So I have been all these years in full understanding of youth ministry and many of its workings. I have always been focused on leading our young people into a deeper relationship and understanding of God and His Word. I have never been one to water things down so that our youth are entertained, or not too stimulated. But, I must admit with my current youth ministry the temptation is there. I am oftern tempted to not go so in depth because our youth ministry is usually 75% kids who have not been in church for long, most of which do not know the Lord, and many have never been in a church before about 6-12 months ago. So I am sure you can see my dilemma, the want to simplify everything so that they will have no choice but to get it. Then I remind myself it is not my job, God has it all in control. While I may have physically picked them up and driven them to church, God is the sole reason they are there.
Hebrews 5:12-14 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still and infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
There it is, if I keep all of them on milk alone, the older ones will stagnate and eventually lose interest. If all I give the young ones, and the new ones to church is milk then eventually they will grow accustomed to milk, become dependent on it and they too will not grow to reach their potential in Christ.
So we have to give them meat. I am learning this because 2 weeks ago I went pretty deep with the lesson and I felt like I went over many of their heads, yet, that was the lesson that some of our church (infants) commented more on. Because they were being spurred on. And, the light came on that this is how I have always done it, don't change now.
If you get right down to it, that is what their life is all about. As students they are conditioned to learn and grow each day. As athletes and musicians as well, they are conditioned to learn and grow each day. Why should it be any different at church?
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