ym360 the magazine | bible study resources and training | fall 2014

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CHANGING YOUR YOUTH MINISTRY TO ADAPT TO CULTURE 5 IMPORTANT YOUTH CULTURE TRENDS BECOME A BETTER BIBLE TEACHER Fall 2014 | Issue 03 INTRODUCING: The Jesus Studies | INCLUDED INSIDE: The ym360 Fall 2014 Product Catalog 10 DISCIPLESHIP TRUTHS (LEARNED THE HARD WAY) // THE MAGAZINE //

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A magazine full of Bible study resources, training, and more! Designed for youth workers.

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Page 1: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

CHANGING YOUR YOUTH MINISTRY TO ADAPT TO CULTURE

5 IMPORTANT YOUTH CULTURE

TRENDS

BECOME A BETTER BIBLE TEACHER

Fall 2014 | Issue 03

INTRODUCING: The Jesus Studies | INCLUDED INSIDE: The ym360 Fall 2014 Product Catalog

10

DISCIPLESHIP

TRUTHS

(LEARNED THE HARD WAY)

// THE MAGAZINE //

Page 2: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

PAGE 3

Trends &Culture

PAGE 5

10 Discipleship Truths (LEARNED THE HARD WAY)

Thank You For What You Do. . .

Being a youth worker is an incredibly rewarding, yet incredibly challenging job. Here at ym360 our passion and focus is to serve, equip, and encourage you as you minister to teenagers. There’s no greater calling than helping teenagers live their lives with a singular focus: to glorify Christ in all that they do. Seeing them grow in relationship with Christ is what it’s all about. Even though it’s hardly ever easy, it’s worth it, so keep up the great work!

As you flip through the pages of this magazine, don’t hesitate to share any questions or thoughts with us. We’re easy to get in touch with and we’d love to talk.

In the trenches with you,

The ym360 Team

Meet the rest of our team here: youthministry360.com/team

OUR PROMISE TO YOU: Content MattersLike you, we desire to see your teens transformed by growing closer to Christ. When it comes to Bible Studies and Resources, we promise to always be about deep, Biblical content, never forgetting the call God has put on our lives to make Him and His ways known.

Happy Youth MinistersWe work hard to exceed your expectations. If you’re not completely satisfied with a ym360 purchase, we promise to do all we can to make it right.

Here For YouBottom line: we’re here for you. We promise to always be available. No need is too small.

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Here When You Need Us: youthministry360.com | Call: 888.969.6360 Here When You Need Us: youthministry360.com | Call: 888.969.6360

1 2CONTENTS CONTENTS

Page 3: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

PAGE 6Become A Better

Bible TeacherHERE’S HOW . . .

PAGE 9

Helping Parent’s WITH THE “DOUBT” QUESTIONS

TRENDS/CULTURE + TRAINING + TOOLSYouth Worker Sound Off ................................ 8Adapting Youth Ministry To Culture ............... 10The 6 (Biblical) Discipleship Traits ............... 12

A FREEBIE Jesus and Your Image Lesson ....................... 13

RESOURCES + CURRICULUM Bible Studies......................................... 15-16Bundles (best value!) .................................. 17Devotionals, Books for Teens ................... 18-20More Youth Ministry Resources ..................... 21

NETWORKING PARTNERS AND FRIENDS OF OURS .................... 22-30

YouthWorks // domestic missions

Student Life // summer camps

Shocco Springs // retreat and conference center

Servant Life // global missions

Simply Youth Ministry // resources

Planet Wisdom // student conferences

Youth Specialties // youth worker conferences

Compassion International // fight poverty

Here When You Need Us: youthministry360.com | Call: 888.969.6360

WHAT’S INSIDE:

PAGE 14Fall Product Catalog

1 2CONTENTS CONTENTS

Page 4: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Millennials Spend 18 Hours A Day Consuming Media.According to Crowdtap, a social analytics plat-form, Millennials are apparently spending 18 hours per day consuming media. The hours are compounded, meaning that a person watching TV and checking Instagram at the same time for one hour would rack up two hours of media consumption -- one for each device. Millennials spend 18% of their time on social networking sites, 20% browsing the Internet, 13% watching live TV, and 10% watching pre-recorded TV. (Source: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/221178/millennials-consume-content-every-waking-hour-and.html?edi-tion=70787)

