Middle School Ministry Podcast

Sunday Morning Squirrels:This Sunday we began a new series on the Trinity. My students have asked about it several times and it felt like a good time to nail it down as a transition into summer.Talking about a topic students are interested in will help keep the momentum and I’ve been saving this one for that purpose!Countdown Video:The Triangle SongThis was just a silly song just used to get students thinking about "threes". Enjoy.Games:Same GameThis was a great video mixer! It got students moving and engaged with others.Minute to Win It WheelThis was the second week of this one! Just a quick wheel made in Sidekick that chooses a game for two contestants to play. It makes it a little chaotic, but also I'm down for chaos sometimes. Google Minute to Win It Games for lots of low prep games!Songs:AliveCornerstoneBible Study:This week we talked about God as One. In doing this, we looked at God as infinite, a mystery, and One.I’m excited for this series because I want to help concrete thinking middle school students understand this very abstract, crazy topic!Main Idea:Worship the ONE God.Scripture:1 Samuel 15:6Psalm 136:1-4Isaiah 55:8-9Romans 11:33-34Deuteronomy 6:4-5Ephesians 4:4-6Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Woohoo! Super big news!Talking Squirrels is no longer flying solo. Michelle Anderson is officially a part of the team and co-host with Ronald!Now you get to hear things from a Texas AND California perspective.You're pumped. I can tell.Our first episode together we talk about our purpose statements for our ministries. What are they and why do we have them?Some questions to consider:What is your church's purpose statement and how can you match the middle school to it?Should it have a lot of words or be really short?How can you implement it in your ministry?What will it look like when you "arrive" at your vision statement?Mentioned on the podcast: MICHELLE ANDERSON! (Insta: @youthminmeesh) InstagramBlogGot 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

Today was Student Ministry Sunday, which we’ve abbreviated to SMS because student ministry is edgy.It’s a day when we have students take over every part of the worship service and service opportunities at church.So here’s a quick “How To” on how you could implement something like this with your church, even if you have a smaller context!Make a Plan with Your TeamSit down with your team and ask them everything that goes on during a Sunday morning. Then see how they can help train your students to do what they do!What Jobs are Available?Door holders, bulletin distributors, sound board operator, praise and worship team, announcements, prayer, and everything else!Get BreakfastWe had breakfast tacos because that’s a thing in San Antonio. Make it a thing where you bless those who are serving!Promote the Heck out of ItPut up posters, send out emails, blast it on social media.Celebrate StudentsWe pull seniors up on stage to let them share their names and what their plans are for next year. Whoever is in town gets to do it. No slide show, just presence.Keep it GoingDid something really work well? Let students do it more than once a year!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

It's easy to think of summer as the time to do "big events" during the student ministry calendar, like a mission trip or summer camp. But don't neglect the opportunity to do some cool, low key events to build relationships with your students and hang with them!When you look at your summer calendar, think about some ways to incorporate some low key hangs!Some questions to consider:Can you put together something that helps out another ministry during the summer?How can you "just hang" intentionally with middle school kids who can't drive?Who can you empower to help you come up with some ideas?Mentioned on the podcast: Chris Hargrove on DYMChris on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookGot 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:Happy Mother's day! Did you talk about mom's today? We didn't! But we did wrap up our series on Wisdom!Countdown Video:Cute AnimalsFunny video. Cute animals. You can't go wrong.Games:Sit Down If (Your Momma Edition)Another great DYM game! Everyone stands up and only sits down if they've done the thing on the screen!Minute to Win It WheelJust a quick wheel made in Sidekick that chooses a game for two contestants to play. It makes it a little chaotic, but also I'm down for chaos sometimes.Songs:AliveGive Me FaithBible Study:This week we finished "Get Wisdom" and it was good. We talked about how Rehoboam didn't listen to the wise advice of his dad's advisors but rather listened to his friend's advise that sounded better to him at the time. Lots of good application!Main Idea:Put Wisdom into practice!Scripture:1 Kings 12:1-19Resources:Get Wisdom is available on DYM for $9! Grab it and have all my teaching material plus small group questions!One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

This was my first year ever to go to the Orange Conference! I had a blast and really enjoyed the experience. If you have never been, consider going and maybe even taking your children's and student team! It was an excellent conference with something for everyone.Here are some takeaways I got:Some questions to consider:How can you make your ministry personal?You can impress from a distance, you influence up close - Doug FieldsIt takes risk to rescue - Carlos WhittakerShame tells us we are not enough but Jesus makes me enough - Kara PowellMentioned on the podcast: Doug FieldsKara PowellCarlos WhittakerAshley Bohinc15 Minutes with FrankYouth Ministry HacksGot 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:Another crazy week! Just got back from the Orange conference and just took a nap! Enjoy another crazy episode of Sunday Morning Squirrels!Countdown Video:Bad Day at WorkGames:Change Places IfThis was supposed to be a mixer! If the student has done what's on the screen, they get up and move seats with someone else. Great game for moving students sitting in different places!Better Not Pick ItAn upfront game, or a game for students if you want to print enough emojis! Students choose an emoji from a stack. If it shows up on the screen and its the one they chose, they are out!Songs:Let It Be KnownGood Good FatherBible Study:We're in our second week of "Get Wisdom" and I'm excited! I love studying this and the Old Testament with students. This week we talked about Nabal, whose name means "dumb". So there's that. This is a great lesson on listening to good wisdom!Main Idea:Listen to wise people!Scripture:1 Samuel 25Resources:Get Wisdom is available on DYM for $9! Grab it and have all my teaching material plus small group questions!One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Summer is close at hand! If you haven't started planning your summer calendar, now's the time to get on it!Chris Hargrove is a buddy of mine serving in Lakewood Georgia and sat down with me to talk planning out his big summer events like camp and mission trip!If you haven't done your planning, listen and get on it!Some questions to consider:Have the big events on the calendar!Supplement the church's big summer vision!Plan low-key summer events when the kids are traveling.Mentioned on the podcast: Chris Hargrove on DYMChris on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookGot 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:Holy cow this was a crazy week! My wife is still recovering from her back surgery, so I had all three of my daughters with me all day today!Which is why I'm recording in the gym while they are in childcare. >.

You only get 52 weeks in a year. No more and no less. There's no way you could teach all 1189 chapters in the Bible to your students in that time (and keep the sanity of you and your middle school kids that is). Since you're going to have to trim down what you teach, what ARE you going to teach?That's what I talk about in this week's episode. What in the world are you going to teach your middle school students?Some questions to consider:What do you want your middle school students to "graduate" knowing?Does your church have a vision that you can align your teaching to?What is your overall student ministry strategy?How are you going to plan your teaching calendar accordingly?Mentioned on the podcast: Become a DYM Gold member for 1 month for FREE Dave - Living and Leading UpAwkward - Sharing the GospelGot 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