Insight

Using the Bible to help us pray

Sometimes when we pray we quickly run out of words to say. We find it difficult to express how we really feel. Or our thoughts drift to other things. Prayer can be hard work.

Fortunately, the Bible provides a wealth of material to guide our prayers, help us express our feelings and enrich our personal prayer life. Using the Bible can also provide a focus and a framework to help young people and small groups pray more effectively, when their own words are difficult to find.

PRAYING THE PSALMS

The Book of Psalms is really a book of prayers. From praise and giving thanks, to asking forgiveness, overcoming temptation, dealing with discouragement, facing fear, finding guidance, seeking wisdom or gaining courage. No matter how we feel, in the Psalms we find words to express every human condition and they teach about how God wants us to communicate with him. It’s reassuring to know that the psalmists had the same feelings we do, and weren’t afraid of expressing them to God!

SHARE A PSALM

When words are difficult to find or the pressures of events distract my thoughts I find it helpful to share a Psalm, making the words of the psalmist my own prayer or request and applying them to my own situation. Here are a few examples of where I look for help in the Psalms when I feel,

• Afraid 3, 91
• Alone 27
• Envious 73
• Like giving up 34, 43
• Sad 13
• Weak 40, 121, 142
• Worried 37
• Tempted 141
• Unimportant 139
• Like praising God 96, 100, 145

Praying for your youth group

The Apostle Paul prayed faithfully for the Christians in the church at Colossae, even though he had never met them. How much more should we devote ourselves to pray for the young people we meet personally every week?

But sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start and what to pray for.

Paul’s prayer for the Colossian Christians can also provide a simple model or pattern for our own prayers.

The Christian youth leader and prayer

As many of us are beginning a new youth group year, I want to consider the priority of prayer in our own lives and for our young people. If our personal relationship with Christ is also the engine which drives our ministry and leadership, then time with Christ in prayer must be one of our core ministry activities.

It’s easy to be busy in youth ministry, but someone once said, ‘If you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy!’ The psalmist reminds us that ‘unless the Lord builds the house its builders labour in vain.’ (Psalm 127:1) Yet we still don’t always feel our biggest job is to pray. But isn’t the real effectiveness of our ministry to young people founded on our relationship with God?

The Apostle Paul encourages us to, ‘Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.’ (Ephesians 6:18.)

Our own example is probably the single most motivating factor to encourage young people to pray.

The future of youth ministry - youth pastor or event manager?

In one of my first blog posts 'What is Christian youth work?' I asked, What are we trying to achieve in youth ministry? What is our goal as a youth pastor or Christian youth worker, whether we're paid or a volunteer? I suggested four insights which have helped me in charting my own course in youth ministry. You can read them here. I'm firmly convinced that the main goal of Christian youth ministry is making disciples.

'So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me.' Colossians 1: 28-29

However, it's easy to fall into the 'numbers' trap. Wishing my youth group was bigger. Designing programmes to attract more young people. Dreaming of what it would be like to have a 'mega' group and the accompanying status from our church and peers. Haven't we all thought like that from time to time? I know I have. I purposely use the word 'trap' because following the numbers agenda can so easily distract us from our primary purpose of disciple making.

Discipling young people is time intensive and a huge investment. It takes time nurturing young people to bring 'each one into God’s presence as a mature individual in union with Christ.' Now I'm not saying there's no space for fun stuff and crazy games, young people aren't just 'souls on legs', they have physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs (just like you and me), but we need to stay laser-focused on our goal.

What do we think of when we think about discipleship? A programme? A curriculum? A confirmation course? Finding a process which is helpful to the spiritual growth of your young people is important, but I want to suggest we also reflect on the outcomes. What do we want to see? If our goal is spiritual maturity how do we measure it? What does a spiritual mature person look like?

The future of youth ministry - 5 reasons for mission.

In two previous 'future' posts, 'consumers or servants' and 'learning to serve', I suggested that guiding our young people away from a consumer mentality into one of discipleship, engagement and mission is one of the biggest challenges youth leaders, certainly in the west, face today. I'm confident that our teaching would bear more fruit, our prayer be more vibrant if witness, mission and social action were an integral part of youth ministry.

Here are my 5 reasons to help answer the question, 'Why should I be involved in mission?' Use this as a personal reflection, as part of a presentation or perhaps an outline for a youth group study.

The future of youth ministry - learning to serve!

In a previous post 'The future of youth ministry-consumers or servants', I asked if one of the major changes we face as youth leaders today is to orientate our young people away from a consumer mentality (which some argue has gripped the western church) to an attitude of service. Moving from spectators only, to participants in demonstrating Christ's compassion for the world, bringing Good News to those who have never heard it and engaging in sacrificial service because that's what the Lord Jesus would want from us.

Isn't one of the marks of a deepening faith, a servant heart? A desire to do good in the name of Jesus? A passion to reach others with a life transforming Gospel?

'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.' Ephesians 2:10

The future of youth ministry - consumers or servants?

After a break from blogging over the Christmas and New Year, I'm back with weekly thoughts and reflections on youth ministry and youth resource ideas.

I've been reading a number of comments and observations recently about the future of youth ministry. At least as it applies to the western nations of Europe and the USA. That distinction is important, for I believe if we took the time to look, we could learn a lot from the vitality, mission and discipleship experiences of our brothers and sisters in Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and elsewhere.

I came across a challenging post from Joe recently and it has prompted me to make a small and hesitant contribution to the discussion. I like Joe's honesty. He says, 'I know God has called me here for a purpose and a reason. That reason is to love kids and point them towards the Kingdom. (But) I am tired of doing the same old stuff. Why? IT ISN'T WORKING!!'

