However, when we first started playing ball in the backyard, he constantly held the bat incorrectly, would throw the ball 190ft away from where I was standing (thus contributing to my loss of 30lbs in the past year), and wouldn’t even consider getting in front of the ball to catch it.  The game of baseball wasn’t foreign to him, but executing the basics sure seemed that way. But wait a second, he’s THREE….give the kid a break. (C’mon people. It’s an analogy.)

It wasn’t until I got off the back porch and got my hands dirty with my son that we saw progress.  I had to encourage him, even when he kept messing up. I had to constantly help him hold his hands correctly on the bat. I had to show him that there wasn’t anything to be afraid of when the ball was coming towards him. I had to give him a target to throw the ball towards, and not just expect him to know that he’s supposed to throw it to my glove.

I’ve learned a lot from my son in the way I approach ministry.

As ministry leaders, we love to do the following:

• Tell students how to live out the gospel
• Give them the steps on how to do it
• Expect them to live as missionaries in their school with everything we’ve told them about Jesus. 

What we should be doing is this: 

• Teach them about the gospel and it’s beauty
• Come alongside them; pray that God would connect the dots between information and application.
• Provide mentoring and friendship when they miss the mark, and gracefully show them Christ.
• Equip them as missionaries, pray for them, and encourage them along the way.

We can’t do effective ministry from the dugout only. We’ve got to get in the game with our students. THIS is why I love the ministry of Small Groups. Our small group leaders are on the field, ready to play ball with these students. They are the ones who not only teach our students, but come alongside of them in the day to day aspects of life, provide intimate friendship, and unleash them on their mission fields. Small Group leader, your role is vital.

Let’s give our students the tools they need for life and godliness, and let them swing the bat. 

My Pastor often says that “generosity is contagious, and so is greed.” There is such depth to that statement. We believe here at the Summit Church that the blessings God gives us are meant not only for our enjoyment, but also to leverage for good of others as we seek to be like Jesus as he leveraged his life for us.

What this means for our Student Ministry here at the Summit Church

• Our staff will work hard to live a life of generosity in front of our students. That means that there is accountability in our giving to the local church and the way we handle our personal finances, among many other things.
• We teach our students that the gospel is bigger than the collecting of things (which is a false gospel by the way.)
• On the flip side, we will model and teach our students that God does give us things for our enjoyment. Period. So enjoy them and worship God for them.
• Give your students an opportunity to give themselves away (ex: serve locally in a soup kitchen, give financially to a family in need, go on a mission trip, plan their college career around church planting, etc.)

One of the things we say around here at The Summit Church is that we’ll learn from just about anybody. The reality is that a good leader is always learning. They are always open to the ideas of others and take their input with a generous spirit. Here at The Summit Church, we care deeply about creating a culture among our staff and within our ministries a culture of giving and receiving godly feedback. Without it, we’ll wither up and die.

How this Affects our Student Ministry:

• We’re always praying and asking God to help us learn from others within our ministry and in other ministries around the country. God has really allowed me to learn from some great guys in ministry that have really helped shape the way we do ministry here with our students!  (Brad Cooper, Clayton King, Matt Lawson, Brian Mills, the fellas out at Mars Hill, Chuck Thompson, Matt Rice, etc..) I’ve used some of the approaches these guys have taken to get a point across, to train my volunteers, to greet first time guests, and to connect with parents. Learn from others!
• Learning from others produces self evaluation. When we learn from others, it often causes us to evaluate our programming, our strategies, our gifting, our passion, etc.
• Replicating is not the same as Learning. Here’s where we get caught. We often try and rip things off from other churches because it “works” there. Learning from others is not carbon copying their ministry to yours. When you begin to replicate, you begin to rely on their godliness, their creativity, and their leadership to take your ministry to the next level and not the grace of God!

• What are the key components you look for in a discipleship resource for your Small Group/Sunday School?
• How long do your classes/meetings last?
• What do you feel is missing from most curriculum? (ie: What’s the ONE THING you wish 95% of Student Ministry discipleship material would have that it doesn’t?)

• Is it Understandable? This is big. I once read in one of John Piper’s books this great quote, and I share it with you as well: “When the gospel is proclaimed, it must be explained…Unintelligible goods news is not even news, let alone good.” Great words of truth for us. Billy Graham was also once quoted as saying “I study to be simple.” I love that. Yes, teach on key doctrines of the faith! If you don’t do this…you’ve missed the point. But please, whatever you do, explain yourself to these students. All of your “ologies” need explaining.
• Can you define your entire message in one sentence? Great practice for anyone who teaches the word. If it takes more than one sentence to define your “point,” start all over again. Keep doing that until you can give a thesis statement for your entire sermon.
• Your body language says it all. I once had a professor in Seminary who was (and still is) a master writer. His books that I had read going into his classes were mind breaking for me in many ways. Then it happened. I took his class. He bored me to tears. Somehow the exact same things he wrote about in his books just did not connect with me when I heard him lecture. What was it about his presentation that bored me? His information was great, but it wasn’t landing. No passion. No connection with the class. Just information overload. What I needed was energy and enthusiasm. I needed to know from him that this was more than just information, but that it was urgent truth! Our students need that from us as well.

Elevate Leaders Training

• Rich in Truth: Matt’s songwriting is so incredibly saturated in the truth of the gospel. He doesn’t mask it with lines that you’re not sure if it’s about a woman, your best friend or Christ himself. There’s no denying it. From the glory of God to the sinfulness of man, the truth of the gospel is the banner of this album. Our students need to hear an album that declares the greatness of our King without hesitation or timidity. They need boldness. They need to be spurred out of a life of apathy. They need the truth of the gospel.
• Hope in the Gospel! The final song on this album is my favorite. In a culture of “walking away when the going gets tough,” Matt reminds us of the unfailing, unending and immeasurable greatness of God. When pain, death, doubt, and hurt begin to creep in and steal our joy, we’re reminded that “God is still God, and God is still good.” Amen.
• Not for Pansies. Yep, I said it. We need an album that doesn’t make men feel like pansies when they sing songs. I know I’m going to get push back on this one, but that’s okay. It’s my opinion, my review, and you can totally disagree! That’s the point!!! The artistic bend of this album makes a guy feel like it’s OK to sing these songs at the top of his lungs….and I like that because, well, I’m a dude.
• Missional in it’s Focus. Don’t think that for a minute that you can listen to this album and remain complacent. The glory of God among all nations beats you like a rented mule all over the place. We need more songs that call us to action in our student ministries. Worship is not just reflection, it’s life. We need that reminder.

My answer to those thoughts? Maybe.

To all my friends in Student Ministry, take some wisdom from a guy who’s learning the hard way. Discipleship takes time. Reaching students with the gospel takes time. Stay faithful. Keep pressing on. Do not become passive in your approach to ministry if the doors aren’t busting down in 3 months (or three years) at your student program. Yes, we serve a God who saved thousands at one time in Acts. And YES, God still does that today. He’s still God. He’s still in control, He’s still powerful and His arm is still not too short to save.

But here’s another thing I know: God loves our obedience. That’s part of the discipleship process isn’t it? A long obedience in the same direction. (Great book by the way, you should get it.) When God gives you a vision and direction to lead your ministry towards, go hard after it. Don’t waver.

I once heard a buddy of mine Brad Cooper, describe the growth they’ve had in their ministry as a focused intensity over a long period of time. God gave them the vision and they are sticking to it. I like it. Thanks Brad.

Be encouraged Student Pastor. Abide deeply in the gospel. God has called you. Be obedient. Stay faithful.