by David Hanson | Feb 17, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
John 21:15-17 is one of my favorite passages.
Jesus is alive and well after his crucifixion. He conquered death and Hell!
He reveals himself to the disciples in a way that is very familiar. He tells them to cast the nets and they catch many fish. They finally realize who he is.
Flash back to chapter 18. Peter denies Jesus. He does not associate with him when asked if he was one of his disciples. He hears the rooster crow and then goes out and “wept bitterly”. What kind of friend was he? What had he done?
Would this be the end for him? Would he ever truly follow God again?
This is where 21:15-17 is so beautiful.
Jesus asks him three times if he loves him. And Peter says yes each time. No doubt I believe he did love him. He was at that moment experiencing the astounding grace of Jesus.
Jesus was reminding him of his mission. To “catch people” or evangelize and to “feed the sheep” or pastor/lead the church.
Think about this. Jesus came to them even though they had pretty much forgotten what he had told them. Jesus didn’t give up on them. He didn’t give up on Peter.
Think of how much Peter blew it. Some may say he didn’t deserve a second chance.
Sadly, I can relate with Peter. I am Peter.
I gave my life to Jesus yet many times have denied him, turned my back, chose my own way, and betrayed him. And I have wept bitterly. But Jesus has never left me or given up. In fact, he has remained constant. And that overwhelms me.
Our ministries are full of students who don’t think God even cares or they feel as though they have gone too far. They are overwhelmed with guilt. They don’t fit in.
We MUST preach grace and show grace. We must teach leaders and volunteers to never give up on the students who seem to be gone and hopeless. Or stop fighting for the lonely and broken. God WILL work and move!
God most definitely gives way beyond second chances. His love never fails or gives up!
Matthew Sawyer is the student pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Dothan, AL. (www.sbcdothan.org) Matthew writes his own blog at: http://matthewls.com/
by David Hanson | Feb 10, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Work the System
Nehemiah is a tutor of sorts for Spiritual leaders. In the past two posts we’ve seen that he was a man of great compassion and courage. He was sensitive to God and His people.
Nehemiah also worked the system. When Nehemiah saw the need of his people he used his position as a cupbearer to his advantage.
In Nehemiah 2 we see the interaction he had with his boss. “If it pleases the king, send me back home to rebuild the walls.” Well it pleased King Artaxerxes and Nehemiah was released to rebuild the wall. He even got the king to write a letter of endorsement to ensure that he would be able to travel safely back to Jerusalem.
Based on what we know of Nehemiah was able to work the system because he was a trustworthy worker. The cupbearer was a position of trust. They ensured that the king’s drink was safe from poison. More than that they gave counsel and wisdom to the king. My guess is that Nehemiah had worked faithfully for years and because of that was able to cash in his chips so that he could go attend to the wall in Jerusalem.
You may think that working the system is using people to your advantage. This feels slimy. I’ve seen people in ministry to use relationships to get free game tickets, meals and even trips. This is NOT what I am talking about. A Spiritual leader must NEVER leverage their influence and relationships for personal gain.
Working the system ISN’T using people, it’s maximizing relationships. Nehemiah didn’t demand or pressure the king, he asked humbly. He also was’t asking selfishly, he was thinking of the people of Jerusalem.
I’ve made the mistake of not asking before. I don’t want to appear as if I’m using others so I don’t ask. This is a big mistake. If I don’t ask, then others aren’t included in serving the kingdom like Artaxerses did. I need to be more like Nehemiah and work the system.
We can work the system in a God honoring way when we act like Nehemiah. Don’t pressure people to get what we want. Serve others without expecting to get something in return. Ask humbly and selflessly when we know they can meet a need. This is working the system.
What are needs in your ministry that could be met simply by asking? Who are the people who can meet those needs? Chances are they are probably more than willing to help as long as you humbly work the system.
Read Part 2 of Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah
Read Part 1 of Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah
Kevin Libick is a Middle School Pastor living in Fort Worth, TX with his wife Kara and her two cats. He is a novice banjo picker and expert Hawaiian food eater. Kevin loves to connect with other youth workers and equip them to live out their calling in God’s Kingdom. Connect with Kevin on Twitter: @kevinlibick
by David Hanson | Feb 7, 2014 | Podcast, The Youth Ministry Blog
[powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/theyouthministryblog/07_TYMB_007__Students_Called_Into_Ministry.mp3″]
In Session 7 of the Podcast, David talks about 4 things you can do when talking with students who feel called into ministry. Behind students surrendering their life to the Lord, students surrendering to to a life of ministry is one of the coolest things a Youth Pastor can experience.
After listening to this session, you will be better prepared to walk with students who feel this calling because you will:
1. Affirm Their Thinking Process
2. Point Them To Scripture
3. Help Them Examine Their Gifting
4. Help Them Start With Baby Steps
Action Items:
1. Give the podcast a Rating and Review on iTunes so that other Youth Pastors can find us!
2. What else will you do for students who feel called into ministry? Comment Below!
by David Hanson | Feb 5, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
If you watched the Grammy’s, or if you have paid attention to pop culture recently, you have heard Macklemore’s Same Love. The song was written to make a statement about gay marriage.
As a youth pastor, I just sat there shaking my head wondering how many of my students were watching the Grammy’s when Macklemore and company performed multiple weddings during the song. Many of these unions were between gay and lesbian couples who exchanged rings to the tune of “I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to.” Macklemore also goes on a rant about the stance that organized religion has traditionally taken toward gay marriage. Take a listen:
While I don’t know where you stand on this issue, I came across a song on SoundCloud where rapper Bizzle responds to much of what Macklemore tosses out there.
Take a listen:
What do you think about this response? Are the issues handled correctly and in a culturally relevant way? What would your students think? Comment below!
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at
LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask,
Email David.
by David Hanson | Feb 3, 2014 | The Youth Ministry Blog
In light of the Seattle Seahawks Superbowl win, check out what Russell Wilson says about Jesus. While I was cheering for the Broncos, I couldn’t be more excited for a stand-up dude, and Jesus follower like Russell Wilson.
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava & Ben, Student Pastor at
LifePoint Church in Plano, Tx, table tennis (ping-pong) extraordinaire, addicted to coffee. For anything else…you’ll just have to ask,
Email David.
