April 8-14, Youth Ministry Sabbath Ideas

In the Old Testament, God asked his people to spend 6 days working, serving and creating in ways that would honor Him. But, then, just like God the Creator did from the beginning, God asked His people to spend the seventh day differently. He asked them to make it holy. He asked them to make it restful. He asked them to remember on this day that God is in charge. This day was called Sabbath.

In order to refocus our ministry toward the Creator, Ever-Present God and not toward our efforts or schedules, we are taking the week of April 8th-April 14th as a week of Sabbath. Granted, we cannot just expect teens and families to stop living life. That isn’t the point. This week, we encourage each of you to just take some deliberate sacred times of your day and set them apart to celebrate God’s activity in your life.

The youth ministry will have no FORMAL events (small groups, Sunday School, etc) this week (although there is some fun stuff happening with our friends from Mexico). Here are some suggestions for how to spend your days as Teens and/or families in order to set apart this week as holy before God.

Please post your comments on this blog if you partake in any of these ideas.

Sunday, April 8th
Spend the day doing things together as a family after going to church. Watch golf. Hide Easter eggs. Play football in the yard. Go fly a kite. Eat a lot of food and then take the left-overs down to the Alpha Center!


Monday, April 9th
Just For Teens (JFT) – Ideas:
1. Read Esther Chapters 1 & 2
2. Instead of watching your favorite show, write 6 notes to people you would like to thank or encourage.

Families – If the weather permits, walk outside together with a football or Frisbee in hand


Tuesday, April 10th
Just For Teens (JFT) – Ideas:
1. Read Esther Chapters 3 & 4
2. Write out your favorite scripture on a note card to give to one of the Mexico kids tomorrow.

Families – Eat dinner together! Here are the rules though:
a. No phone calls or text messages can be taken or responded to
b. No TV or music on
c. Everyone needs to help clean after


Wednesday, April 11th
Just For Teens (JFT) – Ideas:
1. Read Esther Chapters 5 & 6
2. Sit at a different lunch table and while you eat, silently pray for the people at your table.

Families – Come to the Mexico Choir Dinner and Concert from 5:30-8:00 at church. After, go get an ice cream and answer this question together, “What would it look like if we lived in Tijuana with these kids?”


Thursday, April 12th
Just For Teens (JFT) – Ideas:
1. Read Esther Chapters 7 & 8
2. As soon as you get home from school, clean your room and do the dishes to serve your family.

Families – Decide as a family, who you can take a meal to on Friday night and decide what you want to fix for them. Then, call that family and let them know!


Friday, April 13th
Just For Teens (JFT) – Ideas:
1. Read Esther Chapters 9 & 10
2. Write a one-page prayer to God telling him everything that you dream of for yourself.

Families – Go take the meal to the aforementioned family (stay if that has been decided upon). Tell them that you just wanted to show them God’s love tonight. Go home and watch a movie together. Popcorn is a must!


Saturday, April 14th
Just for Teens – Ideas:
1. If possible, go for a walk at Tawawa Park and just spend some time praying for someone who is really hurting.
2. If you’ve been reading Esther, write out why you liked the book & what it meant to you.

Families – Have the parents share what they wanted to be when they grew up. Have the kids share their dream vacation.