At the church we have started something called the, "Fairwood Fitness Challenge." The goal is to help people live and eat healthy throughout the summer. It starts officially Monday, June 1st and continues through July and August. We've started a Facebook page (Fairwood Fitness Challenge) and as a church, we're recommending some various sites to use to help people pursue their fitness goals.
The site I've been using and enjoying in the early going has been www.dailyburn.com. On dailyburn the user can set weight loss goals, track calories, and log exercise. We've started a group page on dailyburn that you can join by clicking the "join this challenge" button and setting up an account:
www.dailyburn.com/challenges/fairwood_church_fairwood_fitness_challenge
In the week leading up to the challenge kickoff I have noticed that just knowing that I have to record what I eat makes me think twice about what I put in my body. I've had some moderate success in dropping some quick pounds, but I'm in this for the long haul. It's time for me to make healthy eating a lifestyle not just a quick way to lose weight.
As I mentioned before the goal of this whole fitness challenge is to inspire and help people reach their fitness goals. Whether you're wanting to add some muscle, shed some pounds, run a mile faster, or just want to make healthier choices; this challenge is for you.
I challenge you to join us at Fairwood Church as we get fit together this summer. I think you'll find that it's fun, especially knowing that others are going along with you on this challenge. Come on I dare you...
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Youth Church I See #7
*The final post in a series called The Youth Church I See.
Have you ever watched Discovery channel or Animal Planet and seen the way a mother bird feeds her chicks? I know you have, picture it for a moment, the mother gets the worm chews it up and then spits it back into the open mouths of her little ones. The little chicks are all making noise and stretching their necks and heads in hopes of getting enough to eat. It's a pretty gross yet necessary process that helps these little birds survive and grow.
We've also all seen the human version of this feeding frenzy. If you're lucky, you've only seen the bottle version. If you're not, well... I'm just going to say it's not as beautiful as some people say it is. In either instance, the little baby is completely dependent that food be fed to them. They must be burped and soon after must have their diaper changed. Little children, like young animals must be nurtured and fed to survive. They don't have the skills to thrive on their own. They need the TLC that parents provide them.
Unfortunately this nurturing and nursing process can occasionally drag on far too long. In high school I worked for a lady that told her entire staff of servers and hosts that she breast-fed her son until his 5th birthday! Now that is crazy. It seems like a case of being too nurturing. At some point children must learn to feed themselves, right?
I'm tired of seeing youth churches run this way...
Observation #7
Youth Church in which students depend on their leadership to tell them what to do; youth churches where leadership exists solely to entertain and feed the students.
I fully understand and embrace the idea that we need to reach unchurched students and nurture new believers, but at what point do we quit nursing them? At what point do we stop spoon feeding? At what point do we quit spitting food into our students open mouths?
The Bible has lots to say about maturing in Christ. Can't you hear the frustration in the author of Hebrews voice when they write these words:
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
How about these words from Paul when he gives the job description of pastors and leaders in the church:
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Paul continues...
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:13-15)
As leaders it is our responsibility to lead. Wow, profound I know. Many of us are busy nursing and coddling students who need to begin to feed themselves. We are hampering their growth when we continue to spoon feed them.
As a dad I know first hand, we are currently allowing Hailey to feed herself, she uses her hands and it is a disaster! Food is everywhere but in her mouth where it belongs, but long-term it's for the best. She has to learn to feed herself and so do our students. If they're only feeding on God's word once or twice a week when they're in church then they are starving! Lead them, teach them to consume God's word on their own. We cannot afford to have youth ministries full of spiritually anorexic students.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see has young people who know and live out their purpose. They are not full of religion, rather full of hope for their generation and the world around them. I see a youth church where students are released and empowered to be exactly who God has called them to be.
Do our students really know their purpose? Are we instructing and inspiring them to make an impact? We use this verse so often at youth, I'm sure they have it memorized by now.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Enough writing about the youth church I see, now it's time to build it...
