Christian lessons for young people on the topic of gossip. Biblical instruction for youth (V. Filat). The topic of civil society, its origin and features. Features of the formation of civil society in Russia. PR structures and media as elements of civilian

A good and very effective way of evangelization is the so-called biblical circle or, in other words, meetings for those who are interested in the Christian faith.

In our church, we have quite a successful experience of holding such activities. I want to share some workers. So, for a start, it is necessary to determine the list of questions and tasks that arise before who wishes to start this kind of work.

1. Where to hold meetings.
2. How often to hold meetings.
3. Where, how and whom to invite.
4. What themes to choose.
5. How to communicate.

Consider everything in order.

Where to hold meetings?

There are several options: a house of prayer, a house or apartment of one of the believers, a neutral place - rented room, cafe and so on.

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. My personal experience suggests that the best collection of the biblical circle is carried out in the house of prayer. Why? First, it is convenient, since in the house of prayers most often have all the necessary conditions. Secondly, the invited person involuntarily gets acquainted with the house of prayer, gets used to him. Subsequently, he will be easier to come to worship.

Private house or apartment is a good option, but has a number of weighty flaws. Starting with the fact that a stranger is much more difficult to come to a personal house to someone in a public place, which is the house of prayer, and ending with the holding of a meeting may involuntarily interfere with people living in the house or apartment.

The third option is well suited if the prayer house is located in an uncomfortable place or for some reason it cannot be collected in it. It is better to rent a room than to gather in a frequent house. But this option is the most expensive of all.

How often to hold meetings.

Immediately it is worth noting that the frequency as constant is not so important. It is better to hold meetings less often than from time to time to cancel already designated meetings. Good results are achieved under weekly mode. In this case, enough time to prepare for the next meeting. In addition, from a person who came to such communication for a week, the impressions and memories of the meeting will not have time to sweat.

Set the frequency less often than twice a month is not recommended. The less often the frequency of communication, the more difficult it is to create a friendly, trusting situation on them, it is difficult to undertake to attend you at such meetings.

Where, how and whom to invite.

Consider two different types of invitations to similar meetings.

1. Personal invitation.

You can ask each member of the church to make a list of those unbelievers whom he knows personally. After that, it is necessary that the one who made a list invited each of their lists for communication. If the invited to refuse, it is advisable to ask him if he knows someone who this invitation could be interested.

The experience of our church showed that the method of personal invitations is most effective.

2. Invitation through invitation, announcements, and so on.

In the second case, people are invited to meetings with: invitation and ads

According to statistics, the invitations and ads comes about 1-2% of the total number of invited.

What themes to choose.

Topics can be the most diverse. For example:

Do you need a man to God?
- Can a person have a communication with God?
- Why do we trust the Bible?
- What is sin and what are his consequences?
- How to defeat sin?
- What is the church?
- Is there a true freedom?

Some materials for preparing these data, I will lay out on this site in the heading "Conversations for Christian themes".

How to communicate.

We immediately decided that such evenings should be in a friendly, simple, informal setting. This is not a worship service, in the usual sense of the word, it is communication. We put tables, buy cookies and candies and pour tea. Usually communication begins a little later than six evenings, sometimes even half of the seventh. But it is not scary. Time while we are waiting for all late, used to communicate between those who came. Usually we come from 5 to 15 people. It is better if the members of the church will be a bit. The most acceptable - two or three brothers and sister, which would serve the table and accompanied the piano. If more members of the Church comes to communication, then people can feel embarrassed.

Communication with prayer begins. If I see that there are those who came for the first time, then I explain in detail how and why we pray. About these words:

Dear friends. We have christian communication. And since we are Christians, then we always ask our God so that he blesses us. For this we will pray. We pray we usually kneeling or standing. Now we will stand and I will say prayer. If you agree with the words of prayer, then at the end you can tell the word "Amen", which means "true so".

After prayer, I tell about how communication passes. It is very important to remind those who came that we are chatting, so everyone can ask any question, express their opinion, and if he does not agree with something, then let him not be shy about it.

After this announcement, we offer people to meet. Usually the acquaintance is short. It is proposed to say your name and your attitude towards God. It turns out something like this:

My name is Alexey, I am Orthodox, but I do not go to the temple.
- My name is Olya, I do not know what my attitude towards God is.
- My name is Mikhail Ivanovich, I think that there is some power space, but not sure.

Sometimes acquaintance can be added to questions. For example:

What are you waiting for these communication.
- Tell us about the case when God saved you.
- Will you ever pray?

After acquaintance, we offer a topic for reasoning.

It is very useful to formulate a topic in the form of a question and this question is at the very beginning. I usually ask each one who came in turn. At this stage, you should not discuss the answers, you need to give a person to express your opinion. After everyone speaks, you need to offer your reasoning. But it is important to remember that communication should not turn into a preaching or a monologue. It should be remembered that someone can express an opinion that distinguishes from Christian. In any case, you need to treat a person with respect and patience.

If someone from someone coming to communication the other day was a birthday, then this is a great way to spend the evening: make a little gift to the birthday, buy a cake. The costs are small, and for unbelievers it is unnecessary evidence that the church is, indeed, one family.

In the middle and end of communication you can sing. Be sure to select time (at least one third of the total time) for questions. This is the most important part of communication. Sometimes even on the whole evening dedicate issues and answers, but we postpone the next time.

It is useful if the head of communication will give everyone the number of his phone, and the numbers who came to write themselves. I usually send all SMS messages with a reminder of the next meeting.

1) the easiest option - to prepare some excerpt from Scripture with several interesting, discussion issues. It happens that when reading the Scripture was born an interesting thought, but the material is not enough for a full conversation, then you can use such a form. Excerpt and passage questions - that's the whole recipe for youth cooking. The main questions find fascinating, then such an express analysis will go easily. Although, of course, for the most part, the foundation of any quality analysis is good questions. But I am not about deep theological issues. In principle, you can ask youth to identify some elements in the text, or vice versa to look for questions in the excerpt provided.

for example, You can take 23 chapter Matthew and allocate the characteristic features of the Phariseism with young people, write them on the board, then think about how they can manifest themselves in our lives. I got the following features:

pharisees seek to take the place of teachers (2 verses),
pharisees "say, but do not do" (3-4 poetry),
the most important thing for Farisay is the approving reaction of people (5 verse),
pharisees are striving to measure spiritual characteristics with numerical methods (5b verse),
love praise (6-7 poems),
are an obstacle to God for others (13 verse),
for them, the form of prayer than its sincerity (14 verse),
distribute their pharyce with enviable perseverance (15 verse),
for them, the form is more important than the service of worship (16-22 verses),
change in places the main and secondary (23-24 poems),
more importantly, the outer side of spiritual life than the inner (25-28 verses).

