"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." Galatians 6:14 (NLT)
Human pride leads people to defy God. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
Pride is interconnected with rebellion. Rebellion means that we know better than authority. Rebellion is telling God that we know better than He does. Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished.
• Pride affects what we worship. When we are the center of our own universe, all efforts lead to making ourselves look good. Pride leads people to use social networking to be accepted. We fit a music genre to life and then start conforming to the look, attitude and actions of the music. The issue arises when we find our identity and value within a sub-culture like a music genre. Instead we should be focused on our value and identity being in Christ. Working with students I have seen this happen quite often. Whatever the "flavor of the day" is on the menu in a student's life, many times they will become what they fill their minds with on a daily basis. It is not a matter of "if' people worship, but "what" they worship.
• Pride affects how we worship. Pride leads people to use technology to be noticed. We have all seen the Internet used to hurt people, to bring them down. I have also seen the Internet used for great good. I have seen people come to know Christ through using the Internet as a tool for the gospel. The important aspect to realize is that anything can be a tool to bring God glory or to draw attention to self. Pride draws the attention away from God who desires all of our praise and honor. "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." James 4:6
Humility draws people to an understanding of Christ as pride focused upon what we can do on our own. Without the love and grace of Jesus, I am nothing. I'm far from truly understanding the grace that I've been given, but I sure want too.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NLT)
The Bible is the best selling book of all time. It is probably also one of the least read book by people who attend church. We live in generation that is completely distracted with blackberry's, droids, iphones, game systems, TV, youtube, and much more! How does a time alone with God fit into our busy lives?
One of the most important needs that we have as followers of Christ is to spend time daily with our Creator. The Bible is living and active and is not meant for the bookshelf! If the only time you open the Bible is at church, you are starving spiritually! I have heard statements like this in the church, “I’m wanting to change but reading the Bible is too hard.” or my all-time favorite, “I am switching churches because I am not being fed spiritually!” Newsflash! A follower of Christ is responsible for their own spiritual feeding of God's Word! Where in the Bible does it say that church leaders are the only way a person is to receive spiritual growth? It is your personal relationship with God, so make it personal!
D.L. Moody said: “The scriptures were not given for our information but our transformation.”
How to have a time alone with God:
1. Have a specific time: Best time? Some are morning people and some are more awake in the evening. The important fact is to have your TAG time when you are at your best! The “I will do it when I have time” approach never happens!
2. Have a specific place: Quiet, private, consistent. Find a place that is free from distractions (Turn TV off, silence the cell phone).
3. Use a good process: Start by asking God to speak to you. Spend approximately equal time in prayer and Bible study.
S – Scripture: Read the scripture of the passage of scripture. Write down the verse that impacts you in your journal or a verse that “sticks out to you” from a longer passage. Do not just skim it but meditate and think about each word of the verse(s). It is important to let scripture interpret scripture as you read. Read until you hear from the Lord. "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." (Psalms 119:105 NLT)
O – Observe: Ask the questions about the background of the scripture. Who was the author? Who was the author writing to? How would I explain the scripture to another person? Write out the verse in your own words to try to understand it further. The Holy Spirit illuminates our heart to interpret God’s Word. Context is important! Interpret a passage in the light of its context. Context is the portions of scripture surrounding the passage being studied, both before and after it.
A– Apply: How do you live out what the verse(s) in your personal life? Be specific. Memorize specific verses that stick out to you! (Proverbs 7:1-3, Psalm 119:11). It is not a matter of if we can memorize but of becoming disciplined to do it. We all have memorized song lyrics and movie quotes! Deposit God's Word in your life to become more like Christ! Make it personal! Ask the question, "How can I make this verse(s) a part of my life today?"
P – Prayer
Write down specific prayer requests about your personal needs. Keep your prayer requests written down in a journal to go back to in the future. Meditate on the verse(s), read and reread. Meditate on it throughout the day as you apply it to your life! "I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees." Psalm 119:48 (NLT).
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:1-8
I encourage you to spend time daily in God's Word. Pursue Christ and know His heart and live it each day!
Student ministry is filled with excitement, spontaneity, late nights and life changing moments. At the same time there are some hard aspects of helping lead students and parents into a growing relationship with Christ. I guess I had some assumptions going into ministry back in 2004 that parents in the church are making decisions to lead their children to prioritize their relationship with God. The truth is there are equal issues within the church as well as outside of the church. Attending a church on a weekly basis does not automatically mean a person is a follower of Christ.
Here are a few things that I find absolutely crazy as a student pastor:
1. Parents who make conscious decisions to put sports, school, activities, etc. above church (worship, small groups, mission trips).
It goes a little like this, the parents have great "intentions" for their children to follow Christ and make wise decisions; but, their direction is leading them to basically look at church and a relationship with God as non-important. I've had conversations with this type of parent and usually they come to me in a state of emergency "I-need-the-student-pastor-to-fix-my-child" mode. What breaks my heart the most is that they will spend years investing loads of money, time and effort into sports, activities, clubs and barely invest the Word of God into their lives! If all you do is push them to achieve perfection in every area except serving Christ, you will more than likely reap this result. Spend time training up children to pursue and share the gospel of Jesus! Remember, good intentions are never enough. Key verse: Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
2. Parents living through their children.
Everyone will live through their children to a point, but what about going to extremes?
Example 1: "Super-Insecure Dad." We have all seen it. There is that one Dad at the baseball game who is jumping and screaming in the stands at his son (who is trying his best, but isn't a Major League baseball candidate). This Dad is basically "Uncle Rico" from the movie, Napoleon Dynamite! He makes his son play sports with the hopes of one day receiving a full scholarship to college. It is a worthy goal, but is your child truly passionate about playing? Are you boasting in Christ or in your children's ability? Key verse:"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4
Example 2: "Perfection-Expecting Mom." There is that mother who pushes her daughter to achieve A+ grades at any cost and if she receives a B grade her self-worth is beat down by the expectations of the parents. Parents need to encourage their children to work hard, try their best and more... but not at the cost of building their identity into a grade, class or an activity. Students today are more stressed out than ever before. Can grades become an idol? Can the pursuit of perfect grades simply be an extension of pride?
Example 3: "Emotional-Stalking Parent." The last example is the parent who treats their son or daughter's boyfriend/girlfriend as their spouse! Most students date because they want to be "popular" and accepted. Boundaries are almost forgotten because of the parents becoming emotionally involved in living throughtheir children and building their own self-worth through the relationship. Students who date in middle school and high school leave room for more temptation rather than spiritual maturity and purity! Why are parents pushing their children to date seriously before they are even emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally able to understand true love? Is it due to the parent feeling "special" because their son or daughter has a significant other? (Twilight obsession anyone?) "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22. "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Song of Solomon 8:4.
3. Parents who steer their children away from following God's call on their life.
I have had the privilege to encourage and equip students (college and high school) who feel God calling them to do something for God's glory. I went to college with many friends who had parents who were not supportive of them going to Bible college. Because to the world (and some parents) going into the ministry is a low income decision, and we know that everyone has an "opinion" about people working for churches. I think some parents want their children to know God but not love Him enough to give up a six figure job to go into ministry. Is ministry hard? Yes. But it is a privilege to serve a God who is alive and share that good news with a world that is dying without the hope of Christ! Jesus warned about building earthly wealth over building His kingdom.
I'm not a parenting expert, but I hope to encourage parents to set the spiritual direction in the home while allowing their children to develop their own personality and passion to honor God.
Key verse: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." Galatians 6:14 (NLT)