Have you ever watched Discovery channel or Animal Planet and seen the way a mother bird feeds her chicks? I know you have, picture it for a moment, the mother gets the worm chews it up and then spits it back into the open mouths of her little ones. The little chicks are all making noise and stretching their necks and heads in hopes of getting enough to eat. It's a pretty gross yet necessary process that helps these little birds survive and grow.
We've also all seen the human version of this feeding frenzy. If you're lucky, you've only seen the bottle version. If you're not, well... I'm just going to say it's not as beautiful as some people say it is. In either instance, the little baby is completely dependent that food be fed to them. They must be burped and soon after must have their diaper changed. Little children, like young animals must be nurtured and fed to survive. They don't have the skills to thrive on their own. They need the TLC that parents provide them.
Unfortunately this nurturing and nursing process can occasionally drag on far too long. In high school I worked for a lady that told her entire staff of servers and hosts that she breast-fed her son until his 5th birthday! Now that is crazy. It seems like a case of being too nurturing. At some point children must learn to feed themselves, right?
I'm tired of seeing youth churches run this way...
Observation #7
Youth Church in which students depend on their leadership to tell them what to do; youth churches where leadership exists solely to entertain and feed the students.
I fully understand and embrace the idea that we need to reach unchurched students and nurture new believers, but at what point do we quit nursing them? At what point do we stop spoon feeding? At what point do we quit spitting food into our students open mouths?
The Bible has lots to say about maturing in Christ. Can't you hear the frustration in the author of Hebrews voice when they write these words:
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
How about these words from Paul when he gives the job description of pastors and leaders in the church:
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Paul continues...
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:13-15)
As leaders it is our responsibility to lead. Wow, profound I know. Many of us are busy nursing and coddling students who need to begin to feed themselves. We are hampering their growth when we continue to spoon feed them.
As a dad I know first hand, we are currently allowing Hailey to feed herself, she uses her hands and it is a disaster! Food is everywhere but in her mouth where it belongs, but long-term it's for the best. She has to learn to feed herself and so do our students. If they're only feeding on God's word once or twice a week when they're in church then they are starving! Lead them, teach them to consume God's word on their own. We cannot afford to have youth ministries full of spiritually anorexic students.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see has young people who know and live out their purpose. They are not full of religion, rather full of hope for their generation and the world around them. I see a youth church where students are released and empowered to be exactly who God has called them to be.
Do our students really know their purpose? Are we instructing and inspiring them to make an impact? We use this verse so often at youth, I'm sure they have it memorized by now.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Enough writing about the youth church I see, now it's time to build it...
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Youth Church I See #6
*Part six of seven in a series of posts called The Youth Church I See.
Observation #6
Youth Churches with empty seats and extra space always available; where semi-permanent walls are used to make the room appear full.
Well this observation in particular hits home with me. I have been living this observation out for several years now. Our youth ministry is blessed to be able to conduct our service in the main auditorium at our church. Our auditorium can seat at max capacity probably just over 400 people and that's packing it full.
So for years we've been coming up with ways to make it feel full on our youth nights. We haven't been able to fill it literally so we are left to make it feel full. I have no objection to this on the surface, it makes for a fun and exciting atmosphere when students feel close together and packed in. My frustration is that I have to produce this excitement and anticipation by putting up corrugated tin walls that shrink the room to fit the students that show up each week.
I would love to have to show our service on video screens in different parts of the church because the auditorium is too full for anyone else to come in. I long for the day when our students can't wait to get to service and get a seat for themselves and the six other people they brought with them that night. I can see it my mind's eye already; can you?
Students coming to meet with God and each other. Students packing a room to worship God with all that is in them. Students that are hungry to be transformed by God's Grace and incredible love. Students that are eager to see the friends they brought experience forgiveness and respond to the truth.
Jesus actually faced crowd issues as well, take a look at Luke 5:1-3:
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
I heard a pastor say recently, that in all his years of ministry he had yet to see an empty chair get saved, worship, be filled with the Spirit, give in an offering, or serve in the church. You know, I haven't either. It's time our youth ministries become places where the empty chairs are driven to extinction.
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is one with no walls. Not just literally, but figuratively as well. It is jam packed with young people who come expecting God to change their lives and the lives of others. I see a youth ministry that is faced with running back to back youth services to accommodate all the young people that are coming.
