Category Archives: Gospel

Transformed or Informed?

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in Gospel

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“Christ is risen, and our sins are forgiven! Christ is risen, and death is destroyed! Christ is risen, and life is transformed!” We rejoice in these great truths, but have we been transformed as a result of them?

Has Christ transformed your life? Has His death and resurrection “made all things new” in you (2 Cor. 5:17)? Making all things new is the act of being transformed. One might ask, “Why is transformation necessary? Must my life be transformed as a result of believing in the Risen Christ? The answer is an resounding “YES!” Why? Because it is biblically impossible for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to enter our lives without ALL things becoming new.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ‘transform’ as: to change the outward form or appearance of; to change in character or condition. While ‘informed’ is defined as: having or showing knowledge of a particular subject or situation; based on an understanding of the facts of the situation. Have you been transformed by the the Risen King or simply informed?

The power, the evidence, the proof of the resurrection in our lives — it all begins as we embrace the Risen Christ and allow Him to transform our lives.

Ownership & Perseverance

30 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Church, Gospel, leadership, ownership, perseverance, youth ministry

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Today I was having a conversation with a fellow youth pastor. In fact, this guy is what we call in Youth Ministry a “Lifer.” He’s a veteran in Youth Ministry with no intention of “moving up the ladder.” He realizes, as I do, that Youth Ministry is the top rung.

As we were talking the inevitable topic came into the conversation with anyone who is a veteran in YM: What is the target? As my friend aptly stated, “we don’t want to be the ministry that shoots the arrow and then draws the target around it.”

Much has been discussed on the topic of retention of students in the Church as they transition from high school through college. All sorts of stats and percentages are thrown around. And while the stats are good to know and should drive us to ask hard questions, I believe there is really only one question that needs to be answered in this discussion.

It’s a very simple question, yet it has profound implications for Youth Ministry, Youth Pastors, parents, and students alike. The question is: What are the forces to be leveraged that will produce ownership and perseverance in the spiritual lives of students? And until that question is answered and the conclusions are acted upon nothing is going to change. Here’s the hard part…the answer is going to be somewhat different in every environment.

Ownership and perseverance in the Christian life doesn’t happen arbitrarily, neither does the creation of relationships and environments that sustain them. What are you doing that is stimulating ownership and perseverance in the spiritual lives of students?

Ask the question

11 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Church, Gospel, ministry, relationships

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Seth Godin notes in his blog (http://sethgodin.typepad.com),“A guy walks into a shop that sells ties.He’s opened the conversation by walking in.
Salesman says, “can I help you?”
The conversation is now closed. The prospect can politely say, “no thanks, just looking.”
Consider the alternative: “That’s a [insert adjective here] tie you’re wearing,sir. Where did you buy it?”
Conversation is now open. Attention has been paid, a rapport can bebuilt. They can talk about ties. And good taste.”
What if we applied that principle to all of life, not simply business? What might happen if we choose to engage people in dialogue on the street, in the restaurant, across the driveway, and, yes, even in the Church? As Godin so aptly stated, “rapport can be built”. Imagine the impact that can be made for the sake of the Gospel. Go ahead, ask the question, you might just be pleasantly surprised with what you learn, who you meet, and the impact it has on everyone, including you.
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