“So, honey, what did they teach about tonight?”, I asked my Jr. Hi age daughter as we drove home from our local youth group of choice. Her answer was music to my ears.
No, it wasn’t “Belong to the group” (psychology +Church Growth Movement), “Take back the city from the principalities of darkness and claim the territory for God” (Kingdom Now/Dominionist movement), or “God spoke to me and said you are the end time army of God to be the new authoritative apostles and prophets” (New Apostolic Reformation movement).
They didn’t play Halo, shock-value unsanitary “gross games” or worship unbiblicaly with candle & incense burning, altar decorating, stations of the cross, chanting or labyrinth walking (Emergent/return to Rome movement).
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for fun and being social. They do play games, eat pizza and go on fun summer and winter trips. But the focus is discipling young Christians in God’s Word.
So what did she learn? “God is Sovereign”. That’s right; they are teaching the youth the attributes of God. How refreshing!
I’m so, so thankful for this youth group, and youth pastor. This is God’s faithful provision. The pastor desires to teach young people Biblical Christian doctrine, theology and some apologetics. He has a heart to pass on the faith and disciple youth in the Word of God. He desires to prepare kids to hold fast to Biblical Truth, as they come of age in a world of apostasy in the church, and increasing hatred of the things of God out in the world. He wants to prepare them for a life of service to God, as ambassadors of the gospel, and to stand strong in faith in Jesus.
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February 2, 2008 at 1:13 am
waddey
I spent 13 years of my life as a youth minister. We had the coolest, loudest, most outrageous show you could produce with a youth ministry budget. It was unbiblical!!!! ohh we would squeeze a little “devotion” between the lunacy but nothing of substance. No real discipleship. No real study. I have long since repented. Many student ministers have realized that bar was set very low for youth ministry. God deserves so more than our entertainment.
February 2, 2008 at 2:21 am
micey
well praise God!
February 2, 2008 at 6:29 am
Loretta
waddey, our own church has no youth group but my teens hear solid, challenging, meaty teaching and preaching from God’s Word in the worship service, and for that I am so thankful. Our pastor was a youth minister in his earlier days. Now, he disciples teens by teaching and preaching, and shepherding them in love, as with the rest of the people in our church. Teens are not unable to understand the Word of God taught. This is how God saves and grows His children anyway (amen?); through His Word. The youth pastor I mentioned in this post told me that Paul Washer said something like most youth groups should shut down and repent, or something to that effect.
I don’t know which is more disturbing; the irreverence/entertainment focus of the ministry you described, or the plethera of false doctrines fed to kids by these different movements.
February 2, 2008 at 6:35 am
Loretta
micey, yeah I’m thankful for a youth pastor with guts to buck the hip pop-trends and actually disciple young people in the Word.
February 3, 2008 at 4:54 am
timbob
Greetings. What a good report in an age when so much is “entertainment driven” these days. It’s always refreshing to hear reports of those who love Jesus wholeheartedly and are serious about the deep things of God.
Have a blessed weekend in Jesus.
timbob
February 3, 2008 at 5:22 am
Loretta
hi timbob. Yes, I find this encouraging!
May 5, 2008 at 4:00 pm
San Mateo Outreach « Witnessing. Encouragement.
[...] pastor of my local biblical youth group decided he was going to take the plunge and go out on the streets with a selection of the kids he is [...]
May 12, 2008 at 10:48 am
The Pilgrim
Wow. Where is this church? They need to get the message out for those families that are looking for a real Christ-centered, God-honoring youth group.
- The Pilgrim
May 12, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Loretta
First Baptist Church, San Mateo. Aside from actually teaching kids solid biblical teaching (rather than sociological/psychological principles) they are passing on a biblical view of evangelism of reaching out with the true gospel(rather than CGM: bring the world in so we can entertain them). God is amazingly good. I’m so thankful for how God has provided for our children here on the Peninsula; both our church, and this church as well. : )