1. Growing Youth God’s Way: Raising Youth in the Church of God Daniel Chan 2014 Bay Area Bible Conference

2. Raising Youth in the Church of God A.The Dilemma of Youth Ministry B.The Heart of Youth Ministry C.The Hope of Youth Ministry

3. Raising Youth in the Church of God A.The Dilemma of Youth Ministry 1.A Low Priority 2.A Lack of Engagement 3.A Leave of Absence 4.A Loss of Focus

4. Raising Youth in the Church of God How should the church respond?

5. Raising Youth in the Church of God B.The Heart of Youth Ministry 1.Grounded in the Gospel 2.Lovers of the Lord 3.Saturated in the Scriptures 4.Committed to the Church 5.Satisfied by Service 6.Focused on the Family 7.Laborers for the Lost

6. 1. Grounded in the Gospel Our greatest prayer is that all our students become gospel-believing and gospel- proclaiming followers of Christ (Rom 1:16). Thus, we seek to declare the gospel message regularly and consistently, calling all to repentance and belief in Christ, and seek to train our students in the gospel so that they can go out and declare it to others. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

7. 2. Lovers of the Lord We want our students to develop a lifestyle of worshipping God (Rom 12:1), which flows from a deep love for Him that is rooted in the truth (John 4:24). Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

8. 3. Saturated in the Scriptures Because all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16), we are committed to teaching God's Word faithfully and helping our students develop a love for it. 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

9. 4. Committed to the Church We desire that all our students love the church of Jesus Christ and encourage our students to regularly attend church activities (Heb 10:24-25) - most importantly, our weekly church worship service on Sunday mornings. Our youth ministry is not intended to be a replacement for our church, but rather, an integral part of it. Heb 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

10. 5. Satisfied by Service We seek to provide opportunities for our students to serve others and want our students to find joy in doing so for we believe that service is both a command (Gal 5:13) and a means of grace (1 Pet 4:10) through which God grows our faith, extends our love, and brings us joy and peace. Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 1 Pet 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

11. 6. Focused on the Family We believe that parents have the primary responsibility for the biblical training and upbringing of their children (Deut 6:6-7; Eph 6:4) and so we seek to support parents in raising up children who love the Lord. At the same time, we understand that youth ministry provides a unique opportunity for other believers to speak and model truth to students (Eph 4:11-14). Parents are always welcome and encouraged to join any of our events. Deut 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

12. 6. Focused on the Family We believe that parents have the primary responsibility for the biblical training and upbringing of their children (Deut 6:6-7; Eph 6:4) and so we seek to support parents in raising up children who love the Lord. At the same time, we understand that youth ministry provides a unique opportunity for other believers to speak and model truth to students (Eph 4:11-14). Parents are always welcome and encouraged to join any of our events. Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

13. 7. Laborers for the Lost Finally, we encourage our students to be participants in the Great Commission (Matt 28:19- 20), both locally and beyond. We seek to cultivate in our students a desire to be a light for Christ and to share the gospel to all those with whom they come into contact. Matt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

14. Raising Youth in the Church of God B.The Heart of Youth Ministry 1.Grounded in the Gospel 2.Lovers of the Lord 3.Saturated in the Scriptures 4.Committed to the Church 5.Satisfied by Service 6.Focused on the Family 7.Laborers for the Lost

15. Raising Youth in the Church of God C.The Hope of Youth Ministry Col 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.