youth group issues

[soul alive]

since there are no Bible studies or youth groups in my hometown for college age kids at the church i go to, i've been going to my old high school youth group when i'm home over breaks, and this summer. the problem is that despite the messages that the leader(s) teach, nothing seems to sink into the kids who are attending. they constantly interrupt to make remarks that, more often than not, i consider to be rude and hardly ever seem to take things seriously. this makes it hard, not just on the leaders, but also on those who are attending to get something out of it.

two friends are teaching the group this summer, and since i'm attending, i've been volunteered to help. we're looking for topics that would appeal to teen guys, since that is what almost all of both the middle and high school groups are made up of. also possible techniques for getting and holding attention. things that have/haven't worked for you/groups you've been in/around.

any suggestions/help/comments would be really appreciated. thanks.

[termyt]

Teen guys?

Have you heard of / looked into the book Every Man's Battle?

It speaks to our struggle with sexual purity. Good stuff.

[soul alive]

thanks, termyt. haven't heard of it, i'll have to check it out when i'm in the bookstore later this week.

we have a couple of weeks where we won't be having actual lessons, but rather visitors and stuff, so we have a while to get prepared.

[Hoshika]

since there are no Bible studies or youth groups in my hometown for college age kids at the church i go to, i've been going to my old high school youth group when i'm home over breaks, and this summer. the problem is that despite the messages that the leader(s) teach, nothing seems to sink into the kids who are attending. they constantly interrupt to make remarks that, more often than not, i consider to be rude and hardly ever seem to take things seriously. this makes it hard, not just on the leaders, but also on those who are attending to get something out of it.

two friends are teaching the group this summer, and since i'm attending, i've been volunteered to help. we're looking for topics that would appeal to teen guys, since that is what almost all of both the middle and high school groups are made up of. also possible techniques for getting and holding attention. things that have/haven't worked for you/groups you've been in/around.

any suggestions/help/comments would be really appreciated. thanks.

Sounds like the same issue that was at the church I went to. It really depends on if they even have a desire to learn God's word and have a heart to serve Him. If you don't already you can try getting the kids attention by making the service more interactive and using a more contemporary music style for praise and whorship- which is what kinda worked at some other churches I went to. While it did get most people's (teens) attention and I suppose got them to behave (except in the back rows like many churches :p) in the end a lot of them were just playing church and are were just usuing the service as a form of entertainment... which is an issue even when it comes to adults so just keep praying for your church's youth leaders and for the children and parents as well.

[Kaligraphic]

If your teaching isn't working, I'd suggest going back to the prayer closet and asking God to reveal to you a deeper level of understanding of the gospel. Remember, the gospel is simple ("But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." 2Cor 11) and the word gospel itself means "good news". If it seems complex, go back for understanding, if it seems anything less than wonderful (honestly - don't try to pretend to think it wonderful), if it doesn't leave you amazed, astounded, and enthralled - go back for understanding. Believe me, the gospel is a lot better than any of us really know.

The Bible says that God has sent his spirit to lead us into all truth. It says that this spirit will allow us even to know the deep things of God - and if any lack wisdom, the Bible says, let him ask of God, who gives liberally to all. Let God plan your teachings, and they'll definitely succeed.

(And I don't recommend the Every Man series. It can seriously mess people up.)

[soul alive]

thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. it's much appreciated, and we will definately use them. i really need to talk with my two friends, and see if we can brainstorm how to get these kids really interrested, not just pretending, and not blowing it off. taking it back to basics is really what is needed, not going off on intense ideas, especially if they don't know/understand the basis of the more in-depth stuff.