5 Ways to Gain Your Church’s Respect as a Youth Pastor

I wrote a post the other day entitled “I’m not ‘Just’ a Youth Pastor” that’s really gotten my brain cranking about the difference between youth pastors who are respected as pastors and those who are viewed as a wannabe-pastor.  There are a few things I do at my church because I view myself as a real pastor, and I want my congregation to see me that way too.

1. Be confident in your calling as a pastor.  You wouldn’t be where you are without God’s calling. He has saved you, adopted you, and chosen you to lead and shepherd his Church – let that blow your mind on a regular basis!  Refuse to view yourself as others view you, be confident because of God’s calling on you and let that be the defining core of who you are.
2. When you get the chance to preach on Sunday mornings (or if you have a “big church” service), teach on something other than the importance of youth ministry.  Be a part of the preaching rotation, fit into the preaching series set by the Senior Pastor.  I realize this may not be an option for everyone, but ask if you could have the opportunity.  If you’re frustrated that your Senior Pastor’s (or whoever usually preaches) sermons aren’t applicable or understandable to teenagers, then preach in such a way that  applies to both adults and teenagers.  If you spend all your time before the congregation talking about teenagers and youth ministry, they will obviously think that’s all you know how to talk about… show them that’s not true.  (For those of you in big churches, this is probably more difficult and complicated.  I’d love to hear from you how you’d put this into practice!  Please leave a comment below.)
3. Spend time with parents, church leaders, and other adults on Sunday mornings.  If your church is like mine, there’s some “fellowship time” on Sunday mornings in between services.  Don’t always spend that time with the teenagers, you probably (hopefully!) see them other times throughout the week.  Spend time casually talking with parents, leaders in the church, congregation members who you know are fighting some kind of sickness or other hardship.  Building relationships with people in your church who are not teenagers should be a no brainer – if you really view yourself as one of the pastors in the church, then you need to know the people in your church (not just the teenagers).
4. Be equipped through education and ordination.  I know there’s a huge group of people within the youth ministry world who look down on seminary (as if they’re the first ones to call is “cemetery”), but I am so personally thankful for the grounding that seminary has given me.  My ministry is stronger because of it… and so is my faith!  Ordination isn’t a must, obviously, but if you really consider yourself a “real pastor,” I don’t see why it wouldn’t be something you would prayerfully consider.  The credentials you gain through education and ordination really do help elevate how people perceive you and your ministry.  Credentials shouldn’t be your motivating cause behind these pursuits, but they’re great benefits!
5. Don’t be a clown.  This one should be obvious, but this is something I honestly struggle with.  Although I’m something of a theology nerd, I often find myself using humor or sarcasm in order to deflect people from really getting to know me on a personal level.  The result is that I occasionally leave conversations thinking, “I shouldn’t have made that joke or poked fun of myself like that.  I didn’t communicate to them that I’m taking them seriously or that I’m taking myself seriously.”  I don’t want to take myself too seriously, but if I don’t know the appropriate time to be serious then parents and other adults (and students too!) won’t feel that we are approachable over serious issues they want to discuss.  No one wants to go to a clown to talk about hard life-issues with.

Obviously, I’m not perfect at doing all these.  I’ve come up with this list over the last two days as I’ve reflected on what I attempt to do at my church.  I would really love to hear from others how they live and work in order to elevate “Youth Pastor” to mean “Real Pastor.”  Let’s hear your wisdom…

I’m Not “Just” a Youth Pastor

About a year ago my job description changed, along with my title.  Since then I’ve heard a few people tell me that I’m not “just a Youth Pastor” anymore, now I’m an Associate Pastor.  While I’m confident their intentions are good and they’re trying to affirm me – those comments are actually insulting and belittling.  Sure, now I’m the “Pastor of Youth & Families”… but let’s face it, I’m the Youth Pastor.  If you ask me what my job is, that’s what I’ll say unless I’m being formal.

Whenever you add the word “just” before something else, you’re belittling whatever comes next.  ”I’m just a kid,” “I was just kidding,” “I’m just a volunteer,” etc.  This is also why I hate the line “…just the sheep of his hand” in the popular worship song, “Come Let us Worship and Bow Down.”  Using the word “just” will automatically devalue whatever follows.

So when you say I’m not “Just a Youth Pastor anymore,” what I hear you saying is this – “Youth Pastors aren’t real pastors who are called by God, qualified, and worthy of respect.  But you’re not like that, now you’re a real pastor!  Congratulations, you’ve made it!”