SEEING IS NOT BELIEVINGHaving grown up in the age of Photoshop, Instagram filters, and catfishing, Millennials are hyperaware of the ways that they can be “fooled.” 84% of Millennials have believed something that they saw or read to be true or real, only to find out later that it wasn’t, and that number increases to 94% for those under 18-years-old. (Source: http://www.ypulse.com/post/view/a-sneak-peak-of-the-ypulse-lifeline-report)

US TEENS SCORE HIGH ON GLOBAL WELL-BEING INDEX

According to the Global Youth Wellbeing Index, a cooperative study conducted by several agencies, half of the world’s population is

now under the age of 25, and 1.8 billion people are between the ages of 10 and 25. The Index looked at six categories to assess the overall well-being of these young people, across 30 different

countries. Australia tops the list of the highest well-being, while the US comes in 6th. The country where young people have the lowest

well-being? Nigeria. (Source: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3029098/change-generation/the-countries-where-youth-

are-doing-the-best-and-the-worst)

Bullied Teens Far

More Likely

to Bring

Weapon to

School “Victims of bullying who

have been threatened, en-gaged in a fight, injured, or

had property stolen or dam-aged are much more likely

to carry a gun or knife to school,” said senior inves-tigator Andrew Adesman. The research, conducted

by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, esti-mates that over 200,000 students have brought a

weapon to school. Because of this, the report suggests

that the greatest focus should be on the victims of bullies most likely to carry a weapon and potentially use deadly force if threatened.

(Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/05/bullied-teens-far-more-like-

ly-to-bring-weapon-to-school/69448.html)

STUDENTS CAN’T RESIST DISTRACTION FOR TWO MINUTES.Are gadgets making us dumb-er? Two new studies suggest they might be. One found that people who are interrupted by technology score 20 percent lower on a standard cognition test. A second demonstrated that some students, even when on their best behavior, can’t concentrate on homework for more than two minutes without distracting themselves by using social media or writing an email. (Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/students-cant-resist-distraction-two-minutes-neither-can-you-f1C9984270)

3 TRENDS & CULTURE

Page 5: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

GET STARTED TODAY: youthministry360.com/jesus-studies>>> or for more, see pg. 15

13 STUDIES TO CHOOSE FROM ________________________________

Up to 52 Weeks of Material

Jesus and Identitya 4-lesson Bible Study

Jesus And Identity Jesus And Your Faith Jesus And Culture Jesus And Loving Others

JESUS AND MEAN PEOPLEA 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY

JESUS ANDYOUR FUTURE A 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY

Jesus & Relationships

A 4-Lesson Bible Study

Jesus And Relationships Jesus And Your Future Jesus And Mean People Jesus And Stuff

JeSus and

StRes§A 4-Lesson Bible Study

Jesus And Tough Times Jesus And Your Image Jesus And Stress Jesus And Forgiveness Jesus And Influence

Help teens see what Jesus says about pressing, day-to-day, real life issues.

QUESTIONS?Contact Lee, our

resident JS [email protected]

888.969.6360 x 702

B R A N D N E W !

Page 6: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

I’ve been doing youth ministry for something like 14 years. I like to think I have learned a little bit of the right way and the wrong way to do things. Mostly what I have learned is that there is a lot still to be learned, but maybe that’s another article for another day.

FOR TODAY, HERE ARE 10 TRUTHS ABOUT LEADING OTHERS, SPECIFICALLY TEENAGERS, IN A DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY.

I have at times overestimated the affect of my influence in the lives of teenagers whom I have discipled. Discipleship happens primarily because the Spirit is working in the lives of students. The older I get the more thankful I am that this is true.

A friend of mine used to say that discipleship was “crock pot stuff,” not “microwave stuff.” This great little analogy has stuck with me over the years. It reminds me to be patient and to take a long-term view of things.

Discipleship doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Teen-agers’ lives are a complex system where parents, friends, other adults, and their immediate cultural contexts all contribute to impact their faith. We are only one of many voices.

