7 Lies of Youth Ministry Keith Palmer Associate Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Granbury

Introduction – 2 Cor. 10:5

Statistics         

Less than 10% of the Jr. High students in churches today will still be involved with church by their senior year of college. Crime and sexual promiscuity among teenagers is the highest in history. Recent surveys reveal that there is no significant differences in attitude or behavior between teens in and outside the church. More material on youth ministry has been published in the last decade than in the previous 50 years. The average tenure of a youth pastor is less than eighteen months. The percentage of teens who come from a broken home is the highest in history (between 50-55%). Generally, the least theologically trained staff member of a church is the youth pastor. The general perception of youth ministry is no more than glorified babysitting. Yet, over 80% of people who trust Christ for salvation do so before 25!

Lies of Youth Ministry 1. The lie of entertainment  

"Students won't come unless we entertain them." Activities, Events, "having fun" – become both the goal and the means of youth ministry  2 Tim. 4:3-4  Students see through it – If all the church is offering is a "spiritual" form of what they see on TV and movies, why should they come at all?  Whatever you use to attract students becomes the item you must use to keep them  True joy and fun are only found in a real, obedient walk with Jesus Christ (look at all this fun stuff… and we'll stick Jesus in here vs. Fun stuff is absolutely meaningless and unsatisfying unless it is found in Jesus Christ alone) o Integration – make the church (youth ministry) as much like the world as possible – attractive, inoffensive, appealing, etc.  The church is supposed to impact and change the world, not the other way around  Can the gospel really be made inoffensive? (1 Cor. 1:18ff)  Is seeking to attract a crowd with worldly attractions and then bringing in the gospel & Jesus Christ that call us to forsake this world (1 John 2:15) not deceptive? Or at least confusing? 1

o Pragmatism – defining both goal and means by "whatever works." Usually based on number of attendees, involvement, etc.  The Bible consistently teaches that the goal of ministry is Christ-like, mature believers (1 Cor. 3:1-3, Eph. 4:15, Heb. 5:12-6:1), not mere numbers or involvement  The purpose of the church is to worship God and edify believers (Eph 4:11-16; Acts 2:37-47), who will then be able to go out into the world and reach the lost for Christ (Matt. 28:19-20)  The goal is to convert the immoral, not moralize the unconverted

2. The lie of "bird-bath" teaching o "Students can't handle theologically deep or lengthy messages." o Insulting to students – low view of students o Shallow teaching = shallow believers – shallow believers = easily deceived believers o Teaching the Bible – faithfully, deeply, accurately – is what convicts unbelievers and makes believers grow (1 Tim. 4:1ff, Rom. 1:16, 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 10:5) o Consequences  Students go off to college immature, unequipped, and untrained – We have set them up for spiritual defeat  We feed them sound bite theology in youth ministry and then wonder why they don't pay attention to the 30-40-minute sermon in church o Personal testimony

3. The lie of experientialism o "What students need are emotional spiritual experiences to make them more mature Christians" o Lie: Experiences bring about maturity and define maturity o Leads to youth ministry that is "event" driven o Acquire the fire, most youth "events" o But the key to spiritual maturity is a renewed, biblically informed heart/mind – not an emotional experience (2 Peter 1:2-3, Rom. 12:1-2, Eph. 4:17ff, 2 Cor. 10:5, etc.) o Biblical example  Moses (Exodus 34)

4. The lie of postponement o "We'll just do whatever we can to keep them in church. If we can keep them in church until they go to college, they'll be okay." o The idea is that true influence will come later, and is not possible in the teenage years o Keeping in church = the goal (next point in a moment) o If we don't teach them and train them to be godly, mature, and discerning now, they will crash and burn in college o Satan is and will be influential in the lives of our youth – He is a great youth pastor, with a great youth program (that in case you haven't noticed) is working wonderfully in the world o Promotes a low view of teenagers – Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah – other teenage Bible heros: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joseph, Hezekiah, Ruth, Mary & Joseph, David, Josiah, Mark

