Isn’t it?
I didn’t say youth ministry was easy because it really isn’t. Like anything that takes perseverance, involves working with people, and where results are difficult to measure, youth ministry is hard work. We work for years pouring into people, getting disappointed, and wondering if what we are doing is worth it or if it is working. So yes, it can be pretty difficult work.
But it isn’t complicated. I think that sometimes we make youth ministry overly complicated. Models, studies, research, seminary degrees, methods, administrative processes, programs, 6-year plans, complex events, leadership training, and more. Honestly though, youth ministry isn’t complicated. It’s fairly simple. Here’s what it takes:
- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Without God, it isn’t ministry, it’s just youth work.
- Scripture – The Bible is our foundation for our relationship with God. Without it we can’t know much of anything about this God to whom we are pointing teenagers.
- Prayer – Prayer keeps us in communion with God and makes it less likely for youth ministry to become about us. It opens us up to what God might have in mind for ministry.
- Listening – Just listen to a teenager. When you listen to someone in the context of scripture and prayer, then what to do in youth ministry should become pretty obvious. Pray about what you hear. Read scripture relevant to what you hear. Respond to what you hear.
If you simply focus on these four things, then you will be well on your way to great youth ministry.
It’s quite simple, really.
Also, pizza.
If you listen to teenagers, you will learn how vital pizza is.
I’m learning that listening to parents is HUGE!
Parents – hopefully – are around their teen 100x as much as I am in a given week and can – often – be a tremendous source of insight into where a teenager might be going through.
Indeed. Listening in general is a practice that can help anyone do anything better. In ministry it seems all the more important to listen to those you are called to serve.
It’s the simple things in life and ministry that seem to be the hardest. Why is it the complicated stuff get’s in the way of the simple. How many times have we heard our friends and in youth ministry (myself included too often) say things like, yeah I really to need to carve our better time for prayer and time in the Word …that’s not preparing for a Bible study. Probably because we were busy working on our cool new youth room, website, or special event. And then we fall into the temptation to do “youth work” like you suggested instead of ministry
yes!!!!!!!!! guess who is back? the matt cleaver.
and you come out swinging for the fences! I loved this post–thanks.
also update your youth ministry links and feeds.
i am not the small town youth pastor anymore, that was so 2008. i am now the reyouthpastor.com.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/reyouthpastor/cgEl
your welcome.
Bah, I don’t this this was swinging for the fences, but I’ll take the compliment anyways.
Dude, you’re new blog is listed. I just forgot to take down the old one. I’ve been reading it from the beginning.
Yeah, there has been a HUGE debate amongst bloggers about whether we like the Old jz or the New jz better. Sort of like whether we like Miley Cyrus with brown hair or hannah montana with blonde…
I must have missed out on this HUGE dabate… It seems about the same quality stuff and it all looks the same in my Google Reader, so I will vote for a tie.
But dude, you just compared Jeremy to Miley Cyrus. Seriously.
haha. it was a joke. JZ’s new site is swell. I like it.
Also, i forward you “how to make a website with bluehost” site to people about once a week. Also used it to make my site. genius.
Well, in addition to forwarding them, you need to tell them to actually sign up! A brother could use some referral money. It’s a been a while!
If you listen long enough, you hear their heartbeat. And if you want to help them find that Jesus is relevant, make their agenda your agenda. When we start helping young people do what God is leading them to accomplish, we have a ministry that will last. But that would require letting our own agendas die. Imagine.
Good post, Matt. Thanks!