**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Object: This game is a mix of charades, listening, and tons of laughing! Supplies: Large bowl Timers Scrap pieces of paper (each student & leader need 3 pieces) Pens Preparation: Give each preteen a pen and three pieces of paper How to Play: Everyone will receive 3 […]
Bible Lesson: Are You Thirsty? (John 4)
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Lesson Title: Thirsty? (Woman at the Well) Bible Passage: John 4:7–10; 13–14 Bottom Line: Like water satisfies the body, Jesus satisfies the soul. OPENING GAME – HUNGRY? Supplies — Signs that say: Family, School, Sports, Shopping, T.V., Online Activity, Video Games. Feel free to modify this list […]
Game Idea: Beach Ball Stories
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Beach Ball Stories is designed specifically for preteens and is a great ice-breaker or review activity. If you are using it as an ice-breaker, then have preteens come up with a story on a random subject that you give them. If you are using it to […]
Game Idea: SLIP ‘N’ SLIDE ‘N’ GRAB
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Use this fun game in your preteen ministry this spring or summer. Supplies: Homemade Slip ‘N’ Slide made from plastic sheeting, baby shampoo, water hose, assortment of objects varying in size (small, medium, large, x-large) How to Make a Slip ‘N’ Slide: You can purchase plastic […]
“Washed Clean” an Easter Object Lesson for Preteens
* This guest post is from Matt Morgan, writer for preteenministry.net While Easter is still weeks away, it’s a great idea to be prepared way in advance. Here is a great preteen Easter object lesson. Enjoy! PREP Get a 1-gallon fish bowl or similar size clear vase. Fill the bowl with 50-60 ounces of water. Place […]
Helping Preteens Connect to Jesus
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net The beginning of the year is a great time to help preteens connect with God. With another year in full swing, students are open to new challenges and experiences. Use these ideas to connect preteens to Jesus: Journal Encourage preteens to journal. Consider buying a journal […]
How to Get Preteens Excited About the Bible
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Preteens often think the Bible is an ancient book that isn’t relative to their lives. Many believe that it is a list of strict rules to be followed. As they begin to think for themselves, preteens might even question its authenticity. With so many options to […]
Preteen Bible Lesson on Obeying Parents
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Looking for a great preteen Bible lesson? Use this one! Communicating the timeless message of the Bible in a culturally relevant way is important, which is why the lesson uses a clip from the movie Brave to drive home the point. The lesson also includes these […]
Making the Christmas Message Come Alive for Preteens
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net The story of Christmas is a familiar one to preteens.This is especially true of kids who have grown up attending church. Knowing the story of Jesus’ birth is life changing, how do we make the Christmas message “stick” in their hearts and minds? Here are some of […]
Christmas Lesson for Preteens “God is With Us”
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Reaching preteens can be tough. Here’s some help. This is a great Christmas lesson that is sure to impact the preteens in your ministry. It’s fun, experiential and adaptable to any ministry setting. Preteens will dig into the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy! IMMANUEL – GOD […]
“Build-A-Deer Workshop” Christmas Game for Preteens
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Object: This is a team-based game to see which team can create the most off-the-hook “reindeer” antlers in 5 minutes! Supplies: For each team provide: 1 new pair of brown or tan panty hose; 14-7″ balloons; 1 red gift bow and two 6–8″ lengths of Christmas ribbon; […]
How to Boost the Self-Image of Preteens
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Preteens are undergoing massive amounts of physical growth. Their height, weight, bones, muscles and internal organs are growing like crazy. Furthermore, the growth is often disproportional. Their feet might be growing faster than the rest of their bodies or their head is unusually large. This helps […]
3 Ways to Help Preteens with Peer Pressure
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net With back to school time, preteens are exposed to their peers more frequently. And when you put a group of pre-adolescents together for long periods of time, you can bet they will be influenced by one another’s actions. In other words, peer pressure surrounds them constantly. […]
Don’t Let Preteens Mentally “Check Out” in Your Ministry
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net With back to school time approaching, the preteen mind transitions out of autopilot mode. The mind now has to stay alert all day during school and for some time afterwards focusing on homework, which can be overwhelming. By the time they come to church on the […]
Strategies for Preteen Emotions
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Preteens are in transition from childhood to adolescence. As a result, undergoing massive amounts of change on all fronts – spiritually, socially, mentally and emotionally. Let’s take a look at some their emotional changes and what you can do to accommodate those changes. Emotional changes of […]
Helping Preteens: Back to School
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net While summer is still in full swing, in just a few weeks many preteens will be back in school. The long summer days filled with swimming, snow cones, endless video game playing, the beach and staying up late will soon be gone. For preteens, back to […]
“Courage” Bible Study for Preteens
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Movie Clip: We Bought a Zoo Topic: Courage Bible Passage: David and Goliath—1 Samuel 17 Activity: “20 Seconds” This activity can be done in small groups or as individuals in a larger group. Create a list of physical activities such as running in place, jumping jacks, […]
Going the Extra Mile in Preteen Ministry
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net My 10 year-old son Ethan, plays baseball. His team lost the first game in the playoffs, but they are determined to not give up. In fact, they had practice Memorial Day weekend. The baseball fields are usually packed with kids of all ages on any given […]
Object Lessons from the Movie “Avengers”
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net I recently took my two boys to see the movie, The Avengers. We loved it! In the movie Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, Hawkeye, Captain America and Iron Man team up to stop the evil Loki from destroying the world. The Avengers is #1 at box […]
Free Preteen Bible Lesson on Revenge
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Topic: Revenge Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Bible Passage: David spares Saul’s Life: 1 Samuel 24 Activity: When? Where? Why? & How? Respond: Leave a comment below with your feedback on this lesson. Divide preteens into small groups. Give each group a large sheet of […]