Through changing my job title/description, I wasn’t trying to avoid being the Youth Pastor (especially since that was never my actual job title), I was trying to elevate what it means to be a Youth Pastor to the level of respect it is due.  Please, do not ask Youth Pastors when they’re going to become “real pastors” – unless you’re trying to tell them they aren’t real pastors already.

I’m proud of being a Youth Pastor, and know other Youth Pastors are too.  Sometimes people wonder why there’s so much turnover among Youth Pastors and wonder what can be done to change that disappointing trend – maybe removing the word (or thought!) of “Just a Youth Pastor” from our church language would be a good starting point.

This is Love… This is the Power of Adoption…

Wow, I found this story because Tim Challies linked to it on his website here and I’m so glad to have read it.  If you read this and aren’t emotionally moved then you simply don’t have a heart.  Here are the opening two paragraphs, it’s a short but very powerful read, I’ve included the link below.

“When I was just a little girl, like a wee little thing, I had a different mom and dad. And they were kind to me, but they had hurts and they had addictions and they didn’t know how to take care of themselves, much less a wee girl and her little brother.

I mean, they tried. They hung on to us for several years, but things kept slipping and they kept falling and failing and they mustered up what strength they could, but they just couldn’t make it work and they couldn’t make it right. And so the policemen came over and over again, and took us away and my mama cried in the back of that police car, hands cuffed, and she told me that she loved me. And I knew in my little heart, as I looked up at her, tears streaming and mascara running, I knew that she really did love me. She just couldn’t make it work.”

Read the rest HERE

What a powerful story of Adoption, Love, Rescue, Hope.  May we all find that hope and rescue ultimately in our Heavenly Father through the rescue-plan of Jesus Christ.

Why I Love Introducing Students to Missionaries

Last weekend was our church’s “Missions Emphasis Weekend.”  One of the things that really attracted me to Emmanuel when I was interviewing seven years ago was the strong emphasis on world missions.  We always have a missionary share in Sunday School and then since High School Youth Group meets on Sunday nights, we invite one or two of the missionaries join us in order to share about their life and ministry.  I always leave those times encouraged.

Meanwhile, last week I was talking to a friend about missions weekend coming up and my friend gave me “that look.”  You know what I’m talking about… that look that says, “Ugh, really?  They’re doing that again, better you than me.”

Here are a few reasons why I love introducing students to missionaries:

1. The Great Commission really does apply to every disciple of Jesus Christ.  If I’m trying to build disciples but I’m not introducing students to men and women who have literally left their homeland in order to make disciples of all nations, then I’m seriously short-circuiting my attempts to teach the Great Commission to my students.
2. Students need to see and hear that missionaries are actual people.  People often thing that missionaries are some breed of super-Christians, and while they are people we should esteem and learn from, most of them are very down-to-earth simple people who have humbly and boldly obeyed God’s call on their life.  These missionaries often started out just like the students in our youth ministries today.
3. Missionaries remind students that the world is bigger than their problems.  When a teenager is stressed over exams or tryouts or whatever, it’s a great reminder to hear that life is so much bigger than their life/family/school.
4. Missionaries challenge our assumptions about what’s “normal” and what we “need.”  Culture is a funny thing, because most of us assume that everyone in the world either has or needs what we have or need (or what we think we need).  Missionaries remind us how strange Americans are, and the missionaries who are really bold even challenge our claims that “Americans are better off” by asking us, “Why is it better to have more money?  You have more money, but you’re way more miserable than those who have nothing.”  Teenagers need this reminder (and so do I).
5. I would love to see some of my students obey God’s call to become a missionary!  There are still thousands Unreached People Groups in the world who literally have no way of hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  ”How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15)

I know it’s not “cool” to have missionaries come to Youth Group.  Most missionaries aren’t trendy, some aren’t the most riveting communicators, others may seem completely out of touch with youth culture.  I get it, I understand why some people would roll their eyes over having a missionary come and speak in their Youth Group, but I absolutely love introducing students to missionaries who are willing to be real with students, who will share openly about who they are and where they’ve come from and what God has done in them as they’ve obeyed His call to the mission field.

Missionaries are the Great Commission in human flesh – that’s why I love introducing my students to them!

Hope for the Lonely

My friend Walt Mueller posted the following video on his blog and I’m really wrestling with this.  Give it a look and really listen to the lyrics as the story unfolds.

