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Josh GriffinMore Posts The Final Version of My Message Outline This Past Weekend

I’ve blogged before about how I create my entry-level sermons each week for our high school ministry – how I start with literally a blank Word document on Tuesday morning and follow My 6 Steps to Writing a Youth Talk. Then, after the 2,000+ word manuscript is complete and I take the stage, occasionally making notes and adjustments to the talk for the remaining 3 times to deliver it on the weekend. Many of these notes are inspired by ad libs, tweaks from my team or inspiration/ideas in the lull between the 1st and 2nd service.

A few other things you might be interested to note:

I call out all media/slides/object lessons in yellow highlight. Timing is critical on these elements, so I try to make it clear for the students and volunteers involved.
Sometimes, I make a significant edit to the document, cutting out a whole section, deleting a line, replacing a joke or drawing arrows to fix the pacing.
I’ve never once delivered a message without some notes/adjustments on it – seems I’ll tweak to the last minute and then some.
I prefer the manuscript form for teaching to this crowd/audience, but use other styles as well.
I practice the sermon 2-3 times alone in a room before I give it. Let’s me hear it out loud and make sure it flows well.
This is for our entry-level program, a discipleship talk would look very different.
This particular week I didn’t have fill-ins, just the verses and some space for them to write down the different attributes of the foundation of sand or rock. I also had them write a couple key thoughts/questions off to the side in their program as well.

So here’s an example of what it looks like after a weekend … this talk was our new year kickoff message about Doubting Thomas (you can read the full weekend in review here).

One last thought … posting my message notes is a very vulnerable moment for me … play nice please. Thoughts and questions? Would love to hear how you craft a talk, too!

JG

15 View Comments January 12, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Discipleship in HSM This Winter/Spring

This weekend I talked through the 5 things we’re doing this Winter/Spring for extended discipleship in our youth ministry. These is in addition to weekend services, Life Groups and the regular stuff we do. Some of these are very new, some of these are very old. Either way, we’re really pushing students to grow this next season:

Winter Camp – our spiritual growth retreat happens next weekend – there will be plenty of snow, student-taught workshops and main session teaching by some fantastic adult speakers.
Examine the Evidence – in a week our adult ministry is putting on a class in The Refinery for seekers, doubters and believers. The topic for the night is the Four Crucial Questions About Christianity. I’m excited to promote an opportunity for our students to grow in an adult environment, plus it is zero work and potentially a huge return for us.
Apologetics Series – In 2 weeks we start a new series called “Q” with one of the world’s-leading apologetics teachers Sean McDowell. He’ll be teaching us in our weekend services for 3 weeks.
The Grow Booth — this ongoing effort in HSM is packed with Bibles, studies, books and journals to help students grow on their own. We’ve given more stuff away this year than we have in a long time – Life Group leaders also have a “Grow on the Go” tub as well (more details on that here) so as they identify students who should take another step they have a resource to give them immediately.
Life Group Workshops – In March we’re launching a brand new idea for Life Groups, offering a series of workshops on topics you can attend only with your small group. One of our adult teaching pastors is teaching a 4-week study on the End Times, and one of our Life Group leaders will teach another set of classes on cults and other religions a few weeks later.

What are you doing to help students grow this Winter/Spring?

JG

2 View Comments January 10, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 126

Weekend Teaching Series: 3D (series premiere, week 1 of 3)
Sermon in a Sentence: You aren’t a bad Christian if you face doubt – our response to it is what matters most. Doubt leads us to devotion and a deeper faith.
Service Length: 67 minutes
Bible: John 20, Matthew 7

Understandable Message: This weekend we kicked off the first HSM of 2011 – it was a total blast! I focused on the story of Doubting Thomas, and made parallels to how we doubt as Christians but don’t have the luxury of seeing Jesus in the flesh. I took students from there to the parable of the foundations of sand and rock, and compared the differences between the two types of faith – flat, shallow and weak or multidimensional, deep and strong. Then I came back to the story of Thomas and told some of the early church history about his help to spead the Gospel in to the furthest reaches of the modern world at that time. Perhaps Doubting Thomas should be remembered as Devoted Thomas, since after seeing Jesus after His resurrection he followed him fully and completely until death.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: We opened up with a great new song and transitioned to a game of Who Wants to Be A Fraction of a Millionaire, sponsored by McDonald’s. A contestant from the audience could win up to $15 in Arch Cards if they answered correctly. Done up right with some fun sound effects, music and lights. We also promoted several upcoming events, as well as had a promo video for the upcoming annual HSM Bowl.