Life-on-life discipleship is fun. If you’re not hav-ing fun with your students, you’re doing it wrong.

Life-on-life discipleship is not always fun. If you’re not occasionally walking through the valley, you’re not doing it right.

Agendas are rarely a positive thing. When we come into a relationship with a preconceived im-age of what someone’s spiritual life should look

like, frustration (and sometimes pain) is sure to follow.

Discipleship can’t happen without knowledge. We have to know God to follow Him. But I have at times in the past made discipleship more about knowledge than action. I think discipleship is about knowledge informing action. It’s helping teenagers see how knowing God can literally transform their actions and attitudes.

I have benefited immensely from reading about discipleship practices and philosophy. But much if not most of it gets tossed out the window when you’re trying to study the Bible with five 7th grade boys.

Discipleship is every bit about tomorrow as it is about today. I want my teenage guys to be influ-encers and leaders today for the sake of Christ. But I also want them to be awesome husbands and fathers. I hope to play a small role on both ends of this spectrum.

I like to think about the discipleship journey in terms of proximity. In essence, we attempt to lead teenagers closer to Christ. Most of the time this is done beside them, journeying with them as they go. Often we’re close behind them, gently pushing them in the right direction. Occasionally we’re in front, pulling them where they need to go. And every once in a while, we’re far behind, watching them lead out. These are the best times.

Andy is the co-founder of ym360. He loves Jesus, his wife, their four kids, and baseball.

10 Discipleship Truths (LEARNED THE HARD WAY) By Andy Blanks

5 FEATURE

Page 7: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

BECOME A BETTER BIBLE TEACHER. HERE’S HOW . . . Regardless of whether you’re a beginner, or you’ve been teaching the Bible for years, you’re going to love “The 7 Best Practices For Teaching Teenagers The Bible.” Andy Blanks, author of “7 Best” has been designing and writing Bible Study curriculum for well over a decade. More importantly, he’s taught the Bible weekly to teenagers (and adults) for about as long. He’s passionate about what happens when teenagers truly engage with God through encountering Him in the Bible. This is what motivated him to write 7 Best Practices.

Each of the 7 Best Practices gets it’s own chapter. The concept is explained in creative and engaging ways. Then, Andy gives ton of practical examples to help you implement the practices in your ministry.

Here are the 7 Best Practices for teaching the Bible.

Best Practice 1: Engage With God Best Practice 2: Prepare Well, Teach Well Best Practice 3: Context Is Key Best Practice 4: Embrace Unpredictability Best Practice 5: Plan For Interaction Best Practice 6: Teach For Application Best Practice 7: Know Your Role

If you’re interested in picking up a copy for yourself or one for each of your volunteers, head to the ym360 Store where you’ll find previews of the book, and great discounts on bulk copies (see page 17 for bulk pricing).

To learn more, go to youthministry360.com/7-best-practices

6RESOURCES

Page 8: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

A 2-year Bible Study CurriculumDesigned To Help Teens Know And Live Their Faith

25 STUDIES TO CHOOSE FROM — OR TEACH THEM ALL.

Help Your Teens Thrive In Their Faith. GET STARTED TODAY! youthministry360.com/elements

QUESTIONS?Contact Lee, our

elements [email protected]

888.969.6360 x 702

>>> for more info, see pg. 15

Page 9: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

There’s nothing like the voice of experience! We asked some of the awesome youth work-ers in the ym360 Community to sound off on a few questions. We compiled their answers so

you can learn from some of the best youth ministers out there. Enjoy!

1. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting out in youth ministry?

Alanna Arceneaux (Minister of Education and Discipleship, Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville, LA) Early on, I spent a lot time trying to befriend and relate to students. I thought if I loosened up on some of my standards and rules they would like me more, and then I could teach and lead them. I wish someone would have told me that students would respect me much more had I just been myself. Looking back, I see some opportunities I forfeited to show students what following Christ really looks like for the sake of being their friends. The reality is that teens have friends; they need more from their leaders.

Josh Evans (Family Pastor, Oakleaf Campus, Trinity Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL ) The value & reason of why it is important to create a family ministry more than simply a student ministry. I don’t think I saw the value and necessity for reaching the entire family. I only saw the teenager.

