Are We Wasting Time with Teens? – I know

Are We Wasting Time with Teens? – I know how to waste time. I’m sure a lot of people could give me a run for my mone… http://ow.ly/1ecILz

It’s Always Better to Know – “I am the

It’s Always Better to Know – “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.” —John 10:14  (MSG) I … http://ow.ly/1e4u64

Be a Transparent Leader – Then he drove

Be a Transparent Leader – Then he drove it home by saying, “This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are… http://ow.ly/1e0sIr

seeing youth as apprentices

I love the accurate picture Eugene Peterson paints for us of the real roles of Jesus and his young disciples.

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.” (emphasis mine)

- Matthew 5:1-2 (MSG)

This is my twenty-first year of working with young people. Notice I didn’t say of doing youth ministry (I quit that job a long time ago). When God convicted me that teens are coequals and peers in his plan, I began to view them much differently, which in turn changed my perspective of my role and how I relate to youth.

This text gives a lot of insight we can learn from, so lets’ break it down.

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds…”

Like many of us, Jesus had a ministry and a following of young people who listened to what he had to say. They even gave up their own lives, activities, after school events, etc. to be part of what was happening. We learn from his example that there is a clear time to begin the process of giving ownership of ministry away. I didn’t learn that lesson soon enough. When I saw my ministry (notice the problem) growing years ago, I started planning for and praying about how to make it bigger without realizing that God would expand it even more for his glory if I gave it up. It’s easy to hold on. Hard to let go. The fascinating point is that Jesus was actually preparing to give his ministry to his young padawans from the very beginning.

Those who were apprenticed to him…”

I just hung up the phone with my friend, Steve, in Cincinnati. We discussed the idea of youth ministry as apprenticeship in the terms of youth pastors seeing themselves sort of like Master Electricians with teenage apprentices. On the first week of the job, they carry supplies. Eventually, the have their own tool belt. In time, we even give them tools. Before long, they’re not just pulling wire but installing plugs, making connections, and even flipping switches to see the results of their work. We teach them to do everything we have learned, so they can actually do the job without our help someday. In the early stage they might get shocked a time or two, but the goal is for them to become full blown electricians who don’t need us but go on to exceed us.

“…the committed, climbed with him.”

I read a blog some time ago on Q by David Platt who is challenging the church and raising expectations for what it means to follow Jesus. His point of view is hard for seasoned saints to swallow because it takes us out of our comfort zone of Western Christianity; however, it is not a stretched for the generation of emerging young leaders we serve. They’re ready for sacrifice and service. Ironically, Jesus’ call to his motley crew of protégés came at a great price, too. He required serious commitment, but he didn’t set them up or send them out to fail alone.

We don’t need to be afraid of raising expectations for young people, as long as we’re prepared to walk alongside as they accept the challenge to do hard things. Jesus did ministry with his team, and we see him establish the protocol early in this passage. His ministry wasn’t to them of for them. He called them to a higher standard and shared in their learning experience.

“…he sat down and taught his climbing companions.”

Discipleship is the sole objective of the church, and Jesus told his students (which includes us) to go make disciples exactly like he demonstrated. Did he teach? Sure. He might have even occasionally preached, but in the end, he lived the Word with his apprentices and they absorbed the message; it became relevant and real as they put it into action together. Eventually, Jesus turned them loose, but he didn’t spend 3.5 years lecturing first and planning programs for them. The were his companions, eventually he called them friends. The younger learning from the master even while he let them do with the work and even make some mistakes.

How far have we gotten from the simple, authentic approach of the Source of our faith and his example?

As I learn to define myself as a mentor more than a pastor, I discover people’s potential much faster. It is easier for me to give jobs away that I don’t need to be doing personally. Amazingly, people also discover who they are in Christ and see their potential quicker as well when I get out of the way. That’s the real point of Ephesians 4:12-13?

I have remember that Jesus showed his apprentices how to identify the needs of others, how to recognize their own talents and skills, and how to connect the two while drawing on his power. We are here today because Christ got out of their way gave us the same power and promise of being with us to the very end.

Maybe someday I’ll figure it all out, get it right, and learn to do less. For now, I’m just trying to forget how to do youth ministry.

 

Recommended Reading:

• Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (David Platt)
• The Be-With Factor: Mentoring Students in Everyday Life (Bo Boshers)
• Pray21: Teens and Adults Praying Together for God’s Call (Timothy Eldred)
• Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations (Alex and Bret Harris)

it’s not your ministry

After reading more blogs than I can stomach, I’ve got to spew a little. This is really just a rant more than anything, so hold on to your shorts.

The general definition of the word delta is the gap between two distinct boundaries; it’s a disconnect of sorts. Well, there is a definite delta in philosophy when talking about youth ministry. It’s not minor; it’s huge!

I think the best way to illustrate it is for us to look at some blog titles I found online:

• How to Create Awareness about Your Ministry
• How to Get Youth Leaders to Show Up at Meetings
• How to Get Youth to Come to Youth Group
• How to Teach and Keep Young People’s Attention
• How to Name Your Youth Ministry
• How to Raise Money for Youth Ministry

The list could go on and on and the same overall mindset would prevail…your ministry. Let me just cut to the chase and say it, “It’s not your ministry!”

That’s the problem.

Every time I talk to youth pastors, I find the biggest obstacle to their success is ownership — they have way too much of it. We have really come to believe that our job is  running an effective youth program that draws kids to Christ. Close but no cigar.

We spend more time talking about keeping our ministry, growing our ministry, or building our ministry that we do giving away ministry. I have yet to see a blog or seminar called, “How to Work Yourself Out of a Job.” If we finally begin to understand that our ministry is to help young people do theirs, then we will be close to understanding the role God has called us to do today. Coaching.

This generation is tired of sitting on the sidelines. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to find a better way to plug them into your ministry. It means you need to help them find their own ministry. Seriously. They have something extraordinary to give the world. Now. “Equipping the saints for the work of service,” clearly indicates that young people who have given their life to Christ are:

1. saints, and
2. ready for action.

For Pete’s sake (whoever Pete actually is), it’s time for most youth pastors to go to McDonald’s or Wendy’s and get a real job that pays better and has health benefits. When did we become such “ball hogs” afraid to stand on the sidelines and let young people actually run something themselves?

What would happen if we stopped creating ministry for youth and recognized them as our real ministry? What would happen if we stopped long enough to listen to their hearts and then helped them accomplish their God-given passions, dreams, and desires? Here’s what would happen: We would be so busy setting teens up for success using their gifts, talents, and abilities that we wouldn’t have time to plan another useless meeting (yes, I said it).

Get out of your office! Get in their world. When they begin to open up and share their lives with you, get behind their crazy-outrageous-impossible-can’t-be-done-ideas and help make them a reality. That’s the real mark of discipleship, but it can’t happen as long as you think it’s your youth ministry.

If the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church, the junior high kids aren’t going to do any great damage to it either. Get out of their way!

(OK, I’m done…for now. You can yell at me all you want.)