This is a collection of free youth ministry resources I’ve written and collected that may be beneficial for you. Feel free to use these materials for your ministry, but I ask that you not redistribute without my permission.
130 Youth Ministry Tips & Ideas
Size: 732k | Pages: 31 | Format: PDF | Download |
This ebook, titled, 130 Youth Ministry Tips & Ideas, is based on the past two years of blogging here at Life In Student Ministry. It is geared toward volunteers who are leading their church’s youth ministry and new youth pastors. More information on this ebook can be found here.
Principles for Confrontation
Size: 41k | Pages: 3 | Format: PDF | Download |
No one enjoys confrontation. This document contains some Biblical principles I researched for making it as loving and effective as possible.
Steps for a successful beginning in youth ministry
Size: 29k | Pages: 3 | Format: PDF | Download |
Used with permission from the author, Ann Pursche. She’s written an excellent document for those who are new to youth ministry and are just starting out in a church ministry position. Her steps are helpful reminders for veteran youth workers, as well.
30-Hour Famine “How to Study the Bible” Lessons
Size: various | Pages: various | Format: PDF |
I wrote this curriculum for our 30-Hour Famine event in 2005. The theme was “Feeding on God’s Word,” using our hunger as an example of the hunger we should have for God and scripture. I realized I do a lot of teaching and “pre-chew” God’s Word for them, so I used this event as an opportunity to teach them how to study the Bible and “chew God’s Word” for themselves. The following links are the lessons I wrote for this purpose in a format for small groups.
- 30-Hour Famine Schedule
- How to Study the Bible - Introduction
- How to Study the Bible - Observation
- How to Study the Bible - Interpretation
- How to Study the Bible - Application
Adult Volunteer Application Packet
Size: 560k | Pages: 28 | Format: PDF | Download
– Welcome letter
– How to know if God is leading you toward youth ministry
– What to expect from other youth staff
– Our philosophy of youth ministry
– Our vision for youth ministry
– Expectations of volunteer staff
– Staff boundaries with students
– Character qualities of adult volunteers
– What students need from staff
– Areas of ministry for involvement
– Staff Application
– Reference forms
– Prayer support team sheet
– Commitment form
Bi-Annual Medical Release/Parent Consent Form
Size: 116k | Pages: 2 | Format: PDF | Download
It’s a real hassle sometimes to make sure every student has a permission slip from their parents for every single event. So, we put together this bi-annual medical release and parent consent form instead.
Small Group Leadership Training
Size: various | Pages: various | Format: PDF
I put this curriculum together from various sources and use it annually to train and refresh the adult volunteers on small group ministry. It also includes all the forms we use to for communication in our small groups.
Small Group Leadership Forms
– Start-Up Timeline
– Apprentice Responsibilities
– Apprentice Planner
– We want our group to be…
– Meeting Planner
– Post-meeting Summary
– Touching Base
– Leadership Feedback and Development
– Planning for Life Change
– Shepherding Plan for Making Disciples
Small Group Leadership Training Notes
– Part 1: Small Group Philosophy
– Part 2: The Making of a Leader
– Part 3: Developing Apprentice Leaders
– Part 4: Group Life
– Part 5: Conducting Meetings
– Part 6: Shepherding Members
– Part 7: Multiplying Your Ministry
Small Group Leadership Training PowerPoints
– Part 1: Small Group Philosophy
– Part 2: The Making of a Leader
– Part 3: Developing Apprentice Leaders
– Part 4: Group Life
– Part 5: Conducting Meetings
– Part 6: Shepherding Members
– Part 7: Multiplying Your Ministry
The Christmas Caper
Size: 70k | Pages: 5 | Format: PDF | Download
This is the script for a “Who done it” dramatization written by a friend of mine. Students split up into teams and are taken to different locations around town to watch the mystery unfold: Did grandma get run over by a reindeer? All teams gather together at the end to present their solution to the mystery and enjoy hot cider and refreshments.
