I am teaching a workshop tomorrow on, “Being serious about God’s word in Youth Ministry.”  I am including the workshop here and would love to hear some of your input or ideas of things that I could add.

Be Serious About God’s Word in Youth Ministry

David Mehrle

Introduction:

Illustrations:

Ex. Preaching without using your Bible

Ex.  Share story form thesis

Ex. Study: What Teens are Looking for, Learning in Church

1.    How important is the Bible to us as individuals?
2.    Are you carrying your Bible now?
3.    How do you feel we have moved away from the Bible in Youth Ministry
4.    In what ways do you connect with students?

I think the first question we have to ask is are we moving students closer to God?

I.    What does the Bible say about discipleship?

A.    Worship
1.    The dreaded phrase of every parent, “I don’t have to go to church, I am the church.”
2.    Hebrews 10:25, Acts 2:46
3.    Unity of the body – something that I see students struggling with all the time
4.    1 Peter 3:8, Ephesians 4:31,32
5.    Purpose of teaching doctrine
6.    2 Thess. 2:15, Titus 2:1
B.    Study
1.    All through out the New Testament we see the Disciples walking alongside Jesus.
2.    Teaching – Colossians 3:16
3.    Understanding and application – 2 Timothy 2:15, Philippians 1:9-10
4.    Protection from false teachings – Hebrews 13:9
C.    Serve
1.    Probably the most underestimated action of discipleship
2.    Use your spiritual gifts in the church – 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
3.    Provide for those in need – Gal. 2:10, 1 Tim. 5:3
4.    For encouragement – Eph. 5:21, Romans 12:16

II.    What does discipleship for students look like?

Illus.  In George Barna’s book, Growing True Disciples – he shares the idea that we have become followers of Christ much like we have become followers of sports teams.

A.    What does your church do for discipleship of students?
1.    List these things
2.    What do you feel are some solid expectations of students in the church?
B.    Do you feel that your students understand the truth?
C.    Then why don’t they follow it all the time?

III.    How can we make a difference?

A.    Leaders – have to be the example, what kind of questions are you asking your students when you talk to them?

Ex.  “Walk of Life” – Richard R Dunn in Shaping the spiritual lives of students

Telling can be contrasted with pacing in the following ways:
1.    Telling enters the relationship with an agenda: communicating what an adolescent should be experiencing, thinking or doing.  Pacing’s agenda is to understand what the adolescent is experiencing, thinking or doing.
2.    Telling emphasizes the teaching and advice-giving abilities of the adult.  Pacing emphasizes the listening and care-giving abilities of the adult.
3.    Telling emphasizes the adult’s expertise and knowledge about God’s will for adolescent lives.  Pacing emphasizes the adult’s heart for hearing God’s will at work in the life of a particular adolescent.
4.    Telling has as its initial goals the student’s assent to and application of godly advice.  Pacing has as its initial goals a student’s authenticity in relationship to God and the adult.
5.    The primary delivery system of telling is controlled teaching times, ministry experiences and discussions.  The primary delivery system of pacing is dynamic, intentional yet informal interpersonal relationships.
6.    Telling uses small groups to assist in application and accountability.  Pacing uses small groups to build relationships that foster self-disclosure, affirmation, encouragement and challenge.

B.    A Holistic ministry focus
1.    Mass – we want students to connect with a community of Christ followers who desire to be like Jesus.
2.    Crowd – we want students to engage in worshipping God and understanding his call on their lives and what he desires from them
3.    Disciple – we want to encourage students to gain and understanding of God
4.    Laborers – we want students to use the gifts that God has given them to serve the church and community as a whole
C.    Have a plan or method for discipleship

Conclusion:

Take a few minutes for questions and suggestions on how they can make a difference in the spiritual life of students.

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