Without the Holy
Spirit at work in our youth ministries they will certainly fail. While the apostles were being persecuted by
the Sanhedrin, Gameliel, a Pharisee said,
“I advise you, leave these men
alone, let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of
human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not
be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
(Zondervan, Acts 5:38-39)
Gamelial knew that if these men were from
God, being empowered and lead by the Holy Spirit of God that nothing could stop
the work they were doing. On the same
note, he understood that if they were not from God and acting out of their own
power that their plans would fail.
We as Youth Ministers should take
seriously these words of wisdom from the Jewish Pharisee. If we truly want vibrant youth ministries
alive with students who deeply love and adore Christ we must have ministries
that are lead and directed by the life giving power of the Holy Spirit.
A Youth Minister who tries to put plans in
place without seeking God wisdom through the Spirit will find themself
frustrated and angry, because their efforts constantly fail. It might have a “flash in the pan” type of
excitement at first, but programs without God’s Spirit behind them will soon
come crumbling down.
A Youth Ministry that is centered on
Christ, is one that is centered on the Spirit.
It is the Spirit who convicts students of sin, it is the Spirit who
transform them and calls them into a deeper walk with Jesus. It is Christ inside that student, alive and
well that draws them away from deception and into the light.
Students don’t need better programming,
they need to see the power of the Holy Spirit displayed. They need to have an encounter with the
living God. They need to see and savor
Jesus Christ for themselves and a Youth Ministry that is saturated in the
Spirit will certainly bring about the power and that truth for students to
see. Students don’t need more games or
fun. They need authentic Christianity
being lived out and preached by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What we draw students with is what we will
shape them to be. If we draw them with
games and fun, we’ll make them selfish consumers, but if we draw them with the
Spirit and the word of God, then we will make disciples. Sure, we may not have BIG youth groups, but
that isn’t the point. God has called us
to make disciples, who in turn make disciples.
As difficult as it is, we must stay focused on the BIG picture and not
allow numbers to define our ministries, but we must do the hard work of
discipleship. Where we may not see
results for 15 years!
If
we remain obedient and faithful to God lifting high the name of Jesus and
trusting only in the power of the Spirit to transform our students lives then
we will see the lost be found, students run from sin and new life really begin!
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