If you still ask youth to pick up for example from Scripture for each characteristic, I think that the usual two hours of youth do not have enough.

2) another version of the express analysis may be such an option: split young people into groups and give a task on the text. For example: Ying 2: 1-11 This text describes the miracle that has happened. Each youth group should allocate the necessary conditions in the text for the execution of this miracle; Find an example of a miracle from the Old and New Testament and test compliance with the selected conditions. I got the following conditions: There should be a name Jesus, must have faith, must come the right time, there must be obedience to God's words.

Another example: Proverbs 2: 1-5 way to fear of God and know God. To task with groups - to highlight the steps offered by Solomon on the way to the fear of God, choose examples from life.

3) In general, group work is very effective and always finds a response from youth. Deliver not a group boldly, if there is no time to prepare - there will be more opportunities to spend an interesting youth. The main thing is not to get into the excessive form, and choose quality content. Another option of express analysis: pick up paired texts, break out young people into two groups. The first group give one of the texts and ask for it to make as many questions as possible for the second group. The second group to give another text and ask for as many questions as possible on it for the first. You can even make a similarity of the competition, and accrue balls with a group for each question that another group could not answer.

4) Another option to work in groups is group analysis of the topic. Just only it is important not to choose too voluminous theme, to the maximum to narrow it. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to lead the discussion when summing up. As you know, the topic can be revealed "horizontally" and "vertically". That is, either talk about various aspects of the topic, or deepen the content of the topic.

For example, disassembling the theme of meek in everyday life, you can task with groups: the first group is found in Scripture as meekness should manifest at home, in the family. The second group is like meekness should manifest itself in the church in communicating with the saints. The third group, as meekness should manifest itself in the world. This is the horizontal disclosure of the topic. For many, you can apply the formula: house / church / world.

Also an example of horizontal disclosure of prayer theme: prayer personal, prayer Public, prayer of repentance, petitional prayer. To appoint each group of young people in the subtitress and give a task - to choose the scriptures and give examples from life.

The vertical disclosure of the topic implies a deepening to the study. If we talk about some kind of characteristic of a believer, or about some commandments, it is possible to differentiate the topic as follows: The first group explains the basic concepts, the essence of the phenomenon on the basis of Scripture. The second group on the basis of Scripture finds out how practically it is expressed in life. The third group examines the issue that the Bible talks about the blessings that bring this quality or adherence to the commandment. The fourth group examines the issue of punishment or the consequences for non-compliance with the commandment.

Here you need some preparation, but it will not require a lot of time, if the topic is understandable to you and was thinking earlier. Or, for example, you have recently read a good book on this topic - you can also safely discuss the topic with young people. What to spend time when preparing youth in this form? You need to prepare tips. Youthth will be difficult to immediately navigate in the subject, and you should be prepared to tell them where to "dig."

When group work, the head itself should not be involved in direct discussion. The task of the manager, as is known - to lead. It must proceed from the group to the group, carefully listen to the discussion. If necessary, help organize a discussion correctly issues. If it is very bad - unobtrusively prompt. When dividing young people into groups, try to do it so that the groups are obtained more or less uniform in the quality of the composition. So that in each group there were active and sociable members of the youth so that communication in the group was not stopped. Be sure to properly organize the atmosphere - to place the chairs in such a way that everyone saw in the group and listened to each other. Groups should not be more than 12-15 people, because in large groups it is difficult to organize reasoning. In group work, it is necessary to discuss the conclusions together at the end of the meeting, which were made by each group. It is necessary to allocate time, because in the process of discussion there can also turn into a small discussion, especially if the conclusions according to the same issues in different groups will differ. In any case, the manager must put a point at the end of the discussion. Summarize - in clear and unequivocal wording.

5) An interesting version of the youth without preparation can be discussion forms of work. I will write about them more, I will not repeat.

6) should not be neglected and gaming forms of work. Of course, it is impossible to abuse, but sometimes you can use. Games are especially good because they can be prepared in advance and use at any convenient moment. Young people gathered after the meeting spontaneously, or at someone at home ... Instead of allowing young people to let go of jokes and chat "nothing", it is better to encourage young people to play any spiritual game. Someone from the leaders managed and the board games to use, giving them spiritual meaning, or replacing questions from the quiz to biblical.

I hope you will be helped by these ideas, inspire you to come up with something more interesting, more fascinating and more useful. Of course, those methods that are here are suggested - these are just some options that should be at the head "in the sleeve". None will replace the qualitatively prepared and analyzed. In any case, the situation, when there is no time to prepare - abnormal, and we should not justify themselves in it. Youth is a targeted meeting, work with the target group in the church. We are responsible for us, and we must prepare high-quality spiritual food.

In the next letter, I will try to tell about other non-standard forms of youth, but which require sufficiently diligent training and time.

All works. The ideas for this book came from the same people as you are from the very thick of youth ministry.

In this book, you will find a golden custody of the practical ideas of youth service for studying the Bible, evangelistic programs, prayers, games, work with large audiences, advice on how to start a discussion and capture the attention of the listeners. All these ideas were developed in practice and sent to a very popular heading of the magazine "Group Magazine" called "Try this!".

When I organized a "group" in 1974, there was no "World Wide Web" - electronic network for youth workers or anyone else. But I definitely existed to share good ideas among youth service fighting "on the fronts". It became the dream "Group Magazine". Section called "Try this!" Quickly became favorite among readers who were looking for useful, fun and proven in the practice of ideas that were sent by other magazine readers. In that preinetovskaya era, "try this!" turned into an off-line forum that does not require any high technologies.

And "try this!" Still remains a favorite heading in the "group", which is the most readable resource for youth service worldwide. Some tips worked and will work. God definitely blessed many, which someone shared in the section "Try this!".

In this book, we collected the best ideas from our headings sent to us over the past few years. Look for, enjoy and apply these ideas in your ministry. They work! And join the long tradition to share the best ideas for youth ministry. Your best ideas send us [Email Protected]

Introduction
In the life of every youth leader, this moment comes when he or she faces an eternal question: "What do we need to do for this?" That is why more than two decades ago we decided to open the heading "Try this!" With reliable ideas that you as practitioners applied in our student ministry.

The very first book published by the "Group" was a meeting of the best letters from the magazine section "Try this!". For many years, we have not released such books and thought that it was time to do it. Therefore, we opened the warehouse of the heading "Try this!" And chose the best ideas to get another book for you. Starting to revise letters, we again remembered what amazing things you do to build relationships with adolescents.

This book is a collection of these ideas presented in easily organized sections that will enable you to search and plan events for the future or just take the book and on the run "to learn" from it the idea that you need today. We inspire you to make this book tool for daily ministry. Make the mark, sign the date over each idea you took advantage of, let each advice assessment according to its effect on your group and let it read the leaders subordinate to you.

