There is always a real person. He has a face. She has a name. They have seemingly unlimited potential. They also have very real weaknesses. And through all of it, you are a youth worker because you believe that 1) knowing Christ more and better can make a tremendous impact on their lives, and 2) that their lives can make a tremendous impact on the world. You believe this. It is the ultimate answer to the question. “why” But there is one more question, and it really is the question many of us find ourselves constantly asking. If an observant reader, the subtitle of this you’re section has already tipped you off . . . “How?” How? How do we do it? How do we go about How do we shaping teenagers’ faith? lead them closer to Christ? What are the methods and philosophies that work? How do we take a discordant group of individuals—individuals with different needs, on different places in their spiritual journeys—and bring them collectively to a deepening relationship with God? a really big question. And one that is admittedly pretty far beyond the scope of a It’s little piece such as this one. However, we think we do have something to say about this. Or more accurately, we think the Bible has something to say about this. And like to share it with you. we’d It starts with a concept no doubt familiar with: discipleship. you’re But the problem with familiarity is that it can sometimes create ambiguity. We can be so familiar with a concept that we make assumptions about its meaning. So, for take a stab at clarifying what we mean by and clarity’s sake, let’s “discipleship,” use this definition to introduce an idea that we think will go a long way in let’s helping you answer the question. “how”
There is always a real person. He has a face. She has a name. They have seemingly unlimited potential. They also have very real weaknesses. And through all of it, you are a youth worker because you believe that 1) knowing Christ more and better can make a tremendous impact on their lives, and 2) that their lives can make a tremendous impact on the world. You believe this. It is the ultimate answer to the “why” question. But there is one more question, and it really is the question many of us find ourselves constantly asking. If you’re an observant reader, the subtitle of this section has already tipped you off . . . “How?” How? How do we do it? How do we go about shaping teenagers’ faith? How do we lead them closer to Christ? What are the methods and philosophies that work? How do we take a discordant group of individuals—individuals with different needs, on different places in their spiritual journeys—and bring them collectively to a deepening relationship with God? It’s a really big question. And one that is admittedly pretty far beyond the scope of a little piece such as this one. However, we think we do have something to say about this. Or more accurately, we think the Bible has something to say about this. And we’d like to share it with you. It starts with a concept you’re no doubt familiar with: discipleship. But the problem with familiarity is that it can sometimes create ambiguity. We can be so familiar with a concept that we make assumptions about its meaning. So, for clarity’s sake, let’s take a stab at clarifying what we mean by “discipleship,” and let’s use this definition to introduce an idea that we think will go a long way in helping you answer the “how” question.
winterfest-2015---4---post.docx