How can we take a Cobra Kai approach to our ministry? While you might have the occasional student you would like to strike first, strike hard, and show no mercy, that's definitely not the way to lead a youth group. (Seriously, please do not hit your students!) Rather, how can we take some of the principles we see in martial arts training and apply them to our work with teenagers?
Applying Cobra Kai Lessons To Our Work With Students
In the show's second season, Johnny Lawrence tells his karate students, "A true champion never stops training. You gotta keep moving forward, or else you can get stuck exactly where you are."
Last month, Travis Deans shared some initial thoughts on Cobra Kai youth ministry and what this might look like if we apply the same principles in our work. I found it so intriguing that I knew I had to invite him on my podcast, Student Ministry Connection, to further discuss what we as leaders can learn from Johnny as we train students to continually move forward in their walk with Jesus.
Teaching On The Go: Action-Oriented Student Discipleship
Cobra Kai is very action-oriented. Travis suggests our ministries could probably gain more from less talk and more action. How are we getting students into their community and helping them share their faith with others? How can we take the truths of Scripture and put them into action, similar to what Johnny does for his dojo students? How do we help students see themselves as growing in their skills and abilities, rather than only reading Scripture?
Travis explained, "Too often, we're spoon feeding information, and that's just not enough." Looking to Jesus' example, he went on to say, "He took His disciples on the road, and there was a lot of action right there-the healings and deliverances and there was all of the interactions with people. Jesus was not a, 'Hey, let's sit around and talk', kind of guy. He was a, 'Let's go do stuff and I'll talk about it as we do,' guy."
Training Students to Go Further, Deeper, and Wider As Disciples
This might sound strange at first, but I believe if we keep pushing forward, I believe we'll hear Jesus say something very similar to what Johnny says: "You should all be proud of yourselves. [...] You pushed forward like champions. Never stopping. Never being satisfied. Never giving up. And if you keep pushing and keep moving forward, you're gonna go to places you never even dreamed of."
There were many other nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from my conversation with Travis--as well as his blog post--when it comes to the need to go deeper, get stronger, connect wider, reach higher, and go further. What stood out to you? I would love to hear your thoughts on how we can be better disciplers of students under our leadership.
Join the Conversation
Listen to my conversation with Travis on your favorite podcast app or at the link below.
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Steve Cullum is the Colorado State Coordinator for NNYM. He has been serving in student ministry since 1999. Steve blogs about ministry and hosts the Student Ministry Connection podcast. He also enjoys playing Nintendo, being outdoors, and watching movies.
Travis Deans is the Northeast Regional Coordinator Pennsylvania coordinator for NNYM, founder of 9 Month Missions Trip, and pretty much a networking guru.