Observation #6
Youth Churches with empty seats and extra space always available; where semi-permanent walls are used to make the room appear full.
Well this observation in particular hits home with me. I have been living this observation out for several years now. Our youth ministry is blessed to be able to conduct our service in the main auditorium at our church. Our auditorium can seat at max capacity probably just over 400 people and that's packing it full.
So for years we've been coming up with ways to make it feel full on our youth nights. We haven't been able to fill it literally so we are left to make it feel full. I have no objection to this on the surface, it makes for a fun and exciting atmosphere when students feel close together and packed in. My frustration is that I have to produce this excitement and anticipation by putting up corrugated tin walls that shrink the room to fit the students that show up each week.
I would love to have to show our service on video screens in different parts of the church because the auditorium is too full for anyone else to come in. I long for the day when our students can't wait to get to service and get a seat for themselves and the six other people they brought with them that night. I can see it my mind's eye already; can you?
Students coming to meet with God and each other. Students packing a room to worship God with all that is in them. Students that are hungry to be transformed by God's Grace and incredible love. Students that are eager to see the friends they brought experience forgiveness and respond to the truth.
Jesus actually faced crowd issues as well, take a look at Luke 5:1-3:
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
I heard a pastor say recently, that in all his years of ministry he had yet to see an empty chair get saved, worship, be filled with the Spirit, give in an offering, or serve in the church. You know, I haven't either. It's time our youth ministries become places where the empty chairs are driven to extinction.
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is one with no walls. Not just literally, but figuratively as well. It is jam packed with young people who come expecting God to change their lives and the lives of others. I see a youth ministry that is faced with running back to back youth services to accommodate all the young people that are coming.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Youth Church I See #5
*Part five of seven in a series of posts called The Youth Church I See.
For the past week or so I have been writing about what kind of youth ministry I envision and I have really been enjoying it. It's great to be able to sit down and think through what God has called me to do. It's helped me dream about the future God has for me and our ministry and I have been constantly challenged by the thought, "Is my vision big enough?"
I pray that God would always keep the vision for my life and ministry in front of me. I love the work God has called me to and can't imagine doing anything else with my life. I am humbled by His Grace, what a joy it truly is to be about His business.
Observation #5
I don't want the kind of Youth Church where parents bring their students to “try it out."
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is full of students who have been changed by God and in turn are dragging their families to church with them on Sunday. I see a youth church that is adding to Fairwood Church, I want Fairwood to be known as a place where “World Class” Youth Ministry takes place. I see a youth church that strives for excellence in all that we do.
Just recently we've started to see this at our church. I've had several parents come to me and say my son or daughter told us we had to come check out the church. How cool is that? I love that our students are dragging their parents along.
Our youth ministry exists to build the church as a whole not just it's own little kingdom. We want to connect students to God, His people, and His Church. I serve my Pastor best when our youth ministry attracts new students, that in turn reach their parents for Christ.
As for striving for excellence, what else should we be striving for? Yeah, truth is we rarely have a flawless night. There will always be something that could have been done better. I would rather have us do our best to be excellent than set the bar at mediocrity! Can't you just feel the inspiration in that pre-service prayer time? "Alright team, let's go out there and be AVERAGE!"
Point is, we won't always achieve it, but we're always shooting for excellence.
For the past week or so I have been writing about what kind of youth ministry I envision and I have really been enjoying it. It's great to be able to sit down and think through what God has called me to do. It's helped me dream about the future God has for me and our ministry and I have been constantly challenged by the thought, "Is my vision big enough?"
I pray that God would always keep the vision for my life and ministry in front of me. I love the work God has called me to and can't imagine doing anything else with my life. I am humbled by His Grace, what a joy it truly is to be about His business.
Observation #5
I don't want the kind of Youth Church where parents bring their students to “try it out."
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is full of students who have been changed by God and in turn are dragging their families to church with them on Sunday. I see a youth church that is adding to Fairwood Church, I want Fairwood to be known as a place where “World Class” Youth Ministry takes place. I see a youth church that strives for excellence in all that we do.
