Category Archives: Discipleship
We Need More Jackets
Recently my wife and I took our boys to their friend’s birthday party. It wasn’t just a simple backyard party – no that’s too simple these days. This was a pottery party. Kids gathered at a local pottery shop for cake and ice cream, and they got to paint a piece of pottery and fire it. The party host told the kids to be sure to put a few coats of paint on their pottery to be sure that the colors looked good after the pottery was fired in the kiln. A few minutes into our painting adventure, my four-year-old son said, “Dad, we need more jackets.” My first thought was, “What are you talking about?” After he said it a second time, I realized he was confusing “coats of paint” with “jackets of paint”. Too funny, right?
Communication with one another and with God can sometimes feel like my son’s jacket confusion. Too often we either don’t listen well or we don’t understand what’s being said. In either case we misconnect with people in conversation all the time. Whether in our marriages, conversations with students, or in our relationship with God, it’s important to really listen. Life’s full of opinions and voices, but seldom do we have people who will really listen. Be a minister who listens to students. Active listening is the art of listening to understand and reflecting back what you hear the other person saying rather than just listening so you can talk next. St. Francis of Assisi once prayed that God would help him, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” That’s still great advice today. If you’re like most youth pastors you probably like to talk, and it probably comes easy to you. Listening takes more effort than talking. Take time this week to listen. Listen to your spouse. Listen to your children. Listen to your students. Most importantly, listen to the Lord. “The one who gives an answer before he listens – this is foolishness and disgrace for him.” (Proverbs 18:13 HCSB)
A Radical Book
Though I love to learn new things about the God I love and the ministry He has called me too, I’m not an avid reader. Ashley, on the other hand, can read a book in a day. Despite my lack of reading, this week I finished my second book in three weeks. You would think that during this busy holiday time I would have less time to read, but this book captivated my attention. I kept wanting to go back to it again and again.
Radical is the new book by David Platt. Platt writes with a sincere conviction for the American church to return to the purpose for which Christ died for them. His passion for the lost and his heart for world missions is contagious. I’d highly recommend reading it. Be warned that if you do, be ready to be convicted by the Holy Spirit to step away from the American dream and into the dream God has for the world to hear the Good News. It’s an easy read – but hard to live. That’s what’s so great about it. I pray that God will continue stirring in me what he wants me to do with what He has taught me through David’s book.
Fresh Look at Student Discipleship
Last week I spent a few days at the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting. It’s always a great opportunity to connect with fellow pastors and this year was a much-needed time of refreshing. This year’s youth pastor’s meeting was exceptional. Dr. Richard Ross, youth ministry professor at Southwestern Seminary, spoke to us about his views on the need for change in youth ministry and the entire discipleship process. Since last week I’ve been reading his new book, “Student Ministry and the Supremacy of Christ.” This is one of the best student ministry books that I’ve read in a long while. Dr. Ross’ incites on helping students see Christ for who He truly is and helping connect students to the entire church are spot on. I can already see many areas in the youth ministry at Morningside that could use some of the suggestions that are brought up in this book. I have so much more to learn and I’m grateful for great teachers like Richard Ross.