2. What’s been your biggest challenge over the past year and how did God grow your faith through it?

Eric Gargus (Minister of Youth/Outreach, Marie Baptist Church, Dublin, GA) I converted our “big summer trip” to a mission trip after years of great camps and retreats. It was a little risky at first, but now that the trip has come and gone successfully, the students unanimously want to do a mission trip instead of a camp again next year! God showed me that passion for serving Him is alive and well in yet another group of students. Why was I so concerned it wouldn’t go over well? Oh “me” of little faith!

3. What’s been your biggest “win” over the last year?

Joshua Knierim (Student Pastor at Valleydale Church, Birmingham, AL) Our biggest win has been seeing our students invest in other students. Whether it’s through inviting friends to our programs, sharing their story with classmates, or mentoring some of our younger students, so many of our students have begun to take ownership of their calling to be disciple-makers.

4. Discipleship is tricky process at times. What’s an example of something you’re doing in your ministry that’s really helping students grow in their faith?

Leneita Fix (Training/Missions Coordinator BowDown Church, West Palm Beach, FL, Co-Founder FrontLine Urban Resources) Discipleship is about being intentional. In

creating discipleship with students there’s an intentionality in growing them in their faith in every way. This means we teach life skills that are practical (what

does a daily walk with Jesus LOOK like in the music, media, and choices you make), learning the Word (Bible study and growth in Scripture),

prayer, conversation, service (daily and as a lifestyle not only “trips), and finally learning to be a leader TODAY in the

context God has given you while building mo-mentum to walk with Jesus your

whole life.

25 STUDIES TO CHOOSE FROM — OR TEACH THEM ALL.

YOUTH WORKERSOUNDOFF

8YOUTH WORKER SOUND OFF

Page 10: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Whose fault is it when a student falls away from the faith? As youth workers we can become in-trospective and decide the burden is on us. We can also look outwardly and place the “blame” on the parents. If they would just stop treating us like experts in the faith life of their kids and be a little more attentive, then perhaps their children would be in a better place with Jesus.

THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS THAT THIS IS THE WRONG WAY TO THINK ABOUT DOUBT AND FAITH.

First of all, doubt can be a very healthy part of faith ownership. We don’t have to be scared of it. And neither do our students’ parents. At some point doubt may very well creep into the hearts of some of our students. They may find themselves asking questions like: “How can I really follow a God I can’t see or touch?” or “How do I know He is lis-tening when I talk, because a lot of times it feels like He isn’t?” These aren’t easy questions. Youth workers and parents alike may not feel qualified to answer them (in part because many times they’re struggling with similar questions themselves, or feel ill equipped to give the “correct” answers).

So how can we begin to think about doubt and faith in a way that engages our students’ in a way that leads them toward Christ and not away from Him?

We have to genuinely partner with parents. We need to remind parents that the best thing they

can do for their kids is to show up. Let them know they are the experts because their child is theirs. Walk alongside them through their teenager’s jour-ney through doubt. Put resources in their hands. Set them up for success.

Let them know it’s OK to still have questions as an adult. In Jeremiah 29:13 God says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Help parent’s know it’s alright to say to their children, “Sometimes I wonder about that too. Let’s look for the answers together.” When we look for the Lord with our whole heart, we will always find Him. He honors our search. Always.

Understand that faith is a hard concept for us to fully grasp, one we are all working out for a life-time. Many of our questions won’t be answered until we see Jesus face-to-face. This is true for parent, child, and youth worker. I often say to both parents and students, “We can’t trust someone we don’t know.” Let’s help parents know having all the answers isn’t the point at all. It’s about building a life-long relationship with our Savior.

Doubt doesn’t have to be something we’re scared of. By walking alongside students, and their par-ents, we can turn doubt into a fruitful search for God.

Leneita Fix is a ym360 Blog Contributor and has worked on curriculum, as well. A prolific writer and speaker, Leneita will release her first book with ym360 in 2014.

HELPING PARENT’S WITH THE “DOUBT” QUESTIONS By Leneita Fix

9 FEATURE

Page 11: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

DID YOU KNOW the ym360 Blog has over 800 articles?

