Youth Ministry Resources from Called to Youth Ministry

New Christian Pop Artist SANTINA launches "The Mannequin Movement"

santinaofficial — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:15:00 +0000

A little bit about myself

I never thought I would make music. Funny this is, I always have been writing songs since I can remember. In the summer of 2000, God radically got a hold of my heart. I always sensed His hand on me and at work in my life but this summer was different and I wanted to give God everything. Just giving Him parts of me never seemed to work out. I realized I was never able to live out the abundant life Jesus had promised unless I gave Him my all. When I finally did this my world changed. I began a journey that has been more real than anything I have ever experienced before. God's living Word began transforming me day-by-day. His Word is where my deepest passion lies. Right away I started writing songs to the Lord on my keyboard and in 2003 I picked up a guitar. The first song I wrote on the guitar was called "Take This Cup" and it is about Jesus praying for the cup to pass in the Garden of Gethsemane before He takes His journey to the cross. I got married in 2004 and started leading worship for the youth ministry my husband was a pastor of. In 2009 God began to show me pieces of a vision He was birthing in my heart. It was a vision of creating music that people’s ears are currently tuned in to. So, I looked up the top 100 on the Billboard charts and music began to form in my heart. In 2010 and 2011, God opened doors for me to record my music in Nashville with Tony Stone and Joseph Prielozny.

Music is always changing. It is like a shifting shadow, just like so many things in our world. But the message of Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel is always the same. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Hallelujah! The content of my music does not ever have to change while beats and rhythms transform as the years go by. Ultimately, it is the Word of God that changes lives. I created this culturally relevant sounding music to catch in people’s minds and hearts and my prayer is that the lyrics would be ingrained into their soul. I long to connect mainly with teenage girls and young women through the music with the goal of stirring their heart to love the truth of the scriptures.

The Mannequin Movemement
I am excited to launch an online Bible Study for my song out on itunes called “Mannequin”. Mannequin has a message for every woman (and man) in this world. Apart from Christ we are like lifeless mannequins walking around and changing with the culture. Unforunately, every mannequin has its day to die and eventually it is thrown out and forgotten about. The truth is, what this world has to offer just isn't enough. Jesus Christ breathes life into our empty mannequin and only in Him do we begin to truly live and break out of the illusion of this world. This 30-day Devotional Bible Study guide takes you through the lyrics of the song and the truth of God’s Word will “de-mannequin” our minds and hearts. I will post videos and blog articles on the site as we go through the Bible Study together. Fans will be able to participate and interact with me and with each other on a Mannequin Movement Blog page (the release of this page will be announced on my facebook and twitter). I am excited to meet everyone!

Become a part
You can become a part of the “Mannequin Movement”! My Mannequin EP album can be purchased on santinamusic.com. I encourage you to get your youth plugged into Christian music that has a current sound (trust me they are looking for it). Recommend your young women to participate in the Bible Study on their own or with a group. Have your female youth workers and volunteers give the study and the information to the young girls and encourage them to form a group to do the study with. Everyone will be able to download the Bible Study for FREE and there will also be leaders guides available. Follow me on facebook.com/santinaofficial and twitter.com/santinaofficial for the latest updates. Also, watch the first introduction video to the Mannequin Movement http://youtu.be/kewOHrx1dmY and watch how I came to write the song Mannequin at http://youtu.be/IHBOj8UXuqk.

Let the Mannequin Movement Begin!

Santina

Holy Spirit and Youth Ministry

ChrisEuler22 — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

We are a culture that desires to live on our own schedule, do our own thing, however we want it done. We are a very "meistic" society. Everything is about "me, myself, and I."

Unfortunately we have carried that into the church as a whole as well. Today's church has become full of individuals that want everything done our way. We want to sing our favorite songs, have our favorite colored carpet/tile, we want to have a preacher our age, we do not want to associate with anybody not of our likes or characteristics, and we DEFINITELY don't want to associate with any other denominations. Almost everything is built around how we can be satisfied NOW...even within the church.

It is sad to say that this is even true within Youth Ministry. In many churches, the Youth Ministry is almost a separate entity unto itself. They have their own building, their own furniture, their own evening to meet, their own worship team, and very seldom do you see a youth program that mingles with other generations. As youth leaders, we also find ourselves singing our desired music, teaching our desired topics, painting the walls how we want them to be painted, setting the lights how we want, playing the games we want, and going to the camps and retreats that are suitable for us. I understand that these are very important parts of a Youth Ministry, but how much time are we truly seeking the Holy Spirit before we make decisions?

Also, whatever happened to a youth program being a "vital" part of a church, not a "separate" part of a church? Too often I hear everything about a church, and then they talk about the youth program, or I hear all about the youth program but nothing about the rest of the church. Why cannot we include the youth program in our conversation about the entire church body?

I believe it comes down to one thing...we have lost sight of the Holy Spirit. You may ask, "What does the Holy Spirit have to do with our talk of the church or what color the carpet is?" It is simple...we box ourselves in to the point we only focus on what we want, not on what the Holy Spirit wants. Therefore, we only talk about and look for our own personal desires. I am not saying this as a Youth Pastor, but as a member of the body of Christ. Yes, I may be bias towards Youth Ministry, but God has called me to an even greater mission field, and that is to show His love to everyone I come in contact with, not just youth.

So, how can we integrate the Holy Spirit into our Youth Ministry and into our lives? We must first train our students on who the Holy Spirit is and what He can do for us. Francis Chan's book, Forgotten God talks about reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. I believe our youth cannot comprehend who the Holy Spirit is, and therefore do not utilize His power. We want to do everything on our own, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to use us for God's honor and glory. We box ourselves into a room, or a group, or a denomination and do not let the power of the Holy Spirit be released. As youth leaders, we must also disciple our students on how to use the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. Now I am not going to go all Pentecostal (sorry...please don't take that personally) here, but too often we try to make it through life on our own abilities. We miss the gifts, talents, and abilities given to us through the Holy Spirit. God has given us everything we need to be "more than victorious" in life, but we must be willing to grasp ahold of it and use it. It is the Holy Spirit that leads us to truth, holds us accountable, comforts us, and convicts us of sin. We must be aware of what He can do and utilize what He has given us.

What does this have to do with Youth Ministry and the church? I believe it comes down to one thing. If we were aware of truly who the Holy Spirit was we would understand that life and ministry is not about us. It is not about our desires. It is not about our comfort zones. It is truly about bringing honor and glory to God. Youth Ministry can be utilized even greater if we put aside our selfish desires, seek God's face, and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine how many teenage souls we would see come to Christ if our students understood the power and impact they could have through the Holy Spirit!!! Ultimately, imagine how great and prosperous the body of Christ would be if we relied completely on the Holy Spirit!

Chris Euler

Student Ministries Pastor

Cape Christian Fellowship

Cape Coral, FL

www.tophersyouthtales.blogspot.com

Want to Network with the Newsboys?

Nate Dame — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:45:00 +0000

Contributed by Jason Kaat

The Newsboys are being intentional about evangelism on their "God's Not Dead" tour for 2012. They have asked gifted evangelist and my boss, Bob Lenz, to partner with them by giving a clear Gospel message at each city they vist. In order to keep this from being a tour that simply passes through an area entertaining folks, I will be working with friend and colleague Kris Wood to network in each city on the tour.

Our goal is to mobilize local churches to follow up with students who respond to the Gospel at the concert. We are looking for Participating Churches, Prayer Partners, Local Coordinators and Data Entry Gurus to ensure that each student who responds to the Gospel is contacted by a local church. We have enlisted the help of Rick Kindschi from Community Impact Center to design a website that will give local volunteers a central hub and collaborative tool in helping us ensure students are shared with, cared for and prayed for in each community the tour passes through.

As a 16 year veteran youth worker I know there are many out there who have been critical of Christian concerts and entertainment industry for not taking evangelism seriously. RIGHTLY SO! Thats why I am excited to see a band the caliber of the Newsboys taking their commitment to evangelism to the next level. My prayer is that we will be able to meet local churches half way and work together to make sure our young people are followed up with and get plugged into a loving community of faith in order to grow more in love with Christ. Will you join us?

If the Newsboys are coming to your area please drop me an email (jkaat@lifepromotions.com) and we can start the process of networking together so that students who are impacted in your area will have a chance to get plugged into a local church. To find out if they are coming to your area visit the Newsboys tour page (2012 events only).

