Doctrine of..?

1 Timothy 1:3-5 ESV

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

If someone were to visit my ministry for a month, how would they define the doctrine they encountered? What would they believe to be the founding principles? What would they believe the purpose to be? What would they believe are our priorities?

Paul's charge to Timothy was to define his doctrine in principle and practice by faith and love. Is my church a place that encourages faith and models love? Is my ministry a place that is uncluttered by false piety, unrealistic expectations and exclusive community?

There is no one else charged with the mission of defining and defending the doctrine of my ministry but me, the pastor. I would do well to remind myself of this often. I would do well to evaluate our doctrine in principle and practice with regularity.

So how do you define your doctrine?

converts or kids

I'm a father of 6 right now. I know, sometimes I think I'm crazy too. The reality is I'm married to supermom. The point is that I'm always counting my kids and wondering where they're at and how they are doing. I worry less about my 17 year old because she's grown up to be such a great young lady that we can rely on her to care for all her siblings. I worry most about our 3 year old and our 3 week old... especially if they are together. I pay more attention to my 6 year old because she has been particularly needy lately and has a tendency to wander. I'm teaching my 9 year old to be more responsible and my 7 year old to be less concerned with his siblings and his notion of fairness. Consequently, they both get a bit less hands on assistance and more coaching from the sideline. It's a lot of work to raise 6 kids but God has blessed us and empowers us to do things well, to his glory.

Now what would you think if I told you I had 5 other children but I have no idea where they are. We were excited when they were born but somewhere between the hospital and home, between the store and the car, between mealtimes, we seemed to lose track of them. It's not that we don't care about them, think about them or wish that they were with us... it's just that keeping track of that many kids is difficult. We even set a place for them at the table each night. We find that trusting them into God's hands takes the edge off our guild and worry. Our hope is that one day they will return for a meal, a bath or some advice one day and maybe then we'll be more capable of caring for them.

That would be insane! (And before you call DCFS, it's also not true.)
But at times this is exactly what happens in my youth ministry. I've seen kids come to our events and find new life in Christ but never quite make it into the family of God. I pray for them, hope for them and even plan for their return but more often than not it's not enough to ensure their return.

The words of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:1 got me thinking about this.
"To Timothy, my true child in the faith"

What if I thought of these converts as kids? What if I removed words like "students," "teens," and "young people" and began referring to them as children who rely on me for spiritual nurture, nourishment, protection and guidance? What if my church resembled more of a home and less of a school? What if we were more family than class? Would I be more concerned with their whereabouts and health? Would it change the look and pace and feel of my ministry? What would it do to me as their pastor? What would it look like to count each kid and follow up on each missing child? What would it look like to care for them as my own?

It sounds like a lot of work but I believe God will bless it and empower me to do this well, to his glory.

How about you?

voices

What are the voices in your ministry?
There are student voices that express their opinions in both words and attendance.
There are parent voices that make both subtle suggestions and bold demands.
There are elder voices that both command and commend.
There are pastor and supervisor voices that both encourage and correct.
There are colleague voices that commiserate and challenge.
There are other voices that do speak but get drown out in the crowd.

Amidst the voices, can you hear the voice of God?
His voice is the first voice you heard when you entered ministry.
His voice is the one that brings clarity rather than confusion.
His voice is the one that brings peace rather than anxiety.
His voice is the one that guides rather than directs.
His voice is the one that comes with power and authority.
His voice is the one that we must follow.

So how do you keep your ears sharp for the voice of God in the cacophony of voices shouting in your ministry today?

Stillness?
Solitude?
Scripture?
Prayer?
Fellowship?
Worship?
Meditation?
Writing?
Family?
Exercise?

May your ears be honed to the voice of God and may His voice bring you peace and clarity in this New Year.

Why do I do what I do?

Why do you do what you do?
Why are you a youth pastor?
When I was young it was fun.
When it became "work" it was challenging.
When I'd been at it a while it was familiar, simple.
When I'd been at it a long while it was a pay check.

I'm grateful that none of these would have been my primary answer at any point in my ministry. I'm grateful that when I think about ministry I don't contemplate a vocation but a calling. God called me to be a pastor a long time ago and that calling sunk in deep. I don't think I understood it back at the beginning... but looking back; it's unmistakeable.

Why do you do what you do?
It's probably a good habit to remind one's self regularly why we do what we do.
When parents complain, when kids wander, when tragedy hits, when we are tired and worn out, when we feel unappreciated, when we are tempted, when we feel stuck... it's the reminder of our calling that sets us back on track and empowers us to overcome the trials of ministry.

Why do you do what you do?

Youth Pastor Wanted...

Ok... before I'm perceived as trying to be clever or picking on a particular style of youth ministry or playing games with words, this post is genuinely about something I'm learning.

