Tullian Tchividjian: Grace at #NYWC

Here you will find my notes from Tullians message at #NYWC

We have a problem fully embracing Gods grace. We like to replace what He has DONE with what we have to DO.

We like to replace “it is finished,” with “we need to accomplish.” Then in our attempts to produce and be approved by God we turn to our good works to pump up our self worth and value.

When we do this we have created idols of worship that pale in comparison to the inexhaustible grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

“We are idol making factories” -John Calvin

We tend to make idols out of anything and everything. Even our performance as pastors and youth pastors becomes our idol. We get bent on fixing people and fail to realize that WE can’t fix people. Furthermore, the fact that WE are trying to fix people demonstrates that we are idolaters and and aren’t even “fixed” ourselves!

Even our best attempts to glorify God are steeped in selfishness. Therefore we are fully dependent on Christ to redeem and cover even our attempts to glorify Him.

You are not good enough. You will NEVER be, but this is why we believe in His substitution for us. He achieved, accomplished, and finished what we could never do, which is our righteousness.

Walt Mueller: 5 Pressing Trends in Youth Ministry

The World is changing and we need to keep up with the trends. The more we understand what is shaping our teens, the better we will be able to speak into their context with Gods truth and wisdom.

Our goal is to integrate our faith through every square inch of our lives which is worship. (See Romans 12:1-2)

Culture is…

1. The soup they swim in.

We want to know what’s in the soup. If this is what they are eating up, it will be what they become.

2. A Map.

Culture for teens often dictates the direction they head. Culture often tells teens, “you are what you look like.”

3. A Mirror.

Culture will reflect the pressures and realities that teens face. Get to know culture and you’ll better understand teens.

5 Trends:

1. The Me.

It’s all about me. What I can do, achieve, and receive. When reed this by telling our children that they are princes and princesses. When we make our children “royalty” they will have a difficult time with submission to God and the edification of others above self.

We must help students have a deep deep understanding of their brokenness and depravity.

Are we raising a generation of narcissists or are we raining disciples marked by humility?

Our goal is to live counter-culturally for the glory of God and to teach our kids to do the same.

2. The Moment

Life is about the moment. Seize the day. YOLO. Eat, Drink and be Merry. Many students live in a manner to fully embrace the now and look forward to what’s next.

We need to help students understand how their decisions effect their long-term destination. Student seek instant gratification over delayed gratification. This flies against embracing the long-term process of sanctification.

3. The Marketing

students are being targeted and there is a worldview being sold. We must tech students how to think critically about culture and yhe messages being sent.

4. The Much

Student have too much of everything! Kids have too much information, activity, distraction, pressure, and negative parental input.

We need to teach student how to rest and Sabbath. We need to teach students about silence. God created us for a rythem of work AND rest.

5. The Mess

Students feel like they are drowning. Because there is so much to do and accomplish, they feel like they can do nothing well. This pressure leads to teenage apathy, pain, and struggle.

We must teach students that THEY cannot do everything on their own. But rather, they were created to lean fully on God and find comfort and help from a Gospel Community.

Find more great stuff from Walt Mueller at www.cpyu.org

#NYWC Session One

Because I’m so excited to be at The National Youth Workers Convention this year, I thought I’d live blog the event to share what God is teaching me.

Session One: Mark Matlock
5 Reasons the Church Needs Youth Ministry:

1. Youth Ministry is vital to helping teens integrate into the larger intergenerational community of the church.

The church must look to intentionally integrate, target, and speak to the life of teenagers.

2. Youth Ministry resists the status quo, helping a church stay relevant in a changing culture.

Youth are always on the cutting edge. What is relevant to them needs to be relevant to the church because they are the direction we are headed!

3. Youth Ministry focuses on inviting those who are not already part of the church into the deeper narrative of God’s plan for humankind.

So many come to faith during teenage years, so we must be intentional.

4. Youth Ministry reminds the church that teens are not marginalized members of the body but are co-creators and conspirators in the divine work of the church, restoring life on earth as it is in heaven.

