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Click here to jump to my new website: Sunday School Lesson Connection
All this info plus a better format for the Sunday School Lesson Plans
Leading a Middle School Sunday School Class
Here are my tips for leading a great Sunday School or Youth Group Bible lesson time. These methods are specifically for Middle School (Junior High) age kids.
Using my lesson plans: On the "Lesson Plan" page you will find many pre-made Bible lessons to choose from. These are not the usual "bubble-gum" lessons that you normally find offered in curriculum books. Rather, they are foundational, doctrinal issues. These kids are ready to learn more detailed answers to questions like, "Where do you go when you die?". Plus they want answers to hard questions like, "Can you go to heaven if you commit suicide?". Kids will ask you these loaded questions. If you give them the same old route answers they will turn you off and mistrust whatever you're teaching. If, on the other hand, you prepare a detailed, Biblically supported answer, weather it's a tough answer or not, they will grow to trust you and appreciate your lessons. The point is to tell the kids the truth.
Age group differences:
My lesson plans can be adapted to both Junior High and High School age kids but the teaching methods are quite different. Middle school kids are just starting to realize that they can make their own decisions. They are just now beginning to grow their own faith apart from their 
parents. It's an exciting time to teach them.
Here's a tidbit from "Frontline":
"As the prefrontal cortex matures, teenagers can reason better, develop more control over impulses and make judgments better. In fact, this part of the brain has been dubbed "the area of sober second thought."
Click on Lesson Plan for full size PDF Image
If your class is primarily 6th-7th graders I recommend having them fill in the blanks on the lesson plan worksheets. This helps them begin to be able to create a "life application" sentence drawn from reading a Bible verse. Have them sign their names, and hand them in at the end of the lesson (I let them select one item from the "treasure box" as a reward {more on that later}). At the end of a season we spend a class making cover pages and assemble the Lesson Plans into a booklet for them to bring home to their parents. I add pages of pictures of the class that we have taken throughout the year. The booklet becomes a valuable treasure and accomplishment for many of them.
For older kids and High School age filling in the blanks is more like a tiresome chore. They're ready for a free flowing discussion debating the finer points. Just use the questions on the Lesson Plan for discussion starters. Use the verses as Biblical support for the issue being discussed. Guide the discussion to the main point the verses are conveying.
Rewards: I use candy as a discussion stimulator. Any answer gets a kid a piece of candy. If they're not paying attention I usually bounce it off their heads. I've heard some youth leaders insist that this "keeps the kids in a perpetual state of immaturity." I say, it works great. All eyes are focused on me and kids are reaching for answers. They'll mature soon enough.
The treasure box: Oriental Trading is a great source for inexpensive rewards. The "Mega Deluxe Toy Assortment" IN-5/715 has 250 trinkets the kids like. I also refill the treasure box with Religious Bracelets IN-36/1375, and pieces of candy.
I've used B&H Photo many times. Their prices are good and the service is great. I trust them now.
Take lots of pictures: Kid's love pictures of themselves. A digital camera is a must for a youth leader.
Digital images can be easily enlarged and printed to hang proudly on the youth room wall.
Pepper the pictures on the back of the lesson plan worksheets. The work sheet then becomes a treasure that the kid will take home. You never know where that will lead, but a lesson plan with pictures will be viewed more often than one without pictures.
Add pictures to your e-mails. The kids will eagerly look for your messages increasing your communication effectiveness.
Match your style to the kids: Each group is different. Your's might be boys who like to play physical games. Another might be mainly girls who like to socialize. Yet another might be primarily kids who like "brain" games. You must match your teaching style to the kids.