I am so excited to see what happens when the National Network of Youth Ministries partners with the Newsboys and Life Promotions for the one purpose of reaching students in each city with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Basis of Christianity

ChrisEuler22 — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:55:00 +0000

I believe the basis of our Christian faith relies on two questions… “Who is God” and “What is truth?” Yes, our faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – believing that He died and rose again for our sins – but until we can answer these two questions from a Biblical perspective, it is impossible for us to experience an authentic relationship with Christ. God and truth have become relative in today’s society. In other words, we have created our own gods and designed our own truth.

I recently surveyed a group of high school students in preparation for a series we are doing in January called The Truth Awaits You. I have found that our lack of understanding of who God is and what is truly true has tainted our view of Christianity itself. Today’s younger generations use words like awesome, amazing, and big to describe God. Is that seriously all God is to us?

It is not that we have thrown out words like holy, just, gracious, and sovereign to describe God. Instead, I believe much of Christianity today does not fully understand God’s true character. We do not spend time with Him, so we do not know who He truly is. Today’s teens spend hours upon hours playing video games, stalking friends on Facebook, watching YouTube videos, and playing sports, yet they lack the desire or passion to get to know who God truly is.

A true understanding of an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ must begin with a grasp of who God is! Anyone of us can say we “know” someone. But do we really know them? Could we call them up and be like… “Hey bro…let’s go to the movies.” Name a professional baseball player and I could tell you who they play for and what position they play (I dare you to test me on that one.) But I cannot think of one baseball player that I know well enough to invite over to my house for dinner. For many of us, it is the exact same scenario when it comes to knowing God. We think we know who He… we know something about Him that we heard in Sunday School or on TV once. But, do you really know God? Can you describe and explain how you have experienced His holiness? Do you comprehend and grasp the vastness of His unconditional love? Do you fear and stand in awe of His power and majesty? Do you trust in His sovereignty? Finally, can you call God up and be like… “Hey God…thanks for being my Father, my Comforter, my Helper, my Friend, and my Savior!”

This leads to the second question… What is truth? Our society has absolutely destroyed the definition of truth! Public Education provides the view that everybody can have his or her own view on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our teenagers are flooded with views of Coexisting, Scientology, and Evolution. They are encouraged to come up with their own views on how life begin and their purpose for living each day. Today’s family is destroying the sanctity of life and annihilating God’s purpose of marriage...ultimately attempting to defeat truth. There is a famous question that stands like an elephant in the room of our schools, families, and even student ministries… “Is truth relative?”

Our overwhelming response must be… “NO!!!” We all know the words of Jesus in which He says, “I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life…” He does not say I am A truth, instead Jesus says, “I am THE truth!” One of the overwhelming responses within the recent survey I did with high school students was that truth is simply “not lying.” I believe truth goes way beyond not telling a lie. It is living a life of Biblical integrity and Christlike character. It is living out our authentic relationship with Jesus Christ on a daily basis. We must not avoid the truth God has placed before us in His Word. Truth is not relative, as much as we would like it to be. Truth is not about accepting the lies of the world as other people’s truths. Instead, it is about sharing the story of who God is with the world. The one aspect we must not leave out though is love! We must display humility, love, compassion, and forgiveness while sharing truth with those we come in contact with!

My prayer is that I never lose sight of who God truly is and what is truly true and really real! As my wife and I continue on living out exactly what God has for us, my prayer is that our kiddos see the truth of who God is shining in and through our every word and action. God has given me the responsibility and opportunity to share truth with students every day! I pray we begin seeing a generation that not only understands who God is, but are also not afraid to stand for the truth of His Word!

Good Company

pastorlarry — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

The Bible is unique among many "religious books" in that it reveals not only the victories of it's heroes, but their failures and mistakes as well. We can trust that God's grace is sufficient as we see that even the most famous people in the Bible had pasts to be ashamed of.

www.sermonvideos.com

Julian Smith- Techno Jeep

pastorlarry — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Another brilliantly original video from Julian Smith! Julian and crew create a techno beat using a Jeep and a lil' imagination.

"The sounds in this video are ACTUAL sounds from the Jeep. Everyone began rehearsing their parts 2 weeks before we shot the video. It took us 7 hours of filming to get a solid take. Enjoy!"

The Woman At The Well

pastorlarry — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

This is a modern dramatic poem about the Women at the well who has an encounter with Jesus.

Upside Down

pastorlarry — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Christians are caught between two opposite worlds. The physical world and the spiritual world. Sometimes we understand things one way (physical) when they were really meant another (spiritual). When this happens, we often find ourselves looking at things.....Upside Down.

The Story of Three Frogs

pastorlarry — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The story of three frogs sitting on a log reminds us that our decisions must be followed through with actions. Decide to do something for God, act upon your decision, and watch God smile through those around you!!

God Uses Little Things

pastorlarry — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

God often uses little things to make a big difference. Imagine what He can do through you?!!?

Working it Out with God

Matt Erickson — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Paul’s words in Philippians 2:12-13 capture my attention:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good pleasure.

These two short verses provide what I see as the best description of the mysterious tension that exists in our lives between God’s power and our effort. Paul is challenging his readers to obey God – and his teaching about God – even though he is geographically apart from them and in prison. He offers a kind, yet challenging, word to the believers to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

In essence, Paul is telling us that we need to put effort into our life with God. It will not just ‘happen’ without energy expended and time given to the work. Dallas Willard puts it this way: “Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude.” It is not that we earn our salvation. No, we understand from Paul’s writings that salvation is a gift of God’s grace. But working out that gracious gift is something that demands – and deserves – diligence and effort. The tension between grace and effort is something akin to the difference between a Christmas gift of a bicycle and the ensuing effort needed in learning to ride that bicycle. I cannot help but think of Paul’s later encouragement to his young pastoral trainee, Timothy, to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). His comparison in that passage to physical training seems to echo through the current words to the Philippian believers. ‘Get to it! Don’t stop working at it!’ Paul says.

But the other half of the equation is the reality that “it is God who works in you.” Salvation is not something based in human effort. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” In another place, Paul tells us that the power at work within us is the same as the power God used in raising Christ from death (Ephesians 1:19-20). Our own efforts find their strength and source in the truth that God is at work within us. This should encourage us but also give us that “fear and trembling” Paul references here. Right now and right here in our lives the Living God is at work. He will do His work in our lives. That’s why Paul said that God will “fulfill His good purpose” in us or, as he wrote earlier in this same letter, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6).

So, we come to salvation-life in this mysterious tension that we are to work out our salvation, while knowing the truth is God is at work in us, even in our best efforts. We cannot wait for God to do something without putting some effort into it. Yet, we cannot believe that our efforts will do a thing apart from the powerful working of God in our lives.

Outcomes Based Youth Ministry

Erin Haligowski — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +0000

In the past few years, there has been a lot of buzz in the youth ministry world about outcomes based ministry. Much of this talk has resulted from the Exemplary Youth Ministry Study conducted in 2003. Conversations. Workshops. Books. Lists. The results of that study EYM have produced more literature and ideas than could possibly be broken down in a few short blog posts (let alone one). As we've been working through the vision for programming and youth ministry here at Epiphany, though, my brain has been occupied once again by a flurry of objectives, goals, skills, and outcomes that are out there, speaking direction into the world of youth ministry.

What are the characteristics of a mature Christian that we hope our young people have when we launch them into young adulthood at the end of their time in a "traditional" youth ministry program?

What are the characteristics of a congregation that is successful at empowering young people to live out a holistic Christian faith?

There are lots of different voices weighing in on the matter, and lists range anywhere from five basic skills to 40+ skills. All telling us what we "ought" to look like as the church and what we "ought" to be teaching our young people.

Reggie Joiner, and the reThink Group have established a list of five basic things that young people "need to be able to do so they can own their faith and make it personal" (Think Orange, 194):

Navigate The Bible [survey, locate]: To learn where they can go to find verses that will help them with specific questions
Personalize Scripture [memorize, apply]: To remember Scripture when they need it most and apply it in everyday situations
Dialogue with God [public, private]: To encourage them to practice talking with God
Articulate your Faith [share, defend]: To be able to discuss and wrestle with what they believe so children and teenagers can make their faith their own.
Worship With Your Life [serve, invest]: To know how to give back to God and to serve Him in the way they live their everyday lives.

This list seems pretty complete, but to me it still seems pretty generalized. Maybe it's the former education major in me, but it almost seems like this needs to serve as a springboard for more specific and measurable objectives.