The Skit Guys - The Chair
Steaming Video| Length: 16:07 | Format: Flash | View at Google Video
At the NYWC in 2005 The Skit Guys gave out a DVD to youth workers of their “thank-you skit” to everyone who pours their hearts and time into students. They said we should feel free to copy and distribute it with other youth workers and use it in any ministry opportunity we want. So, I felt compelled to take them up on the offer and ripped the skit to Google Video for fellow youth workers to enjoy and be encouraged.
Hip-hop freestyle game
Size: 14.1 MB| Length: 14:59 | Format: MP3 | Download
I got this idea from egadideas.com and made the rap music bed for the game.
Split youth up in teams and have them write a song or rap to the instrumental track. Give them at least 15 minutes, then have each team perfom in front of the audience. Award a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
For the rap music bed, I took the intro from an old Tonex song called Out of the Box and just looped it. Download the mp3 from the link above and have fun!
Spiritual Dryness Questions
Size: various | Pages: 1 | Format: PDF
When I was in Bible college a visiting missionary provided the handout, Ten Questions to ask when your spiritual life is dull and dry. It’s greatly influenced my personal walk with Christ over the years. The second document, Quiet Time: How it works, is a sheet I sometimes use with students who express a desire to spend time with God but don’t know where to start. It gives them a starting point as long as they remember that this is about developing a relationship, not going through a form every day.
- Ten questions to ask when your spiritual life is dull and dry
- Quiet Time: How it works
Generation YouTube
Size: 174K | Pages: 35 | Format: PDF | Download
“Harnessing The Power of Internet Video for Youth Ministry.”
By Dennis Poulette
An excellent overview of Internet video in youth culture and a tutorial focusing on the use of Internet video for youth workers.
Links to free stuff online
Lifechurch.tv’s free resources
Free salvation presentation in Flash format
Freebie Friday and Ministry Resources Blog Archive
May 2008
- 16: Freebie Friday #73: 40 Icebreakers For Small Groups ebook (0)
- 13: Favorite Youth Group Games: Toilet paper dodgeball (3)
- 12: Time Out: Actions speak louder than words (0)
- 09: Freebie Friday #72: Pseudonyms youth group icebreaker (0)
- 06: Favorite Youth Group Games: Bean Boozled (1)
- 05: Time Out: Flee the sinful desires of youth (1)
- 02: Freebie Friday #71: 130 MORE youth ministry tips and ideas (2)
April 2008
- 28: Time Out: Who is your “Paul?” (1)
- 25: Freebie Friday #70: How To Study The Bible devotionals for teenagers (0)
- 20: Time Out: If the senior pastor isn’t perfect (4)
- 18: Friday Freebie #69: Discussion starters about prayer (0)
- 13: Time Out: Handling Conflicts (1)
- 11: Freebie Friday #68: 3 discipleship lessons, includes follow-up plan (1)
- 06: Time Out: A Job or a Lifestyle? (1)
- 04: Freebie Friday #67: Free worship song download with chord sheet (3)
March 2008
- 31: Time Out: Ministry’s #1 Responsibility (0)
- 28: Freebie Friday #66: Final Four “Mall Madness” ideas (5)
- 26: Favorite Youth Group Games: Vertical Twister (2)
- 23: Time Out: Seven principles for making tough decisions (2)
- 21: Freebie Friday #65: Journey with Jesus experience (1)
- 16: Time Out: Identifying “God moments” in your life (1)
- 14: Freebie Friday #64: Free Easter PowerPoint Game (3)
- 09: Time Out: You need a target in your sights before you shoot (0)
- 07: Freebie Friday #63: Free Easter lessons and ideas (1)
- 02: Time Out: What to do with that “thorn in the flesh” parent (1)