For your convenience, the book is divided into the following sections: study of the Bible, ideas for working with a large audience, the beginning of discussions, search for financing, games, building groups, useful tips and evangelization. Under each heading, all that you will need for this type of activity, and you will be easy to find what is necessary now. We hope you enjoy the best ideas collected in this book!
Bible study

Signatures for pictures

Already after five minutes of this biblical study, the parable begins to sound cheerful laughter.
For this type of Bible study, you will need a pack of yellow press from any supermarket. In addition, you will need paper, glue and several serious magazines like "Time" or "Newsweek".

Distribute yellow newspapers. Explain that most of the Bible is devoted to the preparation for the coming kingdom and the management of pious life, and the Proverb book was written in order to help us pass this earthly life, here and now, day after day. Distribute the Bible and ask the guys to use any verse from the Proverb book as a signature to any photo from the yellow press. Let the children write poetry on a piece of paper and stick a picture from the newspaper.

Soon the semishes turn into laughter and loud fun! Then take one of the serious magazines or newspapers and ask the band again to sign signatures from the book of Proverbs. Let them stick these cuttings and signatures on another piece of paper. This time the signatures will more accurately reflect the thought. Hang these works in the hall in your church so that all its members can see them. Complete the work of the prayer and ask God to ensure that all these biblical verses have already found their use in the lives of adolescents.

Steve Case

Oviedo, Florida

More and better

This method of studying the Bible helps children better understand the value of God's blessings.
Start the study of the Bible with the "Things" called "more and better." Divide your group on commands from four or five people and give each group a cans with soup. Tell me that they have 15 minutes to exchange their jar on something better and more. If the place of your meetings does not allow you to freely walk and bargain with each other, let one person from the group alone and ask to try to exchange it for something from other members of the group. After 15 minutes, compare "transactions" and declare which of them "more and better."

Was it easy to exchange soup bank?
Is Iaua easily exchange your birthright for soup?
What do you think, whether ISAV sorry ever about his decision? Explain.
What are God's blessings teenagers can exchange on what they think will bring them happiness?
Why do they refuse these blessings?
Do you think they will regret it?
How can God help you understand what to exchange, but what is to take care?

Complete everything with a brief "team" prayer, asking everyone to call something that he or she will be preserved and will offer God for His kingdom.

Lisa Nichols Hickman

Taskon, Arizona

One body, many members

Use 1 Cor. 12: 12-31 to inspire everyone to the discussion about how individual talents can contribute to the Body of Christ.
For this event, you first need to create a sculpture from a variety of items. For example, you can use elements from LEGO sets, plasticine, wooden bars, paper, polychlorvinyl tubes, hangers, cardboard, paints, boxes or plastics. Then remove the resulting design and set the set of materials that you used to create it. Divide the class into groups of four people and give each member of the group of your role of any part of the body: eyes, ears, legs or hands. Then collect all the eyes from each group in one corner of the room, the ears in the other, etc. Use the following rules to create sculptures similar to your:

Only eyes can directly see your sculpture.
The eyes describe the ears what they see.
The ears tell the legs that heard.
The legs collect all the necessary materials and talk about the heard hands.
Hands create a design according to the information received.

Let the information transmits so many times as necessary to complete the sculpture. When the groups completed their designs, show your design sample design and discuss the following:

How does your sculpture differ from the designs of everyone else?
Would you create the same design, if in your group there was no ear, eyes, etc.?

Then read out loud 1 code. 12: 12-31 Such: everyone together read poems 12-14; Feet read verse 15; Ears read verse 16; Eyes read verse 17; All together read verses 18-20; Hands read verse 21; You are reading verse 22-31. Then let the groups discuss the following questions:

Why did the apostle Paul chose a human body as an illustration of the role of every person in the church?
What can you rely on others in the church?
What can the church rely on you?
What part of the Body of Christ?

Complete everything with a prayer - ask God to conduct everyone in the definition of it or its part in the Body of Christ.

Tammy Wisling

Tif River Falls, Minnesota

Warning labels

Use silly warning labels to inspire adolescents to think about their dedication to Christ.
Look for examples of stupid, but really existing warning labels on the Internet. Make a list and distribute it to your students. Then you will see a little over what stupas should be people to be able to warn about such obvious things. Ask:

What do you think, why do these products have such stupid warnings?
If the warning label would you wear, what would be written there?

Let the three-four person groups read the following passages together: LC. 9: 23-27; 9: 57-62 and 18: 18-30. Ask:

What, as Jesus says in these verses, maybe you will have to leave for him?
When people decide to follow Jesus, why can they sometimes not even think about what it may have to pay?
Were you surprised what you had to sacrifice because of your dedication to Christ?

Give students on a piece of paper and ask:

If Christianity had a warning label, what would be written on it?

Then let each student draw a cross and add its warning label.
John Paip.

Razing San, Indiana

Rules and power - so what?

Use the game without rules to help youth understand why the rules are so important.
Let the guys unite into groups of four to six people, and give each group a board game. Tell me everyone that the game has one rule: no rules and no one. After about 10 minutes of the group, the following questions should be discussed:

How is the game change, if there are no rules?
Why do you think there are rules in general?
What rules protect us?
Do you obey these rules?
What do you do when you do not like some rule?

Tell me the following: Often the rules seem meaningless to us. Sometimes we are injected by those in whose hands any power is concentrated. Because of this, we find yourself in a dead end or very upset, as we succeeded with these board games. But God did not think at all like this. He uses the rules to protect us. When the rules are installed by God, he will never let us down.

Consider loud Rome. 13: 1-7. Then let the groups discuss the following questions:

Whether this passage changes your idea of \u200b\u200bthe rules and authorities? Why?
In what situations do you have complex relationships with the authorities?
How can we help each other in these difficulties? How can God help?

Complete everything with prayer - ask the guys to pray for individual power of pre-war people, for a healthy attitude towards these people and for the permission of difficulties with the authorities.
Tammy Bovi.

Burton, Michigan.

Promises for bricks

Use bricks to illustrate how, holding your burden, we can build a barrier among themselves and God.
Ask:

Why do people usually worry?
What methods do they usually apply to fight anxiety?

Let students be grouped into pairs or three and read 1 PT. 5: 7 and PS. 55:22. Ask:

Did you have that by giving your stress to God, then you again experienced him? Explain.
Why so often we are unable to completely give their concerns to God, despite God's promises?
What special steps can help us in this?

Drink a cart in the room with bricks. Each student will need one brick. Let each student take the brick and the permanent marker will write a word on it or draws a picture that denotes or symbolizing what causes him stress. Then ask students to build a small wall of these bricks. When she is ready, ask:

How do these burden build a barrier between us and God?
How does God use our burden in order to bring us towards themselves?

