Big Ideas in Youth MinistryMichelle Thomas-Bush

Why Big Ideas?

• Youth leaders are pushing for theological depth.

• Blogs and conferences are more than games.• Research, Survey’s, Experts.

Youth Ministry is more than a program. Relational. Transformational.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.6Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.7Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are

away, when you lie down and when you rise.8Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead,9and write them on the

doorposts of your house and on your gates.In Groups of 3-4:

*Tell the Story*Share.

(How are we living out this commandment in Youth Ministry?)

We understand our youth.

Plural GenerationBegins about 1997-2000

•

• 1.______% of our youth are connected daily to the Internet? ____ are Mobile users? • 2.______# of texts sent monthly by teens 12-17. • 3. ______What words does this Generation use to describe themselves?• Hopeful Loyal Proud Independent Energized Visionary Respectful Creative • 4..______Amoung of time on a typical day that adolescents spend using entertainment media, which is not a texting or talking on

the phone but limited to TV, Computer, Video games and Music. (Kaiser Foundation)• • 5.The average American watched _____hours ____minutes of TV per week. • Teens 12-17 watched ____hours and ____minutes on average of TV. (Neilson)• • 6. The majority of this generation will be of what ethnicity? ____________________• • 8. When beginning to raise a family, this generation will make the choice for the mom to remain home with the children, if that

option is financially possible. True/False• • 9. The majority of this generation will have only known ____ presidents.• • 10.. ____________ % of youth have sent sexually explicit pictures of themselves in a text or email?• 11.______% of youth say religion is important in their lives. (PEW Research).

What we know.

Why hasn’t the church changed.

Big Theory.Big Research.

Maybe not Big Program.What are your Big Ideas?

Family Matters

• “Forming meaningful relationships across generations needs to become an expected part of everyday life” (Search Institute, Building Assets Strengthening Faith, 2003).

• All of their findings point to the essential role of parents and the family in nurturing faith growth in the first third of life (National Studies on Youth and Religion, Smith et al, 2009).

• Ask yourself . . . what should be central to the congregation’s ministries and faith formation?

10 People in your Faith Family

ME & MY Faith Family

Naming and Claiming Faith Family

• Youth Leaders. 5 adults in their life. BE FAMILY.

• Youth as VBS Leaders. BE FAMILY.• Serving on Church Committee’s. BE FAMILY.• Class Advocate or Class Advisors, designated

for each grade…..• Chaperones on trips. IDEAL LEADERS….• Leadership Task Force.

We do not have a Faith language.Build a Faith Vocabulary.

*Scripture on Mission Trips*Lead Devotions for Room in the Inn*Repeat and Repeat again. (Brain Research)

Where could you build a faith language??

Testimony & Transformational Stories

• Tell the stories.• Equip them to tell the story.

When have you witnessed a transformation story?

STUMP SPEECH

Write a tweet on the post-it Note, about your Hope for your youth ministry.

Your Stump Speech.

What do you tell to your parents, youth, church, committee….over and over again.