Lies we tell ourselves: If I had what they have, I would do what they're doing.

"If I had the money they have".

"If I had that stage". 

"If I had that worship team". 

"If I had that staff and a facility like theirs".

"I know they are growing and things are going well for them, but look at all the tools and toys they’ve got! If I had what they have I could do what they are doing".

That mindset is a lie from the pit of hell and it will keep you meandering in mediocrity. The truth is, God is not a respector of persons. He does not love the church down the street or the pastor on the corner any more than he loves you! 

God wants to equip you with everything you need to reach people for his kingdom.

Stop making excuses for why you are not seeing what you want to see happen in your ministry and start making phone calls to ask questions and grow.  

How did you get a facility like that?

How did you grow a worship team that works so well together?

What do you do to train up so many great leaders?

What are the systems you have for follow up and discipleship?

Find out what others have done ... then do what they do!

Let's not lie to ourselves anymore. The statement to make is not, "If I had what they have, I would do what they are doing". The statement to make is,

"If I will do what they have done, I will get what they have received. 

 

Jesus did not save us to be mediocre. He saved us to impact our world.

We had a great time last night at our youth ministry for students 6th - 12th grade. We worshiped Jesus. We had a blast hanging out, and I did a message titled "Real World Rules". This is a message that I have spoken in one form or another, training Pastors, Youth Pastors, and Ministry Teams all over America. But I really wanted our students to realize that Jesus did not save them to be mediocre, he saved them to impact their world. So I spoke to them like leaders of their generation, knowing that they will rise to the level of expectation. 

Here are the points from the message titled "Real World Rules". Feel free to take them and train  teenagers and teams in your local setting. 

Rule #1
Your talent and $4 will get you a coffee at Starbucks.

Rule #2
You deserve nothing you earn everything.

Rule #3
Small is big. 

Rule #4
A servants heart will take you further then you ever dreamed.

Rule #5
Nothing is ever accomplished by just thinking. 

Rule #6
People don’t listen to what you say that listen to what you do. 

Rule #7
Life is all about people. You are in the people business. 

Rule #8
Pray or fail.

Youth Ministry Tip: What do you do when things get tough?

What do you do when money gets tight?

What do you do when attendance goes down?

What do you do when your friend is dying?

What do you do when you just received a phone call that changed everything?

If you don't answer these questions correctly, things will only get worse. 

Here are four things you have to do when things get tough:

1. Don't jump ship.

In Acts 27 the Apostle Paul goes through a tough time. The ship is is sailing on is getting ready to crash. Many people think about jumping ship, but Paul encourages them, "unless we stay with the ship we cannot be saved". 

Many times like the men Paul was traveling with, when things get tough, we want to quit the ministry, leave the church, dump the friend, jump ship and move on. But what good will that do? Running away from the tough times will not change anything. Keep trying. Keep pressing. Keep believing. Don't jump ship. 

2. Hold onto what you believe. 

In the same story in Acts 27, once the ship ran aground the men held onto pieces of the boat that had broken off. They held onto those pieces and floated safely ashore. 

When things start getting tough, you have to hold onto that you believe. 

Hold onto that passage of scripture. Hold onto that statement of faith. Hold onto what you know to be true. It just might be what it takes to get you safely to shore. 

3. Trust God for supernatural provision. 

God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above that which we can ask or think. When tough times come, trust him to provide, protect, deliver, and change the situation. 

God parted the Red Sea for Moses, held the sun still for Joshua, surely He can help you.  Don't jump ship. Hold onto what you believe and trust Him to do something that only He can do!

4. Don't become bitter. 

There are very few things in life that we can control. We cannot control other peoples actions, words, or deeds. However, we can always control our heart. 

Scripture teaches us, "Above all else guard your heart for it is the well spring of life".

When your ministry is not growing, but your friends ministry is, guard your heart. 

When your Pastor pulls you into his office and corrects you for something you feel he is not being correctly, guard your heart. 

When you lose something or someone that was very dear to you and you don't understand why, guard your heart. 

