Middle School Ministry Podcast

Sunday Morning Squirrels:New week, new series!I was really excited about teaching this series again! It's one I wrote and I am a sucker for the Old Testament. Such wonderful pictures of what God had up His sleeves the whole time! I hope you find this helpful! If so, go leave a review and share and other internet things. Those are nice things to do.Countdown Video:Homestar Runner Dot ComI decided that this would be the month I introduce our middle school students to the odd 2000's website Homestar Runner. if you're unfamiliar, do a quick search on YouTube. Junior High Humor at its best.Games:Extreme Hot PotatoThis game was a lot of fun! It's also free if you click the link above! I bought the biggest potatoes the store had and arranged my students into circles. Then we played Hot Potato, but instead of getting out, every time you get caught with the potato, you incur a penalty! This is an action you have to do every time you touch the potato. And penalties stack! So every time you touch the potato, you have to do all your penalties. But keep the potato moving! Tell students they can pass the potato THEN start doing the actions. Chaotic and fun!UnspeakablesThis is a Taboo like game from DYM. It's a Gold Member download. Don't know about being a Gold Member? You're missing out! Click here to find out more!Songs:AliveGive Me FaithBible Study:The story of Ruth is a great one that I personally love! It shows us the story of faith from someone it wasn't expected of. My students really loved hearing about it and, since I explained how the nation of Moab got their start, I imagine my inbox will have a few questions when I get in tomorrow morning!Main Idea:God can use anyone, anytime, anywhere!Scripture:Ruth 1Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

We're the professionals, right? Who would DREAM of putting students up on the stage?Well, Michelle and Ronald kind of do.When students get up in front of their peers to lead, play games, do announcements, and teach, it validates them and challenges them. Also, it usually means their peers listen more than when the paid youth worker is up there anyway.This week we talk about why we put students up on stage and what you can do to get that going in your own ministry.What part of your program can students handle? Announcements? Games? The lesson?Who would you ask to take on those tasks?How could you train them to do well upfront?What could you do to engage the whole group?Why is getting students up on stage something important to your program?Mentioned on the podcast: Dry Erase Year Long CalendarCalendyRoles and Goals, free resource from Doug FieldsDYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:Now we're getting into a groove with Sunday mornings! This was the first week where sixth-grade students were REALLY getting into serving and it's awesome to see them getting into the flow of everything! This is our third week of Purpose and we're focusing on LOVE today! It's been really great and I love the season of newness!Countdown Video:Man Gobbles at TurkeysI died laughing when I watched this video. I just can't. My students loved watching this ridiculous short!Games:Oregon Trail SurvivalI died so many times playing this game in school. Now students can feel my pain! This was a blast and really creative. Our students thought it was really funny! You can download it from DYM by clicking the title above! Also, if you want to up the presentation a bit, grab the music from youtube below:Oregon Trail MusicSongs:Burn Like A StarGive Me FaithBible Study:This was our last week in our Purpose Series. We split into groups to read over the scripture passages so we could see that God wants us to be confident in our faith! Check out the study here.Main Idea:Abiding in God and being filled with His love makes us confident!Scripture:1 John 2:1-61 John 3:11-161 John 4:11-191 John 5:1-3Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Fall is here! Or at least in theory, it should be. It doesn't quite feel like fall in Texas. Maybe in California.Either way, school is back in session and it's time to kick off the fall season! Are you pulling out all the stops and really making it a big deal? Here are some questions to think about:For your Fall Kick off, are you going all out or just getting back to the routine?Are you going to focus on what you'll do every week (small group, worship, etc) or make it a big memorable event (foam party, neon dance party, etc)?How are you going to involve parents?What will you do to ease the anxiety of incoming 6th graders?How will you make connections within your group?Mentioned on the podcast: Break the IceQuick Ice Breakers with little prepSidekick from DYMGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:Now we're getting into a groove with Sunday mornings! This was the first week where sixth-grade students were REALLY getting into serving and it's awesome to see them getting into the flow of everything! This is our third week of Purpose and we're focusing on LOVE today! It's been really great and I love the season of newness!Countdown Video:Animal VinesWeek two of the vines! It was fun last week and we did it again this week and it was a blast! Games:Meet and GreetThis was a really creative game to get students interacting with each other. You can download it from DYM by clicking the title above!Songs:Let it Be KnowHere as In HeavenBible Study:Week three. Good stuff from this great series on 1 John. This week was all about Love and what John has to say about who God is and who we are in Him! Check out the study here.Main Idea:Love like God.Scripture:1 John 4:7-121 John 4:19-21Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

