Are you using the gifts, talents, and skills God's given you for the benefit of others, to make the world a better place, to shine out for Christ? Or are you just using them to benefit yourself or not using them at all and letting them go to waste?
Here's another summer outdoor activity that serves as a Bible Study. In the Bible, the phrase "clean hands and a pure heart" not only describes someone who is pure both inside and outside, but it also speaks of what we do (hands) and what we think (hearts).
Most youth have played the game "Rock, Scissors, Paper". This well known game serves as an introduction to 2 Timothy 2:22 and what the Bible teaches about fleeing from sin and pursuing godliness.
The Bible uses a lot of symbols and metaphors from nature to explain spiritual truths. In this outdoor Bible study, you'll identify some objects along a nature trail and ask the youth to make a list of everything they spot along the trail. These lists will then be used to discuss various scripture passages. It's great for any season, but especially for summer!
We are obsessed with competition. We want to be the best, the fastest, the richest, the strongest, the greatest. But what does it really mean to be the greatest? As Christians aren't we supposed to strive for perfection? How does God define greatness?
You've heard the hymn:
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
It's a familiar Hymn, but what does it mean for Christ to be My Rock?
Summer is a time of friendships. The time away from school is a welcome break and provides the freedom to spend time with friends doing the things you enjoy. Friends will come and go but all will teach you something about who you are and who you want to be. But Jesus also calls us friends. So what does that teach us?
Refining our gifts, skills, talents and abilities, striving for excellence, is a very important and noble task, that gives Christ more to work with. But regardless of our level of ability, everything we have is to be used for His glory so that others see a vision of Christ when they look at us. This story and Object lesson reminds us that we must live a life that is so close to Christ, that like those in Antioch, we are called Christians - "little Christs".
James tells us God’s Word is like a mirror (James 1:22-25). Mirrors allow us to see ourselves and to make changes based upon what we see. Unfortunately, many youth not only have a hard time seeing themselves in Scripture, but they also see themselves in a lot of other mirrors which may distort the image they see when they are …
Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities
