miracles

Last night at youth group might have been the perfect strategic night ever. we're only three weeks into our youth group year and as we're getting settled into the rhythm of the year we dove into the topic of miracles. I also used this opportunity to encourage kids to come and hear about our new mission trip destination next summer. These two fit together so beautifully!

I don't always like to go after topics like this early in the year, but being persuaded by a leader to focus on the book of John this year - the story of Jesus first miracle in chapter two is difficult to avoid. So after our normal ice breakers and a good game of Chicken on a hill the teenagers headed into the youth room for our large group.

I began by showing this video about miracles and then we began a Bible study. I did fail to have students pick up Bibles as they entered the room so I tried to read slowly, but I wish they had their Bibles.

I walked students through the story pausing several times to ask questions and get responses from the students. We focused on Mary's faith in this story - her ability to believe that Jesus could/would do something because she had prior experience with God's miracles. And contrasted our own faith and the disciples faith until they saw the miracle.

It was a great study that led to very good conversation in small groups.

We concluded the evening with worship and during worship I revealed our summer plans by recapping the miracles story and our own need to see God do amazing things so that we could have faith to see more miraculous things.

Strategy was great - evening felt awesome!The number of kids who come is so stable - it's just the frequency of kids that really drives me bananas! We had 42 students - of course 7 of them were new and the number of kids who were back from week 1 was back up... it's a little crazy - but probably a good subset of what's going on in churches as well. good numbers, less frequency.