Session 1 – The Spiritual Formation Of The Youth Minister - After introducing the course and reviewing the syllabus, we will look at the spiritual formation of the youth minister, different models of youth ministry and examine the relational discipleship model. 0 Read ch. 1&3 in textbook 0 Internet article on wk 2 topic 0 Complete Personal EKG How can you show concern for the troubled state of youth ministry? What changes do you need to make to be a more effective minister to youth? What is your plan for maintaining a heart for God? 0 Assignment From D-Team Leader 0 Work On Project #1
Step 1: Define 3 to 5 relevant words from text.
Step 2: Develop 3 to 5 questions related to text.
Step 3: Discover 3 to 5 principles of healthy youth ministry from text.
Step 4: Detail 3 to 5 applications for the church today from text.
Please post a link to your internet article, the answers to your Personal EKG and your assigned D-Team step in comments. You are required to reply to two other comments from classmates not on your D-Team.
You have taken the initial step to make yourself a better minister to youth. How can you lay a biblical foundation and develop a theology of youth ministry?
Download 2008 301 Lesson #2
EKG
1. By actively taking part in reaching youth for Jesus Christ.
2. Be more flexible in dealing with what I cannot change; and be more loving, like Christ
3. By studying His Word regularly and staying in an attitude of Prayer
D-Team Assn.
Step 4. Youth Leaders need to be spiritually in-depth, Youth need to be taught to be spiritually deep, do not be drawn into the trap of believing that numbers or comparisons to others matter
Posted by: Nathan | January 10, 2009 at 10:44 PM
EKG
1. By taking an active role in working in youth ministry.
2. i need to be open to nrw and proven methods of youth ministry and learn to incorporate them into our ministry in our church. be open to the needs and concerns of my youth.
3. By putting God and my personal relationship with Christ Jesus first in my life and maintaining that relationship by spending time (Quality time) with Him.
D - team assn.
Step #2
1. If youth ministry were related as to a race, what would you need to have to run the race?
2. In youth ministry where should you start?
3. Can you do youth ministry by yourself (lone ranger style)?
4 In youth ministry should it be all about numbers?
5. If you are not in a right relationship withChrist Jesus can you be effective in youth ministry?
Posted by: Bert on 301 The Heart of Youth Ministry | January 12, 2009 at 02:02 PM
1. By realizing that things don't have to be done the way they have always been done, it may take thinking outside of the box to turn around a sinking ministry.
2. Realize it is not about me and not to grade the ministry by the numbers involved rather the health of the ministry.
3. Spending more time with God in devotional time and try to be still and know that He is God and will handle things if I will just let Him.
D-Team Assign.
Step 3. move slowly(rely on God for guidance), regularly check motives and heart condition, be willing to serve, never stop learning
comments: good questions Bert makes you think, good insights Nathan
Posted by: Kerry 301 | January 12, 2009 at 09:26 PM
comment on nathans d team question:I agree a big problem with churches today is the numbers game. True progress in youth ministy lies in the heart of the youth and not in the filled seat
comment on Kerry's d-team question:I again agree with what is being said. Moving slowly will allow for full inventory of the situation and will make sure all aspects of the ministry is being covered and all are being reached.
Posted by: Dustin Reece | January 12, 2009 at 09:48 PM
EKG
1. Understand the yout culture
Develope a heart for youth
Be avaliable, be an example
2. Remember its not about me, its about Jesus
Making priorities and sticking to them
3. Constant and consistant time in scripture and time with God
Heep the #1 thing the #1 thing, LOST SOULS
D - Team ASSN Guestion #2
1. What plans can a person make to be committed to growing spiritually?
2. In evaluating your ministry do you spend more time doing ministry or more time learning ministry?
3. Read Revelation 2:4-5. Does this scripture apply to your life in any way? If it does how can you begin to bring about change?
4. What is the best way to evaluate failures in your ministry?
Response to Nathan EKG #2
I find it interseting that we as ministers can spend so much time trying to change those things that simply want be. Dido for me on that statement nathan.
Posted by: Tony | January 13, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Kerry - I like your answer to question three of the EKG, God will take care of our problems in ministry if we let him
Tony - Same question, thanks for reminding us of the most important thing.
Posted by: Nathan | January 13, 2009 at 07:55 AM
EKG
1.I could actually take time to get to know our youth and show a genuine interest in their lives rather than just say the normal platitudes when I see them. I need to encourage them for coming to church and following Jesus!
2.I need to quit expecting them to be perfect. I was once a yoot(ha!). The pharisee in me sometimes forgets that I struggled with the same things they do (ouch!). Ask God to show me how to explain a text to them so they see its relevancy in their lives.
3.I need to spend QT with Christ and stop feeding my flesh so much. I need to fall in love with Jesus, be still, and just listen to Him. Remember that He saved me, loves me no matter what, and He called me, not because of anything I did, but because He wanted to!! How cool is that?!
D-Team Assignment Question #2
1.How can I avoid the trap that says, "Business is next to Godliness?"
2.What are some warning signs that my spiritual life is not at the quality it should be?
3.As a ministry leader I need to be able to feed myself and others. What are some ways to jumpstart my spiritual life back once I know it has started slipping?