Then ask again to take your brick and write on the reverse side: "I give it to God." Let the students find a partner and pray together, asking God to help free from Bremen. Tell the disciples to take their bricks home as a reminder that they are every day - and completely - gave their anxiety to God.
Paul Balvin

Mishawak, Indiana

Serving others, serve God

Prepare your group to the project for serving or missionary travel, using training based on the Gospel of John 13.
You will need a canvas, scotch, acrylic paint, soap water, clean water, towels, CDs with a record of Third Day "City On a Hill" and a CD player.

In advance of the upcoming missionary trips, write the name, date and place of your project at the top of a large canvas and attach it to the wall of your meeting room. Paint paint and water basins. Read out loud. 13: 1-5, 12-17. Ask a volunteer to lower your hand into the paint and leave your imprint on the canvas. Then wash the hand of the Volunteer and ask him to wash the hand of the next person who will leave his mark on the wall. Continue until you yourself leave the imprint and the last person will not wash your hand. Then ask:

What did you feel when you wash your hand? When did you wash your hand to your hand?
How is the left imprint on the canvas look like your participation on the trip?

Let the troops read the PS. 123: 1, MF. 25:40, count 3:23. Ask:

How do you do with your own hands, reflects God's love?
How do you serve God, serving others?
What do you hope to give and get during this missionary trip?

Complete everything by listening to the song "City On A Hill" and pray for yourself.
Deniz Prandzh

High Ridge, Missouri

War with water balls

Machine children with "military actions" and conduct learning about the spiritual war.
Form two commands and give each team a few balls with water. Check the commands in front of each other, at a distance of about 4-5 meters.

Choose which command will start, then allow everyone from this command to throw your balls to another command - all at the same time. If you got into someone, this person should sit down. Then let the second team throws. Spend three rounds of such a "execution". That team in which there will be more people standing, won. Explain that this battle looks like a war of independence in America. Ask:

Was there any team stronger than another?
What did you feel when another team had the opportunity to throw balls in you? Explain.
What helped you to unite in this battle?

Read 2 Cor. 10: 3-5. Then ask:

What did Paul meant, saying: "Not on the flesh are militant"?
How important is the thought of spiritual war for you and why?
What enemies are we fighting?
What kind of weapons are you most relying in the knowledge of the spiritual war?
What additional weapons can you add to your arsenal?
What kind of special ways can we support each other in this battle?

T. J. Roberts

Salt Lake City, Utah

Biblical

Use rogue characters from the Bible in the game to "stay alive" to learn about the unconditional love of Christ.
To do this, study the Bible you need to create a card with information for each person from your group. Use the Bible to find people who could be perceived as expensive: lepers, collector, blind, relaxed, shepherd, Roman centurion, fisherman, prophet or demonstrated by demons. Write for each brief information explaining why he could be considered an outcast. Distribute these cards to students.

Let everyone sit in a circle and talk on behalf of their character about who they are. Then let everyone write on a piece of paper of the character he or she would like to exclude from the game on the basis of their smallest benefit for society. Between the Rounds of Voting, let the "survivor" prove, why they must be left in the group. When four people remain, allow the "outcasts" to vote for the winner.

After the game, read out loud MF. 5: 1-12. Discuss the following questions:

How, in your opinion, would look at our "rogue" Jesus?
How would you explain - what is the unconditional love?
How important is your appearance or social status for you or your friends?
What is the difference to what they look at us, from how God see us?

Jeff Browning and Chris Coletti

Vista, California

Fast Food Lessons

Turn the snack in the fast food cafe to an instructive example for members of your youth group.
For Sunday study, the Bible is reduced to the breakfast group in the cafe. Go to Fast Food, where there is a 24-hour window through which you can buy everything without leaving the car. When you all choose, arrange a group in a cozy corner to start learning the Scripture. First ask the guys like what happens before the distribution window can describe their way of faith (for example, you sometimes have to wait or in the menu there is no what you want).

Discuss the following questions using the corresponding Scriptures when answering:

Why is the "waiting" so important in your faith path? (Ps. 24: 5; 26:14; 39: 1-3; Is. 30:18; FLP. 3:20)
What do you do when you want an "missing menu"? How do you oppose or accept God's plan? (Ier. 29:11)
How do you understand what God wants to tell you? How do you communicate with God? How does God communicate with you? (2 pairs. 7:14; Ier. 33: 3 and 1 Cor. 2: 9-10)
What "Exchange" do you exercise faith in your path? What do you give God? What did Christ pay for and what did you get in exchange? (Jac. 2:18 and 1 in. 2: 2)

Chrisanne Goud.

Arlington, Texas

Bible and Salochk

Do not miss the opportunity during the next game in the "Salochki" in the fresh air with flashlights - add an instructive moment!
You will need the Bible with Concordance Paper and Pens or Pencils.

We break the guys into small groups and hand over each group a list of words related to salting in the dark. For example, "fast", "fear", "mission", "Darkness", "hide" or "teams". Ask groups to choose one word from this list, which can also relate to Christian life. Ask groups to find this word in Concordance and write biblical links related to this word. Then ask each member of the group to find one of the listed Scriptures and write a few thoughts on how the lodges are associated with their faith.

Your groups can be born such ideas:

Darkness (Ps. 17:29) - God is with us not only in good times (in the light), but also in bad (in darkness).
Fear (Ps. 26: 1) - When we remember about salvation promised by God, we do not need to be afraid of anything.
Hide (Matt. 5:14:16) - We should never hide their faith from the world.

After all members of the group shake with each other with their thoughts, discuss the following:

How does the game in the slope in the dark on your walk in faith?
What place the Scripture from the read became the most inspiring for you? Explain.
How can you use the Bible as a weapon against sin and evil?

Debra Brownner

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Look for and clothe

(Especially effectively in working with the guys of medium-sized adolescence)
This is a quick mass game in the shopping center - a fun way to learn the Bible and makes a new meaning in the quest game.
Create a command of two or three guys. Then take the six adult voluntary helpers with some distinctive features that you can quickly see. Ask each of the adults to choose a favorite biblical verse, which they will share with adolescents. For these "distinctive features" you can use the following suggestions:

Man sitting on the phone book (Ps. 104: 1-2)
A man with coins sticking with scotch tape to the sole of shoes (1 Tim. 6: 6-10)
A man with dark plaster on the leg (Is. 35: 3-6).
Man in glasses (Heb. 11: 1)
Man with a torn part of the pantna (Proverb. 4: 11-12)
A man with a torn panta, bowed on his head (1 Cor. 1: 27-28)

Ask volunteers to disperse on the shopping center (only without going to the shops) and change the place after anyone finds them. When the team finds this volunteer, an adult tells them their verse.

