All posts tagged youth ministry

Ministry Helps – Called to be an Associate Pastor

by Ryan Marcum on May 4, 2010 in Blog, Ministry Helps with No comments

Hey everyone, I have another GREAT post from a long-time friend in the ministry, Jeff Prosser. Jeff was the first person who “showed me the ropes” of ministry. I remember speaking to students, for the first time, under Jeff and I am greatly appreciative. If you are near the Richmond, Ky. area and are looking for a wealth of information on ministry, I would definitely recommend him. Jeff has been successful at both youth and associate ministry roles.

Name: Jeff Prosser
nickname: JP

Ministry Position or Expertise:
Associate Pastor

Where are you located:
Richmond, KY

How long have you been in/doing current ministry/expertise:
youth ministry 18 years, Associate Pastor 3 years


(In your opinion)

1. What are some things you wish you knew before entering into your specific ministry/expertise?
To know how fluid of a position this was going to be.  It’s always changing and I typically enjoy the “fluidness”, but sometimes miss the constants.

2. What are some specific ways to build knowledge/experience in your area of ministry/expertise?
READ!  A saying a mentor told me once…”If you’re going to lead, you gotta read.”

Talking and asking questions to others who are in similar positions. I have found that in my position as an associate pastor the roles and expectations depend on the church you serve.

3. What are some common challenges associated with your area of ministry/expertise?
If you operate with a “to do” list usually because of the make up of this position that will get tossed out the door most days.  Again, the most fluid position I’ve ever served.

4. What was your biggest learning experience concerning your ministry/expertise?
It’s all about the relationship.  Programs and agendas are to help those relationships.

5. What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing ministry/expertise?
It must be a calling of God.  Ask lots of questions.  Put Godly mature people around you.

6. What tools/websites do you use in your ministry/expertise?
Facebook has been a huge resource.  I’m an avid blog reader and blogger, I’ve found lots of good resources through that world.

7. What are some key failures that you would pass along to someone interested in ministry/expertise?
Don’t think you can build a ministry around yourself.  There should be no Lone Rangers.

8. What traits must one possess in order to excel in your area ministry/expertise?
Gotta love PEOPLE and have a heart for them.  That’s why you do what you do in ministry.

9. What is the vision for your ministry/expertise?
To try and infiltrate our community with the love of Jesus.  The days of opening the doors of the church and inviting folks to come in are over.  We must go to where the people are.

To see people become true disciples of Jesus Christ.

10. Do you see any current trends in your area of ministry? Will the trend(s) have a positive/negative impact on future ministry/expertise?
I work a lot with our college ministry…I hear lots of students talk about how the church is irrelevant to them today.   If that kind of thinking does not change by the church becoming more relevant to the culture, that could have a tremendous negative impact on what I do as a pastor.

11. Are you on social media? If so, which ones?
Facebook

Blogger

Contact:

1.  Does your ministry have a website? Yes or No, If so, write url in space below