Joshua Griffin is the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. He is a father of 4 and in full-time youth ministry for 15+ years. Griff speaks a little, writes a little, Twitters a bit and blogs a lot. MTDB gets multiple updates a day - subscribe and hang on!
Resources by Josh Griffin
99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders - $6.99
99 Thoughts for Youth Leaders - $4.99
Live Large Be Different Shine Bright $9.99
The Way I'm Wired DVD Kit - $34.95
and more ...
MTDB has 5,773 posts and 15,551 comments.
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simplyinsider.com
The Husband & Wife YM Life
Justin at 6:23pm, February 10, 2012Before we ever even started dating we were both in youth ministry. John was a teacher and volunteer. Leneita was considered the ?full time, paid? youth pastor. We will never forget the day that the Lord ?knit? our visions together and walked us into ministry with ?unchurched? kids. From that day forward we never did ministry ?separately.?That journey ?together?began about 15 years ago.
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These years have brought a variety of challenges in ministry, life and marriage. Along the way we have added children to the mix. Yet,with each passing moment we have both been “in the trenches? youth workers, who happen to be joined at the soul and the hip. Hurdles have included everything from planning programming for youth to personal financial burdens. Expectations of how a Christian couple in ministry should ?look?were thrust upon us by many others. And each expectation looked slightly different. At first, it was exhausting to try and be who everyone else thought we should be. Somewhere along the way we realized the only way we could find peace as a couple was to be who God wanted us to be as a couple. That has made all the difference.
DISCOUNTED REGISTRATIONS are still AVAILABLE
It has been said often that the best way to learn and grow in our Christian walk is to mentor and teach. There are two sides to this, what we ?do? and who we ?are? as a [...]
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juniorhighministry.com
Exactly Dodgeball
Scott at 1:44pm, February 10, 2012Posted by Scott Rubin
I love reading Josh Griffin?s blog, called ?More than Dodgeball?. And I understand the title ? that youth ministry is more than activities-without-purpose. But last weekend, our middle school ministry paused our regular rhythm during the weekend service, and we put on The SuperBowl of Dodgeball. Which was a smashing success!
In fact, we thought it might be our last chance for doing this, because the space we meet in is about to undergo a significant change, which could make this hard to repeat. But now we?re saying, ?HOW can we make sure this happens again someday?!?? because it was that good.
A few factors that made it work::: 1- It interrupted the regular flow of our weekends ? and provided something completely different. Do your students pretty much know what to expect when they walk in the doors? I?d claim that sometimes that?s a good thing; providing some stability can be helpful. But at other times, it?s great for middle schoolers to look around & say ?This is CRAZY? I can?t believe we?re doing this!?
2- It was a fabulous chance to invite a friend? especially a friend who?d probably decline an invite to ?church?. We told our regular students that we weren?t putting on a dodgeball tourney for ?us?? but we were ?hosting? a dodgeball tournament for all their friends! And close to half of our students were able to bring someone along with them. I realize that there?s no guarantee how many of them will return? but [...]
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youthmissionsinsider.com
The Big Day of Serving ? Spring 2012
Jeff at 2:39pm, February 9, 2012We’re very excited about our newest ministry – The Big Day of Serving. The Big Day of Serving is a one-day service event designed to be easy for a youth leader to get their youth group involved in service. The goal of Bid Day is to transform a neighborhood in a single day. It’s only 29 per person and includes lunch, a t-shirt, an opening Kick-Off Rally, all major materials and supplies for projects, devotional content during the day, and Block Party to end the afternoon.
Check out the 2012 Spring Locations:
April 21: St. Louis, MO | Medina, OH
April 28: Denver, CO | West Palm Beach, FL | Lynchburg, VA
May 5: Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Manassas, VA | Dubuque, IA
May 12: Nashville, TN
May 19: Nashua, NH
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marriedtoayouthpastor.com
In regards to a comment?
