sean mcdowell | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 203

(this report was written by Justin Knowles – check out his blog here - I was in Dallas speaking at the YS Convention)

Weekend Teaching Series: #REALTALK (Week 2 of 2)
Service Length: 78 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend we were so excited to have Sean McDowell back at HSM for a second week. We got to ask the question “How can a loving God send a good person to Hell?”. I know right? A tough one. But Sean tackled it with power and with grace. Our students ate it up as they listened to him explain how God does not want to send anyone to hell, but they willingly choose to reject Him and His Word. That there is no such thing as “good people” because we all are sinners and are messed up, but God sent His Son to save us. It is awesome how he went about such a tough topic, yet really popular topic as well. Sean killed it.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: We had a fun video to promote our Winter Retreat for our students in small groups that was a huge hit. Also, a few weeks ago we had a competition to see which class could bring in the most canned goods for our PEACE Center. Our freshmen class one and as a prize they got to record an anthem song and shoot a video with AC (HSM staff member) and we played it for all to this this weekend. It was amazing.

Music Playlist: Yours Forever, Overcome, Tear Down The Walls

Favorite Moment: After all of the services, Sean was bombarded with students asking more questions about hell, the idea of hell, and why God would even make hell. It was awesome just to sit back and listen to Sean answer these really tough and honest questions with the love and tenderness as he did with our students. It made me realize how smart he is about these tough questions and was a great reminder why we got him to come and speak. LEGIT!

Up Next: Special Guest Speaker: Mark Munoz (Professional UFC MMA Fighter)

Add Comment November 29, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 202

Weekend Teaching Series: #REALTALK (series premiere, week 1 of 2)
Service Length: 82 minutes

Understandable Message: This weekend we were excited to welcome Sean McDowell to HSM and he taught an incredible lesson, “If God Exists, Why Is there Evil in the World”? It was super powerful and clear – students were incredibly attentive – I think every year when we start the apologetics series that discipleship can be evangelistic! All students need a strong foundation for their faith, and hearing someone like Sean go after the teachings of popular atheists and tackle big questions is really incredible. I learned a ton this weekend! A ton of his content us available in the GodQuest series that is a creative way to “bring” Sean to your church, too. You can check it out here.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This week we had a fun “blooper reel” from the HSM Sports Minutes from this fall and did a fun “Awkward Hug” camera during the greeting time. Always like to have a little bit of fun at youth group, right?

Music Playlist: Divine and Holy, Here For You, Cannons, Ancient Skies

Favorite Moment: During the second service Saturday night I did a little “ad-lib” at the end of the message and asked students who had experienced the “evil” or broken world that Sean talked about to stand during the closing and we would lay hands on them and pray for them. Not something I would usually do in the middle of our entry-level program and not part of the plan, but a powerful moment to ask God to be present as students walk through their pain.

Up next: #REALTALK (week 2 of 2)

Add Comment November 16, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Resources to Help Develop Your Team

Was just thinking through some resources that I’d like to get into the hands of some key players in my youth ministry world, thought I would share a few things I’m processing to push my people (and myself) to the next level. Might inspire you to do the same:

For my upperclassmen Life Group leaders: Apologetics Bible
This year we’re giving all of our junior and senior Life Group leaders the Apologetics Bible from Sean McDowell. They’re handling some big questions and doubts and we want to equip them to build a healthy foundation for their beliefs. This is one of the tools we want to help with that journey! A steal at only $14 from Amazon.

For my underclassmen Life Group leaders: Emergency Response Handbook
New leaders need basic help – this little book gives you a quick list of things to do/not do and say/not say. Think of it as a primer and quick reference guide to a whole bunch of things they may encounter this year. It is still on sale (and has been for a long time) at SYM for $4.99. Incredible deal, we have it in the hands of every new leader on the team.

For my intern: Youthsphere
I actually want to take this course myself, but know it will tremendously benefit some of the younger youth workers out there. Youthsphere is an online youth ministry certificate program from my friend Doug Fields and a few other leading youth ministry experts. Pretty substantial investment, but one that will deliver big returns, too. Check out youthsphere right here and you can get 10% off using promocode: MTDB

For me: Take the Lid Off Your Church
I want to grow as a leader as well – I’m super excited to read Tony Morgan’s new book Take the Lid Off Your Church. He sent me a copy last week and I’m excited to dive in and be challenged by him as well. He’s one of the long-time bloggers I’ve followed for years – I read everything he writes! $2.99 on Amazon Kindle.

