Josh GriffinMore PostsThe NEXT Offering

Next month, Saddleback Student Ministries will participate in a church-wide giving campaign. We talked at length about how we could get students involved, and landed on an idea we read a while ago in Group Magazine. It was from a youth worker who gave out 144 envelopes, each numbered from 1-144. When kids took an envelope, you raised/gave an offering that matched the number on your envelope. In the end you actually raise thousands of dollars!

We’re going to take that same idea and use it starting next month – we’re numbering a bunch of envelopes (and rebranding the student version of the giving campaign NEXT! instead of the “Decade of Destiny” offering) and asking students to take one and bring it back a few weeks later with their offering.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

JG

TagsComments 1 View Comments March 31, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsPOLL: Which of these statements best describes your youth ministry summer?


New poll today – what does your youth ministry look like this summer?

JG

TagsComments 1 View Comments March 30, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsThe Differences Between High School and Junior High Ministry

Kurt posted a series of great thoughts about the differences between high school and junior high ministry. Here’s a couple of them, head there for the rest:

- Your ministry is almost as much to parents as it is to junior highers. You have to keep them informed, you have to keep them excited about your ministry, you have to stay in their favor etc. Because they don’t drive, and because JH ministry does so much more “extra curricular” stuff than a typical children’s ministry, mom and dad’s willingness to shuttle their kids to and from your program is a major factor. You also have an incredible opportunity to provide a little bit of hope and help to parents who are new to raising a young teen.

- Lessons: Keep them short, simple and highly tangible.

- Relational time: You just can’t expect the same depth of conversation, “give and take” etc. when you are spending time with a junior higher.

JG

TagsComments Add Comment March 30, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsBook Review: War with the World

I read some of Steve Mitchells’ War with the World: The Teenage Battlefield a few months ago and meant to make a mention of it here on the blog as well in case it might interest you. War with the World is a devotional book for students, calling them to fight through the all-too-common struggles of their teenage years and live a sold-out life for Christ. It challenges them to a life of purity and living above the temptations of the world. The book is very conservative in style and tone, it is a tool that would work really well at churches like the one I grew up in and most of my family attend. It is written with tons of Bible references and will definitely point students to Scripture. If that is the setting you are ministering in, definitely check it out.

JG

TagsComments Add Comment March 30, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsWin 10,000 Simply Reward$ Points!

I posted about the new Simply Youth Ministry Reward$ program on Friday – and now here’s your chance to win 10,000 free points! All you have to do is leave any comment on this (or any!) post here on MTDB in the next 48 hours and you are entered to win. I’ll pick someone at random on Wednesday.

So there’s no purchase necessary, but if you’d like to do some shopping for youth ministry resources (and rack up some reward$ points as you go), click the rewards image above to head to SYM and be sure to use either of the promo codes tiered100 and tiered200 for discounts on $100 or $200 worth of purchases, respectively.

JG

TagsComments 131 View Comments March 29, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsSkit for STORIES Weekend

Wrote this script for this past STORIES weekend. Turned out OK, might be an inspiration for you or something you could adapt to your setting

A student is on stage in a white T-shirt. A projector shoots the CAPITAL words on their shirt. The student on stage says nothing, it is voiced over by a narrator in the back. Character is backlit at first, with lights building throughout.

I once was LOST but now I’m FOUND. I’ve MESSED UP in my life but I’ve found HOPE.

Being a high school student isn’t easy. There is PEER PRESSURE to CONFORM and fit in. I’ve done some things I REGRET to do just that. I’ve been a person I DON’T LIKE, a person that honestly I never thought I would become. I have HURT people, to disguise what I was feeling…to disguise the PAIN.. There are times when the PAIN inside of me is overpowering. The PRESSURE I feel is rough and at times I feel overwhelmed. I feel ALONE. I feel like NO ONE understands. I feel WORTHLESS.

But my identity isn’t defined by SCREWING UP. My identity is in GOD. My HOPE comes from a God who FORGIVES and FORGETS. He’s given me LIFE and FREEDOM from my past. He CREATED me. He LOVES me. He calls me CHILD.

Have I SCREWED UP? Yes
Have I made a MESS of things? Definetly.
(the following labels appear in silence) FAILURE, WORTHLESS, REGRET, WASTE and ACCIDENT

But God doesn’t label me like that. He takes these labels and wipes them away with one swift act of MERCY. The Bible says that because of God’s GREAT LOVE for us, he took us DEAD people and made us ALIVE. Now that’s GRACE.
So when you hear my story … remember that the MESS is not my story. My PAST doesn’t hold me back. I have a God who loves me and has a FUTURE for me. He BELIEVES in me. He CARES for me.

This is MY story. I was LOST, but now am FOUND. I was BOUND, but now I’m FREE.

