Middle School Ministry Podcast

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

Only a few days left to try the DYM Gold Membership for a month!Check it out for free for one whole month!Sunday Morning Squirrels:We don't have a lot of students show up on Easter. It's totally a culture thing with our church. They come with their whole family, go to service, and then go do something as a family. Because of this, we have "The Easter Rule" given to us by our pastor: If we know we're going to have a very small number of students, we spend exactly one hour prepping for Sunday and then do other things that week.I give you, a Sunday Morning that I spent about an hour and a half prepping for.Countdown Video:Kids Scared of the Easter BunnyGames:Peter, Cotton, TailIt's a Rock, Paper Scissors game versus the screen. Students have to choose a space in the room that has a sign labeled "Peter, Cotton, or Tail" and if they match the screen they are out! But if it lands on "Peter Cottontail", the last group to go gets back in!Easter Egg Hunt 3!I honestly didn't know there were Easter Egg Hunts 1 and 2. But this game was fun! We had students write their guess on whiteboards. The one closest got a point!The one who was most wrong got a Cascarón smashed on their head!Songs:Burn Like a StarDeath was ArrestedBible Study:Main Idea:Because Jesus is alive, we can have new life!Scripture:John 20Resources:Download Sidekick for Free!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

DYM has really shaped my ministry over the last six years. Going out to southern California has been a huge blessing to me and helped me become a better youth pastor.I hope you might consider checking out Download Youth Ministry, not because it's a great store with great resources, but because it's also a great community of youth pastors who seek to speak into the lives of youth workers.There's a ton of stuff you should check out on the website. But more than that, you should get into the community. It's cup filling and helpful.DYM has some fantastic games you can use with your group right now!The website also has lots of teaching resources, videos, and training.The Facebook community is well worth your time to invest, ask opinions, and get better.Plus, share this episode, get a chance to win $20 store credit! Not bad.Thanks for listening! See you next week.Mentioned on the podcast: Become a DYM Gold member for 1 month for FREE Got 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:Week two in our easter series! I had a volunteer teach for me and it was nice to sit back and listen. But I also need to get better about planning that out in advance!Want to try Sidekick and the other perks of a DYM Gold Membership?Check it out for free for one whole month!Countdown Video:Worst FriendsGames:Wheel of ChallengesGive everyone a clothespin to put on their shirt, have students pairs off and spin the sidekick wheel. They have to perform what it lands on. Winner gets the clothespin. Everyone finds a new partner, spin again. After a while, the students with the most clothespins are the winners.With 1, 2, 3:The pair picks who will be the number picker. Then both students count to 3 and then say either 1, 2, or 3. If they say the same number, the picker wins. If not, the other student wins.Name That LogoPixelated logos appear on the screen. First student to name the Logo gets a point!Songs:Good Good FatherLet It Be KnownBible Study:Main Idea:The cross is our symbol of hope.Scripture:John 18 and 19 Resources:Download Sidekick for Free! Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Look out helicopter parents, here come the lawn mowers!That really doesn't sound all that threatening does it...Still, we're in a new phase of parenting. Parents aren't just swooping in to fix the problems their kids are facing (helicoptering if you will), rather they are making sure their students face no difficulty whatsoever and clearing the way for them before they even get there (or, mowing down the obstacles).How do we minister to these parents AND their students? That's what I talk about in today's episode.Addressing reasonable requestsShepherding both the parents and their studentsKnowing when to say noHelping students learn to step up and take responsibilityThanks for listening! See you next week.Mentioned on the podcast: Become a DYM Gold member for 1 month for FREE Got 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:Getting ready for Easter with a new series: New Life! We broke down communion and celebrated birthdays!Want to try Sidekick and the other perks of a DYM Gold Membership?Check it out for free for one whole month!Countdown Video:AFV Amusement ParksGames:Did They Peep It?Birthday Bash - We got all March birthdays up on stage. Then we gave out party blowers and put party hats on a table. First person/team to successfully knock the hat off the table wins! We did two rounds with the winners facing off in the end.Songs:AlivePraise Before My BreakthroughBible Study:Main Idea:Communion reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice.Scripture:Luke 22:14-19Matthew 26:27-29Resources:Games and the Element of FunDYM Webshow on VolunteersBible Project - TrinitySt Patrick's Bad Analogies - CAUTION BEFORE YOU SHOW THIS TO YOUR STUDENTS!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Click here to sign-up for this amazing conference!The 2019 Youth Leader Summit at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference will be an incredible three days of teaching, worship & fun. Our goals are simple: encourage, equip and refresh. Join the conversation on Facebook. Not only will you and your team get some of the most practical youth ministry training available, but you will worship, plan and play together. We intentionally under-program the summit so you can block out time with your team to plan your calendars, dream together or take a walk on the beautiful shoreline of Long Beach Island. Register for the May 22-24 ConferenceWhy should you join us?This event is designed by youth workers for youth workers. We believe this summit will be a benefit for you and your ministry, and we know that we will benefit from you and your ministry experiences. Who can join us?All youth ministry staff, leaders and spouses. How much does it cost?The cost is based on the number of people per room.$150 for one person in the room$75 for the second person$75 for the third personCheck out the website and register