The ym360 Blog is an awesome library of training articles, trends & culture updates, and free stuff.

I recently ate lunch with some great friends, both of whom are in ministry. We spent a good portion of our time asking the same questions youth pastors across the country are asking.

•Isourprogramminginarut? •Whatdowedoaboutdecliningnumbers? •Howdowereachmorestudentsinourcommunity?

It’s not like we’re the first generation of youth workers to look for the answers to these questions. But I believe we find our-selves in a unique cultural place, a place that makes asking and answering these questions more important than ever. Here’s what I mean...

Mainstream US culture is as un-religious it has ever been. Study after study after study confirms that US teenagers are coming of age in a culture that is less aligned with what might be considered a “Christian worldview” than in any time in our country’s history. This dramatically affects how teenagers view the institution of Church, and their faith in general. The front door of the Church is no longer the front door to faith. I think the boat has sailed on the “seeker” mentality that drove the church growth movement of the 80’s and 90’s. I don’t believe there are large numbers of young people who are undecided about Church. Most people have formed their opinion. And if they aren’t in church, for most it’s because they’ve consciously said it’s not for them. If we want to draw people in to our faith communities, we can’t open the doors, have some pizza, and expect them to flock to us. We have to go to them.

Youth group (and maybe Church attendance in general) is seen as just another extra curricular activity, not an essential part of the identity of a Christ-follower. My friend Ben Kerns, a great youth minister who blogs at averageyouthministry.com, refers to this phenomenon as seeing youth group involvement as just another “elective.” More than ever, parents are putting church involvement on the same level with football, AAU basketball, cheer, band, dance, and so on. When students are allowed to choose, guess what often loses out? (You don’t have to guess, you’ve seen it in your attendance.)

If we’re going to successfully lead teenagers closer to Christ against a cultural backdrop where a mono-theistic belief system is increasingly seen as a sign of low IQ, we have to ask the tough questions about our ministry philosophy and practices. And we have to search hard for the right answers.

The beautiful thing? The Church is the Bride. She is God’s plan to reach the world. She isn’t going anywhere. She isn’t going to die. We are however in the midst of a dynamic, maybe even unprecedented, cultural shift that forces us to adjust.

Are you asking the right questions?

Andy is the co-founder of ym360. He loves Jesus, hiswife, their four kids, and baseball.

Changing Your Youth Ministry To Adapt To Culture

Here is a sample of one of the awesome articles from the ym360 Blog.

10FROM THE YM360 BLOG

Page 12: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

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THE PAUSE: Learning to Seek GodThe Pause teaches teens to “hit pause”

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Page 13: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

It’s hard to hit a moving target. Before you can lead teen-agers to be disciples, you need an image of what one looks like, a picture to use as the projected outcome of your min-istry efforts. And so we searched the New Testament to see how the Bible described Christ-followers. What we found was pretty cool.

WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, THOSE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO FOLLOWING JESUS, WHAT DOES IT SAY? WHAT PICTURE DOES IT PAINT?

We’ve actually released these traits in a FREE discipleship e-book you can find here: youthministry360.com/6-discipleship-traits

But because we want to get you thinking before you even go download your e-book, we wanted to share the 6 Disciple-ship Traits here. Here are the six traits of biblical discipleship that you want to see in the lives of your students.

Discipleship Trait 1: Surrender To A Gospel-Centered LifeThe Gospel message is about grace, and love, and victory. As followers of Christ, the Gospel message should be central in our lives. Every aspect of who we are should be dripping with the Gospel.

Discipleship Trait 2: Hunger To Know GodGod gave us His word as the primary way of communicating Himself to us. Through meeting God in His Word, we come as close to a face-to-face encounter as we can this side of Heaven. A hunger for knowing God through His Word and through prayer is vital in the lives of His followers.

Discipleship Trait 3: Embrace Christian CommunityChristian community is more than fellowship and deeper than friendship. Christian community is the God-given space in which we’re supposed to live out our lives. Throughout Scripture we see God authorizing life done in community. And this community is to be different because it’s supposed to take on the character of God, Himself.