Some commentators question if current youth ministry practices have reached a dead-end. Others say youth ministry is terminally 'broken' and a few wonder if churches even need a youth group any longer. Brian has posted a thoughtful reflection on this here.

So is youth ministry really 'broken'? Are our youth programmes redundant? Is it what we do that's wrong? Or is it that our focus is wrong?

Christmas giving

I've been encouraged in the last few weeks with youth workers writing about how they are helping young people to express and think of giving to others over this Christmas season. Of course we all love receiving, but our giving to others can make a huge difference to their experience of Christmas and their understanding of the real Christmas message. The wise men came to worship the new-born King and they expressed that by giving gifts. May God help me to express my worship to him this Christmas time through giving to others.

In this article I asked what we might do. My thoughts included a visit to a children's ward in the local hospital, giving to a Christmas appeal, visiting a homeless shelter bearing gifts or helping with meals, making Christmas cards for folks who will be alone this Christmas to let them know someone is thinking of them.

I enjoy reading Brian’s blog, and in recent weeks his Advent thoughts. He lists some of his own thoughts here which include,

Jesus-Style Youth Ministry

Dave Livermore and Steve Argue from Intersect have kindly allowed me to reproduce this article. I hope you find it thought-provoking and helpful as you reflect on the kind of youth ministry you want to develop to serve your young people.

Should the 'youth' in our youth ministry be our primary focus? Wherever we go these days, we're introduced as guys who really have a heart for today's generation of young people. And of course we do. We love teenagers, are quick to defend them, and are passionate about understanding them. But we think the 'ministry' side of youth ministry is sometimes unrecognizable in the shadow of the 'youth' side.

Ask the kids we work with—we're not total killjoys. We love a good time and a good laugh. But what does it mean to authentically demonstrate the love and mission of God to the 'people group' he's entrusted to our care? What do they see valued as they watch the things we prioritize?

Let's take the 'youth' out of youth ministry for a moment. Ministry is the biblical description for what we do—we're ministers who happen to be called to youth. Consider Paul's ministry imperatives to young Timothy (2 Timothy 2):

Are you healthy? - A 10 point plan for staying healthy as a youth leader

When was the last time you had a health check up? A few years ago, before major surgery, I had a series of medical check-ups at my local hospital. I can't say I enjoyed the experience, but they were really important in confirming a problem, helping the surgeons to act and eventually returning me to full health.

I've been thinking recently about what a health check-up for youth leaders might include. What follows are my thoughts and reflections about staying healthy as a youth leader. So here's my 10 point plan to stay healthy in youth ministry.

1. STAY SPIRITUALLY FIT.

Effective youth ministry flows out of our relationship with the living God. Keep Jesus at the centre of your life and ministry. Commit time every day to cultivate that relationship. Someone once said, ‘If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy!’ How can we be a spiritual guide for young people unless we're travelling ahead on the journey of faith ourselves? Ministry flows from who we are rather than what we do, and being is much more important than doing in youth ministry.

2. STAY PHYSICALLY FIT.

I don't go to a gym or jog so I guess I'm laying myself open to some comment here, but you're stuck with your body, so look after it. We all know investing in exercise and healthy eating can produce real results in extra energy, increased mobility and even a longer life.

A good night's sleep is also important, but how often do we consider our regular routine? This is a really important issue to consider when we think about longevity in ministry. OK, this is starting to sound like a health blog - but don't burnout in your 20's because you didn't stay spiritually and physically fit. You'll be a much more effective youth worker when you're 40!

Servant leadership - pick up your towel!

Watch the TV news, read a newspaper, look at the world. What comes to mind when you think of leadership and leaders? I guess ambition, power and control could be regarded as some of the clearest expressions of leadership today.

However, Christ's demonstration of servant leadership is in sharp contrast to the world. Jesus himself set the example for us, 'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

His model of the leader as a servant reveals an example of leadership that embraces deep humility, disregards personal gain and ambition, and puts the needs of others first.

'You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.' Mark 10:42-45

Jesus was speaking to his disciples and he knew very well their tendency to want glory for themselves and to fight for position. James and John had just demonstrated that. Jesus was very clear. He could not afford them to miss the heart of His Kingdom: serving one another in love.

Youth ministry - what should it look like?

What are we trying to achieve in youth ministry? What is our goal? What should youth ministry look like? Only by answering these questions can we set our compass and set off in the right direction.

Here I'll share four insights which have helped me chart my own course in youth work.

1. YOUTH MINISTRY SHOULD BE INCARNATIONAL

'You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.' Philippians 2: 5-7

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi reminds us of how we should live and lead. Jesus became a man. Without ceasing to be God, he became a human being. Born a human baby, he grew up through childhood and lived as we do. In his humanity, he shows us everything about God's character that can be demonstrated in human terms. The incarnation shows God identifying with mankind. Jesus became a servant.

Like Christ, we need to give of ourselves. It's not just about youth ministry programmes. Young people want to know someone who cares about them, someone who will give them time, and someone who listens and cares about their problems. The kind of people we ARE is the most important thing in Christian youth work. We need to reflect Jesus.

'The key to effective Christian youth work is people - people in whose lives Christ is alive, and who will open themselves to young people, not talk down to them, not dominate them with attractive personalities, but who show them how to love one another as Christ has commanded.' Mark Ashton, Christian Youth Work, Kingsway 1986

'The youth worker is not primarily a talker or organiser; he is a model, a person who by the power of his Christian example motivates a dedication to Jesus Christ.' Lawrence Richards, Youth Ministry, Zondervan 1972