Parent Information Packet 2016-2017 Director of Youth Ministry Tim Henriksen tim@doverchurch.org (515) 689-5525
Table of Contents Lesson Calendar 2 Irreducible Minimums 3 Event Calendar 5 FAQs 8 1
Dover Youth 2016-2017 Sunday Lessons Wednesday Lessons DATE THEME DATE THEME 11-Sep YG Kickoff 14-Sep ROOTED 18-Sep Moses 21-Sep ROOTED 25-Sep Plagues 28-Sep ROOTED 2-Oct In The Wilderness 5-Oct DIFFERENT 9-Oct God's Covenant with Israel 12-Oct DIFFERENT 16-Oct The Tabernacle (Blueprint) 19-Oct DIFFERENT 23-Oct Israel Breaks the Covenant 26-Oct DIFFERENT 30-Oct The Tabernacle (Building) 2-Nov STEWARDSHIP 6-Nov Ritual (Sacrifices & Feasts) 9-Nov STEWARDSHIP 13-Nov Priests (Ordination & Qualification) 16-Nov STEWARDSHIP 20-Nov Purity (Ritual & Moral) 23-Nov NO YG - Thanksgiving 27-Nov NO YG - Thanksgiving 30-Nov CALLED TO SERVE 4-Dec Day of Atonement 7-Dec CALLED TO SERVE 11-Dec Call to Covenant Faithfulness 14-Dec CALLED TO SERVE 18-Dec Christmas Party 21-Dec NO YG - Christmas Break 25-Dec NO YG - Christmas Break 28-Dec NO YG - Christmas Break 1-Jan NO YG - Christmas Break 4-Jan WILD GOOSE CHASE 8-Jan Numbers? 11-Jan Bridge Worship - Trinity 15-Jan Numbers? 18-Jan WILD GOOSE CHASE 22-Jan Numbers? 25-Jan No Apologies - Trinity 29-Jan NO YG - Winter Retreat 1-Feb RELATIONSHIPS 5-Feb Super Bowl Party 8-Feb RELATIONSHIPS 12-Feb The Story So Far 15-Feb RELATIONSHIPS 19-Feb Moses' Call to Covenant Faithfulness 22-Feb RELATIONSHIPS 26-Feb Israel's Worship 1-Mar RELATIONSHIPS 5-Mar Israel's Leaders 8-Mar CAN I GET A WITNESS? 12-Mar Civil Laws & Social Justice 15-Mar CAN I GET A WITNESS? 19-Mar Warning & Ultimatum 22-Mar CAN I GET A WITNESS? 26-Mar Moses' Last Words & Death 29-Mar CAN I GET A WITNESS? 2-Apr Joshua Leads Israel 5-Apr CAN I GET A WITNESS? 9-Apr Battles w/ Canaanites 12-Apr CAN I GET A WITNESS? 16-Apr NO YG - Easter Day 19-Apr JESUS 23-Apr Joshua Divides Up the Land 26-Apr JESUS 30-Apr Joshua's Final Words 3-May JESUS 7-May Last Night YG - Blue Bunny *Everything is subject to change without notice 2
Irreducible Minimums An irreducible minimum is a foundational, base level, bottom line. In our context, an irreducible minimum refers to the bottom line of our curriculum. In other words, there are several topics/principles/truths that should govern the content and curriculum of the youth ministry. They are fixed, they are biblical, and they are the bare minimum that teenagers should know by the time they walk across the graduation stage. I am convinced that these are the eight basic principles every student should understand, commit to memory, and embrace before they leave the safety of their homes and youth ministries. What follows is a brief explanation of each of the eight checkpoints, along with their corresponding principles of truth, critical questions, key scriptures, and lessons that cover these checkpoints. The overall scope of the eight checkpoints looks like this: 1) Authentic Faith -This checkpoint focuses on a correct understanding of faith. Confusion in this one area is the primary reason so many students abandon Christianity. True faith is confidence that God is who He says He is, and confidence that He will do everything He has promised to do. -Principle: God can be trusted; He will do all He has promised to do. -Question: Are students trusting God with the areas of their lives? -Passages: Genesis 22, Joshua 1, Proverbs 3, Matthew 8:5-13, Acts 27:21-26, 1 Corinthians 2-2016-2017 series: Wild Goose Chase Can I Get a Witness Jesus 2) Ultimate Authority -Teenagers often view freedom and authority as opposing concepts. But the Bible teaches that true freedom is found under authority. This principle focuses on students need to recognize God s authority and honor the earthly authorities He has placed over them. -Principle: Maximum freedom is found under God s authority. -Question: Are students submitting to God and to their authorities? -Passages: Genesis 37, 40-46, Ezra 1, Jeremiah 18, John 15, Romans 13:1-2, Revelation 2:12-2016-2017 series: no series on this