Discipleship Trait 4: Engage With Our Surroundings As Christ-followers, we’re called to engage our neighbor-hood, our city, our country, and the world in the name of Christ. This is done through compassionate service, the “do-ing” of the Gospel. It’s selfless service in Jesus’ name for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

Discipleship Trait 5: Desire To Worship GodFor the Christ-follower, worship should be understood as simply this: a right response to who God is. If worship is our response to God when we encounter Him, and we encounter God all around us every day, then we can quickly see that worship must go beyond the sanctuary on Sunday mornings!

Discipleship Trait 6: Invest In Multiplying DisciplesThere are two types of multiplication: Kingdom multiplica-tion, and individual multiplication. Kingdom multiplication is the speaking of the Gospel, or evangelism. Individual multiplication is the expectation that as Christ-followers, we will be shepherding younger Christ-followers. It’s disciples making disciples.

Do you see these traits in your students? If not, what will it take to move toward this picture of discipleship?

PICTURETHE

OF AFOLLOWERExamining The 6 (Biblical) Traits of Disciples

126 DISCIPLESHIP TRAITS

Page 14: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Did you know that ym360 has over 40 free resources available on the ym360 website?

Week 1: Lesson Plan ©2014 youthministry360

Jesus And Your ImageLesson 1: Image is Everything

What we want students to learn: That “denying ourselves” means our image is to be driven more by who God is and less by who we are.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To step back and evaluate the image they present to the world and whether it’s focused more on them or on Christ.

Scripture Focus: Mark 8:34-38

Supporting Scripture: John 3:27-30

Overview: Your teenagers are brand managers. And they are the brand. With every selfie, every Ins-tagram post, every tweet, they shape how they are perceived. For better or worse, they are extremely image conscious. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But what does this idea of image control have to do with being a Christ-follower? Good thing Jesus had a ton to say about this. This first lesson will help define what exactly you mean by “image,” and how your students’ conception of image should be tied more to who God is and less of who they are.

Teacher Prep Video The Jesus And Your Image Teacher Prep Videos are short videos designed to help you grasp the main points of the lessons as you prepare to teach.

To access your “Jesus And Your Image Lesson 1 Teacher Prep Video,” click on the URL below. • https://youthministry360.com/jesus-and-your-image-teacher-prep

Bible BackgroundThe Bible Background is designed to help you provide some context for the Scripture you’ll be studying. The Details gives you background info for each book, The Setting informs you what’s happening in and around the passage, and The Main Point gives you an overview of how the passage will be used in the lesson. • What do we mean by “context”? In every ym360 Bible study lesson, you’ll notice we make a point

to encourage you to provide the context for the passages you study. By “context” we mean at the very least helping students know who wrote the book, when it was written, and why it was written.

• What’s The Big Deal? When we teach the Bible without giving context, students don’t get a “big picture” understanding of the story of the Bible. But this view is vital to grasping the story of God’s plan of redemption for humankind. As you teach, use the Bible Background to help summarize the context.

The Details • Author: The Gospel of Mark was written by its namesake. Mark, also known as John Mark, is be-

lieved to have received most of his information for his Gospel from Peter’s firsthand accounts. • Time frame: Mark is thought to have written his Gospel in the mid 50’s AD. • Purpose: Mark was writing primarily for a non-Jewish audience. His Gospel explains Jewish cus-

toms to non-Jews in an effort to get them to see the big picture of Jesus’ identity.

The SettingIn the chapters preceding Mark 8, Mark regales his audience with a fast-paced account of Jesus’ early min-istry. We read about Jesus traveling in and around Galilee, preaching and healing. We read the story of John

It’s true. Simply click on our FREE STUFF tab and you will find a treasure chest of free lessons, devotions, games, and more.

This is an example of one of our FREE lessons. It’s from our Jesus and Your Image Bible study and is available for FREE in the Free Stuff section of our website.

If you want to see the entire lesson, simply go to: youthministry360.com/image-lesson

13 FREE BIBLE STUDY

Page 15: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

From ongoing curriculum to games and resources for your adult leaders, we’ve got your ministry resource needs covered. Our online store has over 100 youth ministry resources and is growing all the time. The next few pages include some of our most popular!