Just recently we've started to see this at our church. I've had several parents come to me and say my son or daughter told us we had to come check out the church. How cool is that? I love that our students are dragging their parents along.
Our youth ministry exists to build the church as a whole not just it's own little kingdom. We want to connect students to God, His people, and His Church. I serve my Pastor best when our youth ministry attracts new students, that in turn reach their parents for Christ.
As for striving for excellence, what else should we be striving for? Yeah, truth is we rarely have a flawless night. There will always be something that could have been done better. I would rather have us do our best to be excellent than set the bar at mediocrity! Can't you just feel the inspiration in that pre-service prayer time? "Alright team, let's go out there and be AVERAGE!"
Point is, we won't always achieve it, but we're always shooting for excellence.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Youth Church I See #4
*Part four of seven in a series of posts called The Youth Church I See.
The other day I had a really cool thing happen as I was getting my $.31 scoops after a youth service. As I waited in line I saw the mother whose student attended our youth ministry six months ago, but then, abruptly stopped coming. This led me to take a trip down memory lane...
Six Months Ago:
According to his mom, the student stopped attending because our youth ministry didn't play enough games. She continued and said that our focus on worship and the Word were good, but he needed fun and friends.
I listened and thanked her for the input. After our conversation, I remember thinking to myself, "that's the first time I've ever been told we weren't fun enough for a student." I usually pride myself and Live on being a fun place where students can meet with God and each other. I shook it off and moved forward.
Fast-forward to last week when I saw the mom of this student at the ice cream shop. The old me, would have been frustrated and immediately started thinking, "how can we get this kid back." "What can I say to the mom, that will convince her we have made progress and that her son should give us a second shot?"
The answer: Nothing.
I realized as I was standing in line waiting for my two scoops of "Baseball Nut" (you should try it) that I didn't need to do that. We've made tremendous strides over the last year and a half in defining exactly who we are at Live. There was no need for me to try to bend or twist our identity to suit the needs of one more student. The simple fact was, our ministry style didn't fit where this student was currently. He and his mom were looking for something that we weren't offering.
This revelation came as a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't angry or feeling inadequate that we lost a potential new student. I was happy for her and her son. Chances are they ended up in another church and youth ministry that fit them better. I'm genuinely happy for them and happy for us. We stayed true to who we are and they were able to decide to go elsewhere where they found a better fit.
Don't get me wrong, we want to reach as many students as possible. We want them to receive and grow in Grace. We also want them to have a passion to reach others. We are targeting young people who want to make a difference with their lives. Games have there place, they just aren't our number one focus. Fun for me and the students of our church is partnering with God to change our schools, city, and world.
Observation #4:
Youth Churches in which students and leaders are content with the youth ministries current state. Youth Churches that have the attitude we have done enough to reach outsiders.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see is full of "includers," young people who have experienced Grace and can't wait to share it with others by introducing friends and family to the person of Grace, Jesus Christ.
It appears that Jesus has something say about this topic as well.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The other day I had a really cool thing happen as I was getting my $.31 scoops after a youth service. As I waited in line I saw the mother whose student attended our youth ministry six months ago, but then, abruptly stopped coming. This led me to take a trip down memory lane...
Six Months Ago:
According to his mom, the student stopped attending because our youth ministry didn't play enough games. She continued and said that our focus on worship and the Word were good, but he needed fun and friends.
I listened and thanked her for the input. After our conversation, I remember thinking to myself, "that's the first time I've ever been told we weren't fun enough for a student." I usually pride myself and Live on being a fun place where students can meet with God and each other. I shook it off and moved forward.
Fast-forward to last week when I saw the mom of this student at the ice cream shop. The old me, would have been frustrated and immediately started thinking, "how can we get this kid back." "What can I say to the mom, that will convince her we have made progress and that her son should give us a second shot?"
The answer: Nothing.
I realized as I was standing in line waiting for my two scoops of "Baseball Nut" (you should try it) that I didn't need to do that. We've made tremendous strides over the last year and a half in defining exactly who we are at Live. There was no need for me to try to bend or twist our identity to suit the needs of one more student. The simple fact was, our ministry style didn't fit where this student was currently. He and his mom were looking for something that we weren't offering.
