I like the movie Summer School mostly because it’s great 80’s cheese. I am also a big fan of Mark Harmon, otherwise known as Jethro Gibbs in NCIS. But, I also like the movie because it’s about youth ministry.
Think about it. Maybe you have a bunch of kids who feel like they have to come to youth group every week and sometime you (and me) feel like you have to come to youth group every week to teach a lesson no one wants to hear.
But wait, the teacher must teach and the students must learn.
Advice form the movie: Strike a Deal
This movie is really about youth ministry, not really good, really polished, or even well acted youth ministry, but it is about a teacher who dials into kids and finds out more about them and even fulfills some unorthodox wishes along the way.
He basically says, “If you’ll do this, I’ll do that” He winds up taking them on field trips and offering them different incentives if they’ll learn.
Before you say things like, “That’s what’s wrong with youth ministry Paul, we make deals when we should be more strict” or “No way Paul, I do not negotiate with terrorists”
I’m not saying you give into kids demands, I am saying there are better ways, especially during summer, that will cost you very little and may improve kids learning.
Maybe come up with some unorthodox ways to get to know our kids this summer.
- Cancel the traditional meeting and have a cook out
- Buy some pizzas and call some families saying, “Have you eaten yet? Don’t make anything we’ll be right over.”
- Take your kids on a field trip to teach.
- Have communion every week.
- Have your senior adults come share the devotion
- Get an ice cream truck to stop by your youth meeting and give away free ice cream.
- If you’re already unorthodox, be really orthodox one week and make everyone dress up for youth service and sing traditional hymns.
The Bible gives us some snap shots of some pretty big moments in the life of Jesus and his disciples. My guess is, not every moment with Jesus was “here’s a lesson” rather, it was a lot of sitting around and getting to know each other and that is a lesson in and of itself.