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What On Earth Am I Here For?

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Our church is currently going through a six-week campaign based on our Senior Pastor, Rick Warren’s book, “What on Earth Am I Here For? The 10th anniversary edition of the Purpose Drive Life”. Our high school ministry has us taking our small groups through the same study and at first I was hesitant on how much they would get out of this. I think I was really wrong about that, the first 4 weeks have been some pretty amazing small group time and discussion.

Today while I was putting some material together on next week’s lesson I was looking at how God will use troubles and temptation to grow us as Christians. It’s hard to see that God actually uses these times for our good when we are going through the fire but when I look back at my life, the toughest times have grown me and made me available for God to use me in some pretty amazing ways.

One of the things I explain to students is that the closer you grow to God and the stronger your walk is with Him, the more Satan will try to get at you. Temptation is one of his favorite tools to use. How we deal with that temptation will either hurt us or grow us. Once we become Christians, Satan also makes us feel bad that we were even tempted or even worse if we fall to the temptation Satan will want us to keep right on going with that sin instead of saying, “Okay I fell today but tomorrow I will be stronger!”

This book makes a great six-week study for students, I would highly encourage you to take your student small group through this book.

Filed Under: Book Review, Small Groups, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , ,

5 Mistakes Every Youth Worker Makes and How to Avoid Them

March 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I LOVED this 2-post series by Greg Farah. Here’s one that I definitely struggle with and have to be in constant prayer about. Check it out, then head over to Greg’s blog for part 1 and part 2.

2) Not Patient (often a rookie mistake)
Rick Warren teaches that we overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in ten years. We are victims of a microwave society. Since we have access to instant coffee, fast food, and social media devices that instantly connect us, we expect instant disciples. A student confesses an addiction to food, sex, or alcohol, and we’re frustrated when he or she isn’t “fixed” a week later.

Solution:

  • Slow down and stay put. The biggest impact you can make is to stay involved in the same ministry for years. Or, choose to follow a group of students until they graduate–from college! Start working w/ 6 or 7th graders and stay with them until the graduate from high school. Then stay engaged with them afterwards, too.
  • Celebrate baby steps of faith. Maybe the students you work with can’t walk on water, but if they give up a Saturday night to serve senior citizens, that’s equally miraculous.
Filed Under: Repost, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Relationship vs. Religion

November 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I recently ran into a student who was in my high school small group last year. During the conversation I could tell he was a little nervous as we talked and finally he told me that he no longer goes to Saddleback Church, where I attend and work, but was going to another church in our area. I asked him why he was afraid to tell me that and he said he thought I would be mad that he is not attending Saddleback anymore. The answer came to me instantly, it’s something I’ve heard our senior pastor Rick Warren say over and over, “We’re not in competition with other churches; we’re in competition with Satan!” I explained that to my former student and told him I was happy he is still a Christ follower and still regularly attending church.

 We had a long discussion and I reminded him not to focus on religion, but focus on his relationship with Jesus Christ. I left relieved that he is still going to church and is continuing his walk with God. Steven had a post last week where he had a contact with someone who is totally “anti church” and in his reply to that person I think Steven probably nailed what the original issue was, this person probably had a bad experience at a church and instead of just finding another church he decided all churches are bad and Jesus was a false prophet , and he places all churches in the same category. I think that happens a lot.

I think a lot of us get wrapped around the axle on this one. We sometimes get into a thinking pattern that OUR church is the only answer and the only church that teaches the right doctrine, has the right message, etc. I think it’s more important that we are regularly attending a church that follows Christ and his teachings. As much as I sometimes hate hearing this term, I think it’s also important that you attend a church where you feel you are getting “spiritually fed”. Don’t get caught up on the size of your church, whether it is a mega-church or an average size church. Some people love a mega-church, others are intimidated by one. Find and attend what you feel comfortable with.

God wants us to have a relationship with Him…that’s the important thing. Not which church I attend or which campus of which church I attend. My mother taught me the relationship part of God, and I intend to keep passing that down to my students.

Are you encouraging your students to have a relationship with Jesus?

Filed Under: Spriritual Life, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Movie Review: “The Way”

October 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Not gonna lie, working for Saddleback Church has some amazing opportunities and yesterday was one of those days. At our Staff Meeting yesterday, we got to preview a special viewing of Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez’s new movie, “The Way”. That in itself would have been awesome but Pastor Rick Warren had as his special guests Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez at our Staff Meeting. (And yes, Steven and I both had our pictures taken with them) They talked about where the idea for the movie came from, the filming and all of the amazing things that occurred during the making of the movie.

In the movie, Martin Sheen plays a father (Tom) who has been estranged from his son (Daniel) since the death of his wife years earlier. The beginning of the movie sets up that Tom and Daniel don’t exactly see eye to eye on Daniel’s path in life. Daniel is more interested in living life, than finishing college and learning about life. Daniel decides to walk the famed, “El Camino de Santiago” from France to Spain. Daniel dies in an accident after only one day on his pilgrimage and Tom goes to France to recover the body. What transpires over the next hour and a half is Tom deciding to make the journey for Daniel after having his body cremated and bringing the ashes to spread out along the way.

