It's rare to have conversations in a network meeting that address heart issues, but when those conversations occur - they tranform the way we look at ministry. More than once it has been said, "I wish that we could just get back to focusing on Jesus."
This honest, reflective question is explored in David Hertweck's new book, Good Kids, Big Events & Matching T-Shirts: Changing the Conversation on Health in Youth Ministry (My Healthy Church). It releases on March 24th but you can read an excerpt here!
When we forget the gospel, we begin to preach some other sort of good news to our hearts. We begin treasuring or trusting in something or someone other than Jesus—and creating idols. Here are some clear indicators that you as a youth leader are doing that:
- If you treasure numerical success in youth ministry more than Jesus, then you'll drive home from youth group either flying high because of how amazing the service went, or in the depths of despair because only five kids showed up and two of them are yours.
- If you treasure being thought of as a great preacher more than Jesus, then on the day after a great sermon you'll repeatedly relive the best moments of your sermon in your head. But when things don't go well, you'll be miserable for days thinking about those kids in the back of the room who were more interested in choking each other than your brilliantly exegeted, well-crafted talk.
- If you treasure creating emotional moments more than Jesus, then an altar full of crying teens validates your ministry. On the nights where there is a total lack of response—even from the one kid who always responds—you'll question your calling while drowning your feelings of ineffectiveness in a heaping bowl of ice cream.
- If you treasure the approval of students' parents more than Jesus, then you'll say yes to every idea and suggestion they have and try hard to make their kids happy.
- If you treasure control more than Jesus, then you will never delegate responsibilities or trust other leaders with what matters most to you.
I'm not saying that surrounding circumstances don't affect us. We wouldn't be human if a great night at youth group didn't make us happy and if a really bad night didn't bum us out. But when the outcomes control your emotional stability and spiritual well-being, there's a real problem. There is a normal response to success and failure, and then there are responses that reveal we're forgetting the gospel.
It is easy to drift into the world system and forget about the transforming work of Jesus. David's book offers that powerful reminder with the wisdom of a veteran youth worker. I hope that you get yourself a copy! Just go to http://amzn.com/162423254X today!
David Hertweck is the NY District Youth Director for the Assemblies of God. You can follow David on Twitter @DavidHertweck