On today’s podcast, Sean discusses a simple practice to keep in mind when using creative elements in your service. A little spice will bring out the flavor of the food. Too much spice will hide, or even destroy the flavor of the food.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Are you looking for ways for your leaders to connect to your preteens and help them feel welcome in your ministry? Two leaders from Elevate, who are both “kid magnets”, give 4 ideas for how you can better relate to and connect to the preteens in your ministry:
1. Let go of adult concerns and expectations of yourself
2. Be excited to see them and engage.
3. Love the mission of the ministry you’re in.
4. Be somebody to look up to.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Are you spending hours putting together special events and service elements for your preteen ministry, but it just feels like you're not doing what you should be? Do you hear every great idea and want to put it into effect? Then, you find that you’re trying to do WAY TOO MUCH each week? Do you wonder what to take away in order to make your ministry more effective?
This podcast examines a way to review everything you are doing in your ministry and evaluate whether or not you should continue doing it.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Two common mistakes in preteen ministry:
#1. failing to recognize that preteens have limited experience and vocabulary and teaching with words and examples that are “above their heads”.
#2. Dumbing down the curriculum, and underestimating the heights to which a preteen’s mind can reach.
In both cases, you’ll end up with preteens who are disinterested or bored.
The solution: aim high in what you want your preteens to learn, but give them plenty of support in the areas of experience and vocabulary. Today on the podcast, Sean discusses both and gives examples that he’s used in his preteen ministry.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today’s podcast is like a two-in-one special:
First, Sean discusses having parent meeting during regular services and some of the topics Elevate Preteen Ministry has offered for parents. One topic is Purity, which we recorded a podcast on a while ago.
Second, Sean discusses some of the details of the Technology Class that Elevate has done for parents for several years.
What kind of parent meetings do you have? What topics do you cover? How do you format them? Let us know in the comment section below.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
On today’s podcast, Sean gives a simple idea for engaging everybody (including the boys) in worship: GIVE THEM A REASON TO WORSHIP!
There are ways of setting up your services so that everybody responds authentically and of their own volition in true worship. In the Bible, we see that people always worship for a reason. For example, God has revealed to David a glorious truth and he is responding in worship.
Or, in Exodus 15, we read about the worship of the Moses and the Israelites. Why are they worshipping? Well, God just drown the entire Egyptian army right before their eyes.
The preteen boys and girls in your ministry WILL worship God. They just need a good reason to do so. Part of our job as their ministry leader is to give them all sorts of reasons, instead of just expecting that they will because “it’s what Christians do.”
Looking for a great series to engage your preteens in worship? Check out the series 100%, part of the Green Valley Quarter of Curriculum.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
On today’s podcast, Sean shares a great object lesson to help preteens understand how anger is a gift from God if we respond to it appropriately. This lesson is from the MAD series of the Deeply Rooted Curriculum.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
With the recent excitement about Lip Syncing (Music.ly, The Sing-Off, etc.), Elevate Preteen Ministry decided to have an entire service called “Lip Sync Battle”. The preteens even took on the Junior High Ministry (and won, by the way).
The preteens responded really well to this idea, and the number of students who came actually increased significantly this evening.
Not only did the preteens respond well to the concept of the Lip Sync Battle, but they responded well to the idea taught in the Lip Sync Battle lesson, which was Romans 8:29 and the idea of becoming synced to God.
Today on the podcast, Sean shares details about how this event/service was organized including the lesson and response time that happened after the battle.
It was a great evening for the preteens!
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Duct tape is helpful in so many situations. Imagine building an entire event focused on God, our Helper in every situation (“The Lord is my helper” -Hebrews 13:6) and using duct tape to make the night interactive and fun for preteens.
What activities can you do at a duct tape night? There are 1,000’s of duct tape ideas on Google and Pinterest.
Today on the podcast, Sean shares some, and invites you to share your ideas, too. What would a Duct Tape Night look like for your preteens? Share your best ideas below in the comment section.
Special thanks to Jeremy O’Neil, who shared this idea with us.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Want to shut down thinking and dialogue in your small group? If so, use a lot of close-ended questions.
Want to get preteens thinking and talking? Want to move preteens towards OWNERSHIP of their faith, instead of just regurgitation of your faith? If so, use a lot of open-ended questions.
If you are unclear on the difference, or just want to learn more about this concept, then today’s podcast is for you! Check out this short explanation of the difference, and how open-ended questions can become a better tool for your ministry to preteens than close-ended ones.
Have a question (open- or close-ended) about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Are you looking for some fun, new game ideas for your preteen ministry?
Today on the podcast, Sean gives some ideas for how to spice up your normal, everyday games by using a blindfold. It’s amazing the difference a blindfold can make!
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
In a perfect world, all Small Group leaders would come completely prepared to lead discussions and activities for their groups. But we don’t live in a world that has reached perfection yet.
Today on the podcast, Sean and Makenna discuss a giant “Small Group pet peeve”: Small Group leaders looking at an instructional piece of paper during service, instead of looking at the preteens in their group!
On the podcast, they’ll discuss some ways of overcoming this issue, even for the Small Group leaders that don’t have (or take) the time to become prepared during the week.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Who doesn’t like success? I’d like to have success with every aspect of my life, including every aspect of my ministry to preteens.
Maybe we want to have success in everything we do, but is that possible? According to a simple Biblical principle, it is!
Today on the podcast, Sean discusses What the Bible teaches us about having success in everything we do. Can you say #BibleLifeHack?
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Think crafts as part of preservice are too babyish for preteens? Think they’re too messy? That crafts only appeal to the girls? That they take to long? We invite you to think again.