For the youth pastor buddy: The New Breed
I like to have a little gift when I have lunch with a youth worker in the area or someone comes to visit. Sometimes I have something around the office or an author copy of something I wrote – but I think I’m going to pick up a few copies of The New Breed by Jonathan McKee – looks like a great resource to help anyone working to develop a volunteer team. On closeout right now (since the 2nd edition is coming out this week I think) for $3.99!

JG

3 View Comments October 9, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts D6 2012 Conference Live

Not here at the D6 Conference? You can grab a couple of the sessions streaming live this morning. including ones with Sean McDowell and Fred Luter. Click the banner above to get in and watch!

JG

Add Comment September 28, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts Watch the D6 Conference Live This Week!

I’m so excited to be a part of the D6 Conference this week – they are going to be streaming several of their key sessions completely free right here on their conference live site. Here’s the schedule – I hope you’ll join us over the next couple of days!

September 21–Wednesday

Brian Haynes (8:45 AM CST)

Sean McDowell (12:00 PM CST)

September 22–Thursday

David Platt (9:55 AM CST)

John McGee (2:35 PM CST)

September 23–Friday

Student Ministry Panel–Josh Griffin, Allyson Evans, Allen Pointer, Wayne Rice (9:30 AM CST)

Mark Holmen (11:05 AM CST)

JG

Add Comment September 21, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM’s Jesus Series Arc

Every series we do our best to take students on a content arc – I call it the series arc of content. You can read some of the previous ones from our Q series, Summer Road Trip and Save the Planet. Here’s the series arc for our next series: The Real Jesus.

Week 1 – Jesus: Life and Ministry
This coming weekend I’ll be sharing some of the misconceptions of Jesus and in particular one of the events from the life of Christ: Jesus and the 10 Lepers. I hope to demonstrate why Jesus came to earth an our response to His mission. The heart of the message is thankfulness, and will include a clear Gospel presentation.

Week 2 – Jesus: His Death
Next week Doug Fields is talking about the last days of Jesus and the importance of those events to humanity past, present and future. If the message ends with a cliffhanger and encourages students to attend Easter weekend for the rest of the story, that would be great.

Week 3 – Jesus: His Resurrection (Easter Sunday)
Easter weekend is one of the 2 times a year we don’t have youth services! Which could be perfect for this series – our series of messages will end with the Pastor Rick adult messages to our whole church. Our hope is everyone worships together in the main services, and that our many non-churched parents would come for the first time as well.

JG

1 View Comments April 6, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Q Series Bumper Video

Little bumper video our team put together for the Q series we wrapped up last week with Sean McDowell.

JG

Add Comment February 20, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 128

Weekend Teaching Series: Q with Sean McDowell (series premiere, week 1 of 3)
Sermon in a Sentence: Truth is critically important in our lives and our faith – learn the difference between objective and subjective truth and you can better understand what the Bible and Jesus claims.
Service Length: 91 minutes

Understandable Message: Sean did a super job introducing this series on apologetics by challenging students to understand truth. He talked about the Correspondence Theory of Truth – walking them through both subjective and objective sides of truth. His talk led him to huge topics like abortion, slavery, homosexuality and more. A very heady message but spoken as plainly as possible. It was an incredible kickoff to the series.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: The service was too long as it was at the 4:30pm, so we cut most all of the programming to make room for content the rest of the weekend. Sean’s talk was so strong and well-balanced between humor and insight, so the pacing of the service still felt right without anything more or less. Students served everywhere – including a new freshman girl as producer in the control room – she knocked it out of the park (way to go Nikki!).

Music Playlist: Look to You, Forever Reign, Beautiful Lord, Love Came Down

Favorite Moment: When Sean led students through a discussion on abortion, many students suggested it was a matter of preference or personal choice. Sean helped them see that the logical conclusion, and the objective truth of the Bible, says otherwise. Great eye-opening moment in his message. Loved it.

Up Next: “Q” with Sean McDowell (week 2 of 3) [see the whole series arc here]