We have all been there. Our teenage child getting grumpy with us. They are tired and irritable. Is this simply hormones or they have stayed up too late or maybe they are concerned about something. Or is there a mobile phone lurking in the background. Recent studies have shown that mobile phone are affecting our […]
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. 27 He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then […]
Growing in Discipleship
Duncan Forbes has released another video about discipleship and using the Urban Catechism. Duncan defines discipleship: Discipleship is God’s image bearers spreading God’s rule broadly and deeply as they hear and speak God’s truth and become more like God’s image, Christ. Enjoy the video.
Harmony and Unity
Why do teenagers argue? Power A lack of power in their own lives makes it important for a teenager to grab it in social interaction. It can lead to a teen being part of a group only if things happen as they want them to happen. If it doesn’t happen as they want then leads […]
Real Growth: A new way to assess church growth
How can you measure church growth? Based on doctoral research on the Image of God and Council Estate discipleship, Duncan Forbes gives a new paradigm for viewing growth in our churches. This is session 1 of the Reaching The Unreached 2017 conference. For more info on RTU and reaching Council Estates, please go to http://urbanministries.org.uk/rtu.html […]
Jack and the Beanstalk
Once upon a time, there lived a widow woman and her son, Jack, on their small farm in the country. Every day, Jack would help his mother with the chores – chopping the wood, weeding the garden and milking the cow. But despite all their hard work, Jack and his mother were very poor with […]
What is Community Organising
Community Organising is bringing people together, to take action and to address concerns in their local community. It involves listening to people and to local groups. To find out what causes your community pain and what things your community wants to fight for. It is about the community organiser building relationships, building trust and building […]
Relational Youth Work
If you want to sell an idea, grab a few buzz words, add them to your idea and off you go. Well maybe not… but I don’t really know, I’m not a salesman! I am a youth worker and a buzz word that has appeared and gone and appeared again is ‘Relational’. Relational youth work […]
Temperament Types, Strengths and Weaknesses
Temperament broadly refers to consistent individual differences in behaviour that are biologically based and are relatively independent of learning, system of values and attitudes. Sanguine People with a sanguine personality type tend to be lively, optimistic, buoyant, and carefree. They love adventure and have high risk tolerance. They are poor at tolerating boredom and will […]
Icebreakers
Need an icebreaker. This is simple and can be used with a group of 8. They pick a number and then you ask the question related to that number. Start with set one and keep moving on, the questions get gradually ‘deeper’. Set One Describe what you would do on your ideal holiday? What do […]
Young People as Leaders
We need to lead young people into an active faith, with an exciting vision. Jesus’ model was to challenge and excite, “If you follow me, then I want you to do what I do. I want you to influence others and to change the communities around you.” He created disciples and if we want to […]
Youth Groups with 10 or less members
Start with who is in your hand We would all love a large youth club but rather than look for something you haven’t got, build on what you do have! Think of the parable of the talents Treasure those you’ve been entrusted with Build relationships and encourage them Invest in them And God will grow […]