Josh Griffin | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts Free 30-Minute Training from Rick Lawrence

Just saw that Rick Lawrence released a 30-minute training workshop called Jesus-Centered Living. It is some good stuff and might be something you can use with your team and/or for your own personal development.

JG

2 View Comments April 19, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts The Protectors – Bullying Workshop for Parents and Youth Leaders

I was excited to learn this week about an upcoming parent seminar from The Protectors at our church next month – they specialize in bullying and helping parents and youth leaders address the issue. Looked over their website and thought it might be something for you to consider as well – or at least give you a few resources to point parents toward at your next parent newsletter/meeting.

Bullying is now the leading concern among parents and students—surpassing illicit sexual activity, drug use and gang activity (Harris Poll 2011). This innovative, peace-making and practical program will help you diminish the cruelty of adolescent bullying, and in the process grow courage, character and leadership for life.

Throughout history, the church has been the tip of the spear defending human dignity in and outside the church, which is a gift from God that He calls us to defend. Join us as we reveal to our community that God is a God of mercy, peace and justice by showing that justice begins on the playground–not in the courtroom.

This often misunderstood and growing form of abuse is not the result of conflict or related issues. It’s the use of superior power to intentionally harm another over a period of time, and the result is heartbreaking. Bullying continues to play a complex role in the suicide of numerous children, and one study of 43,000 students revealed that bullying may be worse in private Christian schools among high school-aged boys.

JG

Add Comment April 19, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts More Than Dodgeball Book on Sale for $1.99 Today!

Simply Youth Ministry is running a 1-DAY-ONLY sale on my More Than Dodgeball book for only $1.99! If you want it in print it’ll still cost you $9.99 but grab the Kindle-iPad-PDF-friendly version right now on the cheap!

Youth ministry is more than entertaining games, more than memorable trips, more than late-night gatherings, more than pizza parties.

Or as veteran youth worker Joshua Griffin puts it, youth ministry is More Than Dodgeball. This book is filled with insights on what it takes to build and sustain a vibrant youth group where teenagers’ lives are changed and their hearts are drawn closer to Jesus Christ.

There are main themes: the heart and calling of the youth worker, the leadership of a student ministry, the volunteer team that serves teenagers, and big-picture ideas about healthy ministry. These aren’t just random thoughts—they’re practical words of wisdom rooted in his 15 years of experience as a youth pastor.

JG

3 View Comments April 19, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Your Light Video

Loved this video … it is too expensive ($20? argh) but have to admit it made for a great close to week 1 of the Brainwashed series!

JG

Add Comment April 18, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts POLL: Small Group Leaders Serving at Youth Group Gatherings

Quick poll this week asking if your volunteers who serve in Small Groups also serve in your weekly youth group gatherings! In our high school ministry they are completely separate commitments, but we do have some that choose to serve at both (and we are eternally grateful for them!). How about you? Seems like most of the youth pastors I’ve talked to recently have asked for commitments to both the small group and the large group and would be interested to know what you do, and if you’re willing, explain why in the comments. Vote now!

JG

8 View Comments April 18, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 177

Weekend Teaching Series: Brainwashed (series premiere, week 1 of 3)
Sermon in a Sentence: Christians are brainwashed into thinking that living in the gray are (between walking in light and walking in darkness) is OK.

Service Length: 67 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend we kicked off a new series that I am really excited about! I always like a strong series right out of the gate post-Easter and post-You Own the Weekend annual series – Brainwashed is it! This weekend I wanted to introduce the concept of brainwashed in our culture and begin to explain several of the ways that we live brainwashed as Christians. This weekend I choose to talk about walking in the light and walking in darkness – these concepts are familiar to our students since we often teach on God’s Way vs. World’s Way. This was fun though since that felt predicable, I was able to turn a corner and surprise them by challenging them to not live in the gray with one foot into church/Jesus/faith and the rest of their bodies out. I stole an illustration from Doug Fields’ blog last week that was really strong, too – and also opened with a video of a guy who wasn’t brainwashed but certainly lost his mind over Cheesedoodles.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This weekend we rolled out a ton of new stuff! We expanded our volunteers on the weekend and assigned each of them “zones” to work before, during and after services. We had free bagels and cream cheese on Sunday morning between services to “slow down” students into conversation and connections rather than just in and out of church. Over Spring Break we added a few IKEA couches to the hall entering the youth room that got a solid workout. The grow booth now has a gift for 1st time students who let us know they were there. Tons of students involved in every area of the weekend. Summer camp registration opened. Hilarious videos – a Hunger Games promo video for camp, a Spring Break Serve Week highlight video and a parody of spoken word to promote Killball.

Music Playlist: Yours Forever, Freedom is Here, Grace/The Stand, Your Love is Enough

Favorite Moment: There were too many great things to have a favorite this weekend – but the Hunger Game promo video had to probably be in the top spot. I loved SO many things about this weekend, I could go on and on! Oh, and one more thing: I think it is possible to have a GREAT program and a huge emphasis on RELATIONSHIPS. This weekend was another big step to doing both really well for us!

Up next: Brainwashed (week 2 of 3)

3 View Comments April 18, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Gabby’s Story from Tesoro Owns the Weekend

Proud of Gabby for sharing her story during HSM a few weeks ago during HSM’s You Own the Weekend. Here’s her video testimony!

JG

Add Comment April 17, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Fruit Snacks in Youth Ministry

I really enjoyed Tim Heist’s “Air Time” segment at the Simply Youth MInistry Confrerence last month – just noticed it was also published on youthministry.com. Here’s a clip of his article/talk called Fruit Snacks – head there for the rest!

Maybe in your life you have a relationship with a student or a friend and you can relate to this. A lot of times we don’t see big chunks of fruit in some student’s lives, big wins and success stories of salvations or being a disciple of Christ, but we need to notice that God is working in their life and He is doing things worth noticing and celebrating. Even if they are little actions or words they could fruit snacks of the seeds you have planted.

In 1 Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy that God is the one that gives us strength and sees us faithful and I would add that God is the one that is doing the work of discipleship not us. In your ministry, with the student that just doesn’t seem to bear the big pieces of fruit or just doesn’t get it, don’t give up. Allow God to do the work and be available for him to use you. Hold on to Paul’s words that he is faithful, hold on to discipling students, and hold on to fruit snacks.

JG