This revelation came as a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't angry or feeling inadequate that we lost a potential new student. I was happy for her and her son. Chances are they ended up in another church and youth ministry that fit them better. I'm genuinely happy for them and happy for us. We stayed true to who we are and they were able to decide to go elsewhere where they found a better fit.
Don't get me wrong, we want to reach as many students as possible. We want them to receive and grow in Grace. We also want them to have a passion to reach others. We are targeting young people who want to make a difference with their lives. Games have there place, they just aren't our number one focus. Fun for me and the students of our church is partnering with God to change our schools, city, and world.
Observation #4:
Youth Churches in which students and leaders are content with the youth ministries current state. Youth Churches that have the attitude we have done enough to reach outsiders.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see is full of "includers," young people who have experienced Grace and can't wait to share it with others by introducing friends and family to the person of Grace, Jesus Christ.
It appears that Jesus has something say about this topic as well.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Youth Church I See #3
*Part three of seven in series of posts called the Youth Church I See.
Many youth churches are operating separately from the church as a whole.
Unfortunately this is a very common trait of many youth ministries. When a youth church operates this way, they are really nothing more than a para-church organization. Essentially they are communicating to the church they're supposedly a part of, "You exist to serve our needs."
Youth Ministry was never meant to be this way. We must have the proper perspective that the youth ministry or youth church we lead is part of a bigger picture, the church. It is healthy for our students to understand there is more to their spiritual growth and experience than the mid-week service. Our task is to raise up young people who will be connected to God, the youth ministry, and the church.
Some youth ministries operate independently of their church because the church has not clearly identified it's mission, vision, or clarified it's unique style. In these cases it's important for the youth pastor to communicate with the senior pastor in an effort to understand and/or help their leader define these for the church and then follow suit. Even if you can't get the senior leader to write it down, try to understand their heart for the church and make sure the youth ministry reflects it.
Still other youth ministries operate independently of the church because the youth pastor is not sure of the direction he/she is actually leading. They may align ministry for a season, but as soon as a the winds of change bring a new idea along the ministry is blown in that direction. Quite frankly, I've struggled in this area myself from time to time. I think it may be a simple matter of not knowing exactly what it was God had in mind for our youth ministry. Exercises like this one, where I carefully consider what God is speaking to me are helpful. Then I can take it and align it with my church's vision. God loves Unity.
At Fairwood Church I enjoy how all of our ministries are in alignment. On a given Sunday, you could walk through the toddlers, preschool, elementary, and youth meetings and find that they are in line with the teaching of "big church." Each leader of these different areas has a unique style to them, but they're all teaching the same core values. As a church we have decided we are stronger when we are united and worker in alignment.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see leads and serves Fairwood Church by example. Students are marked by their devotion and service to the church as a whole. I see a youth church that acts as the pace setters for the rest of the body.
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
Still other youth ministries operate independently of the church because the youth pastor is not sure of the direction he/she is actually leading. They may align ministry for a season, but as soon as a the winds of change bring a new idea along the ministry is blown in that direction. Quite frankly, I've struggled in this area myself from time to time. I think it may be a simple matter of not knowing exactly what it was God had in mind for our youth ministry. Exercises like this one, where I carefully consider what God is speaking to me are helpful. Then I can take it and align it with my church's vision. God loves Unity.
At Fairwood Church I enjoy how all of our ministries are in alignment. On a given Sunday, you could walk through the toddlers, preschool, elementary, and youth meetings and find that they are in line with the teaching of "big church." Each leader of these different areas has a unique style to them, but they're all teaching the same core values. As a church we have decided we are stronger when we are united and worker in alignment.
My Response:
...the Youth Church I see leads and serves Fairwood Church by example. Students are marked by their devotion and service to the church as a whole. I see a youth church that acts as the pace setters for the rest of the body.
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Youth Church I See #2
*This is part two of seven in series of posts on the Youth Church I See.
Observation #2
Many youth churches are cozy, comfortable, and content.
