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Things Your Youth Worker Wants You To Know

Key Verses: Various

Main Idea: These are key years and moments in history to influence for the gospel message.

Youth work for 19 years

Various venues: paid at a church, after school program, volunteer at church

Reached out to others to get their input, other youth pastors

Mission Statement: Joyfully inviting every person to experience a transformed life in Christ.

Vision Statement: The Log Church will be a fertile ground where everyone comes into maturity in Christ. As we abide in Jesus, we will grow like acorns into oaks of righteousness, through the power of the Spirit, being rooted deeply in God’s Word. Our ensuing fruitfulness will overflow into lives, families, and our community.

Values

1. Vibrant Worship and Prayer

2. Rooted in the Word of God

3. Walking in step with the Holy Spirit

4. Loving people through authentic relationships

5. Reaching our community with the gospel of Christ

It’s not just about being good, rather it’s about being transformed (value 2,3)

• Rom. 12:1-2
• John 3:1-6
• Gal. 5:16-26

Moral is fine, but what is it anchored to?

Stealing From God by Frank Turek makes the case that we need God to have a consistent, robust moral standard

We are a resource to come alongside you, not a substitute for you. (value 4,5)

• Deut. 6:1-12
• Ephesians 6:1-4

Parents are the first and most important aspect of development (counter to the cultural idea)

You are the leaders of your family and your family’s first influence (Deut. 6:1-12)

Older teens: dynamic changes, though honoring parents does not have an age limit (Focus on the Family article)

Youth pastors I spoke with: never want to undermine or dethrone the parents

We have a different relationship with your teen and that’s normal and ok

Spiritual development is an important task and we can’t do it by ourselves: we need the community of followers of Jesus. (value 1,3,4,5)

• 1 Timothy 2:1-8
• Gal. 6:9-10
• 1 Thes. 5:9-14

We need the community of Jesus to play a critical role in this

It can’t just be a few: the need is too great and too numerous

One of the biggest causes for me to walk away from youth ministry

The church’s disengagement leads to other philosophical influences taking its place (value 1-5)

• Mark 12:28-31
• Matt. 28:18-20

Lack of godly influence allows all the evil influence to run the roost

Failed referendums in my hometown, this being bigger than secular education

Main Idea: These are key years and moments in history to influence for the gospel message.

Connect to the larger vision: to know Jesus and make disciples who make disciples

Story of Zach

Where do we go from here

• Invest the time with your teens (Quantity of time leads to quality of time)
• Put the screens down
• Share your stories with them
• Get involved with each other