Building a Vibrant Youth Ministry

John Piper Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church Worship is Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions because God is ultimate, not man. Youth Ministry begins and ends with worship As you read this quote, replace “missions” with “ministry.” Youth minsitry, like all ministry, is a way to bring people into the state of worshipping God. Worship brings us right relationship, joy, and fulness of life in Christ. Youth minsitry provides the environment and community for youth to come into a worshipping relationship with God. Nothing else matters. A vibrant youth ministry is one that is alive. Things that are alive grow. A youth ministry grows when the youth are growing in worship of their creator.

A VIBRANT YOUTH MINISTRY Begins with worship… Moves to action… Culminates in community. A vibrant youth ministry begins with worship, moves to action and culminates in community. The goal of all ministry is to bring the Church together in worship to God. A ministry stuck out there alone isn’t a growing ministry. It is a one-eared Mickey Mouse

One-Eared Mickey Mouse Youth Men Women Children This is an unhealthy church model!

Begins with worship... Authority is from God alone You have it because of God alone You obey God - ALONE Your volunteers love youth because they love God Knowing who you worship helps in all areas of youth ministry. Always remember, authority starts with submission to the author and perfector of our faith. YOu have authority over your youth because He gives it to you. Correct them in the way they should go. Authority is important when leading young people, especially teens who are just finding their voice and exercizing their will as adults. It is important to encourage a young person to find their own calling, their personhood in christ. Teens have fewer rights than a prisoner in this state, but they have the brain function of an adult. What do you do when they don’t listen? Do you have more trouble finding your voice of authority or quieting your authority? As soon as you are personally hurt or fear losing your own power, you’ve lost the game. Youth show more compassion when you fail - dead fish on the beach, rip tide at the baptisms You cannot burn out when you are only doing what God is calling you to do. Burnout is often caused by others expectations etc YOu will choose the right volunteers when your volunteers begin by loving God with all their hearts. If their motivation is anything else, it is up to you to discover what that is. Some are simply looking to relive their youth lives. Others are looking for worse. Channing, depression, authority, their own kids etc When reviewing performance, you are not thinking of review as a way to get people to comply to your plan. You are offering them insight for growth in God. Never take your eyes off God.

Begins with worship... Youth want to know God And ask the hard questions Youth want to know the Bible And read it through Youth want to see Authenticity And learn by example Christianity today article I personally hate curriculum because most of it takes good ideas and adds Bible to them here and there and assumes it should all work out. Youth already know these good ideas. They want somewhere to ask the difficult life questions. Allow them time and space to ask the right questions - even if it takes hours of games Christianity Today did a study of this generation. Their study showed that youth want to know the Bible. They want to read entire books from front to back. Don’t be afraid to require a lot and let them do the studying and the teaching Requirements for CTU at CCIC College ministry There are many people in youth people’s lives who are not authentic. Dont be another one - don’t let volunteers be another one - chances are, they already see it in parents and other close people Be authentic

Moves to Action... Put the learning to the test Gospel leads to justice Gospel leads to unity Put sermons into action This is the best way to teach Trust your youth They do more in school They are thinking like adults They will learn by doing - Tightrope of Adolescents Deep Justice in a Broken World - book rec Christianity today article This generation wants to know if it will really work Youth are on a tightrope of adolescents. When they are kids, they are dependent. Everything depends on what others can do for them, tell them and teach them. Approaching adulthood, we have something we call adolescents. Youth become independent. They are learning and observing on their own, discovering who they are as indivicuals. But an adult is someone who is interdependent. An adult understands that you have people relying on you. You do what you do with others in mind as well. Not allowing youth to explore what it means to exercise their faith and be called as an individual in Christ deprives them of becoming a Christian adult. Often we get vibrant students, college kids, employees who are not vibrant Christians. They’ve never learned that they have a calling in Christ and they can exercise it in action. Go through your summer plan to help them put it into action

Moves to Action... Mission Outreach Allow youth to lead Overseas mission Local and in-church mission Outreach Holiday outreaches Milestone celebration Allow youth to lead

Culminates in Community! The goal of ministry is to build the CHURCH Five - to - one model (discipleship) The funnel of youth ministry No one-eared mickey mouse! We are working toward a Whole Church model. But that takes commitment from adults. There should be five adults who know each youth. Whether it is a weekly mentorship appointment, teaching Sunday school together, babysitting for them etc, that young person should have five other adults who know them and can model Christian adulthood for them. MENTOR LUNCHES Take a moment to think of how many young people you know well, on their level, not with any expectations or anything in your agenda.

Funnel of Youth Programming Come Level Grow Level Disciple Level Develop Level Multiply level Each of these levels has programming to go with it. Starting at the disciple level, young people will be growing into your church as members. We cannot and should not expect the same level from each one. Our programs and development of them leads to them being in our church as full adults and participants. *Adapted from Starting Right: Thinking theologically about youth ministry Chap Clark, Dave Rahn, Kenda Creasy Dean, eds., Starting Right: Thinking theologically about youth ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.

Culminates in Community Be committed Many unreliable adults No consistency, no community! Fun is not an option Learn to run a game Teach them to enjoy events Plan, plan, and PLAN Be real They sense fake! Nobody achieves community without consistency, and youth need one person to model this consistency Many people pass through their lives Fun is not an option Learn how to run a game - more important than you think! Create events that invite! Enjoy them together. TEach them to enjoy one another and they will also learn to enjoy God. Plan, plan, PLAN! Always begin and end in Worship :)