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What Grade Would Jesus Give Your Youth Ministry? · Ministry Coach: Youth Ministry Tips & Resources

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: decisions versus disciples.
• 0:02
  Speaker 1: Decisions are important as long as it leads to discipleship.
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: That's not like.
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Well, I made a decision.
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: Now what it's like.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Well, let me teach you how to live the Christian life.
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: We've got to put our students in opportunities for a life on life interaction, because that's the only way discipleship happens.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: Jesus pursued the lost.
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: He said it's not the hell that need a doctor, it's a sick who, in our life, needs the saving grace of Jesus.
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: What can you do?
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Can you invite them, can you pray for them, can you encourage them?
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: There's lost people out there, real souls, real people that need to know Jesus.
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: What grade would Jesus give your youth ministry?
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: That's what we're talking about today on the Ministry Coach podcast.
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: Welcome to the Ministry Coach podcast, where every week, we bring you actionable and practical tips that you can implement into your youth ministry.
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: My name is Jeff Lascola and this is Kristen Lascola.
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: And the question we're posing to you, the watcher, though you the viewer or the listener, creepy, what grade would Jesus give your youth ministry?
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: I think this is a really interesting question that you could probably answer a whole lot of ways, and so if you have a way that you think he would be grading us that we don't mention today, put that in the comments.
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: I think this makes for a really good discussion, because I don't think there's one nice and tidy little packaged answer to this.
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: But, as I reflected on it, I was thinking of just things that Jesus said himself that I think are super applicable to us as youth pastors.
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: It's funny, like when you read the Bible over and over and over again and you see it through certain lenses of what you're doing, like this verse and how it applies to marriage, this verse how it applies to youth ministry, this verse how it applies to parenting or friendship or whatever.
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: And I was thinking through some of the classic things that Jesus said and applying it to youth ministry, I'm like, oh my gosh, that does make a ton of sense.
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: And so the first one, I think, how Jesus would grade our ministry is by how well we go and make disciples.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: And so this comes from the Great Commission, which I'm sure you are all familiar with Matthew 28, 19 through 20.
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: Jesus says go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you and remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: I think this thing, for me, as it applies to youth ministry, is okay.
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: Are we?
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: How would Jesus grade our youth ministry?
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: I think he'd grade it on are we making disciples?
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: And I think our church has been really good in making this distinction between decisions versus disciples.
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: And I think there are, like years ago was these pushes for these huge youth rallies and like let's get a super cool band and let's get a speaker who's awesome and famous and let's do a huge giveaway, and like it was these big events and we wanted as many people to come as possible and hear the gospel and make a decision.
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: And I think what we've realized in like the last 10 years of youth ministry is sort of like who cares?
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: Like I mean-.
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: If it's not followed up on.
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: Right, because we can build this thing like.
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: You wanna be here and you are so hopped up on adrenaline and caught up in the moment that you can just say a prayer and say yes to Jesus, and then next morning happens and you're just sort of like yeah you know.
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: And so what we really are trying to do is a decision is a great start, don't get me wrong.
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: It doesn't mean like who cares about decisions?
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: Decisions are important as long as it leads to discipleship, and I think that's what we really have to count.
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: We have to be aware of the decisions our students are making to follow Jesus.
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: But then we can't just say did it?
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: Like, yes, we're successful youth pastors because we had 21st time decisions at camp and then we backed it's like well, how many of those decisions turned into disciples?
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: So then we get into the nitty gritty of how do we make disciples?
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: Because that's a pretty theoretical concept.
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: Right, it's like go make disciples, okay, I sure will.
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: What does that even mean?
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: And I think one thing struggling as a younger youth pastor was just like the theory of it all, like yes, I want to make disciples, but then putting the how in there.
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: So here's a couple of things of how we build true discipleship into our youth ministry.
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: And again, it's not like do these things and your kids will be disciples for life.
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: Well, judas went through the same disciple program as all the rest of them and that didn't stick clearly.