>>>

Bible Study Resources

14THE YM360 RESOURCE CATALOG

Page 16: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Jesus And Identity$24.99

Jesus And Your Faith$24.99

Jesus And Culture$24.99

Jesus And Loving Others$24.99

Jesus And Tough Times$24.99

Jesus And Your Image$24.99

Jesus and Identitya 4-lesson Bible Study

JESUS AND MEAN PEOPLEA 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY

JESUS ANDYOUR FUTURE A 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY

Jesus & Relationships

A 4-Lesson Bible Study

JeSus and

StRes§A 4-Lesson Bible Study

Jesus And Stress$24.99

Jesus And Forgiveness$24.99

Jesus And Influence $24.99

Jesus And Relationships$24.99

Jesus And Your Future$24.99

Jesus And Mean People$24.99

Jesus And Stuff$24.99

Choose Your Studies, Or Teach All 52-weeksTeach Them All With All-Access | Best Value: $219youthministry360.com/jesus-studies

Teach The Jesus Studies and help teens see what Jesus says about pressing, day-to-day issues.

A 2-year Bible Study Curriculum Teach elements and help teens understand the essentials of their faith with these Gospel-centered Bible studies.

Each study 3 lessons: teach one, a few, or teach them all!

Only 19.99 ea OR lock in 2 years with All-Access

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THE YM360 ALL-ACCESS BUNDLE – 3 YEARS OF INCREDIBLE CONTENT!Get The Jesus Studies + elements And You’ll Save Big.127 total lessons | retail: 518.00 | your price: 449.00youthministry360.com/aa-bundle

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15 THE YM360 RESOURCE CATALOG

ONGOING CURRICULUM

Page 17: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Vivid: A 6-Lesson Study On The Book Of James

Do your students’ lives reflect their beliefs? Vivid will challenge

your students to evaluate their faith and their actions, to identify where

the two don’t match up.

6 Lessons download || 49.99physical || 69.99

Proof: A 6-Lesson Study On The Book Of John

“Who is Jesus?” Proof teaches students who Christ is and what it

truly means to be known by Him through studying the life of Christ.

6 Lessons download || 49.99 physical || 69.99

Focus: A 6-Lesson Study On The Book Of Colossians

Using Paul’s words in Colossians, Focus challenges students to live their lives in a way that reflects a single-minded devotion to Christ.

6 Lessons download || 49.99physical || 69.99

Reach: A 6-Lesson Study On The Book Of Psalms

Teach Reach to show your students what an active and dynamic

relationship with God looks like.

6 Lessons download || 49.99physical || 69.99

Live Different: What The Bible Says About Sex And Holiness

Today’s teenager lives in a hyper-sexualized culture. Live Different

teaches students God’s intent for sex, how God views sex outside of this

intent, and God’s call to live a life of holiness in a sexually immoral world.

4 Lessons download || 34.99physical || 49.99

The Least Of These: God, Poverty, and You

No matter where you go in this world, you’ll find poverty and

suffering. Many ask, “Why would God allow suffering?” The Least Of These helps your students answer

this question, and discover their role in helping the poor.

4 Lessons download || 34.99physical || 49.99

Engage: Impacting A Hostile World

The world your students live in is almost universally opposed to the

basic principles of God’s Kingdom. So, do students immerse themselves in culture? Do they flee from it? Engage

challenges your students with a call to impact the world around them in the

name of Christ.

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The Gospel: What It Is and How It Changes Us

Regardless of where your students are spiritually, here’s your chance to teach them exactly what the Gospel is and

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THESE BIBLE STUDIES ARE GREAT FOR SUNDAY, MID-WEEK, LARGE OR SMALL GROUPS. WITH UP TO 36 WEEKS AVAILABLE, THESE MAKE A

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16THE YM360 RESOURCE CATALOG

MORE CURRICULUM

Page 18: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, THESE ARE FOR YOU. WE’VE TAKEN SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR RESOURCE OPTIONS AND BUNDLED THEM UP AT A GREAT VALUE FOR YOU. ENJOY!

ym360 Book Study Bundle

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ym360 Edge Bundle

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ym360 Book Study Trio

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ym360 Bible Study Super Pack Includes: Vivid, Proof, Live Different, The Least Of These, and Engage24 lessons

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ym360 36-Week Bible Study Bundle Includes: Vivid, Proof, Focus, Reach, Live Different, The Least of These, and Engage36 lessons

retail || 429.93 download || 229.00 physical || 259.00

New: First Steps For New Christ Followers (10 Pack)A must have on hand at all times. Grab a case and stock up!

retail || 99.00Your case price || 79.90 Call for extra large orders!