I’m increasingly growing convinced that loneliness is one of the biggest epidemics of this generation.  Despite being “connected” to thousands of “friends” through Facebook, Twitter, and Cell Phones, it seems that everyone is so busy keeping in touch with everyone that they never get close to anyone.

I hope I don’t treat my Bible and prayer like I treat Facebook – something I go to for a quick check-in, read a status update, but then mindlessly move on to the next thing mostly unaffected by what I just read.  Sure, Facebook can be a great tool to deepen relationships, but I think that takes intentionality and effort… and I seriously question how much effort most of us put into Facebook.

But there is hope for the lonely… and it’s not found through the internet.  Even as I type I can hear people sighing and moaning, “Ugh, you’re going to say ‘God’ aren’t you, that’s so lame.”  Well, yeah, I am going to say God – but I’ll challenge you to really read your Bible and learn about who God is and what He’s done and then try telling me that God is lame…

We live in a broken and messed up, sinful world.  But God is faithful and close to the lonely.

• “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10)
• “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
• “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble, He cares for those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

I know people sometimes say that songs like these blow issues out of proportion and that teen loneliness really isn’t as big a deal as people say it is.  I disagree – it is a big deal… and I firmly believe that adults need to make the effort to correct what has gone so terribly wrong in our culture.  We must bridge the generation gap, taking Christ as our hope, our message, and our example (Philippians 2:3-11).

K’naan & Nelly Furtado’s song so clearly demonstrates our need for Jesus Christ, the one who loved us so much to give up heaven, endure loneliness and rejection and suffering for us to the point of dying on the cross.  He did that so he could tell his disciples “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Because of Jesus Christ, there is hope for the lonely… will you show them Jesus?

Don’t Be Original (be faithful)

As a pastor, it’s so tempting to feel the need to say something new and brilliantly insightful.  As a youth pastor, it’s easy to feel the need to be edgy and “current.”  I want to teach people something new, I want people to be moved by what they hear, I want God’s Word to resonate.  And yet, I want to be faithful more than I want to be original.

Since my Senior Pastor is on Sabbatical, I’ve been given the opportunity to preach more frequently (which I love, although it always makes for a chaotic week).  While working on the sermon tonight (with the Youth Group lessons in the back of my mind) I’ve been wrestling with the pull towards needing to be original… but I don’t really want to be original.  I want to be faithful – faithful to God who inspired Scripture, faithful to who I am (rather than trying to be someone who I’m not), and faithful to my church.

While in college I remember one of my youth ministry professors saying, “There’s no such thing as an original sermon.”  If I ever do preach an original sermon, it’ll probably be heretical and unbiblical, so I personally try to avoid saying something that’s never been said before.  If I can’t find some “exegetical insight” referenced anywhere credible, then I should really think long and hard before sharing it with others (unless I really think I’m smarter than all the Bible scholars who somehow haven’t noticed what my brilliant mind has seen).

It’s all been said before, and probably better and more creatively than I will say it.  But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth saying again… because if people are like me then they need to be reminded of what they already know!  Besides, hopefully there are some people in my youth group and in church who are either seekers or new believers who still need to hear it for the first time.

Don’t grow bored with God’s Word – if you ever feel the pull towards being original when it comes to teaching Scripture, maybe it’s time to take a second and ask yourself how much you really understand what you’re considering old, boring, and stale (even if you wouldn’t put it that way).

Of course, this isn’t license to be boring or lazy and give God the “credit” for your bad teaching.  But hopefully this is a helpful reminder to someone other than me.

Am I alone in feeling this pulling to be original?  I highly doubt it, but I’d love to hear from others out there who might find this post… how to do experience this pull and combat it?

Sermon Summary: What Did Jesus Accomplish?

What Did Jesus Accomplish?
Ephesians 2:11-22

Through Abraham, Moses, and the prophets God revealed Himself to Israel and through the covenants He made with Israel salvation and redemption were made possible. God worked through Israel in a special and particular way, in order that all nations might receive salvation. Since the Gentiles (everyone who isn’t Jewish) were outside of the covenant they were “without God and without hope in the world” (v.12).

But Paul is boldly declaring that those who were far away have been brought near, those who were not children of the covenant have been made children of God, those who were without God and without hope are now able to claim that Jesus is their peace. Because God has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to Himself, we ought to be reconciled to one another. Paul tears down any excuse for racism or prejudice through the cross.

