Being a Relevant Youth Bible Study Leader

**This is the workshop I facilitated in Townsville yesterday

Build a relationship

• Youth probably won’t just sit down and listen to you talk about the Bible. Youth Group isn’t school and you don’t have (nor do you really want) that authoritative role of their teachers.
• Get involved in other activities. Play the games, talk to them at church, grab an extra drink at supper time and take it to someone in your group. Build a relationship based on respect rather than work from a relationship of authority.

Have a plan

• Whether you’re writing your own studies or using a book, make sure you know the material that you’re going to try and communicate. Preparing for studies is vital. It takes time (I find usually at least an hour) but if you are well prepared then you should be confident even if there are some off topic questions

Be flexible

• Don’t let your plan get in the way of good discussion.
• Have boundaries (or maybe time limits for off topic discussion), but allow the thought processes of the group to move forward.

Don’t worry if it is short.

• As long as the main point of the study comes across and there’s some application to that point then don’t worry too much on time.
• Sometimes it’s great to have a whole story from the Bible to study, or a chunk of a letter with great application. But don’t be afraid to find one or two verses that are easy to understand and simply have a few application questions to draw out the essence of the text.
• Don’t keep talking and adding ideas just to fill out your time frame, because the group will probably loose the main point amongst everything else.

Use handouts.

• If you’re using a study book that’s great. If you’re writing your own then come up with a few application questions and put them on a handout. Having something physical will focus your point.
• Use pictures, comics, cartoons, puzzles to draw the youth into the topic.
• Someone an extra challenge handout, or something to take home can supplement and extend the ideas in study books.

Be interactive.

• Ask simple questions that require something more than a ‘yes/no’ answer.
• Find a physical activity that might highlight a point or application (especially with guys)
• Find a craft that creates something to highlight a point or application (especially with girls)

Don’t be afraid to teach theology

• Teens can handle deep Biblical doctrine. We shouldn't think them too young to process it – though we need to present it in a way they’ll understand
• Teens love learning big words.