The Exemplary YM Study gives a much more comprehensive list of 34 Characteristics of a Mature Christian Youth. Their list is broken down into seven categories:

Seek Spiritual Growth, Both Alone and With Others
Believe God is Present in the World
Act Out a Commitment of Faith
Be Active with God's People
Possess a Positive, Hopeful Spirit
Live Out a Life of Service
Live a Christian Moral Life

If you are a parent, church leader, volunteer... or really anyone else who is passionate about the Christian faith and passing it along to the next generation, what do you believe are the really important outcomes of a healthy youth ministry program, a healthy upbringing in a Christian family, and a healthy partnership between church and home?

We Are Overcomers!

Xposed2Jesus — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I went outside for a walk one night discouraged and felt God asking me again why I think He put me on this street. He took me to the end of the street to remind me of the reason why we live on this street!

At the end of my street is the typical green street sign that reads…. Victory

I noticed something about the sign I never saw before. It was how the light reflected off the sign. I tilted my head one way –it said victory and then tilted the other way–you couldn’t see victory anymore (totally disappeared)– but i saw Ridgewood Ave instead (because the paint was scraped off and letters were a little raised like a license plate).

It was the weirdest thing–I felt like God was saying that– The battle and struggles are rough and looks like you will lose or give up– but it all depends on how you look at it…. Victory is mine! Sometimes you will see the victory and other times it may not seem evident…. But the victory is yours in Jesus– because we are overcomers! Believe God will bring it.

God brings me to the meeting place at the victory sign– down the street often to remind me of the reason he put me on this street! To believe him for victory in this city! Transforming everything in our path!

Grudges

Matt Erickson — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges. (Philippians 4:2, The Message)

“God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.” Yet it is so easy to hold a grudge. Wrongs done, even among those or between those in the Body of Christ, easily submerge to become awful, dividing barriers.

As God’s people, however, we are called to something more – much more. The same God who broke down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, stands in our midst. He longs for us to be unified; to have and keep our differences “ironed out.”

It is in Jesus Christ that such a reality occurs. “Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility” (Ephesians 2). Before the Cross, so the saying goes, we all stand on level ground. We are equally in need of mercy, and we all equally find it. Right there at the Cross of Jesus Christ the wrath of God truly was satisfied. There – and there alone – we are brought together as one.

So, “iron out [your] differences and make up.” That’s the life God desires for us. That’s how His people deal with grudges.

Student Prayer Movement: See You At The Pole

Joanne Caton-Frank — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I just returned home from a really cool experience. See You At The Pole is global day of prayer where students, staff, and parents gather at the flagpole of their school – and pray. I just witnessed some amazingly confident youth boldly lift each other up in prayer and give thanks to God our Father. It was AWESOME. If you haven’t heard of this movement – check out the website and start making plans for next year. Keep reading for an excerpt from their website, http://syatp.com/. See you at the pole!

Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you. Matthew 18:20 CEV

“This simple verse is a comforting and encouraging promise from Jesus Himself that helps us to know He is always with us. When we gather and agree together, placing Him first, He is there. And when God and His people converge for prayer, lives change!”

I Know You Are Out There

brentlacy — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I know you are out there.

Maybe You are a Youth Worker that has been told you are too young/old/boring/playful/whatever to effectively serve in youth ministry. Maybe you have been sucked into church politics without even knowing it and you are now paying the price. Maybe you’ve been bullied by a youth parent/deacon/elder/Sr Pastor/whoever. Maybe you fantasize about what youth group would be like if “that kid or those kids” suddenly stopped coming. Maybe you want to hang it up, go work 9 to 5 in a cubicle somewhere. Maybe you have the feeling that nothing you are doing in your church matters, or you made a mistake coming to the church where you are serving.

Maybe you feel horribly inadequate and ill-equipped to deal with all the junk that is thrown into the laps of your teenagers and families. Maybe you have felt the constant pull between church expectations and building deep relationships between spouse and your children.Maybe you’ve had that deep feeling tearing away at you that something is not matching somewhere between your beliefs and what your church is teaching. Maybe you have that desperate wish to tell someone you are not “fine” ; that you are really dying and wasting away inside, your soul is screaming for something, somewhere to give.

I’m not going to tell you to just suck it up, or that it will get better. It really may get worse first, in a way you can’t even imagine. I’m not going to tell you to count it joy, that you are doing something right. While Biblical, it is the wrong time to hear it.

I will tell you I have been there. I will tell you that you cannot walk through this alone. I will tell you that the longer you hold it in, the worse it will be when it finally comes out (because IT WILL, one way or another). I will tell you that you are not the only one who has ever experienced this. I will tell you that I will gladly talk, pray, cry, or whatever else to help you walk through this.

Youth Workers, we are in this together. It is not God who wants to see us like this, but the enemy that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.

Julian Smith- Racist Coffee

pastorlarry — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Julian Smith shows how he is doing his part to battle racism.....even at breakfast!!

Youth Group: The Movie Trailer

Joanne Caton-Frank — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:45:00 +0000

Laugh out loud funny...must see!

Compelling

Matt Erickson — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:45:00 +0000

As a boy, one of my jobs at home was cleaning up apples and plums that fell from the trees in our yard. I now have the privilege of bringing this tedious job to my own children as apples incessantly fall off the tree in our backyard. ‘Privilege’ may be a bit of a stretch for them. They don’t really have a choice. I compel them to do it, but the job is not always compelling.

There is a difference between doing something out of strict compulsion and doing something from compelling motivation. It is like the difference between training with a coach in preparation for the Olympics and picking up rotten apples because your dad told you to do it.

Paul writes these words to the church in Corinth:

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

‘Christ’s love compels us.’ This is a powerful, compelling love.

Frequently in our church we share stories of how God is at work in people’s lives. Stories like these are important because they put flesh and bone on the idea of God’s presence in our lives. The people themselves become pictures for us of what our own life with God can be like. They are compelling stories.

I still remember the time I heard the story of a family who had walked through cancer and come out the other side with God. The journey was arduous and the challenges would continue for years, but God’s grace, strength, and mercy pervaded their story. It was compelling.

Underlying this story, and others like it, is the story of the One, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ story, as Paul points out, is a story of compelling love. It is the story of One without sin becoming sin for others. It is the story of the Living One experiencing death so that those dead in sin can themselves live. It is the story of a great and compelling love: the love of God.

The Apostle John writes elsewhere:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. (1 John 3:16).

The incarnation of Jesus Christ and His journey to the Cross reveal love itself, particularly the love of God. Jesus puts flesh and bone on the concept of God’s loving presence in our lives. He makes it real, earthy, and tangible. Paul describes the Jesus’ life as compelling.

Jesus’ life is compelling because He shows us the great lengths to which God will go in order to redeem the world. Jesus’ life is compelling because He shows that we owe everything to God. He died so that we can have life. He became burdened that we might go free. He was broken so that we might be whole. And so, says Paul, we “should no longer live for [our]selves but for Him who died for [us] and was raised again.”

John Chrysostom, a fourth century church leader, offers a simple response to Paul’s words: “Accordingly, let us heed the apostolic exhortation, not living for ourselves but for Him who died and rose for us.”

With such a compelling love before us, we are compelled to live in a different way than we did while dead in sin. With such a compelling love before us, we now live arrested by the gracious presence of God.

Discussions That Help Students Share

Dennis Beckner — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:07:00 +0000

Sometimes a student will reveal something monumental in their lives that we’ll need to help them through. Conversations I’ve had or other leaders have told me about include such topics as drug use, gender identity, sexual impurity, abuse, thoughts of suicide, among others. These can catch any youth worker off guard. However, it’s always an honor to be trusted enough by a student for them to reveal such big issues. When we know how to help them share, we can make experience easier for them.

Here are some questions and comments I use to help students share more about their issues:
1. Tell me more about that
2. How did this start?
3. This must have been a tough time in your life
4. Who else knows about this?
5. How did your family/friends react? or How do you think they will react?
6. In an ideal world, what would you like to see happen in this situation?
7. Tell me about your relationship with God while this has been going on. What do you believe he can do in this situation?
8. As I help you through this, that help might not always be easy or fun. You will have to trust me along the way that you’ll be better off as we deal with this together

All of these questions are designed accomplish five goals:
1. Gently pull the information out of them
2. Build a sense of safety
3. Become source of help
4. Create an opportunity to reveal the grace side of God
5. Lead to other questions and deeper conversations.

These conversations are tough emotionally, but are a great pathway toward intimacy between you, the student and God. Once you make it through helping one student, you’ll want to have more.

