Is your youth group the same every week? You know – a few songs, maybe a video, a talk then some announcements every week? We sometimes get in a rut, too, and perhaps we train students to tune out certain elements of the night. Well, they tune out the announcements for sure.

Here’s something we tried this week that got a little buzz among the other volunteers – the result was attentive students. Instead of placing everything in its own little programmed and expected box, we messed everything up. Here’s the order of service for this past weekend.

  • Welcome
  • Explain game (the endurance challenge I posted about earlier)
  • Throw footballs at game participant
  • Speaker intro talk
  • Check in on endurance test
  • Discussion questions
  • Funny video on endurance
  • Speaker point #1
  • Check in on endurance test
  • Discussion questions
  • Funny video on endurance
  • Speaker point #2
  • Check in on endurance test
  • Discussion questions
  • Funny video on endurance
  • Speaker point #3
  • End of endurance challenge
  • 2 songs
  • Quick closure of talk
  • 2 announcements
  • prayer

As we debriefed the weekend, it seemed like it was more of a familiar television format. Engage the audience right from the start, then give them breaks or “commercials” every 10 minutes or so. Right after the break, reengage them and get back into the story. It all ends with a powerful conclusion that leaves them with a glimpse at next week.

Interesting to change it up. Fun weekend.

JG