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: So we are not in charge of their discipleship, but we can lead them down a path that gives them opportunity to experience Jesus more than just I said a prayer.
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: So here we go.
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: Student leadership you hear us talk about it all the time and there's a reason for that is because it's integral to your youth ministry and so many aspects and discipleship is definitely one of them.
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: Our senior pastor, chris Brown, he's always been like why do you guys call it student leadership?
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: Don't put that pressure on a student.
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: Don't call them a leader.
• 5:30
  Speaker 1: Call it discipleship.
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: You are discipling them of how to be a Jesus follower and you're taking intentional time to put them through a little bit of an extra program and giving them opportunities.
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: So I totally get that.
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: So now I call it my student leadership slash discipleship team because I do teach them a lot of leadership principles.
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: So I do keep that.
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: But I know what he means and I agree with that point.
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: It's splitting hairs a little bit too.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: Because then does that imply, well, unless you're on the student discipleship team, you're not gonna be discipled in this youth ministry?
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: Sure, and it's like, well, and I'm gonna talk about some other ways it's like, well, yeah, you will be, but so that's a really good vehicle for it, because it's taking the masses and boiling them down.
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: Because here's what I do know and I'm pretty confident that I can say this with a hundred percent certainty Discipleship doesn't happen in the masses, like it doesn't happen in a large group, and so student leadership boils that down to a smaller group where you can know names, know people, challenge them, give them opportunities to serve, give them opportunities to get outside of their comfort zone to use the gifts that God has given them.
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: Challenge them like just this morning I had this new girl come in the room and she had visited last week, looked around and said I'm not ready.
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: I said, well, guess what?
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: We're always here, so try again next week.
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: So she went into the church with her mom.
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: She came back this week and she walked in the room and her mom's like, okay, she's ready this week.
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: I'm like great, and she just kind of stood there and so I made a beeline for one of my student leadership kids that I'm like, oh, she'll be a good fit.
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: And I said, hey, there's a new girl.
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: I don't know if she's ever been to church.
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: She's real nervous.
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: Could you go over, show her around, have her sit with you, save her seat, kind of take her under your wing.
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: She's like totally Well, that's discipleship.
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: Yeah, for that girls.
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: So it's like you're looking out for people who are lost, like I'm teaching you how to do ministry.
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: You know it's not just like, okay, kid, like go have fun, there's donuts over there and air hockey over there, have a great time.
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: But I'm inviting another student into this ministry process.
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: And that's discipleship.
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: And I usually pick my student leaders to do that because I have a closer relationship with them.
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: I just know them better than I know the other kids and I know who they'd fit with and what they're good at.
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: That's a perfect example of discipling.
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: You know we hold our student leaders accountable to a certain level of behavior.
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: You can call them on it a little bit more.
• 8:07
  Speaker 1: You know like, just like, hey, like what's going on.
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: You know like you need to be an example and you know, I know you're going through a hard time.
• 8:14
  Speaker 1: Like what can I do?
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: How can we talk?
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: Like it just gives opportunity for a little more life on life.
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: So, speaking of that.
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: Another great vehicle for discipleship is small groups, and that's another kind of no-brainer Like that's honestly Youth Ministry 101.
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: If you're not doing small groups like that, like drop everything, stay up all night, don't go to sleep tonight and implement small groups into your youth ministry, that is like they have to happen again because discipleship doesn't happen in the masses.
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so kind of just to dissect what you're saying.
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: So if you have your youth ministry set up the way you should and have a student leadership slash discipleship team and in addition you should be having small groups that even though you might meet corporately with the big group the masses, if you will, they still would be in a point at church or at your inner youth ministry that they'd be in a smaller discipleship style group.
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: Absolutely yeah, so no one should be like there's not this feed the 5,000 and then they disperse.
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: It's like there would be small groups within the 5,000 and discipleship programs or student leadership within that.
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: So even though there is this the masses there's always going to be that point where they can get disciples.