Three tips about these types of conversations:
1. Reflect their emotions. It’s healthy to have a wide range of emotions throughout this type of conversation including some comic relief. Laugh with those who laugh. Mourn with those who mourn. It’s incredibly draining, yet awesome.
2. Replace surprise with compassion. When you find yourself wanting to screech, “You did what?!?”, that’s the time to hold your composure and affirm them for taking the scary step of sharing it with you.
3. Show tough love. While you are compassionate, understanding and encouraging, don’t be afraid to set boundaries and standards. They’ll still mess up, but with you holding them accountable, they’ll be on the road toward health. If you don’t do this, you’re nothing more than a place for them to dump information to relieve themselves of guilt.

So, what shouldn’t I do?
1. Ask questions that elicit guilt. They don’t help and the student already realizes a need for change (which us the only “healthy” use for guilt in counseling situations).
2. Make comments that might intimidate or cause fear. The only place fear should appear is in relation to the specific steps necessary to move toward healing. Intimidation has no place in the healing process.

The Difference Between Parenting and Making Disciples

AlanMelton — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:30:00 +0000

The idea of parenting has created a multi-zillion dollar industry. A Google search reveals that the term “parenting” was first used in 1959. Since then scores of books have been written about techniques and approaches to successfully navigate the choppy waters of raising children. From Dr. Spock to Dr. Phil, these “experts” share their personal approaches to parenting.

Some parenting books are helpful to parents who may be dealing with medical conditions and other issues that are beyond their control. However many parenting books address problems that are simply the result of parents not following the discipleship approach of Jesus.

Countless hours are spent by parents blogging, reading blogs, reading books and looking for help from other parents. Parents look for solutions on television, in conferences and in support groups.

But Jesus showed us how to make disciples more than 1500 years before the word “parent” was invented by secular society. He adopted twelve men who became family members and lived with them 24 x 7 for over three years. The approach He used in making disciples employed a command given by God to parents and grandparents over 2600 years ago in Deuteronomy 6. He taught them in the morning, while they traveled, when they sat down, and when they retired at night. He personally taught his family many times each day. He developed deep, heart level relationships with His adopted family. He showed them how to live and how minister to others. He protected His family members from wolves. Then He commanded parents to do the same; to make disciples.

Somewhere along the way parents stopped following Jesus and started following worldly practices. These practices have produced complex problems in families that keep parents wringing their hands while looking for solutions. Here are some differences between parenting and making disciples:

Parenting is about methods, while discipleship is about a lifestyle.
Parenting is part-time, while discipleship is full-time.
Parenting is about rules, while discipleship is about relationships.
Parenting employs control, while discipleship employs influence.
Parenting is about behavior modification, while discipleship is about dealing with heart motives.
Parenting addresses the symptoms, while discipleship addresses the disease.
Parenting is focused on the child and parent, while discipleship is focused on Jesus.
Parenting is reactive, while discipleship is proactive.
The goals of parenting are secular, while the goals of discipleship are spiritual.
Parenting is concerned with behavior, while discipleship is concerned with character.
The fruit of parenting is temporal, while the fruit of discipleship is eternal.
Parenting is for a season, while discipleship is for a lifetime.
Parenting is complex, while discipleship is simple.
Parenting deals with teen rebellion, while discipleship precludes teen rebellion.
Parenting delegates, while discipleship assumes responsibility.
Parenting requires little time, while discipleship requires all of your time.
Parenting takes a village, while discipleship takes a shepherd.
Parenting is easier in the beginning, but much harder in the end. Discipleship is harder in the beginning but much easier in the end.
Parenting entrusts, while discipleship protects.
Parenting is losing 75% to 94% from the church, while discipleship is losing less than 10% from the church.

Parenting is the overly complex job of raising children which is required when you do not follow Jesus in the way He made disciples.

Get Real: It’s Time to Rest

Xposed2Jesus — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Stressed. Tired. Worried. Frustrated.

For most of you school started about two weeks ago and around here I’ve heard these four words muttered from several students. To be honest, I’ve been muttering them myself lately.

Between school, homework and sports activities you’re finding yourself wishing…no craving time to rest. But not matter what you do you just can’t seem to find it or get it. In addition to the stress of school the pressure cooker seems to build with added worries from your home life. Maybe for some of you, chaos and disorder, while not fun by any means, has become the norm. Mom and Dad seem to fight and argue all the time and your brother or sister constantly annoy you. Friendships that have gone unseen because of summer vacation are normally rekindled with the start of school, but as of lately you find them strained. Your BFF is not your BFF right now. You bicker and fight, blaming the other for the ongoing drama that doesn’t seem to end. Neither willing to budge in the area of forgiveness. And at the end of day you find yourself drained. You’re tired physically and mentally and all you want to do is sleep or find something that will help you cope and give you some rest.

Rest is the God-given capacity to have peace, even when the circumstance that would burden your heart is not resolved. God is our source for rest and even though a situation or issue causing the stress and worry doesn’t go away immediately we can still find and HAVE rest from God. He tells us in Matthew 6:25;

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.”

Waiting without Trusting = Worrying.

But; Trusting + Waiting = Rest.

Take a look at Psalm 37. I’ve been reading this chapter today several times and thinking about it a lot. As I look at it I notice some key words or phrases that pop up within the forty verses;

"...trust, don’t worry, be still, wait, care, directs, hope, rescues, helps, and saves."

God is speaking loud and clear in Psalm 37 that our rest comes from him and that he WILL provide it. But we must do our part. We first need to ask. Then set aside whatever you’re doing that you THINK is important and spend time with Him. Get away to a quiet spot. For me I enjoy finding a spot alone some where at a one of our local parks staring at the lake. I know a student that finds her quiet spot laying on the tramplien in her backyard, staring at the stars, praying and listening to praise and worship music. Whatever it is for you where you can find a quiet place go.

Then take those four words that plague our minds; stress, worry, tired, and frustrated and replace them with the promises of God’s Words in Psalm 37. Trust that he will give you rest and peace. Don’t worry. Be still. Wait for Him…he will answer. Let God care for you and direct you. There IS hope in knowing he will rescue and help you overcome your stress. And he will save you and give you rest.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. – Psalm 37:7

Book Review: Disciple Like Jesus For Parents

AlanMelton — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Reading the book, Disciple Like Jesus For Parents, is equivalent to drinking cold fresh water in a dry and thirsty land. The authors (Alan Melton and Paul Dean) unapologetically declare the truth when it comes to the crisis that American church is facing: a reality which isn’t being preached in the majority of pulpits nationwide. The numbers are alarming: two million “Christian” youth are being lost to the world in the American church every year.

According to Disciple Like Jesus, around 90% of youth leave the faith after college with the vast majority never returning. The effects of this are being clearly documented among various denominations, along with famed Christian pollster George Barna, who recently declared, “young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation – i.e., those aged 18 to 23 – have a biblical worldview.” (www.barna.org, March 6, 2009). One-half of one percent means only 1 in 200 Mosaic generation youth actually have a biblical worldview, absolutely stunning.

Disciple Like Jesus For Parents is the manual needed to help parents combat this disturbing trend. Disciple Like Jesus foundation is the all sufficient, powerful, life changing Word of God. The book is completely rooted in scriptural truth and discipleship methodology. The authors use Christ’s model of personal evangelism and discipleship amongst the peoples and His disciples and convey that model to the parent-child discipleship process. What greater teacher can one have in training up their children than Christ Himself?

All sixteen chapters are filled with rich examples from scripture and practical commentary on how to disciple our children the same way Christ discipled His. I appreciated the authors’ bluntness and real world examples of parents who’ve neglected their duties and the tragic results that have been seen. This book is not water-downed. The authors make it very clear that parents need to step up to the plate and take ownership of their children’s spirituality. I appreciate and respect Disciple Like Jesus for that focus. This book may offend some, but it will change the lives of those who heed it’s Godly principles.

In conclusion, Disciple Like Jesus For Parents is a book that should be studied and read by serious parents who humbly long to raise their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. Not only do the authors present practical scriptural advice, but they also provide other rich resources to assist parents in raising Godly children throughout the book. What a blessing! I implore parents, please Disciple Like Jesus!

From Bryan Schrank’s ministry Raising Godly Children

A Picture of Parents Making Disciples like Jesus Did

AlanMelton — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

What does making disciples of your children look like? If we think about Jesus, many “pictures” come to mind. We can see Jesus teaching in a boat, healing in a village, talking in a home, calling by a lake. Thus it is with making disciples of children, we train in many settings. Here is one picture of what a day could look like with your children.

