Youth Ministry

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." --Eph. 6:4

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching." --Proverbs 1:8

The biblical basis for youth ministry begins and ends with dads. They are portrayed throughout Scripture as the family shepherd (Deut. 6:6-7; Proverbs 1-7; Eph. 6:1-4). Moms also play a role in the shepherding process, as shown in Prov. 1:8; and implied elsewhere (Eph. 6:1, & 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15, where a believing father was not present). Still, it is the father who is foremost accountable for the spiritual nurture and admonition of his children.

For this blueprint to be complete, it must also include the role of the church. Since youth who believe are members of Christ's body, they can grow as members only if embraced into the church's life and mission. Unbelieving youth need exposure to the church as well; that in witnessing its love and unity, they may come under conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (John 17:20-23).

Just as the early church appointed officially recognized servants to attend to those in need (in this case widows, Acts 6:1-6), the church may appoint servants to meet the special needs of its youth. However, this must be done in a way that does not shift the emphasis on youth ministry away from dads to the church.

The purpose of youth ministry, then, is to glorify God by drawing children and adolescents into that which represents Jesus Christ on earth today: the church (Matt. 19:14; 21:15-16). The goal of youth ministry is to raise up a generation that knows the Lord and carries on His earthly mission. The means through which this is achieved is by integrating youth into the three areas of church ministry: worship, body-life, and outreach.

More will be covered on the subject of youth in an posting that deals with the intergenerational setting of church gatherings.