Paul infuses the Church with hope, faith, and love by reminding the Ephesians what Christ did:

• He took those who were far away and brought them near through His blood (v.13)
• He became our peace (v.14)
• He united us and destroyed the barrier and dividing wall of hostility (v.14)
• He reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God through the cross, and put an end to our hostility (v.16)
• He preached peace to those who were far away and to those who were near (v.17)
• He gave us equal access to the Father (v.18)
• He is building us into a “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (v.22 – aka: the Church)

Because of this, we ought to daily cling to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, remembering from where we came. We were without God and without hope, but Jesus Christ has become our peace. May we also proclaim peace to those who are far away and to those who are near. We cannot preach the peace of the Gospel to those who are far away if we all stay where we are! Some of us must go as missionaries, all of us must send missionaries. We must prayerfully pursue opportunities to proclaim peace to those who are near us throughout each day.

Questions to consider:

• Is there racism or prejudice in you? Do you believe that people need to be like you if they’re going to become more like Christ?
• Do confess that apart from Jesus Christ you are “without God and without hope?” (maybe God desires to remind you of this truth through your continued struggle against sin – to show you who you would be without Him!)
• Would you be willing to go far away to proclaim the peace of Christ if He clearly told you to go? Are you willing to do all you can to support those who have received that calling?
• Are you being faithful to proclaim peace to those who are near? Are you praying for opportunities to share the Gospel with your family/friends/co-workers/neighbors/etc.?

Pentecost Makes You Mount Sinai

This past week I spent some time studying Pentecost (Acts 2) for a class I’m co-teaching entitled “The Story of the Church,” where we’ll be exploring Church History in order to better understand ourselves and how we should live today.  Since we’re looking at Church History, it only seemed appropriate to start the class off with Pentecost: the day the Church was born.

What is Pentecost?
Pentecost occurs 50 days after the second day of Passover (see here for a more detailed explanation).  Pentecost is primarily a day to celebrate Moses receiving the Law/Torah from God on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20).  As I read that and re-read Acts 2:1-4, the parallels between Sinai and Pentecost became abundantly clear:

• Fire - “The LORD descended on it (Mt. Sinai) in fire.”  On Pentecost, tongues of fire descended and came to rest on top of each believer’s head.
• Wind – Ex. 19:16 describes a great storm surrounding Sinai, a thick cloud covers the mountain and a trumpet blast is heard – I don’t think it’s reading between the lines too much to take this as a reference to a wind storm that’s so loud it sounds like trumpets.  On Pentecost a violent blowing wind fills the entire house where the believers are gathered.
• Language – God wrote the Law on the tablets for Moses to deliver to Israel.  The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak the Gospel to people in their own native language (even though the disciples didn’t actually “know” the language).

The coming of the Holy Spirit made each Christian a living, walking, talking, breathing Mount Sinai!  Amazing, simply amazing.  Think about that!  You have the gift of the Holy Spirit active and at work IN YOU!

Look at Jesus’ words in John 14:12-18.  Jesus actually says that it’s BETTER FOR US that he goes away so that the Holy Spirit would come!  In verse 17 he says this about the Holy Spirit, “But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”  Don’t miss this – Jesus says the Holy Spirit is with them (present tense), but that he will be in them (future tense).

Teenager, Parent, Adult, whoever you are – don’t neglect the Holy Spirit.  Don’t live as if you need to live the Christian life on your own (as if that’s actually possible – it isn’t!).  Don’t live as if it is your responsibility to convert the world and turn others to Christ to receive salvation – do your part and be obedient in evangelism and the Great Commission, but recognize that you need to be guided by the Holy Spirit and trust Him to do the convicting and saving through your words and actions.

Pentecost makes you Mount Sinai… and yet, it makes you so much more – because no one was ever saved by perfectly obeying the Law, but only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ which the Holy Spirit proclaims.

Chevy Trucks, Security, & the End of the World

As I was watching the Super Bowl last weekend (and having my heart broken… again… by a deflating loss to the Giants.  I really can’t stand those Manning brothers), I was paying more attention to commercials than I usually do.  It’s well known that Super Bowl commercials are pretty special, and they better be at $3,500,000 each!