Morning

You get up in the morning and have your coffee or tea while you are studying the Bible and asking for the Holy Spirit’s help during the day. You pay attention to what you are studying because you know that later on you will be teaching this to your family. As your children come to breakfast, you might have an unexpected conversation with your six year old about why it’s raining outside. She doesn’t like the rain but you remind her that God knows what’s best. Rather than listening to the morning show, you have some edifying music playing on the radio. When he wakes up, maybe you sing to your baby Christ-honoring songs while you change his diaper and feed him. You and your spouse may be talking about the goodness of the Lord. Some fathers are praying for their families before departing for work. Other fathers are working from home and are leading a family devotional. Afterward, it’s time for all of you to do the things God has called you to do whether work, chores, school, shopping, etc.

Afternoon

Later you and your children take some cookies and visit a neighbor. You find out that she has a family member who is in a nursing home, so you plan to take your children to visit them one day. Your neighbor tells you about a sister who has cancer, and you gather all the children around to pray with her for healing. A trip to the grocery store with your children gives you the opportunity to put on an audio recording of your favorite praise music or an interesting child’s adventure with a biblical message. You give a tract to the cashier because she commented about having a tough day and you share your testimony with the bagboy because he asked you on the way to the car about what you said to the cashier.

Evening

Dad returns home from work and takes the children to the park while mom fixes dinner. You point out God’s creation to your children; how He made each animal according to its kind. Later during dinner you are talking about how the Lord is working in your lives; providing for all your needs. Each child tells you about their day. You then watch a carefully selected, God-glorifying video or play a game together and then lead in family devotions. Now it’s time to get the children ready for bed, and you have some praise music playing now. Then it’s time for bedtime stories, prayer, and lights out. You and your spouse now have some much needed time together.

Now think again with me about the way that Jesus made disciples. Isn’t the day I described much the same as Jesus with His disciples?

There is No Exact Formula

Now some of you are thinking as you read this, “There is no way I could do all of that.” Or you may be thinking “Some of those things would not work for my family.” Please don’t miss my point. We’re not prescribing nor does the Bible mandate an exact daily formula for discipleship. We’re talking about principles here. Each family is different and discipleship must be tailored to fit the day or the situation. Our routines change as the children get older and God moves us in different directions. Look at Jesus. Every day was different for Him and His disciples. Jesus was constantly “thinking outside the box.” There are a million different ways to design your life so that you are making disciples.

Here is the point: study the way of Jesus and follow it. Learn from the Master and let Him guide your way as you make disciples of your children. Look for teaching opportunities at every moment. But get started today! Discipleship is not something that should wait or is limited to a few hours per week. It’s not something you should leave to others or even the church. It’s a lifestyle as we’ve said. It’s what God has called you to do with your children, from the moment He gives them to you. And, the good news is that if He’s called you to it, He’s equipped your for it. How? Simply follow Him.

Showing Up During A Crisis

Dennis Beckner — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I remember the first crisis I had to face when I first started in youth ministry. I was paralyzed at the idea of going into the home of some students I barely knew whose dad had just passed away. I’ve learned a lot since then. Seeing this article from Kurt Johnston and Josh Griffin confirmed what I’ve learned during the many years between then and now, but also made me wish I had this information back then.

The best way to deal with a crisis is to prepare for it before it ever happens. This article will move youth workers a giant step toward that goal!

Here’s a clip of the article. Read the entire text by clicking here.

Let’s say that someone in your youth ministry was in a pretty bad car accident and it is midnight. How do you respond to a crisis like this? Here are some principles that should translate to this and other situations:

Be the First to Show Up. In a real way, you are a tangible expression of Jesus Christ in the lives of your students. Showing up immediately in crisis assures them of their connection to God and of God’s love for them. They find incredible value in your presence, so show up as soon as possible. Assure them that God loves them and there is hope. If you have any question whether or not you’re welcome, go and be turned away rather than not go and regret it later.

Be Present. When you’re there, make sure you’ve got time to give them your full attention. There’s nothing worse than something that is an all-consuming-crisis for someone else that doesn’t carry that same weight with you. Turn off your cell phone, make great eye contact, cancel other appointments so you can give the situation proper time. In short… give them your full attention.

Be Available. In times of crisis a family or student may make some special requests of you. Do everything in your power to make it happen, even if it isn’t in your talent

3 Statements That Don't Sum Up The Message Of The Bible

pjsports7j — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:25:00 +0000

I heard a pastor of a large church say the following, “I’m going to give you the cliff notes version of the Bible:

-Love God
-Love One Another
-Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”

This might sound pretty good to the average congregant, but it presents some serious problems. Let’s examine these three statements one by one and see what we’re left with.

Love God

We are to love God, there is no doubt. Isn’t that the very thing we have failed to do since Adam and Eve in the Garden? 1 John 5:3 seems to make it clear that if we love God we will keep his commandments. It seems the Bible is filled with man’s failure to do exactly that. Israel never heard of a command they didn’t want to break. What’s ironic is that the Bible didn’t give them enough rules to break so they made up there own so they could break those too. This isn’t true only in the Old Testament, it is true in the New as well. Peter denied Christ, Judas, Paul persecuted the church, the seven churches in Revelation 1-3, etc…all of them have failed at loving God. This is true in our own experience as well. If we take an honest picture or our own lives we will see our own failures to love God. This failure does not mean we should not continue to run the race, press on, or pursue perfection. It does mean that we are in a lot of trouble because we have failed at what Moses and Jesus said was the most important commandment in all of Scripture…Love God.

Love one Another

Again Scripture is filled with failures to do this very thing. Cain and Able, Joseph and his brothers, Hosea and Gomer, the Pharisees, Paul, etc… Again if we look at ourselves honestly we will find many moments when we have failed to love one another.

Love Your Neighbor

According to Moses and Jesus this is the second greatest commandment. It is so similar to the previous statement that it doesn’t warrant any further explanation of how mankind and each of us individually have failed to live up to this command.

These three statements are good in and of themselves. We should seek to obey them with all of our fiber, with every ounce or our energy, but they do not sum up the message of the Bible. If they did sum up the message of the Bible we are left as failures before a just and holy God.

All three of these statements represent the law given to us. We are to obey the law but the Bible and our experience clearly reminds us that because of sin we will fail to be obedient to the law and that is where the gospel and Jesus come into the picture. The Bible can be summed up in three verses and they are these:

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

There are other verses that could be used to tell the story of the Bible but the these do the job pretty well. Any summary of the Bible must include the law which shows us our sin, the atonement found in the cross, and the resurrection which is life with God eternally.

As pastors, parents, and leaders we must get this right. Christianity does teach good morals, but without Grace, without the atonement, without redemption love is just another law we fail to do.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

When Teens Are Called To Save Their Friends

brentlacy — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

It is the Holy Spirit’s job. He has done a great one in redeeming our souls. We have been given a great gift that we should want to tell everyone we know about. It’s not unlike the homeless beggar that finds a huge source of food. If he’s not sharing that source with others, he’s being selfish.

However, we also have too many selfish Christians. We need to share the bread of life and the living water we have been given with others. I have been given much. I want to help the students realize that if they have received God’s salvation and grace, they have too.

Evangelism in a Student ministry can have many effects.
I encourage them to engage in evangelism to share what they have been given. It pushes them deeper in God’s word (enter discipleship)to answer their friends questions about Jesus. They then rejoice with each other when more come to Christ (worship) and pray for each other when persecution crops up (edification).

It is really a win/win situation.

Blessed To Be A Blessing

Matt Erickson — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:45:00 +0000

This week at Eastbrook Church, we are continuing our series “Go Global” with a look at a theme that runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. That theme is this: “we have been blessed by God in order to be a blessing to others.” This is really not an original concept from me, but is something very important for us to grasp about the nature of God and what it means to be His people.

You can listen to my message online at the Eastbrook web-site here. You can also subscribe to the Eastbrook podcast here or follow Eastbrook Church on Twitter.

My message outline is below.

Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)

Receiving: God’s blessing to become a nation
Giving: All nations blessed through his descendants (‘seed’)

David (1 Chronicles 16:8, 24, 28, 31; Psalm 67:1-2)

Receiving: God’s blessing for kingship and new royal city
Giving: A place for the nations in the new kingdom

Jesus and the Early Church (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8)

Receiving: God’s greatest blessing in the Messiah and salvation
Giving: Not just for Jews, but for all the nations (‘Gentiles’)

The End of All Things (Revelation 7:4-17; 22:1-5)

Receiving: God’s blessing to all nations and families of earth
Giving: “the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:2)

Making It Real

How have you been blessed by God?
How will you be God’s conduit of blessing to others?

