Youth Group Lessons

Sharing Youth Lesson Ideas

Technology may have some downfalls, but can also be a powerful tool for youth pastors. With a few clicks of a mouse, it's easy to browse or ask questions in forums, blogs, and other websites for inspirations on youth lesson plans. Some sites may even offer free lesson plans or outlines. Know other youth pastors in the area or other churches? Consider meeting on regular basis to share ideas and what's been working for each other youth groups.

Parents and other youth leaders can also help contribute to lesson plan ideas. Having brief meetings or getting suggestions from other leaders or helpers can prove valuable as everyone has different experiences. This can be perfect for youth pastors in smaller churches that may have multiple responsibilities.

Getting suggestions from the teens themselves may be another way to come up with lesson plan ideas. Try a discussion session, suggestion box, or anonymous survey to find out what issues teens currently in the group are dealing with. These may be great opportunities to address unknown needs and respond with God's view on specific concerns.

Subjects for Youth Group Lessons

Teens live in a volatile whirlwind of emotions and activity. It can be a crazy, frustrating time and having spiritual guidance and discernment is critical during the difficulties in adolescence. Subjects for youth group lessons might include:

• God's view on sex/making a stand for abstinence
• Making decisions/living a Christian life
• Witnessing to peers
• Scriptural answers to dealing with addictions and/or peer pressure
• Biblical messages about why gossiping and spreading rumors are destructive
• God's view on honesty
• What God says about language/cursing
• Christian help for getting along with parents/family
• How a Christian teen can avoid and respond to violence/fights at school
• Making sense of the Bible
• Trusting God during conflict
• Feeling far away from God/ how to draw closer to Him
• Discerning God's will
• Christian answers to dealing with emotions:
  • Anger
  • Disappointment
  • Sadness
  • Depression
  • Frustration

Many tangents from these topics are relevant for lessons as well. For example, teens may be aware that according to the Bible, sex outside of marriage is wrong, but they may have other questions about sexuality and the Bible or be unsure about where and how to set boundaries when it comes to being physical.

Because teens are experiencing such conflicting emotions and facing difficult choices, recurrent messages of God's love and forgiveness are important in lessons.

Tips for Lessons

Youth group lessons have important main ideas, but keeping sessions fun and relevant is just as important. Include lighthearted activities and humor in the lesson when possible (and appropriate). Practical suggestions and life application is vital to include. Knowing what the Bible says on specific matters is significant, but teens also need to know how they can apply what they're learning in their daily lives. At the end of the group meeting, give examples and ask the group to come up with additional ways to practice what they've learned.

Although leaders and youth pastors may each conduct youth group meetings according to how they feel led by God, general elements might include:

• Opening prayer
• Icebreakers /fun youth group activity
• Lesson or speaker
• Discussion
• Life application suggestions
• Closing prayer/prayer requests

Other aspects that might be included are adults or teens sharing personal testimonies of how Christ is working in their lives, youth group games, relevant DVD clips, and opening praise and worship music.

Having a plan for youth group security, such as sign ins, parent or leader assistance, and other safety precautions is also important for youth group sessions.

Resources

There are many online resources and lesson plans for youth groups, including:

• Youth Pastor.com: many user submitted lessons and other resources
• Into Thy Word: six free lesson plans for youth groups
• New Wine Skin (sample lessons)
• Creative Youth Ideas: articles, creative teaching ideas, games, and free youth lessons
• Expert Village Youth Group Idea videos
• Youth Worker.com: Get lesson ideas, read curriculum reviews and more on the Youth Worker Magazine website.