Activities to Do at a Youth Group
Youth group meetings, like any other class, can be organized into an opening set, a primary lesson, a reinforcing activity and a closing set. Youth group activities should be fun and engaging for a congregation's youth, leading students closer to God. Plan all of a meeting's activities around a central theme or devotional message.
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Opening Set
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Open the meeting with an ice breaker activity. Ice breaker activities should allow students to get to know one another, and get them started thinking about the devotional theme for the evening. For example, have students play hacky sack. If they drop the ball make them introduce themselves to the group, and answer a question that is related to the evening's lesson topic. For example if the theme of the lesson is avoiding temptation, you might ask questions like, "When are you most tempted to sin?" or "What are some temptations you or your friends struggle with?"
Lesson
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Present a lesson from the Bible. A devotional typically takes 10 to 20 minutes to present and is made up of a scripture reading and an exploration of the reading's meanings. The youth minister can present the devotional, or student leaders within the youth group can offer the message. Possible scripture readings for the topic of temptation include Matthew 4:1, 1 Peter 5:8, Romans 7:15-21 or Ephesians 6:16. These scriptures cover the temptation of Christ and his disciples, and Satan's goal to temp us into sinning.
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Reinforcing Activity
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Select a game or activity that forces the youth to reflect on the moral of the devotional reading. Activities can be large group projects or smaller, more personal projects. For example, for the devotional topic of temptation, you can have students throw Satan's fiery darts. Have each student blow up a balloon and write their name on it with permanent marker. Tape the stem of each balloon to a large cork board. Have the students take turns throwing darts at the board until only one balloon remains. The person whose balloon was not popped is the winner. Explain that this represent's Satan's fiery darts, which are thrown at us to tempt us to sin. The Christian that resists sin by avoiding Satan's darts will win the ultimate prize, Heaven.
Closing Set
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The closing set should lead youth toward quiet reflection on the night's instruction before youth go their separate ways. The most simplistic closer, and one used in many congregations to close Bible study classes and main services, is a prayer. Either the minister or a student may lead a closing prayer. The prayer should make mention of the evening's lesson, offer intercession for members of the group who are not present and praise God.
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References
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