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: Absolutely, and it would be led by, ideally, two adult leaders that know them and week after week, they're contacting them, praying for them, talking with them on this journey with them through junior high, through high school.
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: You know like taking them under their wing, answering their questions, helping them navigate their relationship with God, and having an adult who is actively involved in what's going on in your life.
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: Because from the stage, I give a message, I lead a game, I MC the night, but I don't know what you're upset about.
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: I don't know what happened this weekend.
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: I don't know.
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: You know like we have to have adults who know what's going on with kids and guiding them from point A to point B, to point C to keep them going and helping them navigate.
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: That's discipleship.
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: As they stick around.
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: It's not like, well, I made a decision.
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: Now what it's like?
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: Well, let me teach you how to live the Christian life.
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: Teaching from the stage is just one element of that.
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: People aren't going to pick up everything you're putting down just from teaching on the stage.
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: We've got to put our students in opportunities for a life, on life interaction, because that's the only way discipleship happens.
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: And you see that model through Jesus and what he did with the 12, like he would teach to the masses and then he would be alone with the 12 and he knew them intimately and would guide them and challenge them and call them out on things.
• 10:51
  Speaker 1: But then he had group teachings that you know everyone could hear and listen to and pick up.
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: But then he had a teaching just for Peter, a teaching just for Matthew, a teaching just for Nathaniel, you know, like he was one on one, doing life on life with them, and I think that's sort of the perfect model for why we do small groups.
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: It's sort of following Jesus's lead, you know.
• 11:15
  Speaker 1: And that kind of goes back to our question too how would Jesus grade our youth ministry?
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: Well, do we have a group of disciples that we are discipling?
• 11:23
  Speaker 1: You know, that's why you need leaders, that's why you need small groups, that's why you need student leadership teams.
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: These aren't things to make you more busy, but they're vehicles for things like this.
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: It's also kind of like that blessing in disguise when your group is smaller, because it's the more one on one you get with each student, you know, as opposed to if you did have a huge youth ministry where you don't get contact with them.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: Your small group leaders obviously wouldn't all the volunteers and leaders that you have in your youth ministry, but you yourself as the youth pastor.
• 11:49
  Speaker 2: If your group is smaller, you have more of that contact with them, putting the youth pastor in place of Jesus.
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: No, I know what you mean.
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: And I miss, like there's part of me that was like I loved having my 11 and then my 15, and then my 23 and then my 48,.
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: You know, over the years it would grow and grow but like, yeah, there were times where it's like we're this little happy family and I know everyone and what's going on with everyone and you know there's definitely a blessing there, like you said.
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: So number two of how Jesus would grade your youth ministry comes from John 1335, when he says if you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: So kind of following with that disciple theme, where is, I think Jesus would grade our youth ministry on love, like how well we love each other?
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: Because he says pretty directly that that is the mark of a disciple.
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: That's the true mark of a disciple is how do you love each other, how do you love one another.
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: And I think when kids come to youth group, that is what they're looking for to be loved, to be known, to be seen, to be heard.
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: You know, and I think the question youth pastors have to ask if we're following Jesus' model is do students walk in and feel that unconditional love?
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: I think there's a really good way.
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: I've heard it put before, like are you the kind of person where you're, like here I am or there you are?
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: And I think every time a student walks into the room, I think they're kind of pausing for that like who's gonna make a big deal about it?
• 13:25
  Speaker 1: And we should be, we should be making a big deal about it.
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: I think that's our job.
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: Like when I was walking down the hall today at church, you know, and I see this kid, this kid, this kid, it's like Sienna, how are you?
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: High five hug, so glad you're here.
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: Okay, I'll be right in.
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: Oh, matthew man, how was your weekend?
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: So good to see you?
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: And it's that love that people want and it's not fake or manufactured, but we do get excited and let people know I'm so happy you're here, because you are and you need that energy.
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: Oftentimes I have to park kind of far away when I'm at church because we will like have the staff park it like right aid so that there's plenty of spots for new people.