Multiage Leaders: I strongly recommend putting together a mix of volunteers from different age groups. Most young leaders lack experience. They have a hard time coming across as authentic when talking about things like perseverance. They have not yet faced the troubles of life and won. However, the younger leader can offer the exuberance of a budding faith that an old warrior can not. In addition, 20-something jock youth leader will naturally attract athletically able boys to his youth group. A grand-motherly youth leader might have a group that resembles a girl scout troop. A leader will attract the kids they empathize with most.The other kids will feel disconnected and may drift off to some other churches group. If you find yourself serving at a new church with a group you don't connect with quickly enlist the help of volunteers with the characteristics that match your kids. No one will have all the characteristics of every kid in any group so a varied group of volunteers will help ensure that all the kids feel a natural connection to one of the leaders.
Don't be afraid to be silly or outrageous: Sometimes I come dressed in a Starfleet uniform or Jedi costume. In one of my pre-lesson activities I weigh the girls (you can hear the gasps). These are the lessons they remember years later.
Back to:
Sharing Your Faith Without An Argument: This method of evangelism was pioneered by Bill Faye. He now calls it: Share Jesus Without Fear. I teach this method of evangelism to the kids because it's very easy. Almost every time I teach it someone in the class surrenders their life to Jesus for the first time. We usually experience a jump in attendance as kids begin sharing and inviting their friends to the group. I suggest purchasing a quantity of the Bible shown below for the kids to use as sharing Bibles.
Click here to download the .pdf of my lesson plan.
I have tried to get permission to use the same title but no one ever calls me back so here it is until someone asks me to stop.
Here is a link to Bill Fay's website: click here He is available for speaking engagements for very reasonable costs.
Here's a link to buy Bill's book from LifeWay: click here I recommend getting the CD (click here) of his presentation. It'll get you excited to teach the lesson and help your delivery of the material so the kids get excited too.
Here is a link to RBC Ministries to upload a free copy of Bill's booklet describing in more detail this method of sharing: click here Order free copies of the booklet: click here
Note: Of course this isn't the only method of sharing your faith, but it's one way, and it works. Different people have different sharing styles. Click here for a pdf to download on evangelistic styles (Again, I apologize to whoever wrote it. It's been so long I can't remember where it comes from. If it's yours, let me know immediately. Wouldn't want to infringe on a copyright.)
I buy this pocket Bible for the kids when I teach the sharing method, "How to Share Your Faith Without An Argument."
I give each kid two Bibles. One to set up for use and one to give away to the friend they share with.
The cost is very reasonable.
 | NIV Shirt-Pocket Softcover New Testament - Burgundy Cover - In cases of 100 - $ 135.00 THE RIGHT SIZE AND RIGHT PRICE FOR SHARING Conveniently sized NIV Shirt-pocket New Testaments are easy to carry along for a variety of outreach opportunities. Flexible leather-look cover and quality Bible paper at amazingly economical prices! Download a type sample here in PDF format. http://www.ibsdirect.com/download/typefaces/BB017.pdf 368 pages. Dimensions: (3-5/8 x 5-1/4") $1.35 each in cases of 100 ($135.00 a case) $1.75 each in singles" |
Here's another of my favorite evangelism training courses.
Again, someone comes to Christ in every class.
There are participants books and leaders guide.
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Becoming a Contagious Christian Curriculum Kit: Communicating Your Faith in a Style That Fits You By Zondervan Freshly revised and updated! Featuring new footage from Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg---with appearances by fellow apologist and best-selling author Lee Strobel---this 6-session course equips you to effectively share the gospel in a way that "fits" the unique personality God gave you. Set includes leader's guide, participant's guide, two DVDs, PowerPoint CD-ROM, and softcover book. |
This version is great for kids.
It's a well thought out method with great support materials.
You can teach it several different ways.
Kids really appreciate being taught how to share their faith.
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Becoming a Contagious Christian Student Edition Video By Zondervan BECOMING A CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN YOUTH EDITION includes everything you'll need to help students discover and develop their unique evangelism styles. Developed at Willow Creek Community Church, this exciting, highly interactive approach addresses the specific needs and challenges of students - in language they can relate to. Drawing on the expertise of some of today's foremost leaders in evangelism and student ministry, this powerful program will equip you to train your students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they'll need to become truly contagious in reaching their friends for Christ. Includes 17 segments totaling 61 minutes. |