The church must understand that teens are a part of the body that cannot function as a body unless ALL the parts are looked after and utilized.

5. Youth Ministry helps the church focus on the way of Jesus, which goes beyond tradition, dogma, and ritual.

Unless someone is around asking why, then tradition will die. Students keep life in the body by questioning everything. In these times we can breath life into the teens and reveal the meaning and purpose behind our liturgy.

Video Monday: Prayer

I’ve come across so many good videos recently so I thought I would share some of them with you over the next few Mondays! Some of them are worship songs/videos, some of them are sermons or sermon jams you need to hear, and some of them are creative works that will get your synapses firing.

In our second addition of Video Monday, I want to share a video we used at a recent retreat before we entered a time of prayer and reflection. This video is great to help students understand the role that prayer plays in our relationship with God. It also ends with the words “let us pray.” So think about using it next time you are preparing to transition into prayer and reflection.

Just take a watch. Be encouraged.

Have a great Monday!

David Sig 2

 

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David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.

 

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3 Ways to Train Leaders

During my time in Youth Ministry I have seen leader trainings done many different ways. In different seasons of ministry, and for different events, different styles of training are necessary.

Furthermore, I have discovered that sticking to one style of training while excluding others is detrimental to the growth of the leaders in your ministry. So as you read about the different ways you can train leaders, pray about how you will implement them in your ministry.

3 Ways to Train Leaders:

1. Large Group Trainings

Large Group Trainings are best way to cast a consistent message to the masses. In addition, large group trainings stir camaraderie among the volunteers in your ministry. There’s just something special about having your whole volunteer base together to think, dream, and pray in the same direction! But here’s the kicker: What you provide better be good. The worst thing in the world is a long, boring, low quality group training where leaders are wondering why they stuck around after church when they could be at lunch or on the couch watching football!

Pros:

  • Same vision cast to a large group
  • Time efficient.
  • Camaraderie.

Cons:

  • Content better be high quality and engaging.
  • Hard to get 100% attendance.
  • Not overly relational.

2. Small Group Trainings

I love Small Group Trainings! Our Small Groups are divided by grades and we recently moved away from large group trainings for our small group leaders and moved toward…wait for it…small group trainings for small group leaders! Poof! (That was your mind.)

Small group trainings allow for great content to be distributed with a personal touch. Not only can you make sure that all your leaders understand the direction and vision of the ministry, but you can get specific on how everything applies to the ministry/group they lead.

Pros:

  • Vision and instruction cast directly.
  • Mission can be localized to specific groups.
  • You can hear back from your leaders directly.

Cons:

  • Multiple meetings over multiple weeks to reach everyone.
  • Vision must be cast over time rather than instantly.

3. One-on-One Trainings

These are by far my favorite! There is nothing more fulfilling than meeting with one of your leaders, having a heart-to-heart, pouring into them, and having them pour into you. The depth of conversation and connection that happen when you meet with each of your leaders cannot be replicated in larger gatherings!

Pros:

  • Deep conversation & deep connection.
  • Relationship builders.
  • Personal & ministry development.

Cons:

  • Takes FOREVER in larger ministries.
  • Calendar nightmare.

Final Thoughts:

How are you training your leaders? What’s working for you? How are you implementing each of these types of trainings? The goal of this post was not to reveal something new and groundbreaking, but rather to get you thinking about how intentional you are with your leader trainings.

I’d love to hear what’s working for you! Comment below!

[guestpost]David Headshot

David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.

 

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Video Monday: Good Good Father

I’ve come across so many good videos recently so I thought I would share some of them with you over the next few Mondays! Some of them are worship songs/videos, some of them are sermons or sermon jams you need to hear, and some of them are creative works that will get your synapses firing.

The first video I want to share with you is a worship song I can’t get out of my head! What I love  about this song is that it speaks to God’s identity as our Heavenly Father and our identity as a Child of God. It’s called “Good Good Father” by Housefires II.

Watch. Listen. Think. Worship.

Have a great Monday!

David Sig 2

 

[guestpost]David Headshot

David Hanson: Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask.

 

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