Archives by: Miriam Alford

Flying Security Guards

Have a music night. Select 5 different secular artists/groups. Place one artist/group per room. Give the youth autograph books. Tell them they need to get every artist/groups autograph. Get your Sr. High group involved, have them play the artists/groups (Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, etc) The security guards take the autographs from the youth. In order to win they must have all the autographs, which will be impossible, because you will take one or more away from them as they run from room to room. Build your devotional around what is good music, and have them come up with the criteria, but you may have to guide them. Then play a song from each of the artists/groups you had present, and discuss if it fits the criteria you have listed. You can make this as big an event as you want, we used two youth group meetings for this topic. Get your actors to really play the roles of the artists well, etc. Expand and mold this to your group. Its a great way of discussing this all important area of the life of a youth.

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Plunger Nite

One night at youth group have PLUNGER NITE. Your games and devotional all centre around plungers. Play plunger hockey, javelin plunger, relay games with plungers. Use balls and balloons as well. The wilder your games the better – be creative.
Devotional – Ask the youth what is a plunger for, what does it do? Why? Then describe that Christ is the plunger for our sin. Our sin had to be removed in order for our relationship with God to flow. Like the drain, when its clogged, the water does not flow freely, and the drain needs to be unclogged. We don’t work the way God intended when we are clogged with sin, and Christ became the plunger for that sin.

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Cookie Bake For Shut-Ins

Want to begin doing service projects with your youth group, and don’t know where to begin, here’s an idea.
Do a Cookie Bake for some of the shut-ins, seniors, etc in your church or community. Have your youth group bake cookies (keep the recipe simple, or buy a mix — Pillsbury and Quaker has some good ones). Make cookies that anyone could eat – stay away from chocolate, nuts, etc because of allergies. Maybe get some parents to help out in the kitchen.
After your cookies are ready, put them in as many cookie tins as people or homes you are going to visit. In advance find someone with a computer and printer who will type up cards for your group to sign, make sure you give the name of your group and where you are from. The ideas for the cards are limitless (you probably have someone in your youth group with a computer and printer who will do this).
Pre plan the people or homes you are going to and make sure that it is ok, and that you visit at a good time, early evening, late afternoon, whatever is appropriate. Maybe ask your church secretary for a list and her input.
Set up drivers (one adult with each group of youth) and have them deliver the cookies, cards and greetings from your youth group.
This is a great project and involves your youth, and seniors. Two different age groups that probably don’t spend a lot of time together, it helps bridge gaps, and teaches your youth they can serve God, by sharing his love to people who can not get out on a regular basis. After you’ve delivered your goodies, return to the church and let the young people talk about the different places they stopped, what happened, etc. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy some of the goodies they made as well during your discussion time.

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