Since the winter of 2009, I have had the blessing and
privilege to work with Crosspoint’s youth. I have walked alongside some of our
current senior girls since they were in middle school. It is truly humbling and a blessing to me
personally.
Serving as a youth leader for these girls since my freshmen
year of college, I have found this familiar capacity can lead me to try to
serve in my own abilities independent from the Lord. Our student ministry staff team is currently
reading through Christian Counseling and Education Foundations compilation of
“must read” articles on parenting. A
recent article titled “What is ‘Success’ in Parenting Teens” written by Paul
David Tripp reminded me that the true “key to being used by God with our
children (students) is to start with your own heart.” Building upon this thought, the article
reminds me that teenagers are more like me than they are unlike me.
Often, I get frustrated when my students are unresponsive to
the Gospel. It is difficult to see them seeking wisdom from the world, being
impatient, or selfish. Then, reality
hits me. I am sinful too. Life experience and ministry experience has
not freed me from sin. I need the gospel,
because the Gospel of Christ is what draws me near to the Lord, not my own
fabricated wisdom or experience.
So how does this transform the way I relate to our students
and leaders? First, it leads me to personal
repentance and prayer. I am desperately
in need of my Savior, just as desperate as my students. In order to lead and serve the students and
leaders in our youth group, I must first draw near to the Lord. Through personal times of prayer and
repentance of my own sins, I am drawn near to Jesus.
Secondly, in relating to students, I must view my sin and circumstances in the
light of “the person and character of the God of the Bible.” In Job 28 God is
speaking to Job on his infinite wisdom following a season of deep suffering. This wisdom reminds Job of God’s character
and power over creation and that ultimately all things are used to bring about
his purposes. I was amazed by the beautiful poetry in Job,
taking me to the deepest parts of creation and then bringing me before the Lord
as the true source of wisdom.
“God understands the way to it,
and he
knows its place.
For he looks to the ends of the earth
and sees
everything under the heavens.
When he gave to the wind its weight
and
apportioned the waters by measure,
when he made a decree for the rain
and a way
for the lightning of the thunder,
then he saw it and declared it;
he
established it, and searched it out.
And he said to man,
‘Behold,
the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn
away from evil is understanding.’”
Job 28:23-28 ESV
In all aspects of my life, I need the wisdom of God to guide
me, that he might be glorified rather than myself.
Lastly, the gospel enables me to be authentic with my
life. Students desire authentic relationships. As my life is transformed through repentance,
prayer and the Word of God, I am able to confess sin before my students and
leaders demonstrating the genuine aspects of my life in Christ. This
transparency helps me model how the Gospel frees me from the bondage of sin and
allows me to experience the grace of God in everyday life.
To be an effective leader, experience is valuable, but
living a life constantly surrendered to the Gospel of Christ is essential.
By: Sammi Fife
No comments:
Post a Comment