Guard your heart against bitterness. Bitterness is a small monster that burrows it's way down deep and grows in the darkest place of our heart. But bitterness never stays there. It grows and begins to claw its way into ever area of our life. 

When things get tough. Choose to not become bitter. 

It would be so great to live in a world where there were no problems or opposition. But that is not the world we live in. Jesus once said, "In the world you will have many troubles, but don't worry, I have overcome the world".  

Your story is not over.

Jesus tomb is empty. 

Don't jump ship. Hold onto what you believe. Trust God to do the supernatural. Never become bitter. 

Youth Ministry Tip: Think Like a Parent (Part One)

I have been serving in Youth Ministry in one form or another for 24 years. You know one thing I have never had a parent ask me? I have never had a parent ask me "How many kids are in your Youth Group". 

Isn't that odd? 

In a ministry world where the conversation often turns to size, numbers, and how how many are you running, I never remember a parent asking me about the size of the group, number of attendance, or how many are in the room each week. 

Why is that? 

Could it be that parents are more concerned with safety, positive friendships, and spiritual growth of their children than the number of people in the room?

Maybe we as Youth Pastors should think more like a parent.

Maybe we should concentrate on making sure we create a physically and emotionally safe environment for teenagers on a weekly basis. 

Maybe we should create space during our gatherings for teenagers to cultivate authentic relationships with other students and Godly adults. 

Maybe we should put more energy in growing our teenagers spiritually, helping them read and understand the scriptures, live a life of victory, and press on even when they fail. 

Thinking like a parent requires that we spend more time giving teenagers what they need, safety, friendships, and authentic faith, and less time manufacturing what we want, a fun night and a full room. 

When we think like a parent, we might just make disciples. And isn't that what this thing is all about?

Youth Ministry Tips: Making disciples not attracting attendees.

In making disciples we have got to grab ahold of this truth - growth happens best in a group.

If someone wants to be a better basketball player, they don't just shoot hoops alone in the driveway they join a Basketball team. (A small group consisting of a coach and 12 to 15 players) 

If someone wants to be a better painter, they don't just purchase some paint supplies and become Picasso alone in their room. Instead they take a painting class. (A small group consisting of a teacher and 12 to 15 painters) 

If someone wants to grow in their walk with Christ, they don't just go to a church or grab a Bible and start reading it. If they want to grow they get involved in a small group led by a seasoned Christian and 12 to 15 other believers. 

Youth Pastor grab ahold of this truth. Growth happens best in a group. 

If you want your teenagers to grow, give them a group to be a part of. 

One of the greatest things we have ever done to make disciples in students ministry is Turn Life. Turn Life is a four week small group that teenagers go through to get a firm footing in their walk with Jesus. 

Turn Life has taken on many forms through the years, to fit the culture of the church we served in however, this is how we serve teenagers at TheCHURCH with this disciple making tool. 

Turn Life meets from 6:30 to 7:05 every Wednesday Night before our normal ECHO youth service. In a small group setting with a group leader, video message, discussion time and prayer, teenagers discover four key foundational steps in walking with Jesus. 

Wk One:
How to keep serving Jesus, even when the feelings are gone.

Wk Two:
How to read and understand the Bible.

Wk Three:
How to walk in victory over sin.

Wk Four:
What to do when they mess up.

Every student that completes the Turn Life program, is invited to a special graduation ceremony. The ceremony takes place during one of our weekend services. Students make a public profession of their faith in Jesus, we pray over each of them, and give each graduate a new Bible. 

In 20+ years of serving in youth ministry we have had over 1,100 young people graduate from our discipleship program. Several of these graduates have gone onto serve as youth pastors, executive pastors, senior pastors, and missionaries; while many more have grown into faithful spouses, christian parents, and christ followers in the work place. This is the goal of youth ministry - helping teenagers grow into fully devoted followers of Jesus long after they graduate High School. 

Of course we have done and do many other things with our students to continue their personal pursuit of Christ. However, we found that a four week small group like Turn Life was a great first step in the journey. 

If you would like more information about how you can build disciples not just attract attendees, email me at growmoore@gmail.com. I'd love to connect with you.