by David Hanson | Feb 18, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
What are you looking for?
We are in the middle of our love, sex, and dating series in Fusion Student Ministry and during a one-on-one discipleship session with Michael, I asked him this question. I asked, “imagine that you are a 22 year old senior at your favorite university, what quality traits are you looking for in a future spouse?” His response:
- A Believer
- Brown Hair
- A Great Smile
- A Good Personality
- Dependable
- A Good Friend
- A Worshiper of God
- Understanding
- Spends Time in The Word
- A Good Volunteer
- Smart
I thought this was a fantastic list! Oh, and did I mention that this came from a 7th Grader!!! My mind was blown! I don’t know if I could have put that list together as a college senior and Michael’s doing it in the 7th grade!
It feels good when students “get it!” It feels good when students have a plan for their sexuality; a plan they have petitioned God for and decided in their hearts to follow. This is why we have the hard talks every year about sex and God’s plan for them. May you be reminded that the difficult conversations you are having…are worth it.
by David Hanson | Feb 14, 2013 | The Youth Ministry Blog
“What’s love got to do, got to do with it?”
Great question Tina Turner!
If you are a follower of Jesus…Love is everything. The greatest and second greatest commandment according to Jesus are for us to “Love God,” and “Love Others (Matt. 22:36-40).
But why? Why am I called to love others? And how? How do I love others?
1 John 4:19 offers that “We love because He first loved us.” This is our WHY and this is our HOW! The love that we have to give is a direct result of the love that Christ has shown to His creation. In the ultimate act of love, God sent his Son to die on a cross so that we might have access to His love! Why do we love? Because He first loved us and our only natural response should be return that love to Him and to show it to others.
But How? We show love to others by emulating the love shown to us. God’s love was sacrificial. Ours should be also. Love in our culture today is selfish and self serving. People love, not in sacrifice or servitude, but in order receive love back.
Here is our opportunity! When we love with the sacrificial love of Christ we tell a very different story than the one being told by culture. When we serve without recognition and love those who will not reciprocate we point to the ultimate source of love…God himself (1 John 4:8).
May our plea each morning be Psalm 143:8, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk (why & how to love others), for I give myself to you.
Amen.
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, 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, or go here:
About David.
by David Hanson | Oct 23, 2012 | The Youth Ministry Blog
Youth Pastors are…mentors, sounding boards, social media gurus, studiers of pop culture, Friday night cheerleaders, doctrine/theology simplifiers, disciple makers, writers, visionaries, small group coordinators, communication directors, budget balancers, penny pinchers, counselors, parenting advisors, preachers, adolescent development enthusiasts,
(take a drink of coffee)
meeting attenders, over-worked, under-paid, technology lovers, wannabe video-gamers, book lovers, marriage counselors, Facebookers, Tweeters, occasional Google+ers, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sinners, broken, event planners, professional campers, retreat warriors…
(take another drink of said coffee)
dodgeball champions, “fill-in” preachers, chapel speakers, professional pranksters, curriculum planners, Bible expositors, thematic teachers, service planners, worship leaders, prayer warriors, professional van drivers, video editors, pizza eaters, party organizers, sleep deprived, and passionate followers of Jesus.
After 52 roles I have BARELY scratched the surface! What other #YouthPastorsAre have I missed?
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, 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, or go here:
About David.
by David Hanson | Oct 4, 2012 | The Youth Ministry Blog
With election season upon us and one of many debates behind us, one thing is clear. This country is anxious about its future. Americans want hope that the next president will bring with him the key to financial success. And most think their party’s candidate has the answer. Americans want change from the flawed systems that have put our economy and healthcare system into a bind. And most think their party’s candidate has the answer. Finally, Americans want security from a world that is becoming more hostile and volatile. And most think their party’s candidate has the answer.
When President Obama and Governor Romney stand behind their respective podiums, they are going to promise hope, they are going to promise change, and they are going to promise security.
They will do their best to convince us that they have what it takes to set this country on a new path, and to point us in a new direction. A direction whose destination is financial security, economic bliss, and equal opportunity for all.
The Truth:
This world is marred by sin. It is in bondage to death and decay. All creation is groaning. It is into this situation that we see fallen men trying to lead fallen people in a fallen world!
But there is hope, change, and security coming: Romans 8:18-25 NIV (Italics mine)
18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Our hope is not in either candidate in this presidential race, our hope is not in the success of our country, and our hope is not in our financial accomplishments. Our hope is in a wandering homeless prophet who was misunderstood by his family, his followers, and the religious order. Our hope is in Jesus.
Change is not something that will be handed to us by either presidential candidate because they cannot change what is wrong: the fallen and sinful nature of man. Change will happen when Christ liberates this world from “it’s bondage to decay” and ushers into his freedom and glory.
Security (national or financial) pales in comparison to the eternal security that is found in Christ. The security we have through faith in Jesus Christ is not just something we are promised but something that believers currently possess! And it is out of this security that we live in complete abandon to see His will transform a fallen order.
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, 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, or go here:
About David.
by David Hanson | Sep 21, 2012 | The Youth Ministry Blog
As youth workers, we make great sacrifices. (And all ministers do for that matter.) We work long, strange hours for students who don’t always show appreciation for what we do, while getting paid very little for the time and effort we put in. This is nothing you don’t already know. After all, you didn’t go into ministry for the paycheck and glory! We make these sacrifices in order to see the next generation fall in love with Jesus Christ and pursue Him with their lives.
Of all the sacrifices we make, one that we should not make is quality time spent with our spouses. These are the true heroes in youth ministry! They have to put up with our late nights, long hours, and little pay! So the least we can do is give back to them what we do have…ourselves. So here is my challenge to you: Prioritize your spouse. Set aside time to focus on your marriage and put this on the calendar before anything else! Make plans for the kids and give them what they deserve, your undivided attention. Quality time with your spouse is not just something that happens, it HAS to be intentional.
So stop reading this blog! It’s Friday, why are you thinking about Youth Ministry?! Go call a babysitter, make reservations at his/her favorite restaurant, and be present with your spouse!
Texas native, Texas Tech Red Raider, M.Div. at Truett Seminary, husband to Ashley, father to Ava, 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, or go here:
About David.
