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 15,554 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.
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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
The Way I’m Wired DVD curriculum is designed to help students find God’s purpose for their lives. It is a 6-week series designed for small groups. Excited to partner with Katie Brazelton on this brand new project from Simply Youth Ministry.
99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders is written specifically to the small group volunteer leader. A small group is a powerful place! Lives are changed. Important decisions are made. Spiritual growth is enhanced. Jokes are shared. Lifelong friendships are formed. Cliques disappear when a small group becomes a loving community. The result? Spiritually mature teenagers, empowered leaders, and a healthy youth ministry.
In Live Large. Be Different. Shine Bright. Doug Fields and I share about some important character qualities that will help teenagers live large, be different, and shine bright. These topics are definitely worthy of consideration and experimentation—topics like competition, laughter, cliques, encouragement and several others will help teenagers in the process of being a more vibrant follower of Jesus.
TRINITY is a 3-week series on The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Hopefully it will help you teach your students about God and understand His nature a little more fully.
Backward$ is a 2-week sermon series about stewardship and money from Josh Griffin. Help your students develop a Christ-like perspective on money, tithing and ownership. In a culture obsessed with consuming and keeping up with the Joneses, this is a powerful two-week series that shows students how they are God’s delivery system, not His storehouse. The series also features a strong call to action, challenging students to put their beliefs into tangible acts in giving of their money, their time, and their talents.
99 Thoughts for Youth Workers was Josh’s first book – born our of journaling his first 2 years of learning high school ministry at Saddleback Church.Years of little sleep working in the trenches of youth ministry to share personal reflections on youth ministry. The result is a resource packed with practical advice and usable ideas on every page that will help make your work simpler and your ministry more successful. Get the caffeine fix of your choice and step into Josh’s world.
Labels is a 2-week sermon series from Simply Youth Ministry that talks about cheerleaders, jocks, nerds, dorks, Emo, ghetto and preppie kids. Every day, students are being labeled and throwing around labels to define and categorize their peers. The end result? Viewing others and themselves as less than what God intended. In this easy-to-prep and quick-to-teach 2-week series, you’ll give your students a God’s-eye view of who we were all created to be—loved by Him and designed to love like He does.
Happy is a 6-week sermon series based on Matthew’s beatitudes taught by Josh Griffin and Doug Fields. Guess what? Life as a follower of Christ isn’t designed to be dull, boring, or sad. In fact, Jesus wants you to be happy! But God’s definition of happiness is quite different from the way our culture interprets and promotes. God doesn’t want us to focus our energy and efforts on pursuing happiness that is defined by our feelings and emotions. Instead, we can seek happiness that is experienced as we follow God’s plan—and as we’re fueled by God’s power.
Save the Planet is a 3-week sermon series by Josh Griffin that attempts to address environmental issues in our church. I was very excited to do this 3-week series, it ended with a powerful message that Jesus came to “save the planet” too.
Doug Fields and I each took one week of the Roots sermon series in HSM – Are your students ready for life’s storms? Are they prepared for the challenges and struggles that will come with young adulthood? Are they building a root system tha