ministry hour. As a result, I ended up “teaching” grades 3-6 in small group time that morning after our large group time. I get to rarely do these kinds of things […]
King Hiram of Tyre visits the Main Street students and informs them of the grand Temple that King Solomon built. An animated video walk-though of the spectacular Temple is shown to give a realistic visual of what it might have looked like. We are also reminded that we, as God’s special people, have a big […]
King David dies and his son, Solomon, assumes the throne. The LORD asks young Solomon what he could do for him. Solomon responds by asking for wisdom so he could rule well. The LORD is pleased with Solomon’s request and further grants him wealth and fame as well. King Solomon wrote numerous proverbs and wise […]
Absalom kills his half-brother, Amnon, then goes into hiding. After 3 years he returns, woos people to like him (and not his dad, King David) and then proceeds to perform a coup. King David flees, but eventually returns after his commander, Joab, finds and kills young Absalom. Key lesson of the story? Sin has consequences. […]
A clever video that “whiteboards” the story of the Davidic Covenant: source Vimeo
I came across this music video a couple of months ago and have been playing/listening to it in the background before and after ministry events. It’s a really catchy tune and I love that it is a verse! I haven’t looked in to what else they offer, but this would be a neat way to […]
We have done this a lot the past couple of years with the Followers. We’ve combined kinetic movements with Scripture and it really makes memorizing fun and engaging. I’m curious if it sticks with the kids long-term, however; especially if you add new ones every week. Anyway, here are some tips to doing your own […]
David encounters a “fool” (Nabal) and almost succumbs to a rash decision. Thank goodness for Abigail! source Vimeo
King Saul was actively trying to kill David and he had numerous chances. In these two stories (1 Samuel 24, 26), David had a chance to end Saul’s life and chose to follow God and not himself. David would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. source Vimeo
This past December, for the Followers Christmas Parties, we made gingerbread houses. It was a blast! We had done this activity before, but this time we gave the students a little more freedom with what they wanted to create. There was a simple example, which some students attempted, while others dreamed big and created stadiums! […]
Young David does what King Saul is supposed to do: Fight Goliath, defend Israel Instead, Saul depends on David to fight for what is right. And David does so with courage and conviction. David would not let Goliath get away with cursing God and His people. And the compare and contrast saga between Saul and […]
Samuel, while a little afraid, heads to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem in search of the next King that the LORD God wants to anoint. From the oldest, to the next six of seven sons, Samuel does not find the King God has chosen. However, little David is out in the fields with the sheep. He […]
This year in our Middle School Youth group we have been journeying through the Bible. One of the creative elements to this overview of Scripture is the motions we attribute to each segment of stories as we move progressively and chronologically through the Bible. Here’s what we have so far:
How to Play the “Ice Cream Makeover” Game Students must feed a friend ice cream. First one done, wins! source YouTube
How to Play the “Wheel of a Deal” Game Students are playing with 4 Aces, 4 Kings, 4 Queens, 4 Jacks, and 4 Tens… one by one they have to sort the 5 sets of 4 on different chairs (Aces on one, Kings on one, Queens on one, etc). They must complete it in under […]