I've been a youth programmer for over 15 years. I've been privileged to run some of the most exciting programs for students in the church; outreach events for hundreds, evangelism training classes, a layered small group ministry with dozens of leaders and coaches, and mission trips around the world. I've seen numerical growth and spiritual growth and lives really touched by Jesus Christ. But could I say that I've also been a youth pastor?

Being a youth pastor is about more than Biblical teaching, missional leadership, creative purpose-driven events and keeping in line with the elders. Being a youth pastor is more than clear parent communication, showing up at times of trial, mobilizing a healthy volunteer team and being a Christ-like example. All of these are important, event critical, to maintaining a healthy youth ministry but I'm discovering that being a youth pastor (or a pastor of any kind) is about something even more important.

I'm discovering that being a pastor is about shepherding the flock entrusted to my care. Like a good shepherd, my job is to care for people; to feed them, protect them, carry them, guide them, corral them, retrieve them and (like a good shepherd) live with them. My job is to care for the flock and for each individual sheep, keeping count regularly. For the majority of my ministry I did many of these things by accident. Kids would show up at my house, raid the refrigerator and lounge on my couch. I would have conversations with confused and hurting students who approached me after a weekend service. I would receive a pastoral call for a student in the hospital or even jail and drop in for a visit and prayer. I would be asked for attendance figures and reluctantly fill out a report form.

However, lately, I've been asking myself what it would look like for me to be a proactive shepherd. What would it look like if I counted my sheep by name and face? What would it look like to show up at their homes and lives before they were in need? How could I identify a needing and hurting student before their world crumbled? What would it look like to be their guardian and defender against both physical and spiritual threats? What would it look like to feed my sheep with living messages communicated every day outside the walls of my church?

I don't have all the answers to these questions but this next year I want to be a pastor and I am committed to becoming the pastor God has called me to be.

Problems don't take breaks

This Christmas, more than ever, I've become aware that problems don't take breaks. Schools take breaks. Ministries take breaks. (We typically take two weeks off the honor our volunteers and encourage family time for students and parents.) Offices have holidays. Families take vacation. But problems don't typically relent.
This is the time of year when kids' minds are naturally turned toward family, memories, tradition, mystery and excitement. In the midst of these anticipations, the troubles of life seem to take on a darker hue in contrast. Division and divorce overshadow memories of mom and dad getting along and images borrowed from old photographs. Transition replaces tradition in the move from a home of memories to an affordable apartment. Bullies beat up the wonder and mystery of the God's story and stuff kids into the mold of the immediate; the here and now of troubles and trials.
This is the reality for many of my middle school students this Christmas. And for many of these same students, our weekly ministry is their bright spot. It's the caffeinated encouragement that they need to keep moving each week. While our two week break is necessary and even healthy, it does have it's downside.
But that too reminds me that ministry doesn't just happen on Wednesday nights between 6:30 and 7:30. Ministry is what happens when a volunteer sends a quick hand-written Christmas card. Ministry is a phone call from a small group leader saying, "even through we don't have youth group, I'm still thinking about you." Ministry is a text message that says, "you are special... I'm praying for you this Christmas." Ministry is dropping off a secret Santa gift to the kids who serve on the tech team or welcome team or set-up/clean-up team.
This Christmas, don't let your ministry take a break.

which Gospel do I share?

I listened to a volunteer share the gospel recently. While I'm excited that my volunteers are courageous and enthusiastic to share their faith, I was concerned about the Gospel they shared. He suggested to our student that Jesus would help the student be a better student, a better kid and find greater joy in life. Essentially, he confused two key theologies; justification and sanctification.
Justification is the point at which we are made right before God, applying the work of Jesus Christ to my sinful nature.
Sanctification is the process by which we are made more righteous before God, applying the work of the Holy Spirit to my sinful nature.
We cannot experience a true sanctification without the work of justification.
Justification makes us new. Sanctification renews us daily.
Justification takes us from lost to found, dead to alive, enemy to child of God.
Sanctification takes us from sinful to less sinful, me-like to Christ-like, worldly to godly.
Justification is the work of Christ on the Cross.
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in me.
My confidence is found in Justification.
My evidence is found in Sanctification.
Justification is about turning from sin and turning toward Christ.
Sanctification is about turning my sinful nature into a spirit-led nature.
Justification without Sanctification is arrogance.
Sanctification without Justification is false confidence.

We must preach a Gospel of Justification, of turning from sin and toward our Savior. We must avoid all the promises that come with sanctification until the person understands the promise of justification. Jesus is not an add-on that will make our life better, He is the answer that will bring us life. We must communicate a Gospel in which sin is not simply forgiven or overlooked but completely payed for by the blood of Jesus Christ. We must communicate our need for a Savior that has paid our penalty, not a spirituality that paves our way.

So... which Gospel do you share?