Be honest when you answer this question and don't give yourself the Sunday School answer. What is the most improtant part of your youth meeting? Not what should be the most important part but what is the most important. Is it the great ice breakers, slick videos, incredible worship, creative room decor, or can you honestly say it is the teaching of the Word of God. Most would say the teaching but in reality looking at many youth ministries today they would be wrong. If that is the case how do we take what is most important and make it most important in our weekly youth meetings. Here are a couple principles to consider.

Principle of Expectation/ Last week when you stood up to teach were you expecting God to change lives? Did you pray and prepare with life change in mind? If our end goal is life change it will affect how we prepare and how we communicate.

Application: 1. Pray individually and as a team of youth leaders before each youth meeting asking God to change lives with his Word. 2. As you prepare and communicate your talk remember the Bible is king, trust it and use it. I cannot expect life change if I am relying on my words, stories, and jokes.

Principle of Delegation/ To engage students in the learning process it is important that we use creative elements. These elements usually do not come together the hour before we teach. They must be thought out, planned, and delegated. If you choose not to plan and delegate the impact of your teaching will suffer.

Application: 1. Plan your teaching schedule at least 3 months out. This gives you time to communicate to your leaders the direction of your teaching, get their ideas, and delegate any outside involvment (drama, videos, props you need) for each message. 2. Develop a creative team of 3-5 students. Their role is simply to give you ideas from culture that will relate your topic to their age group.   

What can you do in your ministry to make the teaching of the Word of God the most important

and exciting part of your night?