“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)
Filed under: Coaching, Empowerment, Relationships
