I am very excited about the recent conversation and vision we are having for our "discipleship classes". If you have not seen the essay about it, I encourage you to read it.
I have come across a couple of excellent articles that are greatly influencing my thinking about how we use our Sunday time together. Here is an excerpt from one of those articles. It is written by Mike Yaconelli, the founder of Youth Specialties.
Who decided that students reading their Bibles on a regular basis, praying, refraining from sexual activity, and going to church will result in dedicated, committed, long-term Christians? Who reduced the Christian faith to a to-do list?
I hate to say this; it sounds so obvious, but isn't the Christian life about our relationships with Jesus? Isn't youth ministry, then, about connecting young people to Jesus Christ? Experiencing Jesus Christ? Following Jesus Christ? Notice I didn't say hearing about Jesus, talking about Jesus, cheering about Jesus, learning about Jesus; I said being with Jesus. Youth ministry is about young people being intimate with Jesus.
Uh-oh. You mean youth ministry is not about connecting kids with the dazzling, good-looking, great-communicating, funny, athletic, charismatic youth leader? You mean reading the Bible every day, all day long, doesn't guarantee a relationship with Jesus? Are you saying that if young people go to youth group every week, all year long, they might never experience Jesus?
Yes, that's what I am saying.
Obviously, reading the Bible, praying, attending church, and not having sex can be part of one's relationship with Jesus, but I contend there's not a direct correlation between those practices and intimacy, nor is there any guarantee of deepening discipleship. What is important is that young people seek the presence of Jesus in their lives, which almost always results from seeing intimacy in others…meaning their youth worker.
I think he is right!! This is why I firmly believe that the Christian community needs to re-evaluate its methodology. We have adopted a way of doing things that has not shown to be "successful" in leading students to a committed, life-changing relationship with the Creator of the Universe!! Many estimates say that 75-80% of young people abandon their faith after leaving home.
In my experience I have found that discipleship occurs most often in the midst of relationship with others. These relationships can only be cultivated through the continued interaction we have with one another. We as a community need to foster relationship and give the Holy Spirit a fertile place to do its work of shaping us into the image of Christ.
I have come across a couple of excellent articles that are greatly influencing my thinking about how we use our Sunday time together. Here is an excerpt from one of those articles. It is written by Mike Yaconelli, the founder of Youth Specialties.
Who decided that students reading their Bibles on a regular basis, praying, refraining from sexual activity, and going to church will result in dedicated, committed, long-term Christians? Who reduced the Christian faith to a to-do list?
I hate to say this; it sounds so obvious, but isn't the Christian life about our relationships with Jesus? Isn't youth ministry, then, about connecting young people to Jesus Christ? Experiencing Jesus Christ? Following Jesus Christ? Notice I didn't say hearing about Jesus, talking about Jesus, cheering about Jesus, learning about Jesus; I said being with Jesus. Youth ministry is about young people being intimate with Jesus.
Uh-oh. You mean youth ministry is not about connecting kids with the dazzling, good-looking, great-communicating, funny, athletic, charismatic youth leader? You mean reading the Bible every day, all day long, doesn't guarantee a relationship with Jesus? Are you saying that if young people go to youth group every week, all year long, they might never experience Jesus?
Yes, that's what I am saying.
Obviously, reading the Bible, praying, attending church, and not having sex can be part of one's relationship with Jesus, but I contend there's not a direct correlation between those practices and intimacy, nor is there any guarantee of deepening discipleship. What is important is that young people seek the presence of Jesus in their lives, which almost always results from seeing intimacy in others…meaning their youth worker.
I think he is right!! This is why I firmly believe that the Christian community needs to re-evaluate its methodology. We have adopted a way of doing things that has not shown to be "successful" in leading students to a committed, life-changing relationship with the Creator of the Universe!! Many estimates say that 75-80% of young people abandon their faith after leaving home.
In my experience I have found that discipleship occurs most often in the midst of relationship with others. These relationships can only be cultivated through the continued interaction we have with one another. We as a community need to foster relationship and give the Holy Spirit a fertile place to do its work of shaping us into the image of Christ.
posted by Mark at 4:06 PM
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