Branding your Student Ministry

Recently I joined a roundtable discussion with a few great youth pastors! A few weeks ago I joined youthmin.org as a contributor and I'm excited about partnering with them in helping encourage others in student ministry. We discussed how to brand your ministry. We talked through the purposes of branding and shared helpful tips.  It was the first time I used Google+ hangout, but I can see how useful and fun it can be to collaborate and learn from other youth workers!

If you are looking for helpful resources to help you in student ministry, check out youthmin.org! 

Source SM Recap: Volume #19

Current Series: “I AM: changes who I am” Title: Week 3 – “The Way, Truth and Life” Main Thought: Jesus is the only way to God. Scripture:  John 14:1-7, Luke 19:10, Acts 4:12.

Message explanation:  Have you ever been in a moment where a close friend is leaving and you? It is an abrupt departure and you cannot go with them. You feel confused, sad, your heart is breaking…

It is the night before Jesus’ death. Jesus knows He is about to face the cross. Despite what Jesus is about to face, He comforts His closest friends.

1. Jesus comforts His disciples (John 14:1-3). Greek for “believe” is to continue to believe even after he is gone. The disciples were perplexed! A few days before Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey with people singing, “hosanna!” Now everything is falling apart?!

 The word for “dwelling” is rooms or “abiding places.” It was referring to a Jewish father who would build a new room onto His house for his son and new family. In the same way our Father prepares a place for you and me in Heaven. Jesus encourages them that He is leaving, but He will come back for them. He will return!

 2. Jesus’ response to Thomas and the disciples (John 14:4-6)

John 14:5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

 One of the most profound questions in all of the Bible. It is a question everyone person asks deep inside their soul. The world says there are many ways, but there is truly only ONE way.

 John 14:6 – ^“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

I AM the way…BECAUSE I am the truth and life.

 The Way – Jesus is the only way to be made right with God. Notice Jesus does not say, “I am A WAY” but He says, “I AM THE Way.” Jesus says I’ve DONE it for you. The world says keep “DOING” and you might make it.

 Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

 The Truth – Jesus is the truth that sets us free.

 I have heard people respond to the question on what is truth? “Truth is whatever you want it to be, just as long as you MEAN it when you say it.”

It would be wrong if I said that 2+2 = 5. The truth is, Jesus is God. People struggle with Jesus being the only way. Many people today are falling into the belief that Jesus is their Savior but that other roads lead to Heaven.

The truth sets us free. John 8:31-32 – “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Story: Judas was all about obeying. But He did not love God. The outward signs were evident. Judas even took care of the money. Judas missed it in that He was outwardly obedient but had no relationship with Jesus.

 The Life – Life is found when we lose our life IN Christ.  Have you ever head someone say, “Now. THIS is the life!”? We tend to look at leisure as the end goal of life. If I can have this much $$, time off and more, then that’ll be the LIFE! If I can have more likes on my instagram, that’d be the LIFE.

Jesus taught us to live a life of service. We love people unto Christ. Help the hurting people (Luke 19:10).

 We are in a hole of our sin but Jesus came to rescue us. Peter shared this same truth years later to the rulers in Jerusalem, saying about Jesus, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Jesus makes it clear that He does not show us the way, but rather, tells us that He IS the Way.

What are you going to do with about Jesus? Will you follow Jesus? If you know Him are you sharing with those who do not know Jesus?

Element of Fun: We played a “minute to win it” game with the Middle school students called, "Flip your lid." It was hard and none of the students finished the game! 

 Music: We are the Free, You Deserve, Your Presence is Heaven to Me, Jesus Paid it All, Our Hope (closing).

 Favorite Moment: Seeing new students connect with other students. A highlight of the night was seeing student give over 60+ boxes towards Operation Christmas Child!

What’s Next: We finish the “I AM” series in John 15. We will discover the next statement of Jesus’ identity as the vine. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

Volunteer Tip: The "Why" of Small Groups

Small groups are vital for student to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The need for small groups is vital to people learning how to grow in their walk with God and each other. The Bible gives us the foundation of spiritual growth within the Christian community.

In the Old Testament we see the importance of the unity between God and man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:27). God set up an important relationship between Adam and Eve. The sin that separated them from God was relational. The need for community was in place after the fall of Adam and Eve.

In the New Testament, Jesus set the example of pouring His life into the disciples. He spent a majority of his time explaining and living out the truth of God’s Word. Jesus did not spend his time mainly with the multitudes, but with a small group of world changers (Matt. 13:36).

In Acts 2:46-47 it says, ^“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  

In James 5:16 it says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Here are a few observations from Acts 2 and James 5:16 on community: Healthy community...

1. Eat together (Yes!) 2. Meet in homes (better environment and openness) 3. Authentically live for God (glad and sincere hearts) 4. Relational (enjoying the favor of all the people) 5. Grows numerically (true disciples make disciples) 6. Maintains healthy accountability (grace meets pursuit of God's glory)

The early church is a great example of people that loved each other and spent their time and efforts on building relationships. (Acts 2:46, 12:12, 20:8, 20:20; Rom. 16:4-5; I Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:5; Philemon 2).

Small group is the best way for people to learn and grow in their faith. The essence of small groups is creating an environment where people can open up to one another and grow spiritually. Healthy small groups are essential to lead people to become like Christ.

 What would you add to the conversation on small groups?