Engaging Students in DiscipleshipPosted by Patrick Scott on November 26th, 2008

Discipleship is a topic of conversation that is a hot topic of conversation.  How do we lead through and how do we engage?  Many churches are failing in the area of discipleship.  It troubles me that I see students make a decision to follow Christ and then a week later they are doing the same things that they were doing before.  A year later they are still doing the same things they did before and we are still doing the same things we did before.  What is going to change?  How are we going to become more effective?

I remember when I was a student and everything I knew about being a Christian was either taught to me through someone speaking or something I read.  I never fully engaged in the practice of being a disciple.  Maybe we should be more engaging in the way we lead others through discipleship.  I see many that try so hard to think outside the box, to come up with new ways, but it ends up being a hop from one box to another.  How can we engage?  A big cultural trend today are that students like to jump on the bandwagon of causes.  You know many of these and if you dont just take a look at Facebook and see all the causes you can join.  There is a passion in students to serve others.  Wouldnt it be wise to take advantage of this by engaging students to not just join a cause but to figure and imaginative way to serve a cause.  It is great to teach what being a disciple is all about but the goal of being a disciple (student) is to ultimately become an apostle (practitioner).   We have to teach and build up and then lead them into the practice of following Christ.  It is very difficult to become an apostle without the armor of God.  The following are ways we need to step up to the plate to develop true warriors for the cause of Christ.

1. Confession

2. Prayer

3. Personal Bible Study

4. Scripture Memorization

5. Serving

6. Perseverance

7. Humility

8. Compassion

9. Leading

10. Evangelism

These are a few things that I see as vital to training.

There were some students from a church in Chicago that took up a cause to provide text books to 1000 orphans in Africa for three years.  They were challenged to raise $25000 dollars over a semester to aid in this mission.  The students were challenged to think outside the box and be imaginative on how they could serve Christ.  This was no little feat but one that could be accomplished with focus.  Some students asked for money for their birthday for this cause, some students hosted a film festival at their school.  The films were created by students and allowed them the opportunity to share the gospel to their classmates.  They raised the $25000 dollars faster than they realized and because of their focus and determination to serve they were also able to lead others to Christ.  This is just an example of students being led into serving.  The impact it had on their understanding of serving was exponential and unforgettable.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  We must realize this and act accordingly.

We cannot just teach but we also have to engage students through activity to participate in these activities.  How can we engage students creatively in these areas?

Am I doing enough?Posted by Patrick Scott on August 12th, 2008

I think we all ask ourselves this question at times. Currently I volunteer in our student ministry. We have an amazing mix of students that cross all socio-economic areas. Many of those students come from split homes, or drug and abusive environments. Building relationships with these students is so important because they are looking for someone to love them and we have been commanded by Christ to love. A few months ago this question rose up inside of me. Am I doing enough? I spent some time working in the Juvenile Detention system and was able to see first hand the result of children not being loved. I never grew up around anything like it and so it really shocked me. My heart broke. Is it enough for us to expect a relationship to be built based off of a students attendance at a church function? Is it a relationship if one person is doing all of the work to make it work? The answer is no. How can you effectively know how to build a relationship, develop growth, or lead in discipleship if you dont know the family, or environment from which that student comes? This is another way of stepping out of our comfort zone. It wasnt hard to think back to the times someone had gone the extra mile for me and what that has meant in my life. Sure it can be a scary proposition, but we have to remember who is on our side.

A one time sacrifice of getting to know students, by going into their community, or environment, and attempting to understand their way of life, is worth the sacrifice. Respect is earned and for alot of these students that may be the only way to get the respect. This will also show true concern and care. They know how uncomfortable it may be for you to be there because for many of them they wish they were not there either. This is why it is so important for me to make the stride because they need somebody there with them. If they dont have anyone at home supporting positive change in their life then why would they stand the chance of success. They wont.

I hope I never reach a point of complacency in my life where I say I am finished. I have done enough.

Whats Next ?Posted by Patrick Scott on July 31st, 2008

There have been many times in my life that I have asked God “Whats Next”.  Sometimes it is out of pure despairation and other times it is from pure excitement.  For the longest time I believed that I shouldnt question God.  What kind of relationship is that?  How do you learn if questions are not being asked?  I love it when my son asks me questions and I get excited because he is wanting to learn things.  Is the absence of questions a lack of passion or contentment with complacency?  This question is not a general question but one I have to ask myself in my pursuit of Christ.  Even though God does things for us when we dont even ask for it, I believe, in my own life, that the more passionate I am the more questions I ask.  Is the Bible erelevant if we dont have questions?  What good is the Holy Spirit if we dont have questions?  The Bible was written for direction.  The Holy Spirit was sent to us for guidance.  The only way we will pursue answers is to have questions. 

Many times I feel as if my questions are silly or trivial.  Can I question and still have faith?  Have you ever believed your questions are too big for God to answer or too insignificant for Him to care about?