If you have taken much time to pay attention to the world
around you, you know that there is a decline in the number of students who call
themselves followers of Christ. Within
those who do profess to be Christian, there exists the reality that many are
biblically illiterate and spiritually immature.
Pastors and spiritual leaders are charged with the task of developing
disciples and teaching students to follow Christ with their whole lives.
A baby is not born, and left to feed itself. It is dependent on parents to provide for
them. Such is the case for new followers
of Christ. To see someone grow requires
healthy nourishment to a point where they learn to take care of themselves
properly. Such is the case for believers
spiritually. We must teach students a
solid biblical worldview, and also teach them how to maintain and grow that
worldview. Unhealthy spiritual
development leads to multitude of
concerns.
Some of the dangers that develop if students are not
properly discipled are:
-
- Poor theological understanding of God
- A weak foundation upon which to stand morally and ethically
- An unhealthy view of leadership and servanthood
- Become easily persuaded by any idea that “sounds good”
- A renegade mentality that does not allow for correction or rebuke
- A “me” focused spirituality driven by feelings and emotions
- Leads to long term spiritual immaturity and stunted spiritual growth
- Limited or no ministry involvement in the local church
- No foundation to build upon for further spiritual maturity
In an entertainment driven, “me” focused world, discipleship
becomes even more necessary (and at times difficult) to combat the pervasive
beliefs and influences that are taking hold in our culture. We
place much on having an encounter with God through worship, and we put great
efforts in to creating experiences that will bring students back to our
ministries again and again. While this
can be great, and is important, this can by no means be the end result.
Spiritual maturity requires so much more. Titus 2:1 states “But as for you, teach what
accords with sound doctrine.” Scripture
compels us to do so. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is breathed out by
God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good
work.” Spiritual maturity requires that
our students know scripture and develop a lifestyle of discipleship
Here are some things that will help you develop healthy
discipleship in your ministry:
- Be Intentional – Discipleship cannot be a back burner issue secondary to everything else that takes place in our ministries. It must be intentional and necessary part of our ministry. I knew of one pastor who spoke of his youth ministry this way: “I would run 100 students a week, yet when I look back, I can’t think of very many who still serve God today.
- Look Down the Road – true discipleship requires a long term commitment from both the pastor and the student. When you see your students 10 years from now, what will you have hoped to see developed in their life? This should help you map out a discipleship structure for them. What can you begin to develop now, that helps ensure that students who are in your ministry are serving God faithfully 20 years from now with a depth of maturity that we as pastors desire in our lay people? This is the moment where it begins.
- Be Bible Focused – Teach scripture. Often we fall in to the habit of only teaching topics. While this can be great and necessary at times, we can fall in to becoming “topically repetitive.” Scripture itself provides a depth of information and truth that can be applicable in any situation. If ever we think scriptural teaching to be irrelevant, it is simply because we have not taken the time to do the work necessary to prepare.
- Go Deeper – Teach Truth. Absolutes do exist. Teach students the basics of the Bible. Teach them sound theology. One of the great tragedies of our time is that so many in the church are biblically illiterate. They don’t know scripture, they don’t know the Bible. A solid foundation is necessary for students to mature in their faith. Theology IS necessary to build a foundation of understanding. Bible knowledge IS necessary to create a solid foundation on which students can stand.
- Activate Their Faith – Truth requires action, and discipleship requires application. Give them ideas how they can apply what they are learning. Challenge them on how they can apply it. Revisit what you have taught, and ask how they are applying what they have learned. Don’t be afraid to “give assignments” that encourage students to apply what they have learned. Are you teaching on giving? Create opportunities to give. Teaching on fasting? Fast together as a youth ministry. Create opportunities to put discipleship in to action.
- Become a Mentor – discipleship isn’t just a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening lesson. It is the active participation in the lives of students throughout the duration of their time in your ministry. True discipleship is long term, it happens in the day in and day out interactions and relationships built between students and pastors, and students and leaders.
- It Takes a Team – Leadership is essential in developing healthy discipleship in your ministry. Focus on developing quality leaders who have a spiritual depth that you desire to see developed in the lives of your students. For those leaders who are young and still growing, invest in them and partner them with those who are more spiritually mature.
- Do The Work – The sad reality is that our ministries often reflect our own habits. If you look around and are frustrated by the lack of spiritual depth and maturity, you might examine how much time and effort you are putting in to a) the spiritual development of students in your ministry, and b) your own spiritual development. Deep people create deep people.
Discipleship isn’t an easy task, but that
should not excuse us from doing it’s necessary work. Just as the word itself implies, it requires
of us, and our students the discipline necessary to develop spiritual maturity.
Matthew 28:19 begins by stating “Therefore go and make disciples.”
This becomes our mandate at leaders to equip students to follow Christ
and to prepare them to do the work of the ministry. To do ministry effectively requires healthy
discipleship.
To develop healthy discipleship requires
discipline, and in doing so, we become who God has created us to be.
Abe Daniel
NCN Student Ministries Director
Assemblies of God Nor Cal/Nevada District
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