Ask two other adults to become chronometrics that will send each team to the task, saying, for example: "Look for and unite ... a person sitting on the phone book. Bring me good news. " Teams armed with the Bibles find this person. Make sure the guys will not go to the shops. They can be represented and talking from which church to sitting people, explaining that they have a search game and are interested in whether they are sitting on the phone book. Having found an adult, the team runs back and reads the biblical verse chronometricists and only then receive the following task. Chronometrics once again send teams in search of another adult.

Complete the game after a certain time goes or when any command performed all six tasks. Agree with adult volunteers to meet with teams in a cafe of a shopping center, where you can have a snack and discuss biblical poems. Ask:

How does this game look like your way of faith?
What biblical verse is most of all for you and why?
Did you throw any kind of call? Explain.

We were so fun that somewhat passing by teenagers stopped seeing what we do, and, in the end, joined our game!
Angela Bridedenbakh

Missoula, Montana

Sermon with packages

Many of my colleagues, priests, the organizers of youth work at the parish, the leaders of Christian youth associations, often ask me: what can we talk about discussions among Christian youth. In clubs, on the Internet forums, during the flights. I decided to make them a Christmas gift - and throw some ideas to choose the subject. By the way, you can safely add your suggestions in the comments - it is just welcome

Well-chosen theme is a weighty part of success, it understands each organizer. However, one should not forget that the subject of discussion and its production must take into account the specifics of the audience, the experience of its church life, the practice of participation in discussions and many other aspects. The format is also important here, the method of building communication, the regulation of the discCCC and, of course, the skill of the lead or, as it is called it today - moderator

Immediately, I will immediately express my position regarding the value of such discussions in order to designate an area of \u200b\u200bperhaps the expected and not to demand from the discussion beyond that it can actually give:

Open expression. Yes, it is important that young people have the opportunity to express their own, whatever they were, views on this or that question. Create such a space in which the position of another a priori is respected, very valuable. Discussion is not a surrender of the exam in the seminary, this is not a lecture, it is a free exchange of positions, questions, judgments, doubts. The value of this is largely in the fact itself, in the possibility - to say what you consider and have the right to get feedback on your vision, reasoned and taking into account what you actually said

Dialog training. To be able to listen to the other, be able to be expressed by himself. This is useful both for young people and experienced priests who want to establish communication with the younger generation. At the moment of discussions, we sometimes do not reach the final responses, how much they live the process of collisions, arguments, search for clarifications. Answers can come later. The qualitative dialog process is an important result.

Free reflection. I have repeatedly tried to convince me that there are things that do not make sense to discuss, somehow on their topic to reflect, because by calling a "Christian", you immediately refuse to actively understand the whole number of positions. "So that means so," some teach. But in this position on youth work - there is some methodological omission. The fact is that when we discuss some even dogmatic position, we are not discussing it by itself, not his truth, but our perception of its content, reflection of the dogma in our consciousness. Especially when we are talking about the period of a person's life, which is called youth. This period is the process of constant inversions, revisions, productions of the most complex issues, sharp, inconvenient, contradictory. This is an unstoping search. And in this context, I consider it very dangerous to turn the spiritual space of a young man in a semi-winged list of dogmatic attitudes, leading as a result to the approval of nominative values, which are not just not deepening in it, and sometimes at all - manifests by hypocritical behavior. The space of the discussion is the space of free reflection, at that level and in those concepts that people possess, in it, participating, regardless of how "it is necessary", "correctly", "as written". According to the principle "But it really is," in the head and heart of this particular young man, "here and now"

For the organizer of the discussion, quite real results can be:

The identified picture of the views of the discussion participants to certain questions and themes

Development of relations with participants, the establishment of contact

Clarification of some of the difficult issues, the correction of their own position and positions of the participants

Preparation for some subsequent actions, steps, activities (in such cases, discusses are often used as preventive measures for intelligence situations on a particular issue)

The emergence of new ideas for further work with the type of type "and it would be good in connection with this ..."

Manifestation of leaders and other roles among the participants of the group, the outline of certain sociometric geometry

Choosing a title for discussion is another important stage. It must be: bright (pay attention), it is clear (affordable content), attractive (cause interest). In his practice, for example, I often use the following scheme for the formulation of the name: [The main message (question, contrast, actual image, etc.)] -\u003e [clarification (focusing theme)]

Well, now to the themes. I broke them into small groups so that you can see the principle of their search.

Actual and acute

Lessons Pussy Riot: What did we learn and what? Stelovia to one blasphemy.
I want to see me. Once again about the Orthodox Dress Code ...
Information wars: horror or reality? Young people on the information front.
Caution, West! Valuable and dangerous in Western culture. And is it really? ..
How to answer for Mercedes Bishops? Uncomfortable questions before a young Christian
Were there any Orthodox on the marsh? Faith and political protest
Juvenile Justice: Grains from Treven. Objective conversation
State and church: who needs anyone?

Real Church

"Camps" among priests. Why and otherwise? ..
When does the tradition prevent faith?
Cercury and departing: generations in the church.
Doubt area: What can I talk about a Christian?
I understand and accept? According to the provisions of the foundations of the Social Concept of the ROC
Mireyan in the church: from obedience to the apostolate and back.
Reconstruction or construction? And what does Orthodox youth balls do?

Youth culture

Christian motives in the work of Viktor Tsoi. Is it possible to talk about God in the language of the electric guitar
For whom is emo? .. young people and their problems with a mirror of subcultures
Bike, temple and beer. What can be combined?
"Orthodox kebabs". Is all the forms appropriate?
What do tattoos say? Spiritual search for modern youth

Youth at parish

Point of entry. Are churches open for young?
Do you need your forms of temple life? Advantages and temptations "youth" ...
Is there no place? Are parish communities ready for a large number of youth?
Youth communities: for and against.
Phantom Komsomol: Does the church need a single youth organization?
We are to them, or they are to us. Who, where and who is waiting for? The problem of the Christian mission among young people.
Why am I not going to the youth club at the temple? The boundaries of the possibilities of Orthodox youth associations

Family, Sex and Love

Sexual relationships: What do the fathers of the church say?
I have a boyfriend. Love before marriage ...
Family: Paradise for him or hospital? Christian view on family
In search of a spouse ... What should be the chosen one?
Young Family: Does Wedding Protects from Rod?
Do you live with the mother-in-law? The relationship of newlyweds and parents.
Price of virgin Does the goal justify the purpose?
Largeness - Does this church teaches this?

Century twenty first

To lead. The problem of leadership in Christianity.
Endless surfing: young man in information space.
Are there Internet sins? Cyberpography of a young Christian.
Choice of profession. Are there any answers from the church?
Career: on Earth and in the sky ...
Believer and rich. Is there a narrow needle ush?
Where do you have time? Success in the modern world.

