Make Youth Group Fun

[GloryDefined]

I am an eighth grader in my last year of youth group, but I really haven't learned much sad to say. The difficulty is that it isn't very interactive and interesting. I know this may sound horrible but it's how I feel.

Now I have decided I want to take action. I want to make it more interesting. One of my ideas is to get together a worship group for a band to play during our youth group. To play songs such as "Light of the World" if you know that songs. What would be songs to play or do you know where i can find teen approved worship music to play.

Also if anyone has any ideas of how to make it more interesting for everyone please tell me. I really want teens my age, older, and younger to interact and find a way to really connect with God.

Please help and God Bless

 

[flywithchrist06]

yeah the youth group i'm apart of and help out with is the same way. I'm not sure what to do about it.

 

[RED that's ME]

First you need to sit down with your Youth Pastor and talk to him how you feel.
Talked to them about having a Bible study that is youth oriented.
Your youth pastor should be teaching the basic doctrines of the Bible to the youth group to start.
A good youth pastor will also teach you how to effectively share your faith even with role/play, mentoring.
Try to do some research you can do a lot of interesting places on the web.
Do a poll/survey and ask the other youth in your church what they think is needed in the youth ministry. Even have a rating system in the survey (my church did that a few years back).
Suggest to your youth pastor that you get some of the teens to form a youth leadership group to help plan activities that are for inreach/outreach purposes.
Having a band/choir also makes the youth feel needed. Ask the youth pastor for ways that the teens can serve in the church.
One thing to caution the teens that are in leadership needs to be Godly and being an example for other teens that are in your youth group.

Pray ask God for wisdom.

 

[Eternal Mindset]

Just remember to keep the focus on God, and not being entertained.
Music is not necessary to worship God...as a matter of fact, I cant recall reading a single verse about Jesus singing praises.

I know what you mean about youth not being interactive though...we break up into small groups every week, but no one gets much out of it. The group leader doesn't really talk to us, he just kind of rambles about the lesson while all of the guys zone out. It's more like he's talking at us.

I'm hoping to talk to my youth pastor about him soon, but I don't want to hurt his feelings.

I like that idea for a rating system Red...I will definitely bring that up.

 

[marduke]

at the youth group i goto we usually have some games first, then have praise and worship, then we have a sermon, and have discussion or prayer afterwards, i think it works really well, as the games help to get to know the other people in the group, and helps break the ice so to say.

 

[Krazeekkc]

All, I can say as a teen is that I really thinks it's extremely, extremely boring and puts me to sleep ehat all they do is like a half an hour of worship and then a boring sermon! They need to make it interesting! i'm actually starting to hold monthly QUEST Nights at my house based on Quest videos: http://www.imagexmedia.com/

Also, here are flyers that I made that I will be using:

Come to Quest!!!​

QUEST is a 7 session video series created for non-Christian teens to discuss spiritual issues from a Christian veiw. QUEST is divided into these seven sessions: Session 1: Wake Up And Smell The Concrete, Session 2: [edit email addy], Session 3: Superstar, Session 4: Here Comes Trouble, Session 5: Something For Nothing, Session 6: Read The Fine Print, & Session 7: Truth or Dare

Each video has three discussion questions followed by street interviews with teens. Playback is then stopped to give the group a chance to discuss the question asked.

No questions or opinions are unwelcome. Quest night is a night to have fun, play tons of games, eat pizza, and watch the video.

We only ask for a $3 donation to help cover the cost of pizza and soda. Quest will meet on the second Friday of every month from 6:00pm - 9:00pm. Everyone, Christians and especially non-Christians are welcome!!!

The videos are really cool! Although expensive.... Good thing for one church to buy and then pass around...

 

[lozzie]

The format of our youth group is get there, have 30 mins of free time... play games, discussion groups, have super with more free time... we did a survey the other week asking what they did/did not like... majority of the older youth refuse to play the games or activities we do orgaine, yet on their surveys said that we didnt play enough games. yet they dont want to participatre in the first place! its frustrating enough to make you want to pull at your hair...

 

[RED that's ME]

Krazeekkc that's a great idea what you are doing.

 

[motarque]

today's youth are so visually-stimulated (way more than we were when we were young and way more than the older people in the church). I know this sounds bad, but think about it first. If we (as youth leaders) don't find ways to make youth group stimulating and interesting, we will lose the youth. The majority of todays youth aren't looking for doctrinal issues... they want a place to be accepted, and if that means coming to a church to play foosball, then so be it!

Sure, teach the gospel, teach about Jesus, but more importantly, SHOW love, show Jesus' care toward these kids. Youth group doesn't have to be a huge spiritual experience everytime. It does need to be inclusive and a place where kids can feel accepted and loved.

 

[marduke]

today's youth are so visually-stimulated (way more than we were when we were young and way more than the older people in the church). I know this sounds bad, but think about it first. If we (as youth leaders) don't find ways to make youth group stimulating and interesting, we will lose the youth. The majority of todays youth aren't looking for doctrinal issues... they want a place to be accepted, and if that means coming to a church to play foosball, then so be it!

Sure, teach the gospel, teach about Jesus, but more importantly, SHOW love, show Jesus' care toward these kids. Youth group doesn't have to be a huge spiritual experience everytime. It does need to be inclusive and a place where kids can feel accepted and loved.

to that mate

 

[Krazeekkc]

Krazeekkc that's a great idea what you are doing.

Thank you!

 

[chaplainjared]

The trick is to make it about GOD, but fun. If we are realistic we'll see that Youth wont come if youth group isnt fun! Pray and get ahold of resources that will help. The nearest christian book shop in the Youth ministry Section is a great place to start i think.

Um back to the point....
Yeah speak to your Youth Pastor and explain your concerns.