Sermon Central
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Guidelines For Youth Ministry
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul encouraged Timothy in his demanding service with these words and set forth an example for him that would lead to success and leadership.
Illustration: George Lawton captures many young peoples’ attitudes in his list of guidelines for meeting adolescents’ hopes:
1. Stand by us, not over us.
2. Make us feel we are loved and wanted.
3. Train us by being compassionately firm.
4. Bring us up so we will not always need you.
5. Try to be as consistent as possible.
6. Say, "Nice work," when we do something really well.
7. Respect us, even if you don’t agree with us.
8. Give direct answers to direct questions.
9. Show interest in what we are doing.
10. Treat us as if we are normal, even when our conduct seems peculiar to you.
11. Teach us by example.
12. We need fun and friendship.
13. Don’t laugh at us when we use the word "love".
14. Prepare us to lead our lives, not yours.
15. Permit us the failing of average young people just as we permit you the failings of average parents and youth leaders!
• The better a youth worker understands the problems youth face, as well as their needs, the better they will be able to understand and relate the biblical message to them.
• By keeping in touch with young people by being a good listening, one can learn to enhance the effectiveness our communication.
• It all begins by being an example in the following five areas:
1. Be an example in serving Christ at your age.
• Timothy could easily have been discouraged by those who might have thought he was too young or inexperienced to Pastor.
• But it isn’t necessarily age or experience that determines our successes in God’s work.
• A young shepherd king, David, wrote, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High." (Psa 46:1,4)
• When we are feeling inadequate we can draw upon the rivers of living water’s nourishment, adequacy and power that supplies us with whatever we need.
• A wise leader will draw upon the living water for success, not our flawed experiences.
• Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38)
• That experience will keep us from traps of character that we would otherwise fall into.
Illustration:Bill Hybels related a story of integrity in Leadership Magazine. It illustrates proper humility in a leader. One evening I stopped by the church just to encourage those who were there rehearsing for the spring musical. I didn’t intent to stay long, so I parked my car next to the entrance. After a few minutes, I ran back to my car and drove home.
The next morning I found a note in my office mailbox. It read: A small thing, but Tuesday night when you came to rehearsal, you parked in the "No Parking" area. A reaction from one of my crew (who did not recognize you after you got out of your car) was, "There’s another jerk in the ’No Parking’ area!" We try hard not to allow people -- even workers -- to park anywhere other than the parking lots. I would appreciate your cooperation, too. It was signed by a member of our maintenance staff.