Amanda at 3:45pm, April 1, 2011You are right, there are far more dangerous jobs than youth ministry. I am extremely thankful that my husband does not stare down the barrel of a gun. I cannot imagine the kind of strength a wife would need for that. No matter what the job each one of us, including myself, has and will face great tragedies. Just in each day there are so many ups and downs. Our lives are sprinkled with many different feelings and emotions from happiness to thankfulness, to frustration to sorrow. My hope is that not one of us would deny ourselves the right to feel validated in each and every feeling that we have that gets mixed up inside of us. I hope that in some small way this blog may be a place for someone in ministry to feel heard, connected, and uplifted through a comment, a funny story, or a serious post. And what I love so much about this community of women is the honesty shared about their lives, and the tone that we all take loving God and our husbands seriously but don’t take ourselves too seriously.
I write this in no way with a defensive voice, but with so much concern that many pastor’s wives are told that their feelings are silly or not important. Whether from someone at church or their own inner dialogue. Our “perspective” should be to accept and embrace our feelings whatever they may be and then with God [...]
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morethangossip.com
Girls that don?t give up!
Neely at 5:24am, February 7, 2012I love this video!! The story behind it is that the New York Giants coach watched it and later showed it to his team to teach them determination and commitment!
That spirit of commitment is in every girl…our job is to help them discover what in life is worth fighting for and to never give up!!
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smallchurchyouthministry.com
#4 Top Twelve Ideas for a GREAT YM Year
Stephanie at 2:00pm, February 6, 2012#4 – Let Ephesians 4:29 be the measuring stick for our posts, tweets, emails, etc.
I’m up early. The reason? I was really disturbed by the number of negative comments made by people in ministry about yesterday’s half-time show. I am hurt and discouraged.
Don’t get me wrong; I’ve never been a purchaser of Madonna’s CDs. But the comments about her age, relevancy, past-her-prime…were hurtful. To whom, you may wonder?
To the Youth Watching With Us: If the same negative comments on Facebook and Twitter were made out loud to the students gathered around us watching the half-time show, then our students will think its OK to be mean because “well, she’s not one of us.”
To Madonna: She and so many others are watching us for the love we show. They know our motto is “Love Jesus – Love each other.” I don’t think yesterday was collectively our best example of that.
To Me: I am the same age as Madonna. The many comments about her age from ministry people made me wonder: Are you also saying I’m too old, too? Am I irrelevant? Have I crossed an unseen finished youth ministry line where my gifts are no longer valid, needed, necessary? Let me know because I’ll learn to knit or start playing Bingo if that’s the case.
Don’t worry; I know I’m among the chief of sinners in having a quick tongue. I’m examining myself, too. One thing I do know: no one is built up when we criticize and post with negativity.
Is this [...]
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holysoup.com
Selling the Church to a Skeptical Public
Thom Schultz at 12:45pm, February 8, 2012?The church has an image problem,? somebody said in the board room at the national offices. ?We need an ad campaign to change the public?s perception.? So, they committed millions of dollars for beautifully executed ads on national television and in print. Local congregations often get the polish-our-image bug too. They join back-to-church marketing campaigns [...]
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simplyurbanministry.com
You need VISION
Jeff at 4:41am, December 18, 2010Today we will define God?s purpose for vision in your Life.q Jeremiah 1:4 ?The Word of God came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.?
q God had a vision a plan for you. Do you have one for the assignment He has given you?
q Vision: The picture of God?s potential, purpose, and possibilities for your life.
q Show me a person without vision, and I will show you a person who is at a standstill in life.
q Proverbs 29:18 ?Where there is no vision the people perish.?
q Life Point: The key element to getting out of my present state is the vision that I have for myself.
q Jeremiah 29:11 ?For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,
Vision Truthsq True vision goes beyond what I can accomplish on my own.
q True vision adds value to others.
q True vision attracts vision.
q True vision must have God in it.
q Acts 2:17 ?And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.?
5 Road Blocks to Vision Failure- Not knowing who you are. If you don?t know who you [...]
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UPCOMING POSTS
HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 169
Weekend Teaching Series: The Book (church-wide campaign, week 2 of 6)
Sermon in a Sentence: Why the Bible was written.
Service Length: 75 minutes
Understandable Message: This weekend my goal was to share about why the Bible was written – we talked about how it was written to equip and transform us as an instruction manual, love letter and to show us God’s love. It was once again a different style message – more about the Bible than anything else. Hannah Rich shared her testimony about how God changed her life through the Scripture as well.