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: And we don't want to, because we've had to turn people away from our parking lot before and it's like, oh my gosh, because staff was in there, get them out, you know.
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: And so I, on this little walk.
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: I always pray and I ask God like, hey, give me energy please.
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: I need the energy to love people the way that they need to be loved today, because I've still got to be enthusiastic and see them and not just like in a rut, like I'm tired.
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: I don't want to do this again another Sunday but, I need the energy to love and be excited and celebrate someone's presence and I think you know when he says, like the love for each other, like of course we have love for the world and for the lost and all of that.
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: We're going to talk about that in a second, but I think the love between Christians is what Jesus says is going to be the hallmark of the evidence that you're following me.
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: So where's the love?
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: I guess would be in your youth group?
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: Do people come and they're seen and acknowledged and celebrated and included and invited and like just, are they like that girl that came in that I was telling you about?
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: It's like man.
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: Can we love her today?
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: Let her sit next to you, introduce yourself, ask her about her weekend.
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: Like that is like just a need, very practically, that we can meet for people.
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: Is we exist for you, like we exist for the people that come to our church to welcome them with open arms?
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: I'm so glad you're here.
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: How can I help?
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: How can I?
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: serve.
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: How can I love?
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: And you've got to give it everything you got every single Sunday so that they want to come back and be like dang.
• 15:34
  Speaker 1: I feel good when I'm at this place.
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: You know, and so not even just between, like, the youth pastor to the students, but the students to each other you know, making each other feel accepted, loving on each other, just coming in and it being one warm environment, so that it's not just 20 kids with one youth pastor like so glad to see you, so glad to see you Totally, you get a hello, you get a hello.
• 15:56
  Speaker 2: Well, and that's where small group leaders come in really handy.
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: So if we're making our small group leaders feel loved, seen and known and all that, they're kind of like this is contagious and then they come and then they give that to students also.
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: So my programs are so much better when I have leaders in there.
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: It's not just me, you know like to share the load of like.
• 16:16
  Speaker 1: All right, everyone needs a touch point here.
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: Like we can't let anyone just be like well, the worst experience is, unless you're a raging introvert, is and maybe don't want anyone to notice you, but like to come to watch, to sit, to leave, and nobody said hello, nobody smiled at you, nobody asked you a question, nobody was interested in you.
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: And then it's just like, why don't I just watch online?
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: Like the whole point of not watching online and coming in person is for a relationship.
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: You know, and I think that's why Jesus points it out, that's what a disciple is love, love, love, love, love, love.
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: How many other ways can he say it?
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: So, number three what grade would Jesus give your youth ministry is?
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: Number three is coming from John 13, 14 through 17.
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: If I, then your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet, for I've given you an example that you also should do, just as I have done to you.
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: Truly, truly, I say to you a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: So, number three, not only from number two, do we love each other?
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: But, number three, we serve, we serve each other.
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: That's what Jesus.
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: I think he would grade our youth ministry on how well we serve, because that's what he says.
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: He's like hey, I served you guys like major, wash your feet.
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: And then he goes on to serve with his life.
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: You know he's like are you greater than me, are you above serving?
• 17:51
  Speaker 1: I don't think so, and so it's like follow that example and serve one another.
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: So, loving and I feel like you can't really like love without serve.
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: Like to me, those things go hand-in-hand.
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: How could you love someone without actually serving them?
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: But I think, bigger than just serving our students because you guys are probably like, trust me, I do I'm right there with you a lot of serving.
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: I clean up all kinds of things and Put up with all kinds of things, and you know that it just feels like serving a lot of times, but it's teaching them how to serve and I think that's like the trick here of like, how would you grade our youth ministry?
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: I mean, are we, are we developing people who know how to serve each other and let someone else go first and want the best for someone else and Take one for the team, clean up something that's not yours, or get them outside and serving outside the church, giving them a job within the church.
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: Again, student leadership is a great vehicle for this, but teaching them like you have gifts and Using them for Jesus is like a way that you come alive.