Others

My friend is Protestant. Problems of communication and interaction with representatives of other denominations.
Religion is one or many?
Gray's eyes. Christianity and sexual minorities ...
Why are so few ramps in the temples? About insulation of people with disabilities

Serving people

Talking? Irisky and volunteering risks.
Orphans. How to make our help productive?
Equal to equal. How can we help each other?
For whom? MOTIVES OF SOCIAL SERVICE OF YOUTH

Good, fruitful and lively communication to you!

Alexey Gazaryan (C)

Most popular ideas from youth ministry. Part 1.

Preface Tom Schulza

All works. The ideas for this book came from the same people as you are from the very thick of youth ministry.

Introduction

In the life of every youth leader, this moment comes when he or she faces an eternal question: "What do we need to do for this?" That is why more than two decades ago we decided to open the heading "Try this!" With reliable ideas that you as practitioners applied in our student ministry.

Bible study

1. Signatures for pictures

Already after five minutes of this biblical study, the parable begins to sound cheerful laughter.

For this type of Bible study, you will need a pack of yellow press from any supermarket. In addition, you will need paper, glue and several serious magazines like "Time" or "Newsweek".

Steve Case

Oviedo, Florida

2. More and better

This method of studying the Bible helps children better understand the value of God's blessings.

Start the study of the Bible with the "Things" called "more and better." Divide your group on commands from four or five people and give each group a cans with soup. Tell me that they have 15 minutes to exchange their jar on something better and more. If the place of your meetings does not allow you to freely walk and bargain with each other, let one person from the group alone and ask to try to exchange it for something from other members of the group. After 15 minutes, compare "transactions" and declare which of them "more and better."

· Was it easy to exchange soup bank?

· Is Iaua easily to exchange your birthright for soup?

· What do you think, whether ISAV sorry ever about his decision? Explain.

· What kind of blessings teenagers can exchange for what they think will bring them happiness?

· Why do they refuse these blessings?

· Do you think they will regret it?

· How can God help you understand what to exchange, and what - to take care?

Complete everything with a brief "team" prayer, asking everyone to call something that he or she will be preserved and will offer God for His kingdom.

Lisa Nichols Hickman

Taskon, Arizona

3. One body, many members

Use 1 Cor. 12: 12-31 to inspire everyone to the discussion about how individual talents can contribute to the Body of Christ.

For this event, you first need to create a sculpture from a variety of items. For example, you can use elements from LEGO sets, plasticine, wooden bars, paper, polychlorvinyl tubes, hangers, cardboard, paints, boxes or plastics. Then remove the resulting design and set the set of materials that you used to create it. Divide the class into groups of four people and give each member of the group of your role of any part of the body: eyes, ears, legs or hands. Then collect all the eyes from each group in one corner of the room, ears - in another, etc. Use the following rules to create sculptures similar to yours:

1) Only eyes can directly see your sculpture.

2) Eyes describe the ears what they see.

3) Ears tell the legs that heard.

4) legs collect all the necessary materials and talk about the heard hands.

5) Hands create a design according to the information received.

Let the information transmits so many times as necessary to complete the sculpture. When the groups completed their designs, show your design sample design and discuss the following:

· How does your sculpture differ from the designs of everyone else?

· Would you create the same design, if there were no ear in your group, eyes, etc.?

· Why did the Apostle Paul chose a human body as an illustration of the role of every person in the church?

· What can you rely on others in the church?

· What can the church rely on you?

· What are you part of the Body of Christ?

Complete everything with a prayer - ask God to conduct everyone in the definition of it or its part in the Body of Christ.

Tammy Wisling

Tif River Falls, Minnesota

4. Warning labels

Use silly warning labels to inspire adolescents to think about their dedication to Christ.

Look for examples of stupid, but really existing warning labels on the Internet. Make a list and distribute it to your students. Then you will see a little over what stupas should be people to be able to warn about such obvious things. Ask:

· What do you think, why do these products have such stupid warnings?

· If the warning label would you wear, what would be written there?

Let the three-four person groups read the following passages together: LC. 9: 23-27; 9: 57-62 and 18: 18-30. Ask:

· What, as Jesus says in these verses, maybe you will have to leave for him?

· When people decide to follow Jesus, why can they sometimes not even think about what it may have to pay?

· Were you surprised what you had to sacrifice because of your dedication to Christ?

Give students on a piece of paper and ask:

· If Christianity had a warning label, what would be written on it?

Then let each student draw a cross and add its warning label.

John Paip.

Razing San, Indiana

5. Rules and power - so what?

Use the game without rules to help youth understand why the rules are so important.

Let the guys unite into groups of four to six people, and give each group a board game. Tell me everyone that the game has one rule: no rules and no one. After about 10 minutes of the group, the following questions should be discussed:

· How does the game change if there are no rules?

· Why do you think there are rules in general?

· What rules protect us?

· Do you obey these rules?

· What do you do when you don't like some rule?

Consider loud Rome. 13: 1-7. Then let the groups discuss the following questions:

· Whether this passage changes your idea of \u200b\u200bthe rules and authorities? Why?

· In what situations do you have complex relationships with the authorities?

· How can we help each other in these difficulties? How can God help?

Complete everything with prayer - ask the guys to pray for individual power of pre-war people, for a healthy attitude towards these people and for the permission of difficulties with the authorities.

Tammy Bovi.

Burton, Michigan.

6. Promises for bricks

Use bricks to illustrate how, holding your burden, we can build a barrier among themselves and God.

Ask:

· Because of what people are usually worried?

· What methods do they usually apply to fight anxiety?

Let students be grouped into pairs or three and read 1 PT. 5: 7 and PS. 55:22. Ask:

· Did you have that by giving your stress to God, then you again experienced him? Explain.

· Why so often we are unable to completely give their concerns to God, despite God's promises?

· What special steps can we help us?

· How do these burden build a barrier between us and God?

· How does God use our Bremen in order to bring us to themselves?

Paul Balvin

Mishawak, Indiana

7. Serving others, serve God

Prepare your group to the project for serving or missionary travel, using training based on the Gospel of John 13.

You will need a canvas, scotch, acrylic paint, soap water, clean water, towels, CDs with a record of Third Day "City On a Hill" and a CD player.

· What did you feel when you wash your hand? When did you wash your hand to your hand?

· How is the left imprint on the canvas look like your participation on the trip?

Let the troops read the PS. 123: 1, MF. 25:40, count 3:23. Ask:

· How do you do with your own hands, reflects God's love?

· How do you serve God, serving others?

· What do you hope to give and get during this missionary trip?

Complete everything by listening to the song "City On A Hill" and pray for yourself.

Deniz Prandzh

High Ridge, Missouri

8. War with water balls

Machine children with "military actions" and conduct learning about the spiritual war.

Form two commands and give each team a few balls with water. Check the commands in front of each other, at a distance of about 4-5 meters.