This observation requires a little explanation. I spoke with a youth pastor in our area a few years ago who told me he was thrilled with his youth ministry and how it was running. I was happy to hear such a good report so I asked him what was going so well. He proceeded to tell me things that made my jaw drop.
He explained that his group was right about 12-14 students and he was hoping it wouldn't grow anymore because they all fit in the 15 passenger van the church had. He continued and told me the group was easy to control at their current size and if other students came it would ruin that.
I don't remember my exact response or what my face was doing when he explained himself, but I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This is the wrong mindset for any leader in the church. Remember the parable of the talents? Jesus tells the story of a man about to leave on a trip. He calls his servants together and entrusts his money to them while he's gone.
He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. (Matthew 25:15)
The story continues and the first two servants invest the money and double it. The master is thrilled with their efforts and rewards them with larger responsibilities.
Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ (Matthew 25:24-25)
I can almost relate to this servant. I mean he was afraid of his master, he didn't want to screw up, so he did what a lot of us do. He played it safe. He did nothing. At least he didn't lose the money right?
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. (Matthew 25:26-29)
Apparently doing nothing with the money he was given was the wrong decision. Playing it safe didn't pay off at all, instead it cost him everything.
Leaders with this type of mindset won't make it either. If we're content to play it safe with our cozy little group of students because it's comfortable than we've missed the point of why Jesus came in the first place.
Jesus said, "For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners... Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” (Matthew 9:12-13)
Jesus is constantly calling on us to reach outside our comfort zone and love the unlovable. He didn't put stipulations on who was eligable to receive grace, healing, or forgiveness. He loves unconditionally. So the querstion that begs to asked is, "Why are some youth ministries content with where they are presently?"
Have we decided we've reached all that we can? Or wosre, we've reached all that we're comfortable reaching? Our doors must be open and accessable to all people.
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is one where extra security is needed because raw, un-churched young people, with tough backgrounds are meeting Jesus weekly. In the youth church I see mission trips and serving the less fortunate are not just ideas that we talk about, they happen regularly.
Observation #2
Many youth churches are cozy, comfortable, and content.
This observation requires a little explanation. I spoke with a youth pastor in our area a few years ago who told me he was thrilled with his youth ministry and how it was running. I was happy to hear such a good report so I asked him what was going so well. He proceeded to tell me things that made my jaw drop.
He explained that his group was right about 12-14 students and he was hoping it wouldn't grow anymore because they all fit in the 15 passenger van the church had. He continued and told me the group was easy to control at their current size and if other students came it would ruin that.
I don't remember my exact response or what my face was doing when he explained himself, but I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This is the wrong mindset for any leader in the church. Remember the parable of the talents? Jesus tells the story of a man about to leave on a trip. He calls his servants together and entrusts his money to them while he's gone.
He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. (Matthew 25:15)
The story continues and the first two servants invest the money and double it. The master is thrilled with their efforts and rewards them with larger responsibilities.
Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ (Matthew 25:24-25)
I can almost relate to this servant. I mean he was afraid of his master, he didn't want to screw up, so he did what a lot of us do. He played it safe. He did nothing. At least he didn't lose the money right?
But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. (Matthew 25:26-29)
Apparently doing nothing with the money he was given was the wrong decision. Playing it safe didn't pay off at all, instead it cost him everything.
Leaders with this type of mindset won't make it either. If we're content to play it safe with our cozy little group of students because it's comfortable than we've missed the point of why Jesus came in the first place.
Jesus said, "For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners... Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” (Matthew 9:12-13)
Jesus is constantly calling on us to reach outside our comfort zone and love the unlovable. He didn't put stipulations on who was eligable to receive grace, healing, or forgiveness. He loves unconditionally. So the querstion that begs to asked is, "Why are some youth ministries content with where they are presently?"
Have we decided we've reached all that we can? Or wosre, we've reached all that we're comfortable reaching? Our doors must be open and accessable to all people.
My Response:
…the Youth Church I see is one where extra security is needed because raw, un-churched young people, with tough backgrounds are meeting Jesus weekly. In the youth church I see mission trips and serving the less fortunate are not just ideas that we talk about, they happen regularly.
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