There are only so many hours in the day! It's time to use what we've been given to the fullest potential! Ronald and Michelle have been flying by the seats of their pants this summer. Both of them are trying to get a hold of their schedule before the fall kicks in with full force. There's a lot to manage! Meetings, planning, growing, reading, studying, meeting parents, hanging with students and answering emails! It can get overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! You can get a hold of your time.Here are some questions to think about:How do you plan out your time?Do you just make a weekly checklist?Do you plan every minute of the week?Do you have a yearlong calendar in your office?What tools do you use to help control your time?Mentioned on the podcast: Dry Erase Year Long CalendarCalendyRoles and Goals, free resource from Doug FieldsDYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:Sunday number two with the new group of students. A little less chaos. But only a little! We continued our series on Purpose from the 1 John series from DYM. It was a good day!Countdown Video:Animal VinesRemember vine? Those were the days. Our countdown video was just tons of animal vines all put together. Animals are funny. Students like animals. Win win win.Games:Quick DrawThis game came from DYM's Gold Rush week. The week was incredible, and this game was a lot of fun! Students got into pairs and then had to look at the screen. The video told them what to do and the student who completed the task first won and found a new partner. Quick and easy!Meow MixOnce we got down to four students, we brought them up on stage to play Meow Mix by Anthony Taylor and Sam Peterson. The premise is easy: instead of singing the song on the card, you have to meow it! It's harder hilarious and actually challenging!Songs:AliveCornerstoneBible Study:We continued the series of Purpose by looking at what it means to abide in 1 John. I didn't use the Big Lebowski reference they included in the lesson and instead talked about houses I've lived in and the switch you always make from calling it "my house" to "my home" and how that means we "abide" there. Check out the study here.Main Idea:Abide with Jesus.Scripture:1 John 2:3-6, 26-281 John 3:17-24John 15:1-8Resources:Youth Ministry Lab PodcastOne month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Every year Ronald's church attends the Global Leadership Summit through a satellite campus. This year, Michelle went for the first time to a satellite campus as well. This episode we talk a little about what we took away from the conference and what we can apply to middle school students and leadership!Here are some questions to think about:What is your church doing to invest in leaders?How can you be a catalyst to help your church's leaders get better?Is the GLS something you can attend in the future?What benefits are there from you getting better as a leader?What benefits are there from all the pastors in your church getting better?Mentioned on the podcast: Global Leadership SummitLIZ FORKIN BOHANNONCraig Groeschel PodcastDYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:What a crazy good Sunday! Our students all promoted today. That means tons of new students, a new group dynamic, and lots of names to remember!It was a really a great Sunday morning. We began a new series talking about our Purpose through 1 John. Absolutely a blast!Countdown Video:Chickfila Pickup LinesThis was a funny video, BUT I was disappointed that it was a little racy. Use it if you want, but make sure you watch it and that it would work for your group. Because it REALLY pushed our boundaries and I wouldn't show it again without taking out some of the jokes.Games:2 Liter SmashThis game was a ton of fun! It may have just been the energy in the room, but it was awesome! You just get a group to drink a 2 liter and do a task as they get it past the number you've drawn on the bottle. Click the link to download it and play with your group.Nailed it or Failed it: Cat EditionThe group that won got to come up and play this really funny game from DYM. It's a video-driven either-or game and got a lot of reaction!Songs:Let It Be KnownDeath was ArrestedBible Study:We began a Bible study by VIVA! that's available on DYM to download. We adjusted it a little bit to fit our needs, but it's been a good study to look over so far! This was a study on what John says about Light in 1 John. Check out the study here.Main Idea:Walk in the light!Scripture:1 John 1:5-101 John 2:9-11Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

This is a really great event that we do the week before we have our 6th-grade students promote into the student ministry! It's a chance for the incoming students to be in the room, get to know me, and have a ton of fun eating and learning about the ministry!Here's a quick run-down of what we did.Game: 12 in 12A really fun memory game based on screens. My 6th-grade students always really engage with it!Talk: IntroductionsI told them about myself, my family, and showed a few pictures.Game: Head, Shoulders, Knees, CupThe easiest ministry game ever! Students just need a cup for every pair of students.Talk: MS VisionI shared our vision for the middle school ministry. I want students to know my heart in ministering to them! Click the link to see what I shared! Game: Crushed It or Crashed ItWe played this in tables and I awarded the winning table with a unicorn pinata filled with candy. I love my job.Talk: Serve CardsStudents can serve immediately in our ministry! We have them fill out cards to let us know where they want to serve. We make a really big deal out of making sure they don't just sit back, but that they are an active part in what we do! Click the heading to see what our cards look like. Student PicturesI took their pictures with their names.