Preservice crafts are "killin' it" in preteen ministries across the nation. Today on the podcast Sean and Jaime share tips and tricks of having crafts that raise the value of your preservice time, too.
Having diverse, engaging preservice activities can make the time leading up to service enjoyable for all students. A craft station can be fun for both girls and boys. Because many preteens like to express themselves creatively, a craft station can be just the thing to engage them from the moment they arrive at your ministry. A craft that is centered around the theme of the lesson can impact how a student connects to the lesson. They have a reminder, that they made themselves, of the day’s theme. A craft can be one of the best take-home pieces that you give a student.
We’d love to hear what you are doing for preservice crafts. What have been your most engaging crafts for preteens? Share your ideas in the comment section below or by e-mailing email@fourfivesix.org.
Do you get together with your volunteer team just to connect and hang-out? If every meeting with your volunteers is training and vision casting, what are you communicating to your volunteers about their value as an individual, and the value of relationships within your ministry?
Today on the podcast Sean shares two ideas for relationship-building volunteer meetings that you could plan for your leaders this year.
We’d love to hear what you are doing for your volunteer team. What ideas do you have for a relationship-building volunteer meeting? Share your ideas by e-mailing email@fourfivesix.org.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
What is goal of preteen ministry – that preteens would know OF God, or that they would know him?
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about what the difference is, and why preteen ministry is all about helping preteens to do more than just know OF.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
If you like what you’re hearing, subscribe to the FourFiveSix podcast by clicking here and you’ll get great ideas for your preteen ministry four, five, or six times a week.
When a baby learns language, they don’t learn by hearing definitions or reading the dictionary. They learn through example.
Preteens are at an age where they are just starting to understand abstract concepts. Many of the concepts we want to teach them about God, the Bible, and Christian living are abstract. These concepts are not outside of preteens’ grasp – they just need a step stool to reach them.
Real-life examples can be the step stools in your teaching, helping preteens to reach concepts that otherwise might be outside their grasp.
Today on the podcast, Chris and Sean share a couple examples of examples, and discuss how this has been an effective part of their teaching of God’s Word to preteens.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
When your leaders show up on Sunday, do you just get right to the business of what needs to be done today? Are you filling in leaders on the details of service, even as some leaders are showing up late?
Your leaders are more than just tools in the tool belt of your ministry. They are Spiritual beings made in the image of God. Today on the podcast, Sean and Chris talk about using the beginning of your weekly service prep meetings to reinforce and acknowledge this.
Here’s a bonus idea not mentioned in the podcast:
For a while, we had our leader meetings during preservice/check-in time. We had a team of parents who volunteered to serve for 15 minutes before service so that the small group leaders could all meet together. Then that team of parents would leave and go to “Big People Church” while the small group leaders took over leading the preteens.
How do you bring your leaders up to speed and touch base with your team? Share your ideas in the comment section below.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
If you like what you’re hearing, subscribe to the FourFiveSix podcast by clicking here and you’ll get great ideas for your preteen ministry four, five, or six times a week.
This week, Chris and Sean will be co-hosting the podcast. They start off this week by sharing a great idea they’ve seen in other ministries and are planning to implement in their preteen ministry (Elevate) this next year.
One of the best ways to teach preteens something is by having them do it. If we want to teach them that prayer in important, but we never give them opportunities TO pray, then what we are actually teaching is that prayer is not THAT important. The method is the message.
Today on the podcast, Sean and Chris share a way that they are planning to use this year to teach that prayer is important: by intentionally setting aside time each week to pray before service even begins.
What plans do you have for next year in your ministry to preteens? Share your great ideas in the comment section below.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
In today’s podcast, Sean will encourage you to expect great things in your ministry! Be encouraged! And allow God to use you to do great things in his kingdom! J
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, you’ll get a simple idea that can slightly tweak the way you’ll teach. This one little change can make a big difference to engage the preteens in the lesson.
This idea was inspired by the SuperStart! preteen weekend event.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
If you put together the greatest message for your preteens, you may miss an important part of the lesson development process.
On today’s podcast, Sean talks about the second pass at a lesson, when you think about more than just what you’re teaching, but HOW you are going to teach it. When it comes to preteens, WHO they are means that HOW you teach is just as important as what you are trying to teach.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
You only have so much time with the preteens in your ministry each week. Let’s say you have 90 minutes, from the beginning of check-in until the preteens are dismissed. How many of those moments do you want to have as “wasted” moments?
In order to optimize your service, it’s necessary to be more intentional when it comes to the elements of your service. Are there certain elements that you could eliminate? Are there elements that you could shorten? What is the best use of your service time, and how can you line up every element of your service with God’s purpose for your ministry? These things (and more) are precisely what Sean, Jaime, and Chris discuss on today’s podcast.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Preteens love choices. And choices are helpful for preteens as they learn to own their own faith. Many moons ago, we recorded this episode all about giving preteens choices.
Today, we look at one way to really let go of the bike and allow preteens to own their walk with the Lord: by giving them moments during service where they choose their own adventure.
Listen to today’s podcast as Sean and Dayna share some ideas of how to make your service a “Choose Your Own Adventure” for preteens.
This is our 200th great idea podcast! Woohoo!
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
FIRST OF ALL….Can you believe it!??!?!? This is the 199th idea! That means next week we will have the release of the 200th episode! Woah! To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have a special offer from November 28-December 2, 2016 on Deeply Rooted Curriculum. Check it out at deeplyrootedcurriculum.com.
Today’s podcast is an idea lifted from the Deeply Rooted Curriculum. It’s a way of getting parents and community who might never step foot into your preteen service to see what’s going on in your services. Today, Sean discusses using Social Media moments DURING service, including how to overcome some of the obstacles to making this succeed.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.