three ways to build deeper spiritual roots

As youth workers, we all want to see our students develop deeper spiritual roots. In my message to students last weekend, here’s a spiritual growth challenge I gave them:

CONSISTENCY to the weekend services. When we have a weekly infusion of truth and celebration with others, we build deeper roots. Corporate worship gives us a new focus on Jesus, it adjusts our perspective away from the world and all it has to offer.

ACCOUNTABILITY to a small group. Without community, a believer is a spiritual orphan. We need the support and encouragement that comes from being known by a few.

URGENCY to take a risk for God. Most of us live with no sense of urgency. While plenty of us panic and worry, being open to God’s unexpected leading is rare. Urgency keeps us from complacency. It pushes us forward when we get to comfortable. Spiritual risks can come in all shapes: it may be a conversation about God with a friend, or beginning a friendship with an “outcast,” or inviting a friend to church.

 

What’s missing? This definitely isn’t an exhaustive list! What are some other ways to you have encouraged your students to build spiritual roots? Add your voice in the comments below.

 

 

 

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really worth considering

Consider supporting this BOLD move by Tim Timmons.

One of his songs, the grateful, is the theme song for our ministry. There’s a lot more to Tim than great music.

I love his music, I admire his leadership, I’m impacted by his genuine love for Jesus.

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Who I want to be when I teach

A few weeks ago, I spent some time thinking about the kind of teacher I want to be. I needed to think this through because I want to become a better teacher. I need a way that I can evaluate my teaching so that I don’t get stuck, I want to keep improving and not get comfortable with just getting by…
So, here’s who I want to be when I teach every week:

  • AUTHENTIC–Was it really me and not some falsely projected picture?
  • UNDERSTANDABLE–Did they get it, or was it too complicated or unclear?
  • INTERESTING–Were they engaged, or were they waiting for me to be done?
  • PASSIONATE–Was I excited about, did I teach out of the overflow of God’s work in me?
  • WISE–Did I teach the Bible, explain the truth, point people to Jesus?
  • PERSUASIVE–Did the feel it, were they motivated to be more like Jesus?
  • PRACTICAL–Do

they know how to live in obedience

I’m sure this isn’t a perfect list, but it’s where I’m starting. What did I miss, what kind of teacher do you want to be? Sound off in the comments below.

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youth ministry training: small group adult leader training

We are kicking off our small groups next week, so last week we had some training for our adult leaders.

You can grab the PDF HERE.

It’s A LOT of content…normally I wouldn’t have quite this much…however, we added a bunch of new volunteers and we are running a new small group program. Our meeting went for about two hours, the first 30 minutes was eating and hanging out, and then the last 90 minutes was me teaching. Part way through the training, we had everyone do the Bible study activity like the students will be doing.

THIS PART WAS GREAT!

When we do this next time around, I’m hoping to make it a more interactive meeting.

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