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: We did a whole episode on that recently, but I think that is a big way Jesus would grade our youth ministry is does our ministry serve?
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: Yeah like, are we all about us?
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: You know I've seen churches that you know preach so much of Internal success without batting an eye for the world.
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: You know it's like, well, how don't we, we, where does your offering go?
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: And and your student ministry, like we sponsor a kid through Compassion International and I think that gets kids excited and shows them like guys, like there's people hurting around the world and you can help, like give them opportunities.
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: You can't help?
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: Hey, our church has a need you can help.
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: Our youth group has a need, a particular person has a need, this person needs a friend.
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: You can help.
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: So it's that empowerment to have teaching them.
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: You have what it takes to help.
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: And I think that would Make Jesus give us an A plus if we could really teach Students how to get their eyes off of themselves which is such a depressing way to live anyways and teach them how to be others and outward focused, just like Jesus was.
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: And I think that's what he was constantly trying to teach the disciples.
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: You know, when he went to go wash their feet, I think he was kind of hoping someone was going to step up yeah and nobody did, and so he's just like Okay, here's another object lesson for you guys.
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: And they would bicker a lot among themselves.
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: I think he was constantly trying to teach them guys, you've got to serve each other.
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: Well, can I be first?
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: Can I sit next to you in your kingdom Like, can I, can I?
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: And it was they still, as grown men were struggling with like me, focus me, focus, me, focus, and Jesus was always trying to get them to turn outward.
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: Well, how are you gonna feed these people?
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: Give them something to eat?
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: Well, how am I gonna feed them?
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: It's like you know, he was always trying to get them to see others and it was this, this like three-year constant lesson with them.
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: You know like constantly trying to get them to get it and Probably some of them did better than others, but you see the struggle like constantly throughout his relationship with them.
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: So I think if we're following Jesus's leadership model and always trying to get students to be others focused, I think he'd be like, yeah, you're following in my footsteps.
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, youth ministry is that pivotal time between 6th through 12th grade where you're Kind of helping them go from.
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: I mean, as a child, you are very me first and it's all about my needs and my fingers and toes, the only things I care about.
• 21:28
  Speaker 2: And then, once they start Getting into that middle school, through high school, it's like you're about ready to launch them into the world as an adult.
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: You want that transition to happen where it's like it's not just about you and obviously there's adults that haven't gotten that I mean myself included, like oftentimes it's all about me, you know but that's really like a pivotal time to for them to kind of that's a key point in growing up, you know, and just like knowing hey, there's other people and they have their own needs and we need to help that right not just be focused on.
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: well, I need to be first in line, I need to be first, I need to be first today.
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: Oh, perfect example.
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: So today we're playing Ultimate Four Square before church starts and I grab the ball and I say, hey, who wants to play Ultimate Four Square?
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: And they all run over to the squares because they don't want to be in line.
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: They want to be in a square.
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: And this kid, he's in high school and he gets in the King Square and then someone's like no, I was my square.
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: And they're like pushing, pushing, pushing.
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: And I go in the last square and well, guys, what would Jesus do?
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: Would he want the King Square or would he let others go?
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: When would he start in the lowest square?
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: And one of them goes well, jesus is the King, so I think he'd be in the King Square.
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: I'm like, okay, not, not the point, guys, he was a servant, he was a servant.
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: Okay.
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: And so then they get in line.
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: And then they're pushing each other for who's first in line.
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: They're like I was here.
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: No, I was here, and it was like such like a brawl before we had even started playing.
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: I'm just like, oh my gosh, like can we stop and read John 13, please, because you guys need like.
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: But it's, it makes my heart sing when I see a student like hey, kristen, is there anything I can help with?
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: And they're like setting up chairs or cleaning up spilled hot chocolate.
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm like, okay, maybe we're making some progress you know All right.
• 23:21
  Speaker 2: So what is number four for how Jesus would grade your youth ministry?
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: All right.
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: So I took this from Mark two seven.
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: So Jesus says on hearing this, jesus said to them it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: So here I think Jesus would grade our outreach.
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: So we've talked a lot about discipleship, loving one another, serving within the church, all that kind of stuff, that internal health and love and disciple and all that.
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: But I think Jesus would also turn our hearts outward and say what's your outreach plan?
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: There's a lot of sick people out there, a lot of sick sickos, and he would be like what's your plan for reaching them?
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: Because don't get in a holy huddle and just think, oh, we're doing ministry because we're all little perfect angels, but how are we reaching the sick?
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: And I think you know, when we talk about like the outermost circle of youth ministry is the crowd, I think that is kind of the people we're talking about and the people we want to invite into the crowd, and I think sort of the how behind this is teaching students how to be the vehicle for that.
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: So I always tell them this I said guys, you are probably so intimidated by sharing your faith with somebody we say share your faith.
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: It's like I'm 13.
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: I don't even know exactly what I believe you know.
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: So instead of shaming them, for you need to give a defense for every question that's asked.
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: You know, like the Paul thing.
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: It's like, yeah, yeah, I believe that and obviously it's in the Bible.
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: But I think we have to also meet them where they're at and their stage of development of spirituality.
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: I don't really expect them to be able to give some dissertation on why the Bible is a reliable historical source and how science doesn't disprove the Bible, like I don't expect them to be able to answer every question.
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: Here's what I say.
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: Here's the stage you're at with what Jesus is asking us to do.
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: You have access to your friends, to the unsaved, to the sick.
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: What you do is you open the door that I can't open.
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: They're on your teams, they're in your neighborhood, they're in your classes, they're at your school, they're in your clubs, they're in your sports, whatever.
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: You have access to them.
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: So I don't need to teach them how to be a theological genius, because most 12 year olds aren't like yeah, but what about the dinosaurs?
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: You know that's really not the most effective use of our time.
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: I don't need to teach you.
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: Okay, if somebody says big bang or intelligent design, what are you going to say?
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: That's not the conversations that are really coming up with our 12 and 13 year olds, but what is coming up is the need for community and the need to just kind of like what Jesus told Nathaniel.
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: Like, just come and see.
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: You need to come and see.
• 26:22
  Speaker 1: And instead of like trying to get kids to explain and have all these theological tools in their belt that they're not going to probably use until they're adults, I think right now, teach you just how to invite someone to church.
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: Like you're the one with access, I'm the one with teaching.
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: You bring them, I'll teach.
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: It'll be a perfect, beautiful relationship.
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: You get them in the door and I'll make sure they meet Jesus, and then you can answer questions.
• 26:48
  Speaker 1: If they ask like why are you a Christian or what do you believe, and do your best.
• 26:52
  Speaker 1: Just tell your story and empower them to do that.
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: Just tell your story.
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: Your story is valuable.
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: Just tell them how you came to know Jesus and why you think it's worth it, and you know what you do when you have doubts or questions and just be really honest and real with them.
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: You don't have to know everything.
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: I think that's intimidating for students, but I just really empower them.
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: Your stage of evangelism and reaching the lost is the invitation, and I think when there's something awesome for them to invite them to, it's pretty easy.
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: So I would.
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: I think Jesus would ask us well, what's your outreach strategy when people need to actually come and see, how do you get them through the door?
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: So we do something big in October called the battle, and that's our big outreach thing.
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: So it's like four weeks and students are on these teams that are competing for a free trip to Magic Mountain and Six Flags, whatever you call it.
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: And you know it's this big, grandiose event and they're in costumes and we have the.
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: We pull out all the stops for it.
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: They're supposed to bring their unsafe friends.
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: We share the gospel over the course of the four weeks.
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: We do a big decision night at the end.
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: Well, that's once a year.
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: I can't, that's not like.
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: Well, check the outreach box, you know.
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: But what we do constantly is we trickle outreach into everything we do.
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: You know you can bring that into the conversation.
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: You know, at any time of like guys.
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: There's lost people out there, real souls, real people that need to know Jesus.
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: How can we continue to invite them?
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: How can we continue to pursue them?
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: How can we continue to pray for them?
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: How can we continue to Jesus, pursue the lost?
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: He said, it's not the hell that needed a doctor, it's a sick who in our life needs the saving grace of Jesus.
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: What can you do?
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: Can you invite them?
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: Can you pray for them?
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: Can you, you know, encourage them?
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: And you know, I've seen this in an amazing way with our own daughter.
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: She goes to a public school and she invites those kids to church all the time.
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: I mean, as a fourth grader and I was so proud of her.
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: Like she'll see a kid at school, kind of like down, and she'll be like what's wrong.
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: Or can I pray for you?
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: Or here, write this church name down and like you should come, tell your parents to bring you.
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: And people have come.
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: You know, like we've been looking for her little school friends at church and some of them show up.
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: And you know, she was so empowered and I said, hey, and even if they don't come, you know it might not be their time, but they got invited because, I always tell my students this is according to Barnard research.
• 29:24
  Speaker 1: I don't know if it's still true because it was a while ago, but they said the number one reason people don't come to church is because they were never invited, and they said they would accept an invitation if someone they knew invited them.
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: Cause a lot of times think about this, whether it's church or a club or a social dining, showing up to a new place by yourself for the first time, not knowing where to go, what to do, how this works, is intimidating.
• 29:53
  Speaker 1: So if you know someone and you can go together, then it takes the sting out of that and the nervousness is gone.
• 30:01
  Speaker 1: And so, if that Barnard research is correct, our students can very easily solve that problem.
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: Hey, what do you do on Tuesday nights?
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: Do you go to the youth group?
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: Oh, my gosh, you should come with me.
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: Maybe my mom could pick you up, or why don't you come over after school and then we could go together.
• 30:15
  Speaker 1: Or I'll meet you out front and we can go in together.
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: You would love it.
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: We're doing this really fun thing or have events that they can invite their friends to, like I've had kids that they just heard.
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: We had a super cool camp and they come and then they're like well, what are you guys doing on Tuesday?
• 30:29
  Speaker 1: Oh, you have a youth group.
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: Okay, well, maybe I'll come Like having enough things that they can choose from.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: But that's kind of the going after the sick, and by sick, I think Jesus obviously just means the spiritually sick, just those that don't have a spiritual wholeness.
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: Going after those people.
• 30:47
  Speaker 1: I think he would wanna know if he's gonna give us a grade on our youth ministry, like what do you have?
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: What do you?
• 30:52
  Speaker 1: have for the non-church what?
• 30:54
  Speaker 2: do you have?
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: for the sick?
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: What do you have for the seeking?
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: And I think Jesus is always pursuing the ones who are seeking.
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: So using students, for that is super empowering showing them you can do ministry, you're part of the church.
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: This isn't my job, this isn't the Kristen show and I'm gonna be the pipe pipe.
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: Bring in all the kids to church.
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: No, no, no, we're in this together.
• 31:18
  Speaker 1: You do your part, I'll do my part.
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: You're part of the body of Christ.
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: Like, come on, let's pursue these people, as Jesus would.
• 31:25
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and a couple of places I would suggest you guys go after.
• 31:27
  Speaker 2: This is number one.
• 31:28
  Speaker 2: We have an episode all about how to have a youth group and program that your students will be able to invite their friends to, so make sure you check that out.
• 31:36
  Speaker 2: And the other one we did just recently was the four types of students that are within your youth ministry and how to make sure that you are ministering to all of them at any given time.
• 31:46
  Speaker 2: So I'll definitely check both of those out.
• 31:48
  Speaker 2: Right now let's go into a question of the day.
• 31:50
  Speaker 2: It's very simple, but probably not for you, and you'll know why in a second is what is your go-to Starbucks drink?
• 31:59
  Speaker 2: I can say mine very quickly.
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: You on the other hand.