February 2008
- 29: Freebie Friday #62: Going All The Way DVD series (2)
- 24: Time Out: Whose youth group is it? (1)
- 22: Freebie Friday #61: Goldmine of games, crafts, object lessons, dramas, illustrations and videos for youth ministry (2)
- 18: Time Out: Throwing a good pass (4)
- 15: Freebie Friday #60: PowerPoint compilation of 51 camp and worship songs (0)
- 10: Time Out: Running on an empty tank (2)
- 08: Freebie Friday #59: Lesson outline on Defining Discipleship (0)
- 05: Favorite Youth Group Games: Twinkie Challenge (5)
- 03: Time Out: The Goal is Love (0)
- 01: Freebie Friday #58: Growing in Christ lesson and PowerPoint (2)
January 2008
- 27: Time Out: Feed the sheep (0)
- 25: Freebie Friday #57: Two trivia icebreakers using movie audio clips (3)
- 20: Time Out: God works in us before He works through us (0)
- 18: Freebie Friday #56: Vision Generation 1-year curriculum (2)
- 13: Time Out: Who is your audience? (1)
- 11: Freebie Friday #55: What is the Church teaching series (2)
- 06: Time Out: God rewards faithfulness more than fruitfulness (2)
- 04: Freebie Friday #54: CSI Crime Scenes from the Bible (8)
December 2007
- 31: New resource to evaluate video games (0)
- 28: Freebie Friday #53: Bible study talk sheet for athletes (0)
- 21: Freebie Friday #52: One year of free youth ministry resources! (4)
- 14: Freebie Friday #51: Christmas Jeopardy game (0)
- 07: Freebie Friday #50: God of Wrath bible study (2)
November 2007
- 30: Freebie Friday #49: Christmas Carol PowerPoint Game (0)
- 29: Favorite Youth Group Games: Binocular Soccer (4)
- 26: Internet tools I use in ministry (Bonus): Mozy.com (0)
- 23: Freebie Friday #48: The Christmas Caper who-done-it script (3)
- 20: Internet tools I use in ministry (6 of 6): vconvert.net (9)
- 18: Favorite Youth Group Games: Capture the Flag Pole (0)
- 16: Freebie Friday #47: “Beyond the youth group” ebook (0)
- 15: Internet tools I use in ministry (5 of 6): ParentLink.com (4)
- 14: Internet tools I use in ministry (4 of 6): Facebook (2)
- 12: Favorite Youth Group Games: Human Snowball (3)
- 09: Freebie Friday #46: MP3 download of Doug Fields, “What Matters Most” (1)
- 01: Freebie Friday #45: What is Love Bible lesson (1)
October 2007
- 27: Favorite Youth Group Games: Alphabet Game (1)
- 26: Freebie Friday #44: How to read your Bible teaching series (2)
- 19: Freebie Friday #43: Free PowerPoint and MediaShout backgrounds for worship (8)
- 18: How to create a Facebook application for your youth group news or blog (69)
- 15: Favorite Youth Group Games: Mattress Surfing (9)
- 12: Freebie Friday #42: Lesson series based on Heros tv show (3)
- 10: Favorite Youth Group Games: Chuck the Chicken (4)
- 05: Freebie Friday #41: How to prepare your high school seniors for college (2)
September 2007
- 28: 130 Youth Ministry Tips & Ideas ebook now in German (2)
- 27: Freebie Friday #40: Free ebook on how to lead Bible studies (0)
- 27: Favorite Youth Group Games #1: Wawa Man (0)
- 23: Favorite Youth Group Games series (0)
- 21: Freebie Friday #39: See You At The Pole training session for students (2)
- 15: Free ebook: “ER for Youth Ministry” from Group Publishing (0)
- 14: Freebie Friday #38: Post-modernity seminar for adults and leaders (0)
- 09: Teaching video clip on Owen Wilson’s attempted suicide (5)
- 07: Freebie Friday #37: Photo scavenger hunt sheet (8)
August 2007
- 31: Freebie Friday #36: My updated volunteer application packet (1)
- 24: Freebie Friday #35: Download Robbie Seay’s new album for FREE (2)
- 17: Freebie Friday #34: Or is it Freebie Monday? (0)
- 10: Freebie Friday #33: Event flyer checklist (0)
- 06: A hassle-free solution for backing up your data (3)
