Today was a fun night as our 6^th graders enjoyed their first full day in Student Ministry! We kicked off playing some games tonight, and then I sat them down to share with them some of the events of Geek’d Con from this past weekend. Amid the pictures, I showed them one picture of a particular family. This picture is unique because I have gotten a picture with them each year for the last eight years at Geek’d Con. This family I’ve grown to know and developed a great relationship because, over the years, Celeste and I have invested in that relationship.  This led to our conversation today: “How do we invest in each other?“

As a student ministry, we must invest in each other appropriately to grow and be healthy. To illustrate this, I pointed the students to the example of Paul and Timothy. While Paul was specifically a spiritual father to Timothy, in the opening of 2 Timothy, Paul illustrates three simple things we can do to invest in each other.

Pray for each other

2 Timothy 1:3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 

As Christians, we need to pray for each other. Not just prayers over needs but prayers of blessings. These don’t have to be long, drawn-out prayers. Often, simple prayers over each other throughout the day can be powerful.

Showing that you care for each other

2 Timothy 1:4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

Showing that we genuinely care about each other is essential in a community. This can range from simply checking in on each other to taking the time to listen to each other to being intentional about being present.

Encourage each other to continue growing.

2 Timothy 1:5-6 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 

While we show that we care for each other, we also need to be intentional about encouraging each other to grow in our faith. We should challenge each other to spend more time in the scriptures and in prayer and constantly strive to be more like Christ. This often takes the form of doing more than just saying, “Hey! Have you prayed lately?” It sometimes means saying, “Hey, have you been in prayer lately? Can we pray together?”

We left our students with a simple challenge. Before we gather again, try to do all 3 of these things for someone else in the group.