The 7 Best Practices For Teaching Teens The Bible (10 or 20 Pack)Perfect for your volunteer leaders; get a copy for them all.

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Your case price || (10 copies) 89.90 (20) 159.80Call for extra large orders!

(NT) and (OT) Encounters, Student Devotionals (10 Pack)These 4-week devotionals are great daily Bible study.

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17 THE YM360 RESOURCE CATALOG

BUDGET-FRIENDLY BUNDLES

Page 19: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

(NT) and (OT) Encounters, Student Devotionals (10 Pack)These 4-week devotionals are great daily Bible study.

Retail || 79.90Your case price || 59.90Call for extra large orders!

HELP YOUR TEENS ENGAGE WITH GOD IN HIS WORD WITH THESE POWERFUL DEVOTIONALS. EASY-TO USE, CREATIVE, DEVELOPEDWITH YOUR TEENS IN MIND!

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(Extra)Ordinary FINALLY, A 365-DAY DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL YOUR STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY READ.

(Extra)Ordinary isn’t like other year-long devotional journals. There are three different sections so teens can choose where they want to pick up each day based on how they feel. (Extra)Ordinary features the following sections:

• Ordinary Times: Over 100 image-driven devotions perfect for everyday life.• Crazy Times: 10-day, issue specific devotions for when life gets crazy. • Holiday Times: Special devotions for Lent, Advent/Christmas, even their Birthday!

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New: First Steps For New Christ Followers

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(OT) Encounters

Journey through the lives of some of the Old Testament’s most interesting people. Includes a key truth and guided application for each day!4 weeks

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(NT) Encounters

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NEXT: Growing A Faith That Lasts

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18THE YM360 RESOURCE CATALOG

DEVOTIONS FOR STUDENTS

Page 20: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

BONUS FEATURE: Download a FREE (optional) 4-lesson Bible study guide and mentor teens along the way.

Currently used in 1,500+ youth groups, this is one of the best new believer resources you’ll find!

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Help New Believers Thrive In Their Faith

This interactive devotional journal helps new believers understand what it means to be “new”, what it means to see God in

a “new” way, and what it means to live out the call to follow Christ.

NEW is prefect for new believers, intro to discipleshippurposes, and those young in their faith.

Page 21: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Introducing “NEXT,” the 4-week devotional journal that helps challenge and equip your students to take ownership of growing deeper in their faith.

What If There Were a Resource to Help Your Students Take Ownership of Their Faith?Well, Now There Is.

“NEXT” will teach your students. . . • Why it’s important to

own their faith

• What their life’s purpose has to do with God’s mission

• How to build spiritual habits that last a lifetime

• How to use the influence they already have for Christ.

To view samples of NEXT and to order for your students, go to youthministry360.com/next

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Page 22: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

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Page 23: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

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Page 24: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014
Page 25: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

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Page 28: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

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Page 31: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014
Page 32: ym360 The Magazine | Bible Study Resources and Training | Fall 2014

Students don’t start (Extra)Ordinary at the beginning and end at the end. They can choose where they want to read each day based on how they feel. There are three different sections:

•OrdinaryTimes:Over100image-drivendevotionsperfectforeverydaylife. •CrazyTimes:24,issuespecificcollectionsofdevotionsforwhenlifegetscrazy. •HolidayTimes:SpecialdevotionsforLent,Advent/Christmas,eventheirBirthday!

(EXTRA)ORDINARYisanamazingdevotionalbecauseofitsuniquedesign.Youwon’tfindanother365-daydevotionquitelikeit.

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INTRODUCING: The Jesus Studies | INCLUDED INSIDE: The ym360 Fall 2014 Product Catalog