Fall is a time of new beginnings for many at school.

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church’s preacher once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak.

Fact: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% to the flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier when they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

A good youth sermon title is a hook on which the message can hang and be easily retrieved from memory. A really good title will capture the interest of the youth before you even get up to preach the youth sermon. Here are some key components of a good youth sermon title:

1. take at least 2 hours a week and disciple me, train me in all areas of ministry, hold me accountable, be honest even when it hurts, correct me, and encourage me.
2. ask for my input on decisions that affect my ministry.
3. recognize the need to communicate more with me.

Back to School Preparations
After the school summer break, most youth ministers want to kick off the new school year with a big bang. Children are promoted up into the youth group, some youth leaders have graduated and new leaders among the youth must rise up and take over new responsibilities. Some students transfer to new schools, and new friends were made during the summer break. Often new volunteers start their service at this time. A simple and great way to indicate to the youth that something new and exciting is coming and to welcome all these changes and transitions is to decorate or re-decorate the youth room.

Genesis 1: Creation of the world
Genesis 2: Creation of Adam and Eve
Genesis 3: The forbidden fruit in Eden
Genesis 4: Cain and Abel
Genesis 6-9: Noah and the Flood
Genesis 11: The Tower of Babel
Genesis 12-18: Abraham
Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah
Genesis 22, 24-27: Isaac
Genesis 28-35: Jacob
Genesis 37-50: Joseph (and the coat of many colours)

Preparation

• On 10 sheets of paper place the numbers 1-10.
• Tape these across the floor on one side of the room.
• Ask youth to stand on the sheet of paper that corresponds to how they feel about the any or all the statements below. (scale: 1 highly disagree, 10 highly agree)