The photography and scenery are amazing and as Tom makes the trip and begins to, although reluctantly at first, have others making the pilgrimage join in with him. The three characters who join with him are a mixed bag of broken people trying to find themselves. Tom is an eye doctor who has spent most of his life since his wife died just working and playing golf with other doctors. The great metaphor here is that the eye doctor is blind to life and what happens to him along The Way opens his eyes to life. This is a “main stream” movie but there are several Christian themes throughout the movie relating to forgiveness, acceptance and thanking God for all you have. It’s just a great story with awesome photography and it’s a movie that is safe for you to take students to see; no sex, no violence and no dirty words.

I highly recommend that you see this movie; Steven and I both give it a thumbs up!

Filed Under: Movie Review Tagged With: , , , ,

Rick Warren’s “The Invisible War” small group study

August 22, 2011 by 1 Comment

Matt: Recently I wrote a post on this blog about a small group study we are doing with out small groups, check here for that post. We wanted to give you some details on how the study was going.

I think for my group of high school guys the biggest realization for them has been that temptation comes in all forms, not just lust. I think at the beginning of this study that’s what they thought this was going to be. After three weeks they are looking at how temptation can come in all shapes and sizes.

One thing I have noticed in my group and a couple of the other leaders who are doing this study with their groups have mentioned to me, this study is bringing out a LOT of discussion. Discussion is very healthy in a small group, and when you can get students talking, that’s half the battle of being a small group leader. A lot of the discussion in my group has been on ways to keep themselves in check, and about getting accountability partners. As we have talked about different issues where temptation comes into play I think a lot of students are realizing that they are not the only ones who struggle with a particular issue. I can’t recommend this study enough for a student ministry small group study. One thing we have done, as leaders we review the video before we meet with our students and have several discussion points ready. This series is getting the students talking and interacting so much, I’ve yet to get to all of the discussion points that I have each week.

Steven: This study has been surprisingly good for my junior high guys as well. To be honest, I was a little nervous about it when the topic first came up. The format was different than they were used to – we would be the only junior high group there out of five. The topic was familiar, but Pastor Rick’s primary audience is adults – not suitable for junior high.

Luckily those things haven’t really gotten in the way of this being a great study for the guys. They seem to have really clicked into this topic, which makes my job as a small group leader much easier. Rick does all the teaching, so all I have to do is ask relevant questions. For the most part, once we get rolling, the boys take over and lead us off with their own questions.

Students, especially junior high students, are hungry for information about temptation.

Temptation is something they face every day, and it’s not just related to lust or sex. There are so many different areas, and I think this study has been great in helping them recognize and identify the temptations they have.

We’re also trying to push accountability out of this. We know that accountability is one of the best ways to deal with temptation, so we’re trying to start early in getting these guys to turn to each other in times of need. So far it has been difficult to get them to be fully open with each other, but luckily they come to us with some of the stuff they struggle with.

Overall, this is a great study for students. Pastor Rick speaks in a way that is accessible to anyone, and it’s a relevant topic that everyone needs to hear. You can find out more about The Invisible War at Saddleback Church’s website.

Filed Under: Small Groups, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mentoring Relationships

July 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Yesterday in a staff meeting at Saddleback Church our Senior Pastor Rick Warren made a comment about mentoring. He was referring to Paul and Timothy in the Bible. His comment was that everyone needs a Paul and everyone needs Timothy in their life. If you under 30 you should have someone in your life that is mentoring you in all areas of what it means to be a Christian. If you’re over 30 you should have a younger person in your life that you are mentoring.

I am a huge proponent of mentoring; I think it is the basis of student ministry. Everyone has something to bring to the table, whether your 20 or 50 years old. First off – to a 7th grader, if you’re 20 you are old to them. You are probably closer to them in cultural issues, music, the latest fashion etc. but you’re still old. If you’re 50 you’re not only old, your wise, well at least that what I tell myself. You bring a ton of life experience to the table.

Mine and Steven’s friendship began as a mentoring relationship, and to be honest I’ve probably learned as much from him as he has learned from me. (That’s one of God’s gifts to mentors) What began as a mentoring relationship has grown in a great friendship and a partnership in this ministry of Generation to Generation.

Here’s the bottom line, if you’re under 30 find someone at your church to mentor you. Ask them if they would be willing to let you walk along side of them and soak up as much information from them as you can. If you’re over 30 look for a younger person to mentor. 1 Timothy 5:1 tell us to exhort older men as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as your spiritual mother and younger women as your sister.

Are you a mentor, or are you being mentored?

Filed Under: Encouragement, Mentoring, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , ,