September 18, 2025 • 29 mins
Check out our new partnership with Onward: Youth & Young Adult Pastor Cohort https://www.onwardleader.com/the-cohort *** Are your youth ministry students getting enough spiritual nourishment? Most youth pastors know the feeling of wondering if their sermon is the only biblical engagement students get all week. The truth is, we need to equip our youth group to become "self-feeding Christians" who can navigate Scripture independently.
In this comprehensive guide to Bible study resources, we share our favorite tools for studying the Bible. From discipleship-focused materials to leadership development resources, these recommendations cover both teaching aids and student-directed studies.
Whether you're looking to enhance your teaching or put materials directly into students' hands, these carefully selected resources will help bridge the gap between Sunday sermons and daily discipleship. Check out the links below!
Materials Mentioned in this Podcast:
📕 Habitudes #1: The Art of Self Leadership - Tim Elmore https://amzn.to/3VocjZ8
📕 Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations - Alex & Brett Harris https://amzn.to/3Vl45AZ
Summit Ministries: Light Bearer Curriculum
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4 Discipleship Strategies That Will GROW Your Youth Group
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today we're talking about 10 of the best Bible study
tools for your youth group.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the Ministry Coach Podcast, where we
give you weekly tips andtactics to help you fast track
the growth and health of youryouth ministry.
My name is Jeff Laskola andthis is is.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Kristen Laskola and today we're going to spend a
whole episode answering aquestion.
We get a lot from our listeners.
I get a lot of emails ormessages on YouTube people
asking what are the best Biblestudy materials for youth
ministry and, to be honest, Inever know if they mean like for
them to study the Bible toteach to students or if they
(00:48):
mean a Bible study to give tostudents so that they study the
Bible on their own.
And then maybe you come back andtalk about it like in a small
group discussion.
So since I don't really knowwhich one you mean, we're going
to talk about both of them.
But I feel like seriously thisquestion, ever since we started
the podcast, like five and ahalf years ago, it just like
(01:10):
keeps coming up over and over.
So I'm like great, let'scondense it into one episode and
this is no doubt going to helpyou in your ministry, in your
journey as a youth pastor,whether that's giving Bible
studies to students or usingthem in your teaching.
So I would actually write a lotof my own Bible studies for
(01:32):
students.
You know like resources werepretty limited 21 years ago,
like the internet and youthministry work as been created.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
No, I was writing on a dinosaur to work.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Uh, but it's just now .
I feel like there's a lot moreout there, so I'm just going to
share a few of my favorite ones.
Doesn't mean there's not moreout there, so you can comment
below if there's another companyor resource that you have just
been like.
Oh, this was a game changer forme.
The first one is Leader Treks.
I love Leader Treks because it'ssuper focused on discipleship.
(02:08):
So you may have heard of theDNow Bible Studies, discipleship
.
Now, like they are so focused,I've even done some writing for
them and the format that theyuse is like always trying to
move students toward action islike always trying to move
students toward action.
Like now, what do you do?
Who's going to hold youaccountable?
(02:28):
What is your next step?
And I love that it's focused,like it's so perfect after the
episode we talked about lastweek was all about discipleship
and so you can go back and checkout that episode if you missed
it.
But I think Leader Treks is aperfect pairing for that and, by
the way, they're not sponsoringthis episode, so I don't get
any, you know, cut fromrecommending them.
(02:51):
It's just I've seen behind thecurtain a little bit since I've
written content for them.
So, who knows, maybe you'llcome across one of my lessons
that I've written for them.
But I'm like wow, like it'salways trying to put the Bible
in the context for students tounderstand and then take it and
run with it.
(03:11):
And I've looked on theirwebsite recently and there's so
many to choose from and what itdoes.
It's kind of a both and like.
It gives you material that youstudy and helps your teaching.
But then there's also stuff toliterally put into the hands of
students so that they havesomething tangible to study and
(03:33):
come back with and grapple withon their own, which I think is a
really important skill forstudents.
Like I've heard pastors say mywhole life, which I think is so
good Like eventually you have topick up a fork and feed
yourself.
You know, I don't think thatthe sermon should be the only
spiritual nourishment ourstudents are receiving for an
(03:53):
entire week.
We always give the example oflike do you just eat one meal a
week?
You know, like you, maybeSunday was the feast in the
locker room.
Like, yeah, game day.
Like we're all hyped up on,we're doing this together.
But then was the feast in thelocker room Like, yeah, game day
.
Like we're all hyped up on,we're doing this together, but
then you go out for the week andyou have to figure out how to
keep the training going Like.
(04:13):
So putting material in the handsof our students is really
important and then teaching themlike you have to be a
self-feeding Christian at somepoint in your life and it's
really hard for a student justlike, okay, open the Bible ready
, and I'm in lamentations forwhat do I do now?
So this helps them?
(04:35):
Have like a stepping stone oflike could I read and understand
the Bible on my own with someguidance?
And the answer is, of course,yes, if we give them the right
materials.
Leader Treks has a ton of thathighly recommend.
Another thing I'd recommend fornow.
This is for studentsspecifically two books that I
(04:56):
would recommend.
One is a series.
It's Habitudes by Tim Elmore.
I feel like I struck gold whensomebody like randomly was like,
have you ever heard ofHabitudes?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It was Luke Kimmel.
Luke Kimmel in our YMGA group.
Ymga group Yep.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I'm finishing all your sentences.
I know what am I going to saynext.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
I remember that Sandwiches.
I remember the day?
No, I remember he recommendedthat and you've been over the
moon about it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Thanks, Luke, and that wasn't even that long ago.
I mean, I wish I'd known aboutHabitudes my whole life.
I haven't.
And so it's like a series ofbooks and each chapter is like a
particular topic, with a shortreading and then a ton of
questions at the end.
I love this for leadership.
That's really what it's gearedtowards.
So leadership, yes, I love thisfor leadership.
That's really what it's gearedtowards so yes, I've written my
(05:47):
student leadership curriculumbased off of it.
I've actually bought copies ofthis book, like the young
professional version, to hand tomy interns and my young leaders
, and we tried to go through ittogether.
They didn't always do thereading, so sometimes it was
hard to talk about about, but Itried and I felt so sharpened by
(06:08):
it too.
It's just like leadership froma Christian perspective, with so
many good like nuggets in there.
He brings in scripture.
It's like such a great biblestudy slash leadership study.
And then another great book isDo Hard Things, and this one
someone recommended it to me, Ithink like my first year as a
(06:29):
youth pastor, so it's old now.
The foreword was written byChuck Norris.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Wow, I know Impressive.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It's like these two brothers who just kind of went
on this quest to challengethemselves, to not be like a
lazy adolescent but to realizethat within themselves, with the
help of God, they havecapability.
And I love pointing students tohow young some of these people
that we consider heroes of theBible, how young they were and
(07:00):
like by today's standards they'dbe considered children, yet
they were changing entirenations, you know, with their
actions and it's just amazing.
So I love that book asinspiration again for probably,
like a student leadership team,you could even kind of turn it
into a sermon series if you kindof read it, digest it and then
(07:21):
regurgitate some points.
Read it, digest it and thenregurgitate some points, and
I'll just pause on that for asecond.
We've talked about the factbefore that it's not like
leaders are readers, but it'smore like leaders are learners.
And so I encourage you guys tobe learning constantly about
everything.
I think it makes you a betterspeaker, I think it makes you a
(07:43):
better teacher.
I think it gives you a moredynamic perspective as a
communicator.
If you are just constantlylearning and can grab different
illustrations and stories andyour communication becomes
richer, I think the moreeducated you are.
And I'm not talking about goget a PhD or do do whatever you
(08:06):
want, but I think, like I'malways disciplining myself.
Am I learning something inleadership?
Am I learning somethingbiblically?
And then am I learningsomething like historically or
scientifically or something likethat?
Because it's all God's story,you know, like history, all
history is God's story, allscience is God's story, and so
(08:28):
it just makes us be able tocommunicate God's truth that
much richer.
So you know, I'm recommendingthese books and it reminded me,
like we as pastors and leaders,what are we learning right now,
you know, and it just makes ourus much more interesting of
people to listen to and gives ussuch a breadth of knowledge.
(08:50):
I feel like when I listen tospeakers, I'm like, wow, like
you really brought in like thisbeautiful thing about astronomy
or science and history and howGod has worked in all you know,
and it paired perfectly withyour sermon and just being
overall well-rounded, it just Ithink it helps you become a more
(09:11):
dynamic speaker.
Just my two cents.
The third one is ministry toyouth.
This is a lot of lessons.
I went on their website againvery recently and I was just
like wow, like they have everytopic covered.
It's very youth friendly, veryyouth oriented and again, they
have things that are great forthe pastor and great for the
(09:35):
student and I felt like it wasvery simple.
So if you're just starting outin youth ministry and trying to
get your feet wet in teaching, Ithink Ministry to Youth is a
perfect resource.
It's yeah, it feels verycurrent and very relevant.
Number four I always put DYM atthe top of the list because they
are publishing new contentconstantly and if you're looking
(09:59):
for help with your teaching orBible studies for your students,
you're going to find both thereand they're so, so cheap.
It's like ridiculously cheap.
They have so many resources.
If you haven't tapped into DYMyet, I mean that's what saved me
as, like a 21 year old youthpastor, it wasn't called DYM at
the time, it was called, morethan dodgeball, josh Griffin's
(10:21):
blog, and I would go there allthe time Like all right, what
can I grab?
Like what, what is he puttingout?
And he would put stuff outquite a bit.
And now it's just exploded Likethere's games, there's Bible
studies, there's worship stuff,there's one-off lessons.
I mean you might as well get agold membership, because it's so
(10:42):
cheap and you could just gocrazy and buy everything right.
And then G Shades is another one, so that one is more of a
curriculum type feel.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
More robust.
Yeah, Comes with sermon bumpersand like the whole start to
finish kind of curriculum right.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah, it's like a package deal for you and I feel
like you know, gone are the dayslike, maybe, if we're solely a
senior teaching pastor, I don'tthink a youth pastor should be
spending 20 hours building asermon every single week.
Not because the sermon isn'timportant Obviously it is but
(11:21):
because as youth pastors, wewear way more hats than just
teacher, and so anything we canget like a G shades to
supplement our teaching and giveus graphics and bumpers and
notes and whatever.
Again, I never look at it aslike I'm reciting a manuscript.
(11:41):
I'm looking at it as wow, itwas almost like a brainstorming
session with someone and I takethe best parts and then I run
with it and kind of communicateit my own way, but it's like
reading the textbook, you know,and then giving a presentation.
It's not a crutch, and if youdon't connect with it, move to
the next lesson.
(12:01):
Right, you know, but G Shadesis awesome for that.
Another one that I've lovedpersonally, because this is my
own personal interest, is SummitMinistries Lightbearer
Curriculum.
I've talked about it on thepodcast before I've bought it.
I actually use it for my ownkids because they go to public
(12:21):
school and so I do a bible studywith them with another mom.
We switch off every weekbecause they have like a
homeschool curriculum and then aprivate school curriculum, like
for Christian schools.
That's where I found it,because I used to sub at a
Christian school, and it'ssolely focused on worldview.
So I love the idea that we'reteaching students how to think,
(12:42):
not what to think, so that theycan identify what is truth,
where did it come from, why doesit matter?
And then start to see sort ofthis global version of like well
, what is what do those peoplebelieve and how can I spot a lie
?
or how can I spot, you know?
And what is the criteria forthat?
(13:04):
Not just like well, I've alwaysbeen told the bible's true
because god said so.
Well, that's great when you'refour.
But like what?
When we start asking some deepquestions, can we answer like
why is the reliable?
Those start to matter the olderthat they get and they're
pushed up against with, like allthese questions.
So this one, I feel like, ismore of a teaching curriculum.
(13:27):
However, there is a studentworkbook.
So if you wanted to turn thatinto a Bible study for the
students, you can make copies ofthe workbook and you can pass
it out.
If you wanted to do somethinglike that, it has like a teacher
manual, so it walks you throughlike as if you were, you know,
like a private school teacherand you were going to give a
lesson on this thing.
(13:47):
It even has a student textbook.
Not that I would like want thisto feel like school or
something, but the reading pairswith the workbook and you could
use it however you wanted.
And this is kind of something Iwould do for like maybe four to
six weeks and then kind ofswitch gears If you were doing
it as like a sermon series or aBible study series.
(14:09):
I think it's kind of dense tokeep going and just make this
the only thing we talk about,but it is really important.
So I like what's the origin oflife and how do we know and
what's the purpose of God?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Do they do theirs based off of like a calendar
year, like here's 52 weeks, oris it just a bunch of resources?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Probably it's really long.
So I bought the textbook, theleader guide and the student
workbook and they all kind ofwork together but it's very
oriented for school, so it mightnot be your thing.
I just think worldviewcurriculum is fascinating
because to me, like that's againsort of what saved my
(14:52):
Christianity and my faith.
You know, as a high schooler,you know where I just needed.
I just needed to think about myfaith differently, not just the
same old well, it's true.
Because it's true, or it's true, because God said so.
But things like, you know, ifeverything has a beginning, then
it means it had a cause.
(15:13):
And if it had a cause, it hasto be a cause outside of the
entity acting upon it, outsideof time, space and matter.
And I started putting all thesepieces together of like this
makes so much sense, like howcould I mean, even though I
don't understand every tinything about the way God thinks
or why God does what he does, Iknow it's true, like, whether I
(15:33):
want to like, and I couldn'tshake it's true.
It's true because of the way Ifinally could think, not just
another Bible story and melearning now go out and be a
good person.
It's like all right, but thisisn't cutting it anymore.
So that's why I love SummitMinistries, the Lightbearer
series on worldview, numberseven, the YouVersion Bible app.
(15:57):
So if you are only using it forBible, you are missing out.
Like it is a online Bible.
So if you're, you know, in asermon and they say turn to John
1, 4, you're like already there, but it is so much more than
that.
So they have so many Biblestudies, so many series on all
(16:18):
kinds of topics yeah, and youcan do one and it is
pre-packaged, done for you.
If your students have phonesand you want to direct them to a
good way to use their phone,here's one for you and this is
what I tell them.
A lot Like you're, you have noexcuse to not read your bible
like it's on your phone, rightand well, I'm never on my phone,
(16:40):
yeah, right and these biblestudies are very bite-sized,
like the students can do them,like it will have like a reading
which is short it's usuallyabout five verses, and then
there's like about a twoparagraph sort of dive in
summary, and then there'susually a prayer prompt for them
(17:03):
and then sort of like an actionprompt and then it just will
kind of check box, like you didit for today, see you tomorrow,
kind of thing, and so it's likeI mean it's in their hands all
the time.
I don't even know if a lot ofstudents know the depth of what
the YouVersion Bible app iscapable of.
Thank you, craig Groeschel.
Him and his team developed itand they've done such a good job
(17:26):
and they do have a kid version.
I think it's—I need toinvestigate it a little more.
I'm just going to throw it outthere that it does exist, but I
think it's sort of on the youngside, I don.
I think it's sort of on theyoung side.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I don't think it's meant necessarily for students,
it's more for probably kids.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
So I think that the Bible studies I've been a part
of on the YouVersion Bible appare definitely like
understandable for students.
And then this is a new one thatI found recently that I'm like,
oh, this is kind of cool.
This is something I totallywould have used when I first
started youth ministryminibiblelessonscom.
(18:02):
So there are again like allthese different topics Like so.
For example, I kind ofinvestigated the one on anger.
Sometimes I struggle with anger.
Who would have thought?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
And I was like I want to see what they have to say.
Jeff would have thought I yeah,I don't want to say anything
anyway either way, cause I don'twant you to get angry, see.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So it's like the topic, and then it goes, it
gives the students likeseriously, it was like 10 verses
of like what does the Bible sayabout anger?
And then it's like gives thereference and the meaning.
The reference and the meaningof what it says, and then, kind
of like, takes them through,like let's digest what we just
(18:46):
read together.
And then sort of, here's whatwe do with it and.
I think these would be perfectto just print out and give to
your students and then they comeback the next week and you can
do a roundtable group discussion.
So this is perfect, like wetalked about this last week a
little bit as a discipleshipmodel.
If you have a smaller youthgroup and you don't want to do
(19:06):
just like sometimes it's awkwardlike I'm up here giving a 3.25
minute sermon to four kids likethe read the room a little bit.
This is weird, the energy's off.
Well, what you could do is youcould give them the bible study
and then have them do it at homeand you always have them out on
the table because they'll losethem or not bring them.
(19:27):
And then you guys bring it backand then your sermon is
literally you guys talking aboutand walking them through, you
know, and maybe you bring alittle something like tie it up
in a bow like some kind of youknow five minute, like little
snippet on the topic tointroduce it, and then you go to
(19:50):
the discussion like all right,we'll pull out your Bible
studies because I'm sure youguys had a lot that you, you
know, read last week orquestions, so let's sort of dive
in and then sorry the mic, andthen you do it together.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
So I think that's a really great Bible study thing
and many, many Bible lessons andmany, many BibleLessonscom.
It's adorable.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
What was the other one?
You?
I feel like someone brought itup in our Bible study and then
everyone was like oh my gosh, Ilove that.
Some video series.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
The Bible Project yes , you're always talking about
that.
Oh, I love the Bible Project.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I've never seen any of the videos.
What so?
Who is it geared towards?
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Oh, so anybody?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
And would that make this list?
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I would say junior high and up could understand it.
And yeah, I think you could.
I think I've used them as partof my sermons.
So I think I mean he has entirecourses.
Tim Mackey has entire coursesthat you can be a part of for
free.
By the way, speaking ofeducating yourself, you could go
(20:56):
take a course on you know thelife of Jesus for free from Dr
Tim Mackey.
I don't know if he's a doctor,but he should be.
So, tim, I know you listenevery week.
Are you a doctor?
Drop it in the comments below.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Is it on YouTube?
Yes, and it's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
So, yeah, like you could watch the video all
together and then talk about itand it could be a part of your
sermon.
I mean, you could send the kidsa link for them to watch it on
their own.
You know, every youth group issuch a different size and
structure.
I don't think that wouldnecessarily work for us, but
definitely using it as a part ofmy sermons has been huge.
(21:38):
So he has a video on almostevery book of the Bible.
So if you're starting, likeJames, you know, put it up so it
gives you like the overview.
He's illustrating and talkingat the same time while the other
guy's illustrating and he'stalking, and so it's like you're
the learning process is likefull circle.
(21:58):
I'm such a visual learner andso and then he has specialty
topics like spiritual beings andElohim or spiritual warfare or
the nature of God or what is sin.
You know all of this stuff thatare specialty topics that, yeah
, you could throw one of thoseup and then turn it into a Bible
study, you know, with yourstudents and he has notes on
(22:22):
like so it is on YouTube, butthe Bible Project has its own
website.
So, I've found sermon notes onthere.
I mean, it took my sermons fromlike a C plus to a plus because
, thank you to Mackie, it wasjust this stuff that blew my
mind.
So, yes, if you're not into theBible project yet, that is um,
(22:45):
that is good stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
I'm glad you brought that up.
And then this one is a classicand I'll oh, I thought you.
Sorry I was skipping.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yes, I'm glad you brought that up, and then this
one is a classic.
Oh, I thought you started, Iwas skipping ahead.
I thought that was your lastone before that Silly me.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
This one will be short, but I just had to throw
it in there because this is theway I learned to study the Bible
on my own.
As a junior higher, I went to aChristian school and my Bible
teacher, mr Kelly, had.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Dr Kelly.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Maybe school and my bible teacher, mr kelly, had dr
kelly, maybe he's not, oh sorry,he's not, unless he got some
more education after.
But anyways, he was very smart,loved him a lot and he would
have up on his desk for thetaking our daily bread and it
was great because it was justthese little booklets and they
were seasonal, so it'd be likeum seasoned bread.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Take two.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
All right, it'd be like june, july, august, and it
would be like a three-monththing all in one, and then every
day it would have a reading andthen a little excerpt and then
a final thought.
I know why you're laughing.
So, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I know why you're laughing.
I don't know why.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
So I was able to like literally read the Bible on my
own as a middle schooler everyday and I would say those
changed my life.
Like it got me in the word, itkept me disciplined, it felt
very doable, it was veryunderstandable and I personally
am a tangible person.
(24:21):
I love tangible calendars.
I love tangible books.
I mean, I only read on myKindle so that I can pass out
and go to sleep without turningoff my light, but I would rather
have a book, like I'm tangible,so grabbing our daily bread and
putting in my physical,tangible Bible.
I loved that routine as a 12year old of like here's my Bible
, here's my daily bread, I'm onthis page and like just
(24:45):
something about holding it andseeing it and interacting with
it was just very helpful for me.
I still have notes in my prayerjournal to this day from some
of the authors of Our DailyBread that were just so good.
They always will give like aquote and a verse and a passage,
and then they would have thisother little section on the page
(25:07):
for the day.
It was like, if you want toread the Bible in a year, here's
what you should read today.
And so I never did it, but itwas always a goal of mine.
And then as an adult I finallydid read through the entire
Bible, but it was kind of alwaysthere beckoning me of like, oh,
I should probably read thewhole Bible.
So it's just kind of cool toplant those seeds for students,
(25:30):
you know.
So I feel like between all ofthat, there's so much in there
to get you going, and if you'refeeling, you know, creative,
write a few of your own and flexthat muscle a little bit.
Why not?
It's your voice for yourstudents which is super valuable
.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, make sure you guys check out all the resources
.
We'll link everything below,including the books that you
mentioned and then all the otherwebsites and things like that,
so they're all in thedescription below.
And also, if you have any thatyou'd like to add to the list,
please put it in the commentsection below.
If you're watching on youtube,all right, let's do a community
comment of the day.
This comes from royalty blue,who says I'm planning for a
(26:08):
young people's camp for thefirst time and coming across
this channel and material isjust God sent.
You guys are resourceful.
God bless you.
Whale size what, what?
God bless you.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Whale size Like a whale size Bless me.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Oh because, there's no comma, so I don't think
they're calling us whale size.
I love that.
God bless you, whale size.
Sometimes, Either way, thankyou.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Well, I think I'm going to use that now I'm
stealing that.
I like that.
We appreciate it, and if Idon't like you, it'll be mouse
size.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Here's a mouse size blessing for you.
Thank you so much.
We appreciate you guys watchingand listening and we'll see you
next time.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
You do got to pay a little bit.
You have to pay a little bit,it's you know.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
One time, though, once you Whoa you have a spider
on your face.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I felt it.
I thought it was a hair.
Is it gone?
Was it a daddy long leg?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
No, it was like a.
It might've been a bug, I don'tknow.
Today we're talking about 10 of the best Bible study
tools for your youth group.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the Ministry Coach Podcast, where we
give you weekly tips andtactics to help you fast track
the growth and health of youryouth ministry.
My name is Jeff Laskola andthis is is.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Kristen Laskola and today we're going to spend a
whole episode answering aquestion.
We get a lot from our listeners.
I get a lot of emails ormessages on YouTube people
asking what are the best Biblestudy materials for youth
ministry and, to be honest, Inever know if they mean like for
them to study the Bible toteach to students or if they
(00:48):
mean a Bible study to give tostudents so that they study the
Bible on their own.
And then maybe you come back andtalk about it like in a small
group discussion.
So since I don't really knowwhich one you mean, we're going
to talk about both of them.
But I feel like seriously thisquestion, ever since we started
the podcast, like five and ahalf years ago, it just like
(01:10):
keeps coming up over and over.
So I'm like great, let'scondense it into one episode and
this is no doubt going to helpyou in your ministry, in your
journey as a youth pastor,whether that's giving Bible
studies to students or usingthem in your teaching.
So I would actually write a lotof my own Bible studies for
(01:32):
students.
You know like resources werepretty limited 21 years ago,
like the internet and youthministry work as been created.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
No, I was writing on a dinosaur to work.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Uh, but it's just now .
I feel like there's a lot moreout there, so I'm just going to
share a few of my favorite ones.
Doesn't mean there's not moreout there, so you can comment
below if there's another companyor resource that you have just
been like.
Oh, this was a game changer forme.
The first one is Leader Treks.
I love Leader Treks because it'ssuper focused on discipleship.
(02:08):
So you may have heard of theDNow Bible Studies, discipleship
.
Now, like they are so focused,I've even done some writing for
them and the format that theyuse is like always trying to
move students toward action islike always trying to move
students toward action.
Like now, what do you do?
Who's going to hold youaccountable?
(02:28):
What is your next step?
And I love that it's focused,like it's so perfect after the
episode we talked about lastweek was all about discipleship
and so you can go back and checkout that episode if you missed
it.
But I think Leader Treks is aperfect pairing for that and, by
the way, they're not sponsoringthis episode, so I don't get
any, you know, cut fromrecommending them.
(02:51):
It's just I've seen behind thecurtain a little bit since I've
written content for them.
So, who knows, maybe you'llcome across one of my lessons
that I've written for them.
But I'm like wow, like it'salways trying to put the Bible
in the context for students tounderstand and then take it and
run with it.
(03:11):
And I've looked on theirwebsite recently and there's so
many to choose from and what itdoes.
It's kind of a both and like.
It gives you material that youstudy and helps your teaching.
But then there's also stuff toliterally put into the hands of
students so that they havesomething tangible to study and
(03:33):
come back with and grapple withon their own, which I think is a
really important skill forstudents.
Like I've heard pastors say mywhole life, which I think is so
good Like eventually you have topick up a fork and feed
yourself.
You know, I don't think thatthe sermon should be the only
spiritual nourishment ourstudents are receiving for an
(03:53):
entire week.
We always give the example oflike do you just eat one meal a
week?
You know, like you, maybeSunday was the feast in the
locker room.
Like, yeah, game day.
Like we're all hyped up on,we're doing this together.
But then was the feast in thelocker room Like, yeah, game day
.
Like we're all hyped up on,we're doing this together, but
then you go out for the week andyou have to figure out how to
keep the training going Like.
(04:13):
So putting material in the handsof our students is really
important and then teaching themlike you have to be a
self-feeding Christian at somepoint in your life and it's
really hard for a student justlike, okay, open the Bible ready
, and I'm in lamentations forwhat do I do now?
So this helps them?
(04:35):
Have like a stepping stone oflike could I read and understand
the Bible on my own with someguidance?
And the answer is, of course,yes, if we give them the right
materials.
Leader Treks has a ton of thathighly recommend.
Another thing I'd recommend fornow.
This is for studentsspecifically two books that I
(04:56):
would recommend.
One is a series.
It's Habitudes by Tim Elmore.
I feel like I struck gold whensomebody like randomly was like,
have you ever heard ofHabitudes?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It was Luke Kimmel.
Luke Kimmel in our YMGA group.
Ymga group Yep.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I'm finishing all your sentences.
I know what am I going to saynext.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
I remember that Sandwiches.
I remember the day?
No, I remember he recommendedthat and you've been over the
moon about it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Thanks, Luke, and that wasn't even that long ago.
I mean, I wish I'd known aboutHabitudes my whole life.
I haven't.
And so it's like a series ofbooks and each chapter is like a
particular topic, with a shortreading and then a ton of
questions at the end.
I love this for leadership.
That's really what it's gearedtowards.
So leadership, yes, I love thisfor leadership.
That's really what it's gearedtowards so yes, I've written my
(05:47):
student leadership curriculumbased off of it.
I've actually bought copies ofthis book, like the young
professional version, to hand tomy interns and my young leaders
, and we tried to go through ittogether.
They didn't always do thereading, so sometimes it was
hard to talk about about, but Itried and I felt so sharpened by
(06:08):
it too.
It's just like leadership froma Christian perspective, with so
many good like nuggets in there.
He brings in scripture.
It's like such a great biblestudy slash leadership study.
And then another great book isDo Hard Things, and this one
someone recommended it to me, Ithink like my first year as a
(06:29):
youth pastor, so it's old now.
The foreword was written byChuck Norris.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Wow, I know Impressive.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It's like these two brothers who just kind of went
on this quest to challengethemselves, to not be like a
lazy adolescent but to realizethat within themselves, with the
help of God, they havecapability.
And I love pointing students tohow young some of these people
that we consider heroes of theBible, how young they were and
(07:00):
like by today's standards they'dbe considered children, yet
they were changing entirenations, you know, with their
actions and it's just amazing.
So I love that book asinspiration again for probably,
like a student leadership team,you could even kind of turn it
into a sermon series if you kindof read it, digest it and then
(07:21):
regurgitate some points.
Read it, digest it and thenregurgitate some points, and
I'll just pause on that for asecond.
We've talked about the factbefore that it's not like
leaders are readers, but it'smore like leaders are learners.
And so I encourage you guys tobe learning constantly about
everything.
I think it makes you a betterspeaker, I think it makes you a
(07:43):
better teacher.
I think it gives you a moredynamic perspective as a
communicator.
If you are just constantlylearning and can grab different
illustrations and stories andyour communication becomes
richer, I think the moreeducated you are.
And I'm not talking about goget a PhD or do do whatever you
(08:06):
want, but I think, like I'malways disciplining myself.
Am I learning something inleadership?
Am I learning somethingbiblically?
And then am I learningsomething like historically or
scientifically or something likethat?
Because it's all God's story,you know, like history, all
history is God's story, allscience is God's story, and so
(08:28):
it just makes us be able tocommunicate God's truth that
much richer.
So you know, I'm recommendingthese books and it reminded me,
like we as pastors and leaders,what are we learning right now,
you know, and it just makes ourus much more interesting of
people to listen to and gives ussuch a breadth of knowledge.
(08:50):
I feel like when I listen tospeakers, I'm like, wow, like
you really brought in like thisbeautiful thing about astronomy
or science and history and howGod has worked in all you know,
and it paired perfectly withyour sermon and just being
overall well-rounded, it just Ithink it helps you become a more
(09:11):
dynamic speaker.
Just my two cents.
The third one is ministry toyouth.
This is a lot of lessons.
I went on their website againvery recently and I was just
like wow, like they have everytopic covered.
It's very youth friendly, veryyouth oriented and again, they
have things that are great forthe pastor and great for the
(09:35):
student and I felt like it wasvery simple.
So if you're just starting outin youth ministry and trying to
get your feet wet in teaching, Ithink Ministry to Youth is a
perfect resource.
It's yeah, it feels verycurrent and very relevant.
Number four I always put DYM atthe top of the list because they
are publishing new contentconstantly and if you're looking
(09:59):
for help with your teaching orBible studies for your students,
you're going to find both thereand they're so, so cheap.
It's like ridiculously cheap.
They have so many resources.
If you haven't tapped into DYMyet, I mean that's what saved me
as, like a 21 year old youthpastor, it wasn't called DYM at
the time, it was called, morethan dodgeball, josh Griffin's
(10:21):
blog, and I would go there allthe time Like all right, what
can I grab?
Like what, what is he puttingout?
And he would put stuff outquite a bit.
And now it's just exploded Likethere's games, there's Bible
studies, there's worship stuff,there's one-off lessons.
I mean you might as well get agold membership, because it's so
(10:42):
cheap and you could just gocrazy and buy everything right.
And then G Shades is another one, so that one is more of a
curriculum type feel.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
More robust.
Yeah, Comes with sermon bumpersand like the whole start to
finish kind of curriculum right.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah, it's like a package deal for you and I feel
like you know, gone are the dayslike, maybe, if we're solely a
senior teaching pastor, I don'tthink a youth pastor should be
spending 20 hours building asermon every single week.
Not because the sermon isn'timportant Obviously it is but
(11:21):
because as youth pastors, wewear way more hats than just
teacher, and so anything we canget like a G shades to
supplement our teaching and giveus graphics and bumpers and
notes and whatever.
Again, I never look at it aslike I'm reciting a manuscript.
(11:41):
I'm looking at it as wow, itwas almost like a brainstorming
session with someone and I takethe best parts and then I run
with it and kind of communicateit my own way, but it's like
reading the textbook, you know,and then giving a presentation.
It's not a crutch, and if youdon't connect with it, move to
the next lesson.
(12:01):
Right, you know, but G Shadesis awesome for that.
Another one that I've lovedpersonally, because this is my
own personal interest, is SummitMinistries Lightbearer
Curriculum.
I've talked about it on thepodcast before I've bought it.
I actually use it for my ownkids because they go to public
(12:21):
school and so I do a bible studywith them with another mom.
We switch off every weekbecause they have like a
homeschool curriculum and then aprivate school curriculum, like
for Christian schools.
That's where I found it,because I used to sub at a
Christian school, and it'ssolely focused on worldview.
So I love the idea that we'reteaching students how to think,
(12:42):
not what to think, so that theycan identify what is truth,
where did it come from, why doesit matter?
And then start to see sort ofthis global version of like well
, what is what do those peoplebelieve and how can I spot a lie
?
or how can I spot, you know?
And what is the criteria forthat?
(13:04):
Not just like well, I've alwaysbeen told the bible's true
because god said so.
Well, that's great when you'refour.
But like what?
When we start asking some deepquestions, can we answer like
why is the reliable?
Those start to matter the olderthat they get and they're
pushed up against with, like allthese questions.
So this one, I feel like, ismore of a teaching curriculum.
(13:27):
However, there is a studentworkbook.
So if you wanted to turn thatinto a Bible study for the
students, you can make copies ofthe workbook and you can pass
it out.
If you wanted to do somethinglike that, it has like a teacher
manual, so it walks you throughlike as if you were, you know,
like a private school teacherand you were going to give a
lesson on this thing.
(13:47):
It even has a student textbook.
Not that I would like want thisto feel like school or
something, but the reading pairswith the workbook and you could
use it however you wanted.
And this is kind of something Iwould do for like maybe four to
six weeks and then kind ofswitch gears If you were doing
it as like a sermon series or aBible study series.
(14:09):
I think it's kind of dense tokeep going and just make this
the only thing we talk about,but it is really important.
So I like what's the origin oflife and how do we know and
what's the purpose of God?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Do they do theirs based off of like a calendar
year, like here's 52 weeks, oris it just a bunch of resources?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Probably it's really long.
So I bought the textbook, theleader guide and the student
workbook and they all kind ofwork together but it's very
oriented for school, so it mightnot be your thing.
I just think worldviewcurriculum is fascinating
because to me, like that's againsort of what saved my
(14:52):
Christianity and my faith.
You know, as a high schooler,you know where I just needed.
I just needed to think about myfaith differently, not just the
same old well, it's true.
Because it's true, or it's true, because God said so.
But things like, you know, ifeverything has a beginning, then
it means it had a cause.
(15:13):
And if it had a cause, it hasto be a cause outside of the
entity acting upon it, outsideof time, space and matter.
And I started putting all thesepieces together of like this
makes so much sense, like howcould I mean, even though I
don't understand every tinything about the way God thinks
or why God does what he does, Iknow it's true, like, whether I
(15:33):
want to like, and I couldn'tshake it's true.
It's true because of the way Ifinally could think, not just
another Bible story and melearning now go out and be a
good person.
It's like all right, but thisisn't cutting it anymore.
So that's why I love SummitMinistries, the Lightbearer
series on worldview, numberseven, the YouVersion Bible app.
(15:57):
So if you are only using it forBible, you are missing out.
Like it is a online Bible.
So if you're, you know, in asermon and they say turn to John
1, 4, you're like already there, but it is so much more than
that.
So they have so many Biblestudies, so many series on all
(16:18):
kinds of topics yeah, and youcan do one and it is
pre-packaged, done for you.
If your students have phonesand you want to direct them to a
good way to use their phone,here's one for you and this is
what I tell them.
A lot Like you're, you have noexcuse to not read your bible
like it's on your phone, rightand well, I'm never on my phone,
(16:40):
yeah, right and these biblestudies are very bite-sized,
like the students can do them,like it will have like a reading
which is short it's usuallyabout five verses, and then
there's like about a twoparagraph sort of dive in
summary, and then there'susually a prayer prompt for them
(17:03):
and then sort of like an actionprompt and then it just will
kind of check box, like you didit for today, see you tomorrow,
kind of thing, and so it's likeI mean it's in their hands all
the time.
I don't even know if a lot ofstudents know the depth of what
the YouVersion Bible app iscapable of.
Thank you, craig Groeschel.
Him and his team developed itand they've done such a good job
(17:26):
and they do have a kid version.
I think it's—I need toinvestigate it a little more.
I'm just going to throw it outthere that it does exist, but I
think it's sort of on the youngside, I don.
I think it's sort of on theyoung side.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I don't think it's meant necessarily for students,
it's more for probably kids.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
So I think that the Bible studies I've been a part
of on the YouVersion Bible appare definitely like
understandable for students.
And then this is a new one thatI found recently that I'm like,
oh, this is kind of cool.
This is something I totallywould have used when I first
started youth ministryminibiblelessonscom.
(18:02):
So there are again like allthese different topics Like so.
For example, I kind ofinvestigated the one on anger.
Sometimes I struggle with anger.
Who would have thought?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
And I was like I want to see what they have to say.
Jeff would have thought I yeah,I don't want to say anything
anyway either way, cause I don'twant you to get angry, see.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So it's like the topic, and then it goes, it
gives the students likeseriously, it was like 10 verses
of like what does the Bible sayabout anger?
And then it's like gives thereference and the meaning.
The reference and the meaningof what it says, and then, kind
of like, takes them through,like let's digest what we just
(18:46):
read together.
And then sort of, here's whatwe do with it and.
I think these would be perfectto just print out and give to
your students and then they comeback the next week and you can
do a roundtable group discussion.
So this is perfect, like wetalked about this last week a
little bit as a discipleshipmodel.
If you have a smaller youthgroup and you don't want to do
(19:06):
just like sometimes it's awkwardlike I'm up here giving a 3.25
minute sermon to four kids likethe read the room a little bit.
This is weird, the energy's off.
Well, what you could do is youcould give them the bible study
and then have them do it at homeand you always have them out on
the table because they'll losethem or not bring them.
(19:27):
And then you guys bring it backand then your sermon is
literally you guys talking aboutand walking them through, you
know, and maybe you bring alittle something like tie it up
in a bow like some kind of youknow five minute, like little
snippet on the topic tointroduce it, and then you go to
(19:50):
the discussion like all right,we'll pull out your Bible
studies because I'm sure youguys had a lot that you, you
know, read last week orquestions, so let's sort of dive
in and then sorry the mic, andthen you do it together.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
So I think that's a really great Bible study thing
and many, many Bible lessons andmany, many BibleLessonscom.
It's adorable.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
What was the other one?
You?
I feel like someone brought itup in our Bible study and then
everyone was like oh my gosh, Ilove that.
Some video series.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
The Bible Project yes , you're always talking about
that.
Oh, I love the Bible Project.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I've never seen any of the videos.
What so?
Who is it geared towards?
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Oh, so anybody?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
And would that make this list?
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I would say junior high and up could understand it.
And yeah, I think you could.
I think I've used them as partof my sermons.
So I think I mean he has entirecourses.
Tim Mackey has entire coursesthat you can be a part of for
free.
By the way, speaking ofeducating yourself, you could go
(20:56):
take a course on you know thelife of Jesus for free from Dr
Tim Mackey.
I don't know if he's a doctor,but he should be.
So, tim, I know you listenevery week.
Are you a doctor?
Drop it in the comments below.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Is it on YouTube?
Yes, and it's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
So, yeah, like you could watch the video all
together and then talk about itand it could be a part of your
sermon.
I mean, you could send the kidsa link for them to watch it on
their own.
You know, every youth group issuch a different size and
structure.
I don't think that wouldnecessarily work for us, but
definitely using it as a part ofmy sermons has been huge.
(21:38):
So he has a video on almostevery book of the Bible.
So if you're starting, likeJames, you know, put it up so it
gives you like the overview.
He's illustrating and talkingat the same time while the other
guy's illustrating and he'stalking, and so it's like you're
the learning process is likefull circle.
(21:58):
I'm such a visual learner andso and then he has specialty
topics like spiritual beings andElohim or spiritual warfare or
the nature of God or what is sin.
You know all of this stuff thatare specialty topics that, yeah
, you could throw one of thoseup and then turn it into a Bible
study, you know, with yourstudents and he has notes on
(22:22):
like so it is on YouTube, butthe Bible Project has its own
website.
So, I've found sermon notes onthere.
I mean, it took my sermons fromlike a C plus to a plus because
, thank you to Mackie, it wasjust this stuff that blew my
mind.
So, yes, if you're not into theBible project yet, that is um,
(22:45):
that is good stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
I'm glad you brought that up.
And then this one is a classicand I'll oh, I thought you.
Sorry I was skipping.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yes, I'm glad you brought that up, and then this
one is a classic.
Oh, I thought you started, Iwas skipping ahead.
I thought that was your lastone before that Silly me.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
This one will be short, but I just had to throw
it in there because this is theway I learned to study the Bible
on my own.
As a junior higher, I went to aChristian school and my Bible
teacher, mr Kelly, had.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Dr Kelly.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Maybe school and my bible teacher, mr kelly, had dr
kelly, maybe he's not, oh sorry,he's not, unless he got some
more education after.
But anyways, he was very smart,loved him a lot and he would
have up on his desk for thetaking our daily bread and it
was great because it was justthese little booklets and they
were seasonal, so it'd be likeum seasoned bread.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Take two.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
All right, it'd be like june, july, august, and it
would be like a three-monththing all in one, and then every
day it would have a reading andthen a little excerpt and then
a final thought.
I know why you're laughing.
So, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I know why you're laughing.
I don't know why.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
So I was able to like literally read the Bible on my
own as a middle schooler everyday and I would say those
changed my life.
Like it got me in the word, itkept me disciplined, it felt
very doable, it was veryunderstandable and I personally
am a tangible person.
(24:21):
I love tangible calendars.
I love tangible books.
I mean, I only read on myKindle so that I can pass out
and go to sleep without turningoff my light, but I would rather
have a book, like I'm tangible,so grabbing our daily bread and
putting in my physical,tangible Bible.
I loved that routine as a 12year old of like here's my Bible
, here's my daily bread, I'm onthis page and like just
(24:45):
something about holding it andseeing it and interacting with
it was just very helpful for me.
I still have notes in my prayerjournal to this day from some
of the authors of Our DailyBread that were just so good.
They always will give like aquote and a verse and a passage,
and then they would have thisother little section on the page
(25:07):
for the day.
It was like, if you want toread the Bible in a year, here's
what you should read today.
And so I never did it, but itwas always a goal of mine.
And then as an adult I finallydid read through the entire
Bible, but it was kind of alwaysthere beckoning me of like, oh,
I should probably read thewhole Bible.
So it's just kind of cool toplant those seeds for students,
(25:30):
you know.
So I feel like between all ofthat, there's so much in there
to get you going, and if you'refeeling, you know, creative,
write a few of your own and flexthat muscle a little bit.
Why not?
It's your voice for yourstudents which is super valuable
.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, make sure you guys check out all the resources
.
We'll link everything below,including the books that you
mentioned and then all the otherwebsites and things like that,
so they're all in thedescription below.
And also, if you have any thatyou'd like to add to the list,
please put it in the commentsection below.
If you're watching on youtube,all right, let's do a community
comment of the day.
This comes from royalty blue,who says I'm planning for a
(26:08):
young people's camp for thefirst time and coming across
this channel and material isjust God sent.
You guys are resourceful.
God bless you.
Whale size what, what?
God bless you.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Whale size Like a whale size Bless me.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Oh because, there's no comma, so I don't think
they're calling us whale size.
I love that.
God bless you, whale size.
Sometimes, Either way, thankyou.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Well, I think I'm going to use that now I'm
stealing that.
I like that.
We appreciate it, and if Idon't like you, it'll be mouse
size.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Here's a mouse size blessing for you.
Thank you so much.
We appreciate you guys watchingand listening and we'll see you
next time.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
You do got to pay a little bit.
You have to pay a little bit,it's you know.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
One time, though, once you Whoa you have a spider
on your face.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I felt it.
I thought it was a hair.
Is it gone?
Was it a daddy long leg?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
No, it was like a.
It might've been a bug, I don'tknow.
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