Scary Mary Poppins

pastorlarry — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Scary Mary Poppins is a fictional movie trailer exploring the possibility that Mary Poppins could have easily been a horror movie.

Transitional Leadership for Youth Ministry: Saying Goodbye (Part 7 of 7)

Erin Haligowski — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:10:00 +0000

This is the seventh and final installment of the 7-part series I posted on my blog, dedicating real estate to blogging through the transitional process--announcing departure, setting up systems for success, remembering the work God has done, looking into the future, etc.

I have never been very good at goodbyes. Yet, the time has come, and this week will be one of goodbyes.

I feel like I have been working so hard over the past eight weeks to prepare for this, and yet I know that it is still going to be the hardest part of the transition process. Leaving well involves finishing well, and that means saying goodbye well. So, what does that look like? For me, there are a few elements that I (and other church leadership) are intentionally working into the goodbye process. This probably isn't an exhaustive list, but this is where I'll be starting this week:

Celebration - I don't really like being at the center of attention or celebration (and I know I may get balked at by some family and friends for saying that, but for real--the natural introvert in me is exhausted by attention and celebration). However, it is really important, for the sake of healthy goodbyes, that people have the opportunity to celebrate with and for you. We've opened up the graduation/going away party at our house Sunday afternoon to the youth from the church, to give them the opportunity to celebrate with us. A few of the kids put together a bulletin board at the church celebrating the years I have served. Allow people the opportunity to celebrate with you.
Affirmation - Let your last words to the people you are leaving be words of affirmation. I've spent a good deal of my time the past two weeks writing letters of affirmation to young people and adult volunteers. I want them to know as I'm leaving how highly I think of them, how much I care for them, and how much God loves them.
Blessing - The act of blessing needs to go both ways. Give the congregation the opportunity to bless you as you leave (particularly if you are leaving on good terms, which I hope is always the case). In my case, this is happening during worship on my last Sunday. But also, be sure that you leave the people you have served with a blessing--whether written or spoken. Bless and release. Those are some important words to remember.
Allow Room for Emotions - Different people are going to have different emotions as you are leaving. Allow room for all those emotions. Give kids the freedom to cry with you, to laugh with you, to be angry at you, and to express all of those emotions in healthy ways. Chances are you'll have some emotions of your own, and don't be afraid to let those emotions show, too.
"See You Later" - Anymore, goodbyes are rarely permanent. Particularly in the church, we always cling to the promise that we will once again meet at Jesus' feet in the heavenly throne room. Remind yourself, and remind the church, that goodbyes don't have to be permanent--it's more like saying "see you later." In an age where technology bridges all gaps of time and distance, take advantage of the ability that you will have to stay connected, even if that level of connection is going to change.

Again, this isn't an exhaustive list. Goodbyes are still going to be messy and emotional, and nothing is ever going to end perfectly. But be intentional. Celebrate. Affirm. Bless. Allow room for emotions.

The way you say goodbye is just as important as the way you said hello. Finish strong.

The Trunk Monkey

pastorlarry — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Introducing a revolution in vehicle protection...The Trunk Monkey!!!

Who Are You?

pastorlarry — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

We were all created by God to be somebody....do you know who you are?

Transitional Leadership for Youth Ministry: Looking to the Future (Part 6 of 7)

Erin Haligowski — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This is part six of the 7-part series I posted on my blog, dedicating real estate to blogging through the transitional process--announcing departure, setting up systems for success, remembering the work God has done, looking into the future, etc.

It is a fact that when transition is happening, the future is going to look different. There is a new future coming--a time when our paths will diverge, and hopefully someone else will step in to carry on the work that has been begun. That new future is going to mean changes in everything from relationships to programming. As a leader in transition, it is important to help youth prepare for the new future.

Now, I'm not saying that we want to predict the future--after all, we don't really know what the new future will be like. That said, however, we do want to speak hope and life into the future--into the future of the students and of the ministry, and into the future leadership.

This Sunday, I am going to be having the first of two transitional gatherings with the young people from my church. This week, our focus will be looking to the future, and next week, on my last Sunday, the focus will be on saying goodbyes. As I have been preparing for what this Sunday's conversation might look like, here are some thoughts that I've had on the value and practice of looking to the future during a season of transition.

Speak life into your successor, whether you know who that will be or not. This is so important. It's really tempting to agree with young people when they say things like "nobody's ever gonna be as good as you." Just encourage them that, though the person who follows you will be different, he or she will still be good. God has created lots of wonderful and talented (and different) youth leaders, and though this season is ending, there is an exciting opportunity for new life on the horizon.
Speak hope and blessing into the future of the students. Let them know that you care about their lives beyond the date you leave--whether they will be entering high school for the first time, starting their senior year, or moving on to college--show them that you are aware and that you care. Their lives will go on when you are gone, but knowing that you care and acknowledge that can be a huge blessing to students. Wish them good luck on an upcoming athletic competition, or blessing for their senior year. You can even encourage them to keep you posted on some of those important upcoming events. Be sure they know that you still care, even if you are not physically present.
Remind students that though your role as their youth minister will change, your love for them--and in many cases, friendship with them--does not have to disappear. Sure, the relationship will change, but demonstrate for them (perhaps even by giving examples) that you are not abandoning them or giving up on their life. There are many students from my previous church that I still keep in touch with, and even see once in a while, and I anticipate that the same will be true for this crew.
If there is not a new leader in place as a replacement, encourage the kids to take this opportunity to take some ownership of the ministry in the interim. When I left my last church, a group of the kids were so determined not to let programming fall apart that they took on the leadership of it and made it their own--that program is now (three years later) far stronger than when I left it--and it's still mostly student led! This is a great opportunity to empower student leaders.

Again, this is not an exhaustive list. But it does serve as a launch pad. In a time of transition, please do not leave this out. It is important for young people to know that the future will still be good, that you will still be a part of it (just in a different role), and that you care about what happens after you leave.

Who Is Your God?

pastorlarry — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A video made on the subject of Idolatry featuring excerpts from "26's by Tedashii" and a short snippet from John Piper's sermon
"Regeneration, Faith, Love: In That Order"

Transitional Leadership for Youth Ministry: Take Time to Reflect (Part 5 of 7)

Erin Haligowski — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This is part five of the 7-part series I posted on my blog, dedicating real estate to blogging through the transitional process--announcing departure, setting up systems for success, remembering the work God has done, looking into the future, etc.

This past Sunday was perhaps one of the most emotional and reflective worship services that I have experienced in my time at Parma Lutheran Church. It wasn't a special occasion (unless the 4th Sunday of Easter is considered special). It wasn't my last Sunday. And yet, during the closing hymn, my eyes welled up with tears and my voice fell silent as I listened to the congregation singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." For the first time, the reality of transition settled in my heart and landed with a resounding THUD.

In a time of transition, there is a lot to be done. I have found that in the past few weeks, my to do list has been consistently growing and rarely shrinking. Each time I am in the office, there are five more things that need to be done. And yet, as I find myself now in the middle of this transitional season (between the announcement of my departure and my last day), I am finding that it is really important to spend some time reflecting--for my own sake, and for the sake of the church and youth ministry that I am leaving.

Self Awareness is a huge part of being a strong leader, and taking time to be self aware during the transition process will help to make the transition more healthy for everyone involved.

So, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of tasks that need to be done, papers that need to be filed, and meetings that need to happen, the challenge for the leader in transition is to find time to reflect on the journey. Take some time to reflect on:

The biggest challenges that have been faced in this church/position.
The practices that have most benefitted the ministry here.
The greatest joys encountered in this church/position.
The most valuable relationships developed during this season of ministry.
The most important or valuable annual events.
The three biggest failures and what could be done to improve upon those for next time.
The three greatest successes and why they were so successful.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list for personal reflection, but it should help get the ball rolling. The reality is that the transition is going to happen a lot faster than you (and I) expect, and if you aren't intentional about taking some time for personal reflection, the result could be unsettling both for the leader in transition and for the church and ministry that is being left behind.

What would you add to this list?

Teen Statistics In Two Hours

pastorlarry — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The typical church service lasts for two hours. This video shows the statistics of other activities over a two hour span.

Breaking Down The "Why?" Question In Our Youth Ministries

paul turner — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I have been reading the book Start With Why By Simone Sinek. The focus of his book is in the title; that people are more about why you do something than what you do or how you do it, so why don’t we start with asking why before we create another ineffective program? I used to think that if I told kids what we did (events, fun, concerts, etc.) and how we did it ( with energy, lots of give aways, food, big crowds) they would be sold, come to the event, and then stick around for a while. Had I stuck to that premise only, I would have left youth ministry a long time ago. The what and the how no longer excite me, but the why is still what has kept me going.