Element of Fun/Positive Environment: This weekend we played a hilarious new game we called App Showdown: the app this week was Temple Run and we had 2 iPhones go head to head on the big screen. It was super fun – one student managed to have a run of close to 10K right out the gate. It was epic – super fun and easy – it will become a regular game we play in the future – just change to whatever the hot app is at that time (Fruit Ninja, Tiny Wings, etc). We also played the classic Jesus Pwn3d you video near the opening of the service, too!
Music Playlist: Rise and Sing, Words That You Say, Learn to Love, Your Love is Enough, Burning One
Up next: The Book: 40 Days in the Word (week 3 of 6)
View More: 40 days in the word, app showdown, church-wide campaigns, fruit ninja, jesus pwn3d you, love letter, saddleback hsm, temple run, the bible, the book, tiny wings
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GUEST POST: Mirror
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Ok. Stop and go look before reading. Really look at yourself.
(humming Jeopardy tune)
Ok. Good. You’re back and ready to continue. So, what did you see? Are you being truthful to yourself? I can speak personally that I see a guy who is about to have another birthday, who feels much younger inside than his outward appearance shows, needs to lose some weight, could use a haircut, one eyes seems slightly closed more than the other, looks tired and worn down from chasing a toddler around and investing in the lives of students…you get the drift. What do you see?
Let me ask another question. What do you want to see? I used to want to see a pretty good looking guy with 0-2% body fat who wore the latest fashion and everyone wanted to know. Not anymore! As a side note my flesh still wants that, but I really want to see with my spiritual eyes.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Would that not be the coolest thing in the world? To have the veil removed that blocks our vision and spiritually see and reflect the glory of the Lord? How would we live then? I guarantee that we would live with the utmost confident in Christ and I pray that we would remember it’s Him we see, not ourselves.
To do that I believe there are a few things we must adjust in our thinking.
1. Does Jesus know you?
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
If you do not know Jesus, this would be your first step. How can any of us reflect Christ if we have no relationship with Him? You’re right! We can’t. So our first step is to realize we are a sinner, we need help, that you believe Jesus literally died on a cross for your sins and rose again 3 days later to conquer the sting of death, and make the decision to follow Him from this moment forward. (see John 3:16 also)
2. We need to stop believing we are worthless.
Galatians 2:20 says, My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are here for a specific purpose. Yes, there is a reason YOU are living right this very second at this very year. God wants to use your for something amazing and it’s only when you are willing that you can move into your true calling. Notice I didn’t say when you are ready. Willing. Willing to climb mountains, jump rivers, swim oceans, walk through fire, jump on crushed glass…make sense? In other words when you are willing to do whatever He tells you to do. It’s not you who live, but Christ who lives in you. So you are NOT worthless since He now lives in you!
3. We need to be ready to do anything, even die.
This life is short compared to eternity and there is only one decision you’ll ever make that effects your eternity. Would you die to tell others about Jesus? In other words, would you be willing to literally sacrifice everything you have for someone else to come to a relationship with Him?
On the flip side, if you don’t know Jesus, would you die to your old self to start a new life with Christ?
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. (Philippians 1:21)
The simple solution is that we do anything God ask of us and let Him determine the outcome.
4. Mistaken for Jesus
Can you see God reflecting in your life? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life as Galatians 5 talks of?
I can say that I’m failing miserably at reflecting Christ, but I want to desperately be mistaken for Jesus. Yes, mistaken for Jesus. I want Him to radiate through everything I do, everything I touch, and everyone I meet.
Now go look in the mirror again and pray to God to make Him evident in your life. Pray that people see Him in your life and His Spirit reflecting back when others see you. Let’s be mistaken for Jesus and not just when we are alone and looking in the mirror.
Nick Fry blogs at morethanscars.comand serves as the youth pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Huntington, WV.
View More: 2 Corinthians 3, galatians 5, guest posts, john 10, john 3, nick fry, philippians 1
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GUEST POST: Beneath the Surface
Recently, I compiled a series of blog posts that have gotten my blog a lot of traffic. There’s an iPhone game, Snappers, that causes more frustration than child-proof packaging. So, I scoured Google, Yahoo Answers, and my game experience, and compiled a list of walk-throughs for the various levels. As I was laying it out, I also carefully key-worded it and SEO’d the mess out of each blog post. Now, when you Google for Snappers levels, more often than not, this website will be one of the top 3 results.
Thanks to these 5 blog posts, check out my web traffic.