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New Updated Video Resource Page
More Great Discussion Starters
New Video Clip
A Simple Plan
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
A Youth Meeting “Ready for Use”
Youth Specialties Resource Seminars
We’re glad to provide you with effective resources, programs, games, events, discussions, and ideas! Whether you are a volunteer, a youth leader, a youth pastor, or the Pope, you can use these practical tools to help your ministry.
New Updated Video Resource Page
More Great Discussion Starters
Many of you have already checked out my Video or Movie Clips page. Well this week we have just doubled the size of that page- giving you a bunch of new clips and new discussion starters for your weekly program! We’ve also reworked the older clips, updated them, and added a bunch of new discussion questions, etc. CHECK IT OUT!!!
New Video Clip
A Simple Plan
Billy Bob Thorton was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1998 for his performance in A Simple Plan.
Film synopsis: (from its official site)
On a cold New Year’s Eve afternoon in a small, struggling Midwestern town, Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton), his older brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jacob’s buddy Lou discover the snow-encrusted wreck of a small plane, which holds a dead pilot and a duffel bag containing over four million dollars in cash.
One man’s misfortune has presented them with a golden opportunity — or has it?
Lou: It’s the American Dream in a #$&*?!! gym bag!
Hank: You work for the American Dream. You don’t steal it.
Lou: Then this is better.
Unemployed and leading mundane existences, Lou and Jacob desperately want to keep the money, while Hank, (married with a baby on the way) and an upstanding member of the community, needs considerable coaxing before agreeing to keep the cash — on the condition that he will decide when it’s safe to divide or whether it should be destroyed.
Hank’s wife, Sarah (Bridget Fonda), believes the cash should be turned in; but after seeing the stacks of money on her table and thinking about how the fortune could change their dismal existence, her ethical concerns are quickly wiped away.
Jonathan’s word:
This is a thought provoking film that looks at ordinary people faced with extra-ordinary decisions. The film clearly demonstrates that choices have consequences- and a simple plan can turn into a complex disaster.
A great scene to show is about half hour into the film when Hank asks his wife, “Let’s say you’re out walking in the woods and you find a bag full of money . . . would you keep it?” When Hank dumps the money on the table, the hypothetical question becomes real. What was a clear cut decision now becomes a moral dilemma.
The movie is Rated ‘R’- preview the film and use discretion before showing. You can refer to
For more video clip discussion starters, check out our newly updated movie clip page plugged above.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
A Youth Meeting “Ready for Use”
Main Point: Help students understand that money and wealth are not everything the world makes them out to be. To teach them what the Bible says about the subject of riches and to challenge them to place priority on the spiritual rather than the material.
Supplies: Youth Challenge and Game props
Kids Arrive: about 6:30-6:45
– make them feel welcome
– learn names and interests
– give new people a New Person Form
Bring it together: about 7:15pm
“Hey, glad to see you all here. Welcome to ?????
Introduce new people: give them a blow-pop, skittles, or snickers bar, etc.
Youth Challenge:
(an up front game/crowd breaker) Dollar Jump (see up front games section) fits well with the theme.
Announcements: upcoming activities, events
Games: Choose games from Game List. $1000 Bill Exchange (see “Games for those who have smaller facilities” section) is good for this event. Almost anything you can come up with centering around the theme of money.
This will all lead up to the main event: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? There are a couple of ways to do this depending on your resources. We purchased a copy of computer game on CD ROM for $16 and set up our video projector and big screen. (It worked out pretty good with about 12 kids. Smaller groups might be better but I wouldn’t go much larger.) There is also a board game version that could be used OR you could play Regis yourself and make up your own questions and pattern it after the show. (It is more work but it would be a lot of fun and you could base the questions on the Bible.)
After the game wraps up you can have a discussion on money and wealth and do a little teaching on what the Bible has to say on the subject.
(Luke 18:24; Prov 28:11; Eccl 5:10; Matt 6:24; 1 Tim 6:10; etc.)
Discussion Starters:
Use A Simple Plan Video Clip above or the following questions:
What would you do with a million dollars?
Why are people so concerned about money and wealth?
Why do people want to get rich?
Does money really make people happy?
Wrap Up: Is That Your Final Answer?
God is waiting for us to answer His call. Each day that we live we have the
opportunity to respond to him. However, we all need to realize that the day will come when we have given our final answer and unlike the game show there may not be any warning.
Millionaire Agenda added by Darryl Parsons
Youth Specialties Resource Seminars
Youth Specialties is plugging my video page this week in their newsletter. They’re a bunch of great guys that provide resources and training for youth workers everywhere. I want to take a moment to plug some of their great opportunities.
One of the ways Youth Specialties accomplishes training is through top-notch events. They have three national conventions this fall, and over 100 one-day seminars next spring. They’ve also recently partnered with some excellent organizations to bring a very different convention for pastors. Great events! Check out the links below.
UPCOMING YS EVENTS
^ 2001 NATIONAL PASTORS CONVENTION
Beyond simple answers: Real ministry in a complex world.
San Diego, Feb. 13-17, 2001; brought to you by Leadership journal, Zondervan ChurchSource, and Youth Specialties
Appearing: Larry Crabb, Philip Yancey, Will Willimon, John Ortberg, Joseph Garlington, Earl Palmer, Walter Wangerin, Marilyn Laszlo, Dallas Willard, Margaret Becker, Fernando Ortega, Third Day, and many more!
click here for more information
^ 2000 YOUTH SPECIALTIES NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION
Fill up on renewal, training, resources, encouragement, and fun!
Anaheim, Oct. 5-9; St. Louis, Nov. 9-13; Atlanta, Nov. 17-21
Appearing: Steve Taylor, Louie Giglio, Mike Yaconelli, Andy Stanley, E.V. Hill, Doug Fields, Leonard Sweet, Tony Campolo, Jennifer Knapp, Audio Adrenaline, Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, Burlap to Cashmere, Newsboys, and many more!
click here for more information
^ 2001 YOUTH SPECIALTIES NATIONAL RESOURCE SEMINAR FOR YOUTH WORKERS
Talk about serious training and serious fun! Renewed vision. Brand new ideas. Coming to over 100 cities in the U.S. and Canada next spring.
click here for more information
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.