· Was there any team stronger than another?

· What did you feel when another team had the opportunity to throw balls in you? Explain.

· What helped you to unite in this battle?

Read 2 Cor. 10: 3-5. Then ask:

· What did Paul meant, saying: "Not on the flesh are militant"?

· How important is the idea for you about the spiritual war and why?

· What kind of enemies are we fighting?

· For what weapons do you most lean the spiritual war?

· What additional weapons can you add to your arsenal?

· What special ways can we support each other in this battle?

T. J. Roberts

Salt Lake City, Utah

9. Biblical

Use rogue characters from the Bible in the game to "stay alive" to learn about the unconditional love of Christ.

To do this, study the Bible you need to create a card with information for each person from your group. Use the Bible to find people who could be perceived as expensive: lepers, collector, blind, relaxed, shepherd, Roman centurion, fisherman, prophet or demonstrated by demons. Write for each brief information explaining why he could be considered an outcast. Distribute these cards to students.

After the game, read out loud MF. 5: 1-12. Discuss the following questions:

· How do you think I would look at our "rogue" Jesus?

· How would you explain - what is the unconditional love?

· How important is your appearance or social status for you or your friends?

· What is the difference in what they look at us, from how God see us?

Jeff Browning and Chris Coletti

Vista, California

10. Fast Food Lessons

Turn the snack in the fast food cafe to an instructive example for members of your youth group.

For Sunday study, the Bible is reduced to the breakfast group in the cafe. Go to Fast Food, where there is a 24-hour window through which you can buy everything without leaving the car. When you all choose, arrange a group in a cozy corner to start learning the Scripture. First ask the guys like what happens before the distribution window can describe their way of faith (for example, you sometimes have to wait or in the menu there is no what you want).

Discuss the following questions using the corresponding Scriptures when answering:

· Why "Waiting" is so important in your way of faith? (Ps. 24: 5; 26:14; 39: 1-3; Is. 30:18; FLP. 3:20)

· What do you do when you want an "missing menu"? How do you oppose or accept God's plan? (Ier. 29:11)

· How do you understand what God wants to tell you? How do you communicate with God? How does God communicate with you? (2 pairs. 7:14; Ier. 33: 3 and 1 Cor. 2: 9-10)

· What "Exchange" do you exercise faith in your path? What do you give God? What did Christ pay for and what did you get in exchange? (Jac. 2:18 and 1 in. 2: 2)

Chrisanne Goud.

Arlington, Texas

11. Bible and Salochk

Do not miss the opportunity during the next game in the "Salochki" in the fresh air with flashlights - add an instructive moment!

You will need the Bible with Concordance Paper and Pens or Pencils.

Your groups can be born such ideas:

· Darkness (Ps. 17:29) - God is with us not only in good times (in the light), but also in bad (in darkness).

· Fear (Ps. 26: 1) - When we remember the salvation promised by God, we do not need to be afraid of anything.

· Hiding (Matt. 5:14:16) - We should never hide their faith from the world.

After all members of the group shake with each other with their thoughts, discuss the following:

· How does the game in the setting in the dark on your walking in faith?

· What place the Scripture from the read has become the most inspiring for you? Explain.

· How can you use the Bible as a weapon against sin and evil?

Debra Brownner

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

12. Look for and clothe

(Especially effectively in working with the guys of medium-sized adolescence)

This is a quick mass game in the shopping center - a fun way to learn the Bible and makes a new meaning in the quest game.

Create a command of two or three guys. Then take the six adult voluntary helpers with some distinctive features that you can quickly see. Ask each of the adults to choose a favorite biblical verse, which they will share with adolescents. For these "distinctive features" you can use the following suggestions:

· Man sitting on the phone book (Ps. 104: 1-2)

· Man with coins sticking with scotch tape to the sole of shoes (1 Tim 6: 6-10)

· Man with dark plaster on foot (Is. 35: 3-6).

· Man in glasses (Heb. 11: 1)

· Man with a torn part of the pantna (Proverb. 4: 11-12)

· Man with a torn sideways, bowed on the head (1 Cor. 1: 27-28)

Ask volunteers to disperse on the shopping center (only without going to the shops) and change the place after anyone finds them. When the team finds this volunteer, an adult tells them their verse.

· How does this game look like your way of faith?

· What biblical verse is most of all for you and why?

· Do you throw a kind of call you chosen verse? Explain.

We were so fun that somewhat passing by teenagers stopped seeing what we do, and, in the end, joined our game!

Angela Bridedenbakh

Missoula, Montana

13. Sermon with packages

This is a great way to encourage children to "eat" in the Bible and use your creative abilities.

Let your youth group be divided into four to six people team. Give each team with three-four diverse objects (old keys, spoons, chips, hockey washers, lipstick, staplers or unusual vegetables). The more strange it is these items, the better! Tell the teams that they have 15-20 minutes to come up with a sermon based on the content of their packages. The rules are as follows:

· In the sermons there should be three items, each of which is based on any subject from their package;

· The sermon must be at least three minutes;

· In the sermons should be used by Scripture;

· The sermon should include one creative element - for example, a scene, a song or poem;

· Every member of the team should participate.

Our guys prepared cheerful, creative and very deep sermons ... It was amazing!

Dan Berci.

Lewisport, Newfoundland

14. Jesus in me

This study of the Bible will help your adolescents to think and understand what it means to express their identity through Jesus.

You will need the Bible, newsprint, markers, scissors and tape.

Draw an outline of one of the adolescents on newspaper paper, cut out and stick on the wall. Ask the children to write words on this clipping that describe appearance, attitude and actions of a typical teenager.

Then ask the guys to list the spiritual characteristics on it, which would be a teenager if he had or her relationship with Jesus. Let teenagers discuss the following questions:

· Why is it harder to describe spiritual characteristics?

· What do you think, what words would God use to describe a teenager?

Separate children into groups of three or four people. Let each group outlines the outlines of someone from his team and cut out this outline. Give each of the groups one of the following passages: Eph. 1: 1-12; 1: 13-23; 2: 4-10 and 2: 19-22. Suppose from above on its clipping group a link to your biblical passage.

Tell me: Read your passage and carefully listen to the characteristics of those who have a relationship with Jesus. Decorate your clipping pictures and words that symbolize the characteristics reflected in the passage. When everyone is ready, ask groups to explain their tenderloin and what they drew or wrote on them. Then let me stick your clippings on the wall. Ask:

· Why is it important to know who we are spiritually?

· How can I look at yourself through Jesus to influence the way you act or think?

Let the volunteer read Rome. 12: 5-21. Ask:

· What does it mean: "good deeds"?

· What does it mean: to be saved grace, not good deeds?

Tell me: There are many ways to say who we are in Jesus. These tenderlook serve as a reminder that each of us is a special creation of God, who has identified and what we will, and what characteristics we will have: and typical, and spiritual.

