This is a question I received on my Youtube Channel and thought it was worth of discussion and a video. There are many question to ask before you can get to answer, How Do I Make Youth Group Fun, so bear with me.
How do you know your youth group isn’t fun already and why do you need more fun?
Before you start adding “fun” you have to ask what’s wrong with what you’ve been doing. Are your students not having maximum fun already? Have any students told you youth group wasn’t fun or have you seen it on their faces or in the body language?
The reason I ask all these questions is because, like you, I was deciding what was fun and how much fun was enough and most of the time I was in my own head second guessing myself. So, before you go deciding that what you are doing isn’t fun, let me ask a few more questions.
What is the purpose of fun at youth group?
This has been a point of contention for a long time. Some youth pastor thing the only “fun” you should have and students should want is bible study and worship. Yes, those things are fun but are they only kind of fun you should have at church?
The definition of fun is enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.
I’ve used fun as a way to break the ice so kids get to know each other, bond, burn off some energy and even team build. Fun serves you not the other way around, Once you figure out what the purpose of fun is in the context of your youth meeting and the purpose for that youth meeting, you can add fun as much or as little fun as you need.
If you want more advice on planning the perfect youth meeting, check out My Youth Meeting Playbook.
What do you think is fun?
Depending how old you are, your definition of fun varies. At 57 I think a nap is fun but I also think board games are fun. Neither of these would be considered fun by the student in my youth ministry. I have to be willing to expand my idea of what fun is.
In contrast, if you’re young, you may think edgy things (eating a hot chip, etc.) are fun but it also might be inappropriate for church. Tiktok challenges are fun but not all TikTok challenges are appropriate for church. Fun should have a purpose and leads your students into the next part of your youth meeting ready to learn, participate, etc.
What do your students think is fun?
My students think being on their phones, talking about inside jokes and sharing meme are fun great for a sleepover but is not a good church youth meeting. If you want to know what is fun, to them, ask them. Do you guys like physical game? Screen games? How about eating? Eating is fun.
All the pressure for fun should not be on the youth pastor. You should be teaching students to own their youth meeting and contribute to it. This is where the participation comes in.
Students should be co-creators of fun and not just consumers. It sets a bad precedent to what church should look like if all you do is show up, do all the work and leave exhausted. Give your students the opportunity to bring the fun. Fun could look like a game, a craft, a service project or making tacos. Negotiate how the fun will play out and then lean into it.
If you’re looking for fun built into your lessons here are some suggested series I’ve written,
Action Figures: Made by God, Made for Good
Baby Steps: Growing Up In Your Faith