* Eric serves as High School Pastor at Grace Community Church.
Youth are the future. From the marketing strategies of businesses to government-funded programs around the world, this truism is understood and widely embraced. Consider the fact that last year alone more than 31 million teenagers in America spent $153 billion. Is it any wonder that marketing agencies target this age group the most? They realize that the future of their products’ use and consumption is in the hands of teenagers, who happen to have the largest discretionary income of any age group.
These sought-after consumers are developing in every facet of their lives. From sociological and physical growth to emotional and spiritual development, our children are growing up more quickly than ever. Everything from advances in technology, educational expectations, discretionary spending, and earlier physiological growth explains why. Kids used to be content playing with toys and riding their bikes, but now they are looking for the keys to their parents’ cars with cell phones in hand while they make their own plans for the weekend.
These sought-after consumers are developing in every facet of their lives. From sociological and physical growth to emotional and spiritual development, our children are growing up more quickly than ever. Everything from advances in technology, educational expectations, discretionary spending, and earlier physiological growth explains why. Kids used to be content playing with toys and riding their bikes, but now they are looking for the keys to their parents’ cars with cell phones in hand while they make their own plans for the weekend.
The question is rightly asked, “What are we doing about it?” Are they stuck in some sort of developmental purgatory or does God intend more for them and for us? As parents, we must renew our commitment to Ephesians 6:4 and our desire to raise them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. As pastors, we must put away the silliness and bring the seriousness of the Scriptures to bear on their lives with all that God expects from them . . . now. As churchmen, we must be careful not to adapt the culture’s mindset of dismissing or disrespecting them but instead invest into their lives with the intention of developing godliness.
What is sad for many of the youth of today is that they come to church without a godly family to learn from or a legacy to build on. Perhaps a friend from school or a neighbor down the street, as a demonstration of Christian kindness, has invited them to join them on the Lord’s Day at a local church. Our churches must make sure that we are receiving these spiritual orphans and caring for them in whatever way we can.
Many of these students find our churches their homes; their small-group leader becomes a surrogate parent, and their friends in the ministry become their siblings. They lack the protection of a Christian upbringing; they come to church for asylum. As we seek to also reach their parents with the Gospel we must not neglect the teenagers as they come, or patronize them with some “half-time show.”
Whether our churches are based in the center of Los Angeles or on the outskirts of Wichita, the components of any God-honoring Student Ministry should include the following:
(1) Targeted expository teaching that opens their eyes to the wonders of the God of the Bible and the Gospel that He provides
(2) Personal discipleship that seeks to be more than friendly but godly and wise in all of its influence
(3) Leadership development that seeks to prepare these young men and women for what the Lord has for them in the future including their roles in the local church
(4) Outlets for godly peer relationships to be introduced and developed as they begin to move from mere friendship to fellowship
(5) A philosophy that intends to complement not compete with the parents who bear the full-time responsibility of raising these teenagers
When our churches provide this kind of Student Ministry the benefit reaches far beyond the students. It helps build godly families, provides for a strong church, and prepares now for the placement of our local church’s—and communities—future leaders. These young people will be serving the Lord as fathers and mothers, as businessmen and politicians, as missionaries and church leaders. The youth are the future.
My prayer is that we would be faithful to provide an environment where teenagers can learn and grow in Christlikeness, to our joy and God’s glory.
What is sad for many of the youth of today is that they come to church without a godly family to learn from or a legacy to build on. Perhaps a friend from school or a neighbor down the street, as a demonstration of Christian kindness, has invited them to join them on the Lord’s Day at a local church. Our churches must make sure that we are receiving these spiritual orphans and caring for them in whatever way we can.
Many of these students find our churches their homes; their small-group leader becomes a surrogate parent, and their friends in the ministry become their siblings. They lack the protection of a Christian upbringing; they come to church for asylum. As we seek to also reach their parents with the Gospel we must not neglect the teenagers as they come, or patronize them with some “half-time show.”
Whether our churches are based in the center of Los Angeles or on the outskirts of Wichita, the components of any God-honoring Student Ministry should include the following:
(1) Targeted expository teaching that opens their eyes to the wonders of the God of the Bible and the Gospel that He provides
(2) Personal discipleship that seeks to be more than friendly but godly and wise in all of its influence
(3) Leadership development that seeks to prepare these young men and women for what the Lord has for them in the future including their roles in the local church
(4) Outlets for godly peer relationships to be introduced and developed as they begin to move from mere friendship to fellowship
(5) A philosophy that intends to complement not compete with the parents who bear the full-time responsibility of raising these teenagers
When our churches provide this kind of Student Ministry the benefit reaches far beyond the students. It helps build godly families, provides for a strong church, and prepares now for the placement of our local church’s—and communities—future leaders. These young people will be serving the Lord as fathers and mothers, as businessmen and politicians, as missionaries and church leaders. The youth are the future.
My prayer is that we would be faithful to provide an environment where teenagers can learn and grow in Christlikeness, to our joy and God’s glory.
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