Junior High Change #1 – Things Get Weird

middle school ministry curriculum three years

Heads up! In the next posts, we’re diving into five big changes that 6th–8th graders go through (spoiler: it’s more than just sudden body odor). We’ll break down what’s happening and what it means for you as a junior high ministry leader—so you can lead them well without losing your mind (hopefully).

#1 – Brain Stuff

Middle schoolers are starting to make the big leap from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. What does that mean? Well, concrete thinking is like, “Things are either good or bad. Right or wrong. Pizza or no pizza.” Super black-and-white. But abstract thinking? That’s where it gets interesting.

Suddenly, the world has layers. Things can be both good and bad. You can love your little brother and want to duct tape him to a chair. Welcome to the world of nuance and paradox.

With this new brain upgrade, middle schoolers slowly gain the ability to:

Think through consequences before doing something risky (like jumping off a shed with an umbrella—in theory, they’ll think twice).
Ask big questions like, “Who Am I?” or “Am I a dog person or a cat person… or a lizard person?”
Start to see themselves through other people’s eyes, which means—uh oh—they care what people think now.
Wonder about all the “what ifs” and “whys” of the universe. Like, “What if I had a pet narwhal?” or “Why do adults drink black coffee on purpose?”

Abstract thinking is basically a brand-new brain muscle for junior highers. Right now, it’s still wobbly—like a baby deer on ice. But with time, practice, and a whole lot of awkward moments, they’re learning to flex it more and more.

What does all this mean for a junior high ministry leader?

They’re starting to ask big questions, so don’t be afraid to go deep. They might actually want to talk about God’s purpose, the meaning of life, or why mosquitoes exist. Just be ready—they’ll ask weird stuff too.
They’ll test ideas—and you. They may push back on things they used to just accept. That’s not rebellion; that’s growth. Engage their curiosity instead of shutting it down.
They care what others think, so help them see that God thinks they’re ridiculously awesome. Like, handcrafted-masterpiece-level awesome. Help them to find their identity in Jesus—way better than chasing the approval of others.
They won’t always connect the dots on their own. You may need to help them make the leap from “Jesus loves me” to “So what does that mean for how I treat my annoying little brother?” Help them bridge the gap between idea and application.
They’re learning how to think, not just what to think. Give them space to wrestle with truth, explore faith, and even doubt a little. That’s how real faith gets built.

So in short: keep things real, ask big questions, embrace awkward moments, and be their guide. You’re not just shaping what they know; you’re shaping how they think about God and what it means to follow Jesus.

Nick Diliberto

Looking for junior high ministry curriculum? Check out this bundle…