4.Would it be beneficial for me to have an accountability partner? Why?
Posted by: Matt Smith | January 13, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Bert - Isn't amazing how all your D - team questions all lead back to God. He is the foundation, and has to be our motivation, for having a ministry that will glotify Him!
Posted by: Terry Moore | January 13, 2009 at 02:38 PM
How can you show concern for the troubled state of youth ministry?
- By complete surrender to God in prayer, Bible reading, school, teaching, meditation, and most of all listening to what God would have me do in the ministry. One can't simply go into the youth meeting or their lives and think, "I've got this passage of scripture and I'll read it, and then let them do whatever." By doing that we show that we are nothing but a free baby sitting service. In order to show concern and urgency in youth or any other ministry we must know what's at the heart of our people, and how to approach each and every meeting so that God is seen as real, Holy, close, and most of all the remedy for every and all problems.
What changes need to be made for me to be a more effective minister to youth?
- I must live as Christ. "Doulos" in all of my thoughts and actions. That when youth see something real and pure within me they see that it's not me, but my father in Heaven. That I throw my selfish ambitions aside and learn to lean only on the promises of God, that His Word will not reaturn void, and that if we learn to truly seek Him - He can be found. If we show youth any compelling factor in our lives other than Christ they'll learn that we too fall and fall often. If we constantly falter and second guess what the creator, the sustainer, the God of Abraham, the only true living God is doing always then we only teach them that even authority doesn't know the right way. Which overall leads to apathy and moreover, wreckless abandon for the Word of truth in the youth's lives.
What is your plan for maintaining a heart for God?
-Humility, longsuffering, prayer, meditation, and most of all listening when God speaks. When He does waters part, Heaven rejoices, and lives are changed.
My sincere apologies about D-Team assignment. Will be in tomorrow.
Posted by: Curtis | January 13, 2009 at 11:04 PM
EKG
1. What did I learn? I learned that like Doug Fields it's easy to lose focus of what's really important (our relationship with God), as we get involved in ministries and without that relationship with Him we'll have no ministry.
2. What action will I take? *to show concern, I'll give more effort to learning names and a little more about them, *to be more effective, I'll commit to a consistent quiet time seeking God and *to maintain a heart for God, I plan to stay in His Word, beware of the warning signs toward spiritual disconnection, and always ponder on all that God has done for me to keep myself thankful and humble.
Step #1.
Youth Ministry – “is a race that requires both training and endurance”
Leadership – the ability to guide, direct, or influence people
Learner – somebody who studies or learns to do something
Spirituality – the quality or condition of being spiritual
Servant – someone who serves another, an example of Christ
Posted by: Heath Manley 301 | January 13, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Bert's comment on Billy's post
Hey Billy, if things have changed that much since you were in high school. what about since I was in high school its like a different civilization for me.
Posted by: Bert on 301 The Heart of Youth Ministry | January 14, 2009 at 05:38 PM
EKG
How can you show concern for the troubled state of youth ministry? By devoting my time to learning more about the issue. Finding out how youth ministry came to be in a troubled state and what can be done to reverse this problem.
What changes do you need to make to be a more effective minister to youth? I should be more open to the constant changes in todays youth culture. I can personally say that i know this to be true because it hasn't been that long since i was a youth myself.
What is your plan for maintaininig a heart for God? I need to get back to a place where quite time is not only an important thing in my daily walk, but a priority to my success in the ministry.
D-team step 4: Detail 3 to 5 applications for the church today.
Chapter one of " Your first two years in youth ministry" was especially helpful concerning mindsets new youth pastors should have when they start in a church. I feel that this should be true for any new or old youth leader of every church. They include the following; I will regularly check my motives and my heart, i will steer clear of the numbers game, i will not criticize the past, i will not fall into the comparison trap, and i will focus on priorities.
Posted by: McClellan | January 14, 2009 at 07:25 PM
McClellan- i like that curtis included longsuffering as an attribute of maintaining a heart for God. today we often hear preachers giving a health and wealth sermon. we should remember that we are to be patient with God and know that we will indeed share in Christ's suffering, but we are also to remember that we will also share in HIs joy.
-Health also made a great point by listing that a youth leader is not only a teacher but is to be a learner. we should always have a teachable spirit and constantly learn not only from God but from our students so that we can better minister to them.
Posted by: McClellan | January 14, 2009 at 07:35 PM
D-team #3 3 to 5 priciples of healthy youth ministry.
1. Move slow with the kids and God. Therefore, you listen to God better and you don't scare kids by showing hidden agendas.
2. Steer clear of the numbers and comparison game. God made 1 man save the world and none (not even us in our biggoted state) can come anywhere near to His abilities. He only needed one man. If we're to be as Christ or "Christ like" we must forget numbers and comparisons. We serve the 1 God that saved all 1 time and that's all it took.
3. Service- Christ came to serve not be served. When youth see our commitment to Christ and our steadfastness to His service, they'll know He's real.
4. As many youth search for truth they seek it and find it hopefully in us. We must be learners and students always. Ready in and out of season to give witness for what Christ has done for us.
Posted by: Curtis | January 14, 2009 at 08:46 PM