Last year we used Walt Mueller’s “3D Guide to Media” and his “Download” curriculum to help us “Discover” the meaning, “Discern” the message, and “Decide” what to do with the Media we watch/listen to/read/consume.  Here’s my favorite commercial from this year’s Super Bowl, and I used this last week to kick off a new series in Youth Group looking at different Media (Music, Music Videos, TV, Movies, Advertisements, etc.):

DISCOVER the meaning
Obviously, since this is a commercial, they want to convince us to buy a Chevy truck as our next car purchase.  The idea they’re trying to sell us it twofold: 1. Chevy trucks are better than Ford, and 2. Chevy trucks will keep you safe when other trucks won’t.

Here are a few things to notice about the commercial (in no particular order):

• The music (Barry Manilow’s “Looks Like We Made It”) is upbeat, positive, and hopeful despite all the destruction.
• The main guy simply nods his head when he hears “Dave didn’t make it” because he drove a Ford.  Meanwhile, none of their Chevy’s are dented, scratched, none have broken windows, they’re simply dirty.  The message is clear, drive a Chevy and you’ll be safe.
• Transformers seem to have a role in the destruction of the world… really?  Then there’s a random UFO, a huge chasm in the middle of the earth, asteroids, a volcano spewing lava, and even frogs falling from the sky (symbolic pointing back to the Plagues of Frogs against Egypt).

DISCERN the message
This is a brilliant commercial for a number of reasons.  It feeds off the “buzz” surrounding the Mayan Apocalypse and people’s general fearfulness and desire for security.   People really are talking about this Mayan Apocalypse… they don’t believe it, but it has them talking about the end of the world, what that will be like, when it will come, and who will survive (in case you didn’t know, supposedly, Twinkies and Cockroaches are the only two things that will survive a nuclear fallout).

A few insights, implications, and questions:

• The Hidden Message About Women.  Where are the women?  The one guy has his dog, but none of the men have their wives… why is that?  What does that communicate about being a man – all you need is your truck and a dog?  What’s the message here telling men about what it means to be a man?
• The End Will Come, But We Won’t Know When.  In Matthew 24:36-39 Jesus clearly says, “About the day and hour no one knows.”  Judgment will come, that much is certain.  But we do not know when.  If someone comes telling you that the end will come on a certain day, I think it’s fair to cross that date off as a legitimate option.  The point: We should be ready for “the end” to come any day.
• Judgment Will Be Complete, No One Will Escape (even if they’re in a Chevy truck).  2 Peter 3:10 and Acts 2:19-20 both point to natural disasters as one of the means through which God will judge the Earth.  God has never lost a game of hide-and-seek.  God’s judgment should make us fear!  By God’s grace, those of us who are trusting in Christ Jesus will also be judged, but we have an Advocate who has already taken our punishment upon himself (Romans 8:1-2, 31-33).
• God Judges In Order To Re-Create.  God does not delight in destruction, he rejoices in re-creation, redemption, and restoration.  Revelation 21:1-5 opens the final two chapters of the Bible where we are given a glimpse of the New Heavens & New Earth.  God’s Judgment is our HOPE, not our destruction.

DECIDE what to do
Do we actually believe this stuff?  This is why we need to evangelize, send missionaries, and talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people… because we actually believe this will happen and we don’t want people to perish under judgment, we want them to find life and hope because of God’s judgment!

If we don’t believe that the end of the world actually will happen (not because a Mayan calendar tells us it will) then live and let live and don’t worry about any of this.  I’m not going all wacky and gloom-and-doom on you here… Scripture clearly teaches that there will be an end.  Are you ready for it?

And are you ready to take the opportunities you’re provided with to encourage people to Hope in Christ?  We’re going to hear a lot of talk about this Mayan Apocalypse… be prepared to contribute to the conversation.  Use this commercial in your conversations.

Take the liberty to tell people, “Jesus is my Chevy truck.  I’m not going to be safe because of anything I’ve done.  I believe that Jesus is the only one who can keep me secure when God decides the end is here and it’s time for judgment.”

Taking More Love Than You Make

Sure sure, I love the Beatles too.  But I hope the love I take is greater than the love I make… because if I’m honest, my ability to love is very very limited.  But God’s ability to love is infinite.

Just look at a few verses from the book of 1 John

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Finally, one of my favorites that time and again reminds me why I can claim God’s love as my own (hint: it’s not because I’m worthy):

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

So while the Beatles have a catchy saying in “The love you take is equal to the love you make”… I’m very thankful to disagree.