JG

TagsComments Add Comment March 28, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsHSM Weekend in Review: Volume 89

Weekend Teaching Series: Stories (1-off)

Sermon in a Sentence: Stories of students’ life-change told live on stage.
Service Length: 59 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend was all about stories of life-change: Kristen shared about God’s mercy through a family crisis, Shea shared about accepting Christ and forgiving someone who had hurt him deeply. Martina shared her story of depression and suicide, Ryan and Taylor talked about sponsoring a couple of street kids in Kitale, Angie shared about visiting a local mosque and hoping her new friends would accept Jesus, Arianna told about shoplifting, partying and coming back to God. Very diverse stories with tons of different possible takeaways.

Volunteer/Student Involvement: No adults were on stage at all this weekend – all students, all of the time. Volunteers worked the crowd looking for conversational opportunities with students. Good stuff.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This weekend had a couple of fun moments within the stories, though we didn’t program in a significant amount of direct humor. We did play a great little video from SYM Media Store and I wrote up a little script to end the weekend to tie the stories together and end on a positive note, pointing them back to Christ in all of this.

Music Playlist: You’re Not Alone, Safe, Fix You, More Than Anything

Favorite Moment: This weekend my favorite moment was talking to parents. SO many parents visited HSM this weekend, it was exciting to see them supporting their children and cheering them on from the audience. Great conversations, great connections.

Up Next: EASTER at Angel Stadium (no HSM next week!)

TagsComments 1 View Comments March 28, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsGUEST POST: Buying the Lie

I am skinny and a nerd. A jock and a weakling. I’ve been called a longhaired hippy and Jesus freak. I’m a skater and a poser. Tattooed and conservative. Unapproachable and the kindest person you’ve ever met. I’ve been told I’m smart and called stupid to my face. My job is beneath me and no one sees its worth.

I have been labeled each one of these things and at some point I’ve believed them all.

Far too often I find my identity in who others say I am rather than who God says I am. The truth is, we’re bombarded with a culture that is tearing us down on a daily basis and many of us only hear what God thinks about us once a week at church.

It’s no wonder we buy the lie.

About a year ago I was really struggling with finding my identity in what others thought, in my job title, and in everything else the world finds important. I needed to remind myself who God says I am. So I searched The Bible and compiled a list. Every time I start to buy the lies of this world I refer back to this list.

This is who God says we are…

  • You are the son or daughter of God- John 1:12; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:5; 1:3-8
  • You are Justified (Pronounced not guilty)- Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:30
  • You are called (chosen)- Romans 1:6, Ephesians 1:4a; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; 2:9; John 15:16
  • You have been given Grace- Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:2; Ephesians 4:7
  • You have received mercy- 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:10
  • You are Christ’s ambassador- 2 Corinthians 5:20
  • You are sanctified (made Holy)- Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:12; Ephesians 1:4b; Hebrews 3:1; 1 Peter 1:16
  • You are accepted- Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 1:13
  • You are loved- Ephesians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7
  • You are forgiven (redeemed)- Ephesians 4:32; 1:7 Titus 2:14; 1 John 2:12; Colossians 1:13-14
  • You are made new- Colossians 3:31; Colossians 3:10
  • You are the Bride of Christ- Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17
  • You are Complete- Colossians 2:19-10
  • You are His workmanship- Ephesians 2:10
  • You have been bought with a price- 1 Corinthians 12:27
  • You are the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine- John 15:16

What are lies you’ve bought into and how are you combating them with truth?

Each weekend MTDB features a GUEST POST from a youth worker in the trenches. David Miller takes that honor this weekend – he is a youth worker who blogs (http://www.davidmillerblog.com) and Twitters, too. Follow him.

TagsComments 5 View Comments March 27, 2010

Josh GriffinMore PostsNew Simply Reward$ Program

Today Simply Youth Ministry officially launched SYM Reward$ – a program that gives you reward points for each purchase of youth ministry resources from their website. The more you buy, the more they add up. Not only that, you can stack coupons and discounts against it as well – so you can still get points toward free stuff while using promo codes (like Tiered100 or tiered200, to get discounts when you purchase over $100 and $200, respectively). Check it out!

JG

TagsComments 3 View Comments March 26, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts“When and Where” Relational Youth Ministry Business Cards

Got some new business cards in this week – they’re actually more like “relational youth ministry” tools than business cards I guess. They were designed by Mottsy and come in lots of colors and an a-typical shape, perfect for hanging out. Pretty excited to have our team use these – especially the back of the cards where you can write down when/where to hang out with a student or volunteer. Fun!

JG

UPDATE: Lots of people emailing me about details or how to order. Mottsy printed them, and my buddy Jonathan there did the design. Hit him up for pricing and availability. jonathan@mottsy.com

TagsComments 15 View Comments March 25, 2010
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