topic, will be covered this school year. 3) Identity -Teens are in a constant struggle to discover who they are. Self-identity and awareness can only come after a healthy understanding of God s identity. So as we preach through authentic faith and ultimate authority, we will also focus on discovering who self is in light of who God is. -Principle: I am who I am because God is who He is. -Question: Are students discovering who they are in light of who God is? -Passages: Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:10-13, Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 1:3-6, Philippians 3:20, 1 John 3:1-2 -2016-2017 series: Rooted Different 3
4) Spiritual Disciplines -The focus of this checkpoint is the students devotional life. The apostle Paul says that true spiritual transformation begins with a renewed mind. Only as teenagers begin to renew their minds according to the truths of scripture will their attitude and behaviors begin to change. -Principle: When you see as God sees, you will do as God says. -Question: Are students developing a consistent devotional and prayer life, as well as other disciplines? -Passages: Exodus 20, Psalm 51:17, Micah 6:8, Luke 6:43-45, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:16-24 -2015-2016 series: Stewardship Called to Serve 5) Others First -Selfishness comes naturally. Selflessness, however, must be learned. The Bible says that Jesus made Himself nothing in order to serve. He put the needs of others ahead of His own. This checkpoint focuses on the true nature of humility and service. -Principle: Consider others before yourself. -Question: Are students putting the needs of others ahead of their own? -Passages: Ruth 1, Proverbs 22:4, Zephaniah 2:3, Mark 9:33-37, Acts 2:42-47, Philippians 2-2016-2017 series: Called to Serve 6) Wise Choices -This principle focuses on the necessity of applying godly wisdom to the choices students make. Good decision-making is more than simply choosing between right and wrong. Teenagers need to learn to ask, in light of my past experience and my future dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do in this situation? -Principle: Walk wisely and seek council from those who have gone before. -Question: Are your students making wise choices in every area of their lives? -Passages: 1 Kings 3, Proverbs 1-2, Ecclesiastes 8, Luke 10:21-24, Ephesians 5, James 3-2016-2017 series: Stewardship 7) Healthy Friendships -The people students associate with the most will have a direct impact on the decisions they make and the standards they choose. Healthy friendships build them up and draw them closer to God; unhealthy friendships bring them down and cause them to compromise what they know is right. This principle focuses on helping students build healthy friendships while avoiding unhealthy ones. -Principle: Your friends will determine the direction and quality of your life. -Question: Are students finding healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones? -Passages: Judges 5:31, Proverbs 13:20, Daniel 1:8-21, Mark 2:1-12, Colossians 4, Hebrews 13-2016-2017 series: Relationships 8) Moral Boundaries -One of the most important things you can teach teenagers to do is to establish clear moral limits. They need to learn how to protect their bodies and emotions by honoring God s plan for sex and morality. That s the focus of this checkpoint. The depth of their intimacy with God and others is dependent upon it. -Principle: Purity paves the way to intimacy. -Question: Are students establishing and maintaining godly moral boundaries? -Passages: Genesis 39, Leviticus 18, Hosea, Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Thessalonians 4-2016-2017 series: Rooted Different Relationships 4
Event Calendar Saturday, October 22 Saturday, November 12 November 23 & 27 Sunday, December 18 December 21-28 Friday, December 30 Weekend, January 27-29 Sunday, February 5 Saturday, March 18 Sunday, May 7 Bash on the Farm Ice Skating Thanksgiving Break - No Youth Group Christmas Party Christmas Break - No Youth Group Lock-in w/ Bethel Winter Retreat Blizzard Super Bowl Party Hockey Game Last Night Youth Group *All dates are subject to change. Times and prices will be decided and announced closer to the date of the event. 5
Big Events at Dover Church 1) BLIZZARD Winter Retreat Dates: January 27-29 Time: Drop off teens at Dover at 4:00pm on January 27 th. Pick up teens at Dover at 2:00pm on January 29 th. Location: Camp Rivercrest 2840 County Rd 13 Fremont NE 68025 Price: $110 (includes all meals, lodging, transportation, activities, and a t-shirt). Who: This retreat is available to all students 6 th 12 th grade. 2) Summer Camp (Middle School) Dates: June 25-30 or July 16-21 Time: Parents will be responsible for transportation of students to their respective camps. Since we do not have any summer events for middle schoolers this is the summer camp we recommend if there is interest Location: Camp Rivercrest Price: Camp Rivercrest offers tiered pricing for their summer camps. For more information about how this works visit www.camprivercrest.org/camp-pricing Who: Students that will be entering 7 th 8 th grade 3) Summer Mission Trip Dates: We are currently working with ENVISION to determine the details of this event such as dates and final cost. The trip will be 7 days in length. Location: As of right now the plan is to team up with the ENVISION team in El Salvador to go and serve them providing students with an opportunity to do out of country mission work. Price: The base cost of this trip is $700 per person + air fare. 6
FAQs Logistical Questions: -What are the times and places for youth group this year? Event Time Grades Sunday School 9:00 AM 10:00 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 6 th 12 th Grade Wednesday Youth Group 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 6 th 12 th Grade * I will be working harder to ensure that we are done by 8:00PM each night so that you are not waiting for a call and you are not showing up to pick up your student only to be begged for a few more minutes. -Where can I find out what s going on in YOUTH GROUP? WEB: Go to DoverChurch.org/Youth to find dates of upcoming events. Here you will also find a Twitter feed which will have the most recent announcements about upcoming events of any kind, as well as a slideshow of pictures from various events. FACEBOOK: Our Facebook page facebook.com/doveryouthoc will also have a feed of our latest announcements and details for upcoming events. TWITTER: I post everything you need to know for your last minute details on here and from there it goes to Facebook, the website, and if you would like, straight to your phone via SMS. To receive messages via SMS text Follow @DoverYouthOC to 40404. INSTAGRAM: If you would like to see pictures from various events, this is the closest you will get. Go to instagram.com/doveryouthoc to view our photos. -Who will be driving my teens to and from events, retreats, mission trips, etc? Only adults over the age of 21 who have met all of the insurance requirements to drive our 15 passenger vans will transport students. 7
Parent Questions: -What can I do as a parent of a teen? First and foremost: sit in the driver's seat of your child's spiritual development. Whether you realize this or not, you are the single most important influence on your child until the day they turn 18. Studies show that Mom and Dad's voice is still the most trusted and most listened to among 75% of 12-17 year-olds. You must take that responsibility seriously! Second, ask for ways that you can help with events. Snacks are always appreciated, and we are always looking for new things we can do whether you are interested in hosting an event or simply have ideas about new things we could do such as fundraisers or hangouts. Third, we ask all parents to diligently pray for the youth ministry here at Dover. Prayer is an unbelievably powerful force that is underutilized in our culture. Please commit to praying for the leaders, the teens, and all the events of this year. 8