COLLABORATION

To my long time readers and leaders in youth ministry I wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about this blog. It is true that I have indeed been spending a lot of my blogging time on youthleaderstash.com. I get pretty amped up about that site. I like to help out the community. 

My friend Billy Suess, is the NW Area Director for Younglife Austin and submitted a post. He wrote the game above while I provided the graphic. I'm gonna try to get Billy to write about how he leads his Younglife team. Recruiting is something Billy is really good at.... well maybe the mission of Younglife draws in the best and Billy is good at helping people see it's awesomeness. Either way it's good to know people who know how to do things.

I'm looking for people who want to add to the stash. Maybe you've backed yourself into one corner of proficiency. God's gifted you with something you add to the body. I would love to know what you bring to the table. I have a submission form for games but if there is something beside that just fill it out and follow the instructions. Check it out here.

I'm also recruiting advertisers who want to get in first on being in the spotlight of our growing readership. Maybe you want to buy 30 days of visibility to our readers of your blog, resource, or ideas on the web. My readers are leaders in their field and represent everything from librarians to youth workers who advocate caring for students.

BUY THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF YOUTH LEADER STASH (29 GAME GRAPHICS AND PDF INSTRUCTIONS.)

"If" I started a church...

On a weekly basis I will pass by a Bennigan's, Macaroni Grill, or some other kind of restaurant that has closed it's doors. Inside all the tables and chairs, kitchen, host stand, bar, decor, etc. remain. Then I think about how impacted I've been by an accountability partner, small group, or conversation with a friend over food. Friends get together, family has "the" conversation, and things happen over a warm plate and a favorite drink.

Isn't that the kind of community we want? Isn't that when we are best on mission? Conversations. Connectivity. Why do we meet in a huge building with conversation being predominately one way?

If I started a church I would want to lease that restaurant, book local artists to play throughout the weeknights for our guests, hang local artist's works on the wall, serve food and drink, let the waitstaff serve and shepherd, and use the kitchen to feed the homeless as well.

At a Sunday service you come and go as you please. Worship is organic led by a rich vocalists with an acoustic guitar piped throughout the house. The message is meant to be more food for conversation and is delivered every hour with no more than fifteen minutes of content. If you want more thought and teaching for food, go online to our house website and get a second helping. I don't care if your baby cries or your children are standing up in the booth.

Yes we'll get together your children and teens for events and gatherings as well but we don't need the auditorium for that now so why would we want that in my scenario?

Assimilation happens on line or at kiosk's at the front. We'll host your reception and celebrate your marriage. We'll weekly share suggested theology and stir you missionaly to go into the world. This actually would be harder work in my mind than running a traditional north American church.

At the end of the day if I want to love you and build a relationship with you I'm gonna meet you for a meal to start the journey.

P.S. That is not me in the picture. It's my dream church's student pastor getting ready to meet with some kids from the local high school. ha. ha!

Series Graphics I've Never Used...

I put these images together along with 4 week talk summaries for each series back in 2005. I've got some good ones here that may show up in 2010. I have no idea why I haven't used these.

From chad swanzy

From chad swanzy

From chad swanzy

From chad swanzy

Need a low budget youth group event idea for July?

Last year I took me and my familia to the 7-eleven down the street on "free slurpee day." That's when I realized, too late I might add, that I should do as many 7-eleven's in the area that I could as an activity with a small group on free slurpee day. I'm sharing this goodness with you and mocking up a flyer for the tentative all small groups on deck social. You can get a map of your available 7-eleven's here as well as strategize a video contest here. I would charge the kids a buck a piece just to cover gas. After that go get as many free slurpees as you can, enjoy the road, and the conversation with your group.

series for the spring

I am thinking about doing this series in the spring. I tooled around on picnik.com last night making this graphic below.

contest time

Brian & Jacob at Rethinking Youth Ministry are hosting a contest and are inviting me to share it with all of you who read the blog. There are some pretty sweet prizes being thrown out for just a few thoughts and ideas from you. Jump in on this offer!

Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended

series graphic teaser for uprising

Uprising Hero will be a four week series on the purpose of Uprising at Gateway Community Church. I think this series would be fun with skit characters and all student tournament at the end of the series for kicks.

Skunk Works 3 for 1

I'm working on content for three new teaching series that I think would work for students today. Take a look below.


Heart will be about the courage to listen to and obey God.


Get Dirty will be about service or building authentic community.


Whatchu Know Bout Me would be for middle school on misconceptions of Jesus vs. His true nature.

I would love content ideas or input.

Copyright Chad Swanzy. Permission for use contact chad.swanzy@gmail.com.

skunk works (friends) middle school series

On the right of my blog are labels. One label is called skunk works. Skunk works started this year when I decided to start bloggin the series ideas I had but have not done yet. You're free to tell me what you think.


Friends, if done would be for middle school. I tinkered for a while with "the ride" and "all aboard" but it didn't sync with the content.

Week 1 Do I Have Good Friends?
Romans 12:1-2

Week 2 Am I A Good Friend?
Luke 6:22-23, John 15:20, I Peter 4:3-5

Week 3 How do I Make More Friends?
Matthew 5:13-16, John 3:17

skunk works (series on proverbs)

This series would be good with Kung-Fu skits or dubbed over Kung Fu movies. There are a lot of set design options here too. See graphic below.





Proverbs

Week 1 Wisdom To Go Box.
Prov 2:10, 2:1-5, 2:2,5, 2:3-5

Week 2 Confusion Say…
Prov 12:15, 10:8, 14:8, 10:23, 12:16

Week 3 Your winning lottery number.
Prov 22:4,Prov 3:1-4, Prov 3:21-22, Prov 3:7-8

Week 4 Happy Family!
Prov 23:22-23, Prov 1:8-9, Prov 12:1, Prov 17:21, Prov 23:24-25

Purpose
Students will have the opportunity to pop open the “Fortune Cookies” of God’s Word in the book of Proverbs.

skunk works (decisions)

Here is another series idea I baked up but didn't execute. This is a skunk works entry. Whenever I get a series idea I will paste it in skunk works. I started this category at the beginning of 2008. I still think this would be a good one I just haven't found the proper time for it. Content is below.

Decisions-Knowing God’s Will

Week 1 Everyday
Rom. 12:1-2, Prov 3:5-6

Week 2 Every Word
John 14:21-23, 2 Tim 3:16-17

Week 3 Everything
Is it contrary to God’s will? John 14:21
Am I open to His leading? Romans 8:14
Have I asked someone else? Prov 11:14

Week 4 Every Thought
I Cor 6:12
Is it good for me?
Am I a slave to this?
Does it cause another to stumble? Rom 14;15:1-6, 1 Cor 10:23-33
Does it glorify God? I Cor 6:19-20, 10:31, Col 3:23

Purpose
Students will be challenged to consider a way to make decisions that will put them on the path to God’s will.

skunk works "guinea pig"

I am starting a new category, tag, channel, whatever you call it. I get ideas for teaching and I kick it around in my head. I got to thinking about junior high and a crazy series with crazy stage design, funny skits, and thoughts went through my head about temptation. The phrase don't be someone's guinea pig started going around in my head and then I thought about how as a kid I wanted a hamster and had hamsters in some of my classrooms. You know how you would sit and watch them run through the tubes and on the wheel. They're just stuck there running around all that other stuff. They're also used for experimenting and feeding snakes. Well, I am not sure where my head will land and the more I messed with this the more I thought that it was better suited for a 5th and 6th grade youth group. Anyway, that's how skunk works 'works'. I mess with a concept or leading till I can see it panning out and what it implicates. The verse "Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them." Proverbs 1:10 See the series graphic above.