- 03: Freebie Friday #32: Communicating with teenagers seminar for parents (0)
July 2007
- 27: Freebie Friday #31: Download free movie clips for teaching illustrations (4)
- 20: Freebie Friday #30: Daily online Bible studies for teens via email and podcast (0)
- 13: Freebie Friday #29: Lesson and PowerPoint on imitating Christ (3)
- 12: Lots of great youth ministry posts lately (7)
- 06: Freebie Friday #28: “Why Encourage” lesson with PowerPoint (1)
June 2007
- 29: Freebie Friday #27: Three camp Bible study lessons (0)
- 22: Freebie Friday #26: Six months of free youth ministry resources (0)
- 15: Freebie Friday #25: Dare 2 Share freebies (4)
- 08: Freebie Friday #24: “Evangelism for my life” teaching series (6)
- 01: Freebie Friday #23: Free youth group contact management tool (6)
May 2007
- 25: Freebie Friday #22: Two lessons on, “Devoting yourself to God this summer” (2)
- 23: Sending youth group announcements as mass text messages (25)
- 18: Freebie Friday #21: Student Leadership Team info packet (1)
- 11: Freebie Friday #20: Free chapter, “Grow, Minister and Lead” (2)
- 04: Freebie Friday #19: 130 Youth Ministry Tips and Ideas Ebook (77)
April 2007
- 30: Free youth group lesson: “Don’t land in the garbage dump” (2)
- 27: Freebie Friday #18: “Riding the Fence” talk outline (2)
- 20: Freebie Friday #17: “First Four Lunch” idea (4)
- 18: Virginia Tech shootings: Small group video and discussion sheet (5)
- 13: Freebie Friday #16: Visitor evaluation form (0)
- 06: Freebie Friday #15: “Deal or No Deal” youth group game (13)
- 02: 100 questions to ask parents (0)
March 2007
- 30: Freebie Friday #14: Christianity 101 Bible Lesson with PowerPoint (0)
- 26: Top 5 websites I use for youth ministry (8)
- 23: Freebie Friday #13: Free seminary courses on iTunes (0)
- 16: Freebie Friday #12: 8-day devotional ebook for students (0)
- 09: Freebie Friday #11: Free YouTube video converter (15)
- 02: Freebie Friday #10: Free youth ministry PowerPoint game (0)
February 2007
- 23: Freebie Friday #9: Four Spiritual Laws evangelism training materials (1)
- 09: Freebie Friday #8: Small group leadership training materials (1)
- 02: Freebie Friday #7: Student leadership communication packet (3)
January 2007
- 26: Freebie Friday #6: Read-to-go Lock-in materials (10)
- 19: Freebie Friday #5: “Unquenchable” youth sermon series on worship (5)
- 12: Freebie Friday #4: “Who Is God” Bible study talk sheets (1)
- 10: How to meet and greet people at church (0)
- 05: Freebie Friday #3: Simply Youth Ministry materials (0)
December 2006
- 29: Freebie Friday #2: Four Spiritual Laws seminar training materials (0)
- 22: Freebie Friday #1: Icebreaker games (1)
- 15: Introducing Freebie Friday (5)
November 2006
- 14: How to greet people at church (1)
- 11: Another Dove beauty video of girls discussing self-image (2)
October 2006
September 2006
- 30: Terminate communication with “humor” (2)
- 29: Free youth ministry online training lectures (0)
- 29: Generation YouTube (1)
- 27: Questions for determining a call to ministry (1)
- 12: Knowing God: Relationship, not Ritual (3)
- 11: Using MySecret.tv in youth group (1)
- 06: Free invitations to eBible.com (6)
August 2006
- 30: Upcoming “Life in student ministry” podcast (5)
- 28: Active listening (0)
- 11: Music influences teenagers’ view of sex (1)
March 2006
- 13: Two new ministry resources (0)
February 2006
- 10: Hip-hop freestyle game (3)
January 2006
- 31: The Skit Guys performing “The Chair” (1)
- 30: 30-Hour Famine Materials (1)
- 19: Free salvation Flash presentation (0)
- 10: Giving back to the YM community (3)
August 2005
- 30: Tie-Dye Wars…. almost (1)
last updated: 09/27/06