Music Playlist: Oh Happiness, Majesty, Lift My Arms and Surrender, Burning Ones

Favorite Moment: It was so great to be back to HSM after a few weeks off. Time away is so refreshing and fun – but what an incredible weekend back to kickoff 2011. I loved the conversations with students after each service, this topic sure stirred up some of their thinking.

Up Next: 3D (week 2, Taffy is speaking since the team will be up at Winter Camp)

Add Comment January 10, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts 14 Days Until the HSM Bowl

Our annual HSM Bowl is coming up in just two weeks. Going to be a blast! I’ll post the rules and details soon – here’s a promo video from this weekend’s service.

JG

1 View Comments January 9, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Bowl Rules, Roster and Medical Forms

Our annual HSM Bowl is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and students are starting to get pumped. Here’s a little bit of the information that we’ve distributed so far, and a link with everything else, in case you want to do something similar with your youth group. It is an incredible tradition each year and so much fun:

INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW
MANDATORY: Saturday Jan 22nd all Coaches/Leaders/or Captains — will need be at this meeting to participate. Refs will need to be at this meeting also.
WHERE: Newhart Middle School — We have the field until 7pm and so the final game will be played under the lights around 6pm.
WHEN: January 23, 2011
TIME: 1:15 Check-in
WHY: For fun. Its a great opportunity to invite your friends from school to come play or hang with your Life Group.
COST: $5 Per Person
NOTE: Make sure your teams knows the RULES!!!

For tons more info (forms, releases, rules, etc) check out this link right here.

JG

Add Comment January 9, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Student Worship Conference With Gungor

Didn’t sign up for Saddleback’s Student Worship Conference yet? If you’re local, we’d love to have you join us next month. Taffy has just posted more details including the schedule – gonna be great, so excited to have them with us!

JG

Add Comment January 3, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 125

Weekend Teaching Series: I <3 Xmas (series finale, week 2 of 2)
Sermon in a Sentence: Christmas is a time of salvation – the manger was the beginning of a story of new beginnings.
Service Length: 87 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend Phil finished off our Christmas series – we’re not having youth services this Christmas/New Years so this was our last service of 2010. Phil brought some great Christmas humor wrapped up in the best Christmas present of all – salvation through Jesus Christ. It was another great week of Christmas fun, warmth and focusing on the real message of Christmas.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: We opened up with the epic killball video as countdown filler this week, and had an acapella quartet from one of the local high schools do a sweet Christmas opener. Csnap and Asizzle worked hard on a Christmas rap music video about Santa’s health and we played a quick round of Let’s Make a Christmas Deal. Lots of holiday fun, lots of student greeters, fun Christmas decorations and the return of our digital fireplace (flatscreen with a looping yule log in a fireplace frame one of our volunteers whipped up like magic).

Music Playlist: Christmas Acapella Quartet opener, Silent Night, o Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, With Everything

Favorite Moment: It was awesome to sit in the balcony for one of the services (I didn’t have any responsibilities on stage, yeah!) so it was awesome just to soak in the whole scene. Great students, inviting their friends, and the clear plan of salvation being shared at Christmas. Love it!

Up Next: HSM is taking off the next 2 weekends to celebrate Christmas and New Years as a whole church family.

Add Comment December 20, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts 1-Day Student Worship Conference at Saddleback

This February 2011 we’re hosting a 1-day Worship Conference for students here at Saddleback. Taffy, the Student Ministries Worship dude, is pulling it off with Gungor and it is going to be awesome. If you’re somewhat local, we would love to have you join us! Details are on the handout above!

JG