• 32:05
  Speaker 2: Here's the test, though If you said it to somebody else, would they be able to easily repeat it back to?
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely Okay.
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: What is yours Right now?
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: Okay, right now I'm going with a grande iced soy matcha.
• 32:26
  Speaker 2: Anything else, that's it.
• 32:27
  Speaker 2: Wow, that's one of four things in there.
• 32:30
  Speaker 2: That's actually a little bit.
• 32:31
  Speaker 2: Usually you have some other like make sure you squeeze the lime just two seconds and the oat milk needs to be from France and stuff like that Is that.
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: French oat milk no.
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: At Starbucks I go soy because they have very good soy milk.
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: And a lot of places got rid of soy because people are all weird about now.
• 32:50
  Speaker 1: But soy so good.
• 32:53
  Speaker 2: Mine would be the size does not.
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: It's either.
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: It's tall grande vente.
• 32:58
  Speaker 2: Whatever white mocha Boom, easy, simple.
• 33:00
  Speaker 2: It's the first drink I ever had at Starbucks and it hooked me because there is so much sugar in it it's unreal.
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: Can I make a recommendation?
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: This was my drink right before the iced soy matcha is a soy London fog.
• 33:14
  Speaker 2: Never heard of it.
• 33:15
  Speaker 1: I know it's like a latte, but made with black tea instead of espresso.
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: It is so good.
• 33:23
  Speaker 2: Okay.
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: Try it.
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: Let me know what you think.
• 33:26
  Speaker 2: Yeah, put your go-to Starbucks drink down below and if you're like I, hate Starbucks, well, you can put that to you, whatever coffee shop you like.
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: How about that?
• 33:32
  Speaker 2: All right, let's do a community comment of the day and then we will wrap things up.
• 33:35
  Speaker 2: This comes from Halldoll85astric.
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: I don't know how you got an asterisk in there, but that's kind of cool.
• 33:44
  Speaker 2: I'm assuming it's.
• 33:45
  Speaker 2: She says great hosts.
• 33:47
  Speaker 2: I found your podcast channel first, but enjoy your YouTube channel just as much.
• 33:50
  Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your shared wisdom and creative ideas.
• 33:54
  Speaker 2: Especially.
• 33:55
  Speaker 2: I especially enjoy your back and forth banter with each other.
• 33:58
  Speaker 2: Well, you should see our banter when the camera is not on.
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: Thanks, halldoll, you're a doll.
• 34:07
  Speaker 2: Gotta have thick skin in this marriage.
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: I didn't realize we were bantering till.
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: Somebody said we were bantering.
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: Bickering.
• 34:15
  Speaker 1: Potato, potato.
• 34:17
  Speaker 2: He says potato.
• 34:18
  Speaker 2: That's my question.
• 34:19
  Speaker 1: Tomato tomato.
• 34:20
  Speaker 2: You say potato, I say potato.
• 34:22
  Speaker 2: No one says potato.
• 34:24
  Speaker 2: That's what he says in there.
• 34:25
  Speaker 2: That's the song.
• 34:26
  Speaker 2: Okay, tomato, tomato.
• 34:28
  Speaker 2: I want to meet the person that's like oh, can I have a potato?
• 34:30
  Speaker 2: Anyways, thanks, halldoll85astro.
• 34:34
  Speaker 2: We do really appreciate you leaving that review and we are so thankful that you enjoy our bickering, bantering and whatever else you want to call it, and our wisdom.
• 34:41
  Speaker 1: And our potato Thank you guys for watching and listening and we'll see you next time.
• 34:46
  Speaker 2: Today we're talking about four ways that no Applicable and practical steps that you can implement.
• 34:54
  Speaker 2: What is it?
• 34:55
  Speaker 2: Actionable and practical tips that you can implement?
• 34:58
  Speaker 2: I just like just so close, but I'm just kind of stumbling over my words.
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: Can you guys keep it down?
• 35:04
  Speaker 2: What are we saying?