Peter and Karen Theodore

Damfris, Virginia

15. Lick Jesus

With this lesson, the guys think about Jesus and search in Scripture an indication on how he could look in reality.

Before the meeting, find about a dozen or more paintings with Jesus. Be sure to take portraits depicting it to beware, blue-eyed and neat looking. On the Internet you can find hundreds of pictures. For example, go to the WWW website. In the "Arts & Images" section, where you will see links to a variety of sites. Or enter into any search engine, such as Google, "Images of Jesus Christ".

Attach portraits on the walls of your room. When teenagers come, let them take it carefully to consider all the pictures. Then collect them to discuss how Jesus really looked. Use this opportunity to operate the real world through the Bible, in which Jesus grew up. Ask:

· Do you think all right in these pictures depicting Jesus? Why?

Tell me: We do not know how Jesus looked; At that time there were no cameras, no one wrote his portrait, and the authors of the Gospel did not give a description of his appearance. However, as we with you, Jesus had a face and body formed by his heredity and life. Let's see what instructions we can find in Scripture.

Read out loud. 1: 26-32. Ask:

· How did Jesus's heredity influenced the color of his skin, figure and general view?

Read the MF. 2: 19-23. Ask:

· Jesus grew up in a small town of Nazareth; How did it affect his player to behave and appearance?

Read out loud MK. 6: 1-4. Ask:

· How years of carpentry affected Jesus?

Read out loud. 53: 1-3. Tell me: From the early days of Christianity, these words were interpreted as belonging to Jesus. Ask:

· Are you surprised by this description? Why?

· Do you think it is only about the disfigured mind because of suffering or can you imagine that in life Jesus could look like ordinary or even ugly? Explain.

· If you watched Jesus's eyes, what do you think you see there?

· Does your idea of \u200b\u200bChrist affect your attitude towards him? Why?

Tim Inman.

New Brighton, Minnesota

16. Odar

In this study of the Bible based on 1 Corinthians 12, show children that each of them has a unique, god a role as a member of the Body of Christ.

Let the guys are divided into groups of five people. Give each group of marshmallows and toothpicks. In another room or just where they do not see, put the model from the zephyrian and toothpicks. Each member of the group has only one role. These roles are distributed like this:

Player 1 - can only use my right hand and can only take toothpicks.

Player 2 - can only use left hand and can only take toothpicks.

Player 3 - can only use my right hand and can only take a marshmallow.

Player 4 - can only use left hand and can only take a marshmallow.

Player 5 is a runner, the only person who can see the model and speak. He or she instructs all other members of the group in designing a copy of the model. This man can not touch anything.

Follow the execution of all these rules, especially the rules on silence.

After that, let the guys respond to the following questions:

· Have each have the same duties in this game or did anyone have a more important role? Why?

· Have you been the obligations equally difficult or some role was more difficult? Why?

Read 1 Cor. 12, then ask:

· What spiritual gifts seem less important to us? Why?

· Why is it often difficult to work with people whose gifts differ from yours?

· Why does God insist on the fact that it is important to respect the differences?

· What a spiritual gift from those listed in 1 Cor. 12 best reflects one of your spiritual gifts?

· How do you practice this gift?

Tracy Williams

Springfield, Missouri

17. Vera will find!

Use this version of the game "I'm looking for" to introduce adolescents in the study of the Bible about the misfortune of God.

For this event, select a living room or meeting room, in which many baubles, pictures or decorations. Choose a dozen items that can be easily hidden in the room (place the toothpick in the picture frame; a transparent glass ball is on the bottom of the glass; to tie a thread to the lamp to the lamp, one color with him, etc.).

Let the guys break into the pairs, and give each pair a list of items. Give children to understand that all things are in sight, but they are not so easy to notice. Set the time limit and ask for pairs to celebrate all the items found. When time expires, ask:

· How difficult to find hidden items?

· If you did not have a list, it would be difficult to find all hidden?

Read out loud. 11: 9-13. Ask:

· If God wants to be looking for and found, why is this search often so difficult?

· What from the "checklist" can we use to search for God?

· Compared with the efforts that you attach in other areas of your life, how much energy do you invest in the search of God?

· Bring an example, what did you recently find God in your life?

Ron Javorsk

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

18. Big picture

Most teenagers know many separate biblical stories, but there are no idea what chronological order they occurred or how they are consistent with each other. This game will help you place everything in our places.

Choose 20-40 biblical events and ask teenagers to come up with newspaper headlines. For example, the headline about Noah and the ark may sound like this: "The one hundred percent probability of rain. A local resident is building a boat. " The title about the Babylonian tower may look like this: "The construction of the tower is frozen - communication stopped."

Let the guys write or printed every headline on a separate sheet of paper. If you have any graphic editor, let the guys experiment with different fonts, flowers, pictures "Clipart", etc. Collect headlines and divide everyone into groups of three people. Give each group several headlines, and then ask the guys to answer the following questions:

· What a story is hiding behind this headline - what are people and events?

· Where does this story occur in the Bible and when did it happen?

· What does this biblical event tell us about God and his redemption for all people?

· If you have time, write the introductory paragraph corresponding to the header.

After all the groups are finished, collect everyone together and ask the representative from each group to read the answers out loud. Then spend the discussion about the chronology of biblical stories.

At the end, hang headings on the wall in chronological order. This is a quick way to help children make a biblical painting review. We spent it with most of the Old Testament stories - about 35 - and they discussed them all less than an hour.

Karl Fagleyne

West Chester, Pennsylvania

19. In Focus - Vera

Help the guys understand that their faith in God is something specific, and not some abstraction.

For each person it will take a little mass for the modeling, which dries when drying it (if you do not have it, take foil or ask children to find something that expresses their faith).

If you have a big group, scroll it into small groups no more than seven people. Give each little mass for modeling. Tell me that they have five minutes to make something that represents their faith. It can be anything - something abstract or real. For example, the cross can represent the dying Christ, or the child's figure can show faith, similar to the nursery. Install the quiet and concentrated atmosphere so that everyone can focus.

Five minutes later, let everything in a circle speak, told that they were blinded and as it represents their faith.

Discuss the Bible and ask volunteers to read out loud of Heb. 11. Then set the following questions:

· What is the most difficult thing in the modeling of the subject representing your faith?

· When do you think about your faith, what are you sure?

· This head of Scripture talks about faith as something that we do not need to see. However, how can we "see" it?

· Give some examples of the fact that great men and women of the Bible did in faith. How could they make it? In whom did they believed their faith? Why is the object of faith so important?

· How can you describe faith in one word?

Complete the prayer by pronouncing separate words of gratitude and praise. Let the children take their creations home so that they remind them of their faith and the object of their faith.