I think most of the kids have stuck with me in the ministry for a while because they know I do not do it for the money, fame, and glory because their isn’t any. They stuck around because I cared about them enough to hang our with them, share the truth with them, and from time to time, discipline them. They figured out that the Why? under current of my life was to see them become fuller followers of Christ while they were under my watch. They knew I was with them for as long as I could be, and I never gave up on them so long as it was within my power.

This does not mean my WHY was not without a few faults. I would slip from time to time back into what we do and how we do it and make that the focus. I would sometimes not do relationships very well, but the kids hung around anyway, God bless’em.

So, how do we take the translate the meaninglessness out of our what and how of youth ministry to give us a compelling story instead of an invitation tag line or bumper for the next video of a program we’re pushing? I recently re-thought out our worship band and this is my why, what, and how of our youth band. I recently sent this to our band leader.

WHY do we have a band? – This is purely philosophical, but if we cannot answer the why then the what and the how do not matter.

Why do we have a band?

Because it allows young people to use heir gifts and talents to glorify God rather than be spectators.
Because young people need peers to model what worship is.
Because, if we do not create an atmosphere of worship, with the best that we have, that lifts God high, we will never see students step out in faith and worship God in the fulness of the Spirit.

Simple right? This is WHAT the band is going to do

1. Practice become worship leaders to their peers to the throne room of God, in band practice.
2. Grow deeper in their individual walk with God because of their commitment to worship
3. Become the best they can be at their instrument and vocals.

More simple, right? This is HOW we are going to do it: We will

1. Expect them to be at practice and on time. Let’s have a few weeks of grace but the rule in the past is: If you do not practice with the band, you do not play with the band that following week. Let’s stick to that.
2. Create an environment of innovation. No idea is too crazy, no song to stupid, no combination of instruments too ludicrous. In other words, if they have an idea, let them share it, weigh it against the feedback of the rest of the band and what you think; and if it is doable, run with it. This means:

a. If someone has a solo, either instrumentally or vocally let’s figure out how to fit that in (special, offering, communion, closing, etc.)
b. Mentor and challenge kids to step up. Don’t let talented kids hide. Encourage them to step out. Really focus on certain kids to be lead worshippers. Here is a four step process I use when mentoring

I do it you watch (this might mean you show them how to pray out loud, move in the Spirit, etc.)
I do it you help (give them opportunities to do what you just did)
You do it and I watch (take the training wheels off and let them ride, even if they crash, they learn something)
You do it I train someone else ( Once that person has to confidence to do it, let them do it and move on to someone else all the while being available for feedback, etc.)

3. We’re going to bang the drum in all these areas. We will say it, write it, practice it, show it, paint it, sing it, or any other method that will keep our WHY at the forefront.

4. We will start each practice with a short devotion about worship, more story driven than principle driven but not leaving out either. The devotion will be short with interactive (open ended) questions and we will let kids struggle with the answers to ”what does this mean for me personally?” and “what does this mean for us as a band and a youth ministry?”

5. Recruit fantastic musicians and singers, from inside and outside the church, to mentor our kids in their instruments and vocals.

That took me about 15 minutes to think through and write out. Feel free to steal it, rework it to make it your own, or come up with your own.

Part II Coming Soon: Steps To Coming Up With Your Why Statement

Why Youth Pastor's Are Not (Real) Missionaries

paul turner — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I’ve heard through he years that youth pastors are like missionaries. I used to think that was true, but upon reflections, I find it is only partially true. I just got back from Phoenix and our National Fine Arts Conference and District Council for my denom. I talked with my friend and missionary Larry Henderson. Larry and his wife Melinda are missionaries to the Canary Islands.

Larry was helping with a booth to support missions in Europe where only 3% of the population is Christian. We started talking about what is working in youth work in the Canary Islands and guess what? It’s no shocker, it’s relationships. They gather kids up weekly and play soccer and then share the gospel or invite them to a bible study. The whole thing is relationships.

Now, we , as youth workers, do share some similarities with missionaries

We work in a foreign culture (Two Words : Lady Gaga)
We have the occasional language barrier (brush up on your lingo here or here)
We face cannibals on a weekly basis (Don’t laugh, you haven’t seen my youth group)

We are missionaries in practice, up to a point. The differences are many

Missionaries are revered for their sacrifice to live in another country ( I am over 40 and culture is officially another country to me, I want a cookie)
Missionaries are supported financially. (Need I say more)
Missionaries are applauded for reaching those God forsaken pagans (we are asked about that strange kid with the purple hair)
Missionaries garner prayer support (prayed for any other youth workers lately)
Missionaries are invited to share stories from the front lines. (Can you name the last time you were invited to share what God was doing in the youth ministry with your congregation?)
Missionaries can try anything that might reach the indigenous people and they don’t get fired if it does not work. (We get yelled at because the music is too loud)

What do you think, are youth pastors true missionaries? Should youth pastors move to being independent contractors (ala Young Life and YFC) and we just tell churches, we’ll work in your community but don’t tell us how to do our job? If only 3% of the teenagers in our country were Christians would the roles of youth pastors change? How?

Is There Hope For The Un-Relational Youth Pastor?

paul turner — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

We all know that youth ministry and ministry in general is driven by relationships, but what about those of us who are not anti-social but growing relationally challenged? I will say that early on in my life I felt like I had to be the life of the party and entertain everyone around me, now that I am older I don’t feel the need to do so, but I look at relationships, especially with young people differently.

I grew up an only child, so I am used to having alone time. In fact, the older I get, the more I like to be alone. I like to read, study, you know, all those things many of did not like when were younger. How has my relationship style changed with students and just about everyone else? Here are a few things I am practicing:

Shorter burst of relational time but more meaningful.
Say things that matter and skip the fluff.
Longer periods of quiet and reflection so when I do jump in to the thick of it I am charged and ready for it.
More texting (short encouragements).
Less Facebook time (especially chatting)
More meal time with students.
Not feeling guilty if I am not always there.
Letting others step into the spot light.

These are not just tips from a guy who is growing older in his profession, they are nuggets for anyone who thinks they have to be “on” all the time. I don’t think am losing a step in the area of relationships but as choosing my steps more wisely.

500 People,1500+ pics,100 Seconds!!

pastorlarry — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

500 people are recruited to hold more than 1500 pictures in order to tell stories within a story!

Are You Building a Kingdom Dream Team?

Xposed2Jesus — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:12:00 +0000

“A student who recently became a believer invited everyone from the youth group and other friends from the high school to pray at the flagpole for the first day of school. This was not the typical “lets meet at the flagpole and pray” kinda thing. These students are passionate about reaching their friends for Jesus and living THE Cause! They are settling for nothing less than campus-wide transformation!

The dream of the students this summer was that they would have a non-apathetic summer. They are not interested in mundane church programs and sitting around all day in the Florida sun, but a ministry that never stops even on summer break! They believe because Jesus’love and pursuit of His people never stops—why should youth ministry stop this summer? Their hearts were set ablaze for His presence and for His purposes for the city: to fall in love with Jesus and make disciples who make disciples. And that is exactly what they accomplished! Wow, what a summer! To read more about our summer check out www.Xposed2Jesus.com (“Jesus had no place to lay His head”).

The picture that God gave us for our ministry is that we are a Kingdom Dream Team that is an overcoming, Spirit-filled, youth group that is handpicked by God to transform the city with the Gospel! Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” If we are submitted to Jesus and His Cause to make disciples—nothing will stop us—even hell itself. Just as the NBA back in the 1990’s hand selected a Dream Team to annihilate every team in their path—God has put us together as a Kingdom Dream Team that has one purpose in mind: To transform everything in our path! The students’ dream is that every student on campus will know their Father and His love, walk in community as a Family of God with love, and share this love message we call the Gospel with everyone in their path!

The morning of the first day back, students began to text each other Scripture verses and encouragement before 7:00am as a way to start their day off. The students began their day by getting rocked by God’s presence by worshiping Him with their iPods on, talking to their Father and hearing His voice, and hungering to find more about Him in His Word! Their goal is to give away freely to their friends the treasure they find in their everyday intimacy with God!

Before prayer, one student said, “This is day #1 of campus revival!” The students decided to pray in front of the school doors—visible for all to see! The huge crowd inspired many by their boldness to see campus transformation. They were so pumped to reach their friends for Jesus this Fall that they couldn’t sleep the night before!

Agree with us as we pray that our students will transform everything in their path by living THE Cause on their campus!”

Ten Ways to Make Disciples of Straying Children and Grandchildren

AlanMelton — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Many parents and grandparents have children who have strayed from following the Lord. There are different reasons why adult children choose to leave the church. One common reason is that no one ever trained the child’s parents to make disciples of their children.

We tend to do what was done for us. Perhaps as a parent you did everything you knew to do. You took your children to church and Sunday School. You prayed before your meals. You made sure that your children made professions of faith. Everything seemed to be working fine, and then your adult children rebelled and left the church.

There is some good news for parents and grandparents who have straying children. First of all, Jesus encountered this very problem with His own disciples. After Judas betrayed Jesus, all of His disciples abandoned Jesus and strayed for a period of time. They all hurt Jesus deeply. But other than Judas, they all returned for the glory of God! Your children may return too. Jesus showed us and taught us how to deal with those who are our disciples and have abandoned the church and have hurt us. Here are ten ways to make disciples of straying children and grandchildren:

10. If you have not discipled your children like Jesus made disciples, prayerfully ask for their forgiveness. Every parent makes mistakes. We all fall short; none can really make disciples like the Son of God. But we all can begin to disciple MORE like Jesus! Ask your children to forgive you where you made mistakes. Give them the opportunity to describe each hurt. Agree with them and ask for their forgiveness. Forgive them for every sin they have committed against you. Doing this may help to reconcile your relationship.

9. Point out how Jesus employed Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and then commanded you to make disciples. Make a decision to disciple your children for life, no matter what their response may be. Tell them that your primary calling is to make disciples of your children and grandchildren, and you must obey that calling. Tell your child that you will never stop loving them and will never give up on them.

8. Faithfully pray for your children and grandchildren. Ask the Lord to guide you as you find creative ways to disciple and minister to them. Be like the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. Keep looking for ways to restore your sheep to your flock. Have faith that God will answer your prayers.

7. Study the way Jesus made disciples and do the same to the best of your ability. Read the gospels and observe how Jesus made disciples. Buy Disciple Like Jesus For Parents and the companion Study Guide and learn how to make disciples. Buy the book for your children and offer to study it with them.

6. Look for opportunities to serve them, and give testimonies of the goodness of the Lord. Minister to your children. Remind them that they have heard the Word of God and they know in their hearts that scripture is true. Keep sharing it with them. Every time you talk with them or your grandchildren, wash them in God’s love and word. Offer to read books together with your child, and talk with them once a week about the chapters you have read.

5. Enlist others around your children to pray and minister to them. Identify their neighbors, friends, co-workers, pastors and social media friends who are believers. Develop a community of believers that will reach out to them.

4. Stay involved in your children’s lives by meeting their needs, but don’t meddle. Allow them to make their own decisions. Give godly advice when asked. Offer to pray with your children and for them. Offer to babysit your grandchildren. If you don’t live nearby, consider relocating to their community. If they need financial help, consider pooling your resources by living in the same household.

3. When you have your grandchildren with you, read and teach the Bible to them. Bathe them in godly music and videos. Warn your grandchildren about wolves and lies that are being taught in our culture. Take them to church.

2. Acknowledge the good things that you did for them. If you took your children to church when they were in your home, they were under preaching and teaching. Rejoice in the fact that you ensured that your children heard the word of God. Take comfort in the hope about the saying that “God’s word shall not return void” in your children’s lives. Ask your children about good memories they had in church, and share your church memories with them. Remind your child of spiritual growth you witnessed in them when they were younger.

1. Never give up on your children and grandchildren. Discipleship is for life! Consider the fact that the command in Deuteronomy 6 (the method that Jesus personally used) is to parents and grandparents. The directive to make disciples is for our entire lifetime. That is hope!

Doing these things will be very hard, but the Lord will give you hope that they will one day walk with you in glory. The Lord will say to you one day: “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Take comfort in the hope of their homecoming. Think about the second half of the following wise words about training your children. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. “ (Proverbs 22:6) When the disciples of Jesus returned from straying, they never departed the faith. Your child may be old when he returns, but when an older person comes back, usually the decision is permanent. Have faith that your child will return and never depart again.

Brokenhearted for God

Matt Erickson — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:35:00 +0000

I still remember the year that I did not make the cut for the little league baseball team when I tried out. I could catch, throw, and run, but, to be honest, my batting skills were not something to marvel at. I wanted so badly to be a part of that team with my friends but it didn’t happen that first year. I was brokenhearted.

It is one thing to be brokenhearted about things we care about, but it is something quite different to be brokenhearted about things God cares about. Nehemiah was a leader of God’s people in the later years of the Old Testament. Years after the people of God went into exile from their homeland in Palestine, Nehemiah rose to the position of cupbearer for King Artaxerxes.

When some friends visit from Jerusalem, Nehemiah becomes brokenhearted when he hears that his homeland is in ruins. He writes: “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept” (Nehemiah 1:4a). Nehemiah is sad because his homeland is devastated and at risk from enemies. Nehemiah is sad because the glorious city of God is just a pale shadow of its former beauty.

But more than just personal sadness is welling up within Nehemiah. He is brokenhearted for God’s glory and God’s purposes to be revealed in real life. He says, “For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (1:4b). In Nehemiah 1:5-11, Nehemiah then goes on to voice one of the most moving prayers of repentance and intercession in all of Scripture. He is asking God to powerfully help His people. He is asking for God to shine His glory into all the earth through, at that time, restoration for Jerusalem. Then, as a follow-up to that prayer, Nehemiah offers himself in service to God for that end. As you read his story in the book named after him, Nehemiah stands out as one of the most dedicated and capable leaders in the Bible.

It is one thing to be brokenhearted about your own loss, but it is another thing to be brokenhearted about God’s loss and glory. It does something different within you. It turns you back to God; seeking His help and power to be at work. But it also turns you outward to serve God as an answer to your prayers.

The other night, I was at a prayer gathering and someone there talked about having our hearts broken for the things that break God’s heart. I always love hearing that sort of prayer. It’s the sort of prayer God loves to answer. Like with Nehemiah, God loves to have us brokenhearted for Him.

Distractions: Fighting Among Friends

Xposed2Jesus — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

There are so many things that can get in the way of us living THE Cause of Christ and exposing others to Jesus. This is the first of many posts that will be written between myself and John Curiale that will focus on those distractions to THE Cause.

I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have gotten into an argument with a friend or family member. I’m talking about the kind of arguments that lead to hurtful things being said and one if not both of us treating the other badly.

It’s amazing how much our words can hurt someone. It doesn’t take much. It might start off as simply a disagreement but quickly escalates into something more. Soon you and your friend can’t even remember what started the argument or who started it. All you know is it started at the youth group activity last night and carried over into the church van on the way back. Then it led to text messages being exchanged and in the fury of thumbing your angry responses back and forth something very hurtful is said.

Now, you find yourself sitting in class bummed out and thinking about what happened last night. You think to yourself; “this is my friend. My best friend. What happened? Is it my fault? Is it their fault?”

God says in Ecclesiastes 10:12; “Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.”

Our own words can either encourage friendships or destroy friendships even between friends that love God and are living THE Cause. And broken friendships are a distraction. But it’s God’s amazing love for us that should remind us how we should treat our friends and what to do when we get into hurtful arguments that leave us feeling like we’ve been mistreated.

So what does God tell us about fighting among friends that’s a distraction to THE Cause? Check out this verse found in 1 Peter 4:8

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

When you really love someone the same way Jesus loves us eventually whatever you and your friend argued about becomes less and less important because your friendship is VERY important.

I encourage you to read the verses above over and over, you may realize that in the midst of your argument that there were some faults on your part that needs forgiveness.

Do you find yourself in a tough time with a friend? Have your been arguing and can’t even remember what or who started it? Are you too busy pointing fingers instead of going to that friend to work things out? Don’t waste anymore time. First, read the verses over and over until you really get what God is saying. Second, pray and ask God to break both your heart and your friends. Ask him to show you where you went wrong and where you need to be forgiven. Third, call your friend and ask them if you can read to them the verses in this article. Fourth, tell them you’re sorry for letting something petty come between you and that you realized where you were wrong.

You may be surprised to find out that your friend is glad you called and that they didn’t feel right about the fighting. Fighting among friends and hurtful words is a distraction to THE Cause.

Heart to Give

pastorlarry — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A wonderfully positive and totally cool stop-motion video about generosity.