5. The lie of churchism 2

o "They're coming to church = they must be Christians = they don't need to hear the gospel" o Going to church is not the goal, being a mature, growing, godly believer is (1 Cor. 3:1-3, Eph. 4:15, Heb. 5:12-6:1) o Over-stressing external involvement at the expense of dealing with the heart leads to making Pharisees, not disciples (Matt. 23:25ff) o The teenage years are usually the first real glimpse we get about where our children are really at spiritually  If salvation was genuine at an earlier age, the teenage and college years are a time to see real fruit – evidence of their salvation  But often, the teenage and college years expose those who have professed Christ, but have never really trusted in Him  To assume that all students in our youth ministry are believers and don’t' need to heard the gospel OR what a real believer's life looks like – is FOOLISH shepherding  Testimony – baptisms

6. The lie of "teenage relevancy" o "In order to have a successful youth ministry, we need to teach on topics that teens are interested in" o Being relevant, in the sense of being applicable and understandable in our teaching, is a good thing o Teaching from the Bible on legitimate biblical issues that teenagers face is wise shepherding o BUT – Overstressing felt needs and "teenage topics" leads to a low view of Scripture, a low view of God, and a "me-oriented" mentality among students  Low view of Scripture – The Bible is God's Word – timeless principles – If taught expositionally, faithfully, and accurately, it will ALWAYS be relevant and applicational  Low view of God – To make the topic of discussion or teaching the felt or perceived "needs" and issues of being a teenager, rather than the character, glory, and work of God, leads to a low view of God. He must always be the focus and center. Our deepest needs and problems are spiritual issues, that only God and His Word can address  "Me-oriented" mentality among students – Letting students define their own needs and then catering to those felt or perceived needs is backward shepherding. It leads to focusing on self, instead of on God. Students need to learn to see past their felt needs to what Scripture says their needs really are – and how only a relationship centered and focused on God can meet those needs o The influence of psychology has taught the church to minister to perceived and felt needs, instead of biblical needs o In extreme settings, the students define youth ministry – instead of wise pastors and leaders shepherding and discipling teens by biblical principles o 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:2-3, Heb. 4:12

7. The lie of anti-discipleship o "Youth ministry should be about group activities and events." 3

o "The best person to minister to youth is the youngest guy/girl in leadership" o Discipleship is de-emphasized or non-existent – and yet, discipleship – a life on life relationship – is what the church is supposed to be doing! (Matt. 28:1920) o The Older/Younger model of Titus 2 is not followed

8. Other Thoughts on Youth Ministry o Youth are not the "church" of tomorrow – they are the church o Youth are the single greatest untapped resource in the church o 1 Cor. 7:32-35 – Singles have undistracted devotion to God, and unhindered service o Youth (teenagers) are adults – Though they may be young, we should treat them and minister to them as adults AND have the same expectations of them as adults

A Biblical Philosophy of Youth Ministry We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Col 1:28-29, NASB) 1. The Message – "We proclaim Him"  What is the message – the content of youth ministry?  Jesus Christ – His Gospel – His Word (back up in context of Col. 1)  And we "preach" Jesus Christ and His Word alone 2. The Means – "admonishing… teaching… with all wisdom"  How do we "do" ministry? What is the blue print we follow?  "admonish" – counsel – "to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct" (BDAG) – "warn" – negative  "teach" – positive side – instruct – impart biblical wisdom – renew mind  "with wisdom" – biblical wisdom – not sociology, not psychology, not statistics 3. The People – "every man… every man"  Who do we minister to? Who are we trying to reach?  Every person 4. The Goal – "so that we might present every man complete in Christ"  What are we trying to accomplish? What is the bull's-eye we are aiming for?  AND how do we measure success in ministry?  "so that" – purpose – every man is mature in Christ  Maturity – godliness – a discerning, wise, Christ-like young person is the goal 5. The Sweat – "For this purpose also I labor, striving…"  Where do we pour our efforts? What is the focus of our labor?  "this purpose" – the goal of seeing each person mature in Christ  NOT – games, activities, pizza, entertainment, etc. 6. The Might – "according to His power, which mightily works within me"  HOW are we able to accomplish such a weighty task? 4

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I can handle pizza and games, but who is competent to do these things? We are BECAUSE – we strive "according to His power – which mightily works within us" God will work in us and through us AS we pursue ministry this way AND it reminds us who gets all the praise and the glory for success

 Challenge: Youth ministry is war – What is at stake is no less than the eternal lives – everlasting happiness or everlasting torment – of the students we know and love – now is the time to stop playing games, stop patronizing our youth, and take a deep, long look in the spiritual mirror about what we're doing in youth ministry

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