The Resources
· LIVE curriculum – currently, four extensive resources can be combined into a Biblically based, comprehensive small group and leadership development plan that covers all 6-7 years a student is involved in our ministry:
o High School LIVE curriculum – four year plan/materials (36 weeks per year).
o Jr. High LIVE curriculum – two year plan/materials (36 weeks per year).
o Books of the Bible LIVE curriculum – 72 week road map: www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-curriculum-small-groups-live-curriculum-book-studies.html
o Leadership LIVE curriculum – 60 week road map: www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-curriculum-small-groups-live-curriculum-leadership.html
· LIVE Bibles – while study Bibles are helpful, they may not encourage the kind of personal interaction and discovery we would like. LIVE Bibles are light on study notes and heavy on creative space and ways for students to interact with God’s Word. I personally use this Bible as my own “workbook” and journal for this purpose, often taking notes from sermons right on its pages. Ever notice how it’s easier to lose notes than it is your favorite Bible? Taking notes directly IN our Bibles helps us see what God has done and is doing in our lives.
· Unleashing God’s Word in Youth Ministry – the only resource listed here not from Simply Youth Ministry, this book by Barry Shafer (www.inword.org) is a how to in increasing Biblical literacy among teenagers, and adults for that matter. It has revitalized my own personal Bible study. This resource is instrumental in helping me realize my vision to see students become self-feeders by the time they graduate high school and our ministry.
· One Minute Bible for Students – from those who are not sure where to start with daily Bible reading to those wanting to go deeper, The One Minute Bibles offers—you guessed it—a daily reading that takes just about a minute to do and gives an overview of the Bible in a year. Simply turn to the page for that date and read the Scriptures and brief devotional thought. I joke with students about how this is a great book to keep in the bathroom! In addition, it also offers related passages to dive deeper if desired. I use this resource as well.
· HABITS Kit – this is a kit of reproducible resources that help students develop spiritual HABITS. (AS – indicates an Andrew Suite twist on these Simply Youth Ministry ideas.)
o Hang out with God – JAM Time Journals (AS): Jesus And Me times at home and during programming. Simple spiral bound notebooks or nice print journals can be used with the LIVE and One Minute Bibles.
o Accountability with another believer – Back 2 Back contracts: helps create student accountability. They meet on their own or (AS) regularly during programming, holding them accountable to accountability!
o Bible study – Rootworks self guided study booklets are a good beginning while (AS) I would like to develop or see more resources developed for self-guided study based on Shafer’s book and ministry.
o Involvement in the church body – students need to be involved in their youth ministry AND church.
o Tithing commitment – Bank o’ Blessings coupled with (AS) $2 Challenge at most events = students learning to be generous and seeing the effect of their simple sacrifice of the price of a 1-2 sodas weekly.
o Scripture memorization – key tags; learning to write God’s Word on our hearts is simply priceless.
Strategy ideas
· LIFE Groups can meet…
o Sunday morning – Sunday school groups.
o Regularly every six weeks or so during youth group (great for transitioning into next options).
o Various weeknights in various homes.
o During a different night than youth group at the church – imagine a family night or church-wide event for all ages with a dinner, small groups for parents too, etc.
· Sure, a small group is about Bible study and discussion, but why not go deeper into helping students learn to pray for each other in pairs or triads (for the beginner, try fill-in the blank prayer cards) and hold each other accountable? LIFE Groups are also a great time to guide students into a daily quiet time with God by having them do a mini-version of it with JAM Time Journals and teaching them Bible study techniques they can use. The goal is self-feeders and beyond that, multipliers who can help others become self-feeders.
· You may notice a running theme here as I don’t differentiate much between students and adult leaders. I use a lot of these resources myself, and while LIFE Groups certainly need adult leadership, adult leaders are mentors and fellow disciples on the journey. Therefore, I see little need to differentiate between these-are-resources-for-our-kids and these-are-resources-for-adults. (Arguably, many student resources available are better than some of the adult resources out there!) The quality of student ministry resources out there today is great for all ages with regards to growing in our walks with Christ and Biblical literacy. Imagine the impact of students who are self-feeders when they graduate high school AND adult and student leaders who are also growing, self-feeding, and able to equip others to BECOME self-feeders. Ministry of multiplication!
