Adventures in Student Ministry

It was a great night in Students as we worshiped the Lord and then leaned into a discussion about how to create a welcoming culture.

We are about to enter a new school year, and we have new sixth-graders joining us in the Student Ministry. 

ASK: What was it like when you first came into the Student Ministry? How did you feel? 

ASK: Being in student ministry now, how do you feel about it?

Someone feeling welcomed and part of a group is kind of a two-part process. One part is on the person, whether or not they are willing to step out of their comfort zone and connect with new people. At the same time, the other part rests on the group to do their best to make a place feel welcoming.

The writer of Hebrews says it this way in Hebrews 10:24-25:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

Here he’s making it clear that in a group, the responsibility rests on everyone involved.

“Let us consider how to stir up” – This line is important because it suggests that there’s a level of intentionality. We need to be intentional about what we do. We need to be intentional as a group wo stir up in each other a desire to love and to do good works. 

ASK: What does it take to be intentional about building up a culture here that inspires people to love (in a godly manner) and to do good works?

The answer to this question can be found in Mark 12:29-31

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Here Jesus lays out what the 2nd most important thing follows up on the most important task of a Christian. 

1. We need to love god with everything we have, honestly. We need to give him all that we have. If I could rephrase this verse, I’d say this: “Make sure every thought, every word, and every action you do is done in dedication and love for who God is.
   1. This idea of full dedication dictates how we respond to people and the things in life, which is what leads u to the second command. We begin to ask ourselves, “Is my action towards this person or this situation honoring of God?” “Are my thoughts about this person or this situation honoring of God?” “Are the words I’m speaking about this person or situation honoring of God?”
2. We need to love others as we love ourselves. Some people have taken this scripture out of context and tried to place it above the first command to justify sinful activities or to shame Christians for holding Godly principles.
   1. This verse does not mean we cannot call sin sin, or that we should just let people do whatever they want. God’s heartbeat is to see people repent and turn to the Father. The bible says that people can’t do that if they aren’t told what sin is. 
   2. But what this does say is that we should treat people with care and respect just as we do ourselves. You naturally work to take care of yourself. You naturally wish for people to show you grace, hear you out, and forgive you. We have to be willing to do the same for others.

So the question becomes, what do you want people to experience when they come into this place in the next few weeks and even over the year?

To end, i asked all the students to write down on our blackboard what they want people to experience when they come into youth this year.