Sunday Morning Squirrels:
What a Sunday morning! It was a fun and crazy morning, but we made and students really got challenged by the lesson! Good times all around.
Countdown Video:
People are Awesome and Some Fails
This was a fun video, but if your group doesn't appreciate some shirtless or sports bra stunts, skip it and find something similar!
Games:
Castle Siege
We played a move around game with this interesting take on the lesson. Each team had a bucket up on the wall and were given a straw and a pile of Q-Tips. The goal was to try to get as many Q-Tips in another team's bucket as possible. Five minutes to get as many as they could! Pro tip: test your props first!
Old Testament or Scary Movie
Another good game that went with the rather crazy story we were looking at today! Students enjoyed it and got stumped at some of the questions as well!
Songs:
Give Me Faith
Burn Like a Star
Bible Study:
Even when things are terrible, God is not only there, but He is faithful and loving to us! We looked at the really terrible siege of Samaria. It was a good reminder of whenever we are in seemingly hopeless situations, God is faithful to us!
Main Idea:
God is faithful, even when we are not.
Scripture:
2 Kings 6:24 - 2 Kings 7:20
Romans 5:8-10
Resources:
One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

Who in their right mind would talk to middle school students about sex?
Well, people who are in their right mind of course!
Someone is talking to your middle school students about sex. It might be the parents, but it might also be social media, Netflix, their buddies, Tik Tok and porn.
This week Ronald and Michelle talk about what doing a sex series with middle school students looks like and how they approach it. Be brave!
How do you communicate to parents that you're going to talk about sex?
What tools can you put in the parent's hands to empower them?
Why do middle school kids giggle so much when we talk about doing it?
Mentioned on the podcast: 
Ronald is doing this series by Derry Prenkert on DYM: God, Guys, and Girls
Michelle is doing this series by Orange: None of Your Business
Got a middle school ministry question?
Email [email protected]
Need student ministry resources?
Check out www.downloadyouthministry.com
Do you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!
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Sunday Morning Squirrels:
Sunday mornings are crazy and fun all at the same time. Today was definitely both and why I love Sundays with middle school students!
Countdown Video:
Things You Take for Granted in Video Games
Honestly, this video wasn't great. I edited it to make it shorter, but it was just ok. You can use parts of it if you want, but I wouldn't. I'd go with another video.
Games:
Clumps Vol 2
This game was a blast! Students were up and moving and having a great time during the whole thing! Highly recommended. Get Sidekick too!
The Secret Move
This game should be fun. But our group didn't love it. Maybe it's just our group. They couldn't get the idea that they were just supposed to cheer and not MIME the movements. Oh well.
Songs:
10,000 Reasons
This Is Amazing Grace
Bible Study:
The kings of Israel were terrible. Like, the worst. Ahaziah was a king who fell out of a window and thought he would die. So he tried to reach out to Baal, when he was the king of ISRAEL. Elijah reminds us that we should reach out to God when we face times of trouble.
Main Idea:
Don't ignore God when you face trouble, include Him!
Scripture:
1 Kings 22:51-53 - 2 Kings 1:1-18
John 15:1-8
Resources:
One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

You finally got your students to camp! It's been a crazy ride of getting all the paperwork in, the money collected, and the leaders all lined up.
And then the camp speaker starts to talk. And you disagree with... most of it. What do you do? 
It's happened to us all (and if it hasn't yet, it will). This week Michelle and Ronald talk about what they have done in the past when they disagree with the camp speaker and how they've turned that bad experience into a chance for growth.
How do you still respect the speaker without agreeing with them?
What tools do you give your leaders when they talk to your students?
What things do you bring up with your students?
Who do you talk to about the things you disagree with?
Mentioned on the podcast: 
DYM Community Facebook Group
Got a middle school ministry question?
Email [email protected]
Need student ministry resources?
Check out www.downloadyouthministry.com
Do you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!
Social Media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:
We finally made it through January! Does anyone else feel like this month was a whole year long? Just me? Ok then. 
We started a new series called "Retro" this week where we are going to look at some of the Old Testament kings and what we can learn from them.
Countdown Video:
Bad Day at Work
What a fun way to connect students to the king of our story today! Asa was a young king whose first job was probably not what he wanted it to be. 
Games:
Color Mixer
Last week's mixer was a win. So I wanted to create one this week for our group! It's not amazing, but it's one you could use. Click the link above to get it and use it with your group.
Missing Word
Three words that form a group. Students have to figure out what word connects the other three. Great game for the students who come up on stage!
Songs:
Alive
Give Me Faith
Bible Study:
New series! We begin looking at the kings of the Old Testament and see what lessons we can learn from them. From Asa, we talked about how he had TERRIBLE examples but still did what was right first. 
We should not wait for someone else to do what's right, but we should do it first!
Main Idea:
Be the first to do right.
Scripture:
1 Kings 14:21-24
1 Kings 15:1-15
Resources:
One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

Life means that sometimes sad stuff is going to happen. This week Ronald and Michelle talk about some recent tragedies they have both faced, how they've handled them with their students, and how modeling mourning is good for the students we all spend time with.
Do you try to hide when your sad or share with your students?
How can you model mourning for your middle school group?
Who has experienced loss recently in your group? Have you checked in on them?
When do you let others around you know about your loss?
Mentioned on the podcast: 
Grieving a Friend - One-off talk on grief
DYM Community Facebook Group
Got a middle school ministry question?
Email [email protected]
Need student ministry resources?
Check out www.downloadyouthministry.com
Do you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!
Social Media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:
I've been sick the last few days. This morning I took cough medicine to help me get through the day. Turns out, it was NOT non-drowsy. I've been loopy all morning and gave what I think was my best middle school talk yet. I don't think these things are related, but they might be.
Oh well!
Another day in middle school ministry!
Countdown Video:
Vintage Jesus 04
The last vintage Jesus video (that I'm area of!) was played this week. It's a little slow, but my students still got it. I'm hoping we can have some inside jokes with these lines. "What in the name of ME is going on in here?" is still my favorite.
Games:
Two of a Kind
Instead of a competition all play game, this week we just did a mixer. I honestly loved this one because students kept finding new pairs of people to do the easy task with! A great game to get students together with new people!
Total Recall
This game was tough! It worked out for us though, because we brought up all of our January birthday students to play, so there were a lot on stage. I recommend this game, but make sure to give students a point for each of the three questions they get right for each video. Points are free so give them out!
Songs:
Burn like a Star
Cornerstone
Bible Study:
This was the last week of "TWELVE", our study on the disciples of Jesus. This week we looked at when the disciples argued about being the best in the Kingdom. Jesus rebuked them (like multiple times, as we showed in our study) and told them that in order to lead, they must serve! 
We then told students to focus on using their desires to live for God!
Main Idea:
Following Jesus means making His desires ours!
Scripture:
Matthew 20:21-28
Mark 9:33-34
Matthew 16:24-26
Resources:
One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

Sunday Morning Squirrels:

This Sunday's practice for worship was... long. Like, really long. Sometimes it goes well and other weeks, it was like this. It wasn't bad, just a lot. So we ended up having to do some catching up for the rest of the service. But it all made sense once we got there!

Countdown Video:

Vintage Jesus 03

Since we're talking about Jesus, we wanted to show some misconceptions about Jesus. This was the second video we showed and it was hilarious. These videos are old, but they hold up!

Games:

50/50

This is great! There are only two options for answers, so we had students choose one side of the room or the other for their answer. The students kept in it really well. Once we got down to just four students, we were able to bring them up on stage to play...

Fluffy's Revenge

Cat trivia! Honestly, the facts in this game were really funny and stumped some of my students. 

Songs:

Praise Before my Breakthrough

Alive

Bible Study:

I get lost a lot. Especially if I don't have a GPS. But even when I do, I can get distracted. The same happens in our lives if we don't keep focused on Jesus. We challenged our students to do the same! Also, Jesus calling Peter Satan seemed to be really funny to our students. 

Main Idea:

Focus on Jesus!

Scripture:

Luke 5:27-32

Resources:

One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

Sunday Morning Squirrels:
Now we find a rythym! With two weeks under our belt, it's beginning to feel like a good time to get back to ministry! I love these students and the challenge they give us each week!
Countdown Video:
Vintage Jesus 02
Since we're talking about Jesus, we wanted to show some misconceptions about Jesus. This was the second video we showed and it was hilarious. These videos are old, but they hold up!
Games:
Arrows
Do you REALLY want your crew to get stumped? Have them play this brainy Arrow game! It's a really thought cruncher. We played as a large group with arrows printed off and put on the walls so people could choose their answer. Those who survived came up to play...
Finger Pants
This was a funny game, forcing students to think about simple objects with a different name. It went really well!
Songs:
Death was Arrested
Give Me Faith
Bible Study:
This was the second week of a series called "Twelve" which focuses on Jesus calling some of His disciples. This time we looked at Matthew (or Levi's) calling out of being a tax collector and into the life of a disciple of Jesus! When he decided to follow Jesus, he threw a party for his very worldly friends, and the Pharisees had a problem with that. How do we react when someone who doesn't look/act/think like us turns to Christ?
Main Idea:
Rejoice when sinners turn to Jesus!
Scripture:
Luke 5:27-32
Resources:
One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!

Hello 2020! I've already written you down wrong every day of this new decade...
Michelle and Ronald talk about the big things they are getting ready for in 2020 and what it means for their ministry to middle school students! From teaching series to the next big trip, Spring is here and so are the students! Let's go!
How far in advance do you begin signing up for your next big retreat?
Who needs to know what series are coming up and when they'll be?
What is your overall theme for the Spring? Is it important to have one?
What big meetings/seminars/parent support events do you have coming up?
Mentioned on the podcast: 
DYM Community Facebook Group
Got a middle school ministry question?
Email [email protected]
Need student ministry resources?
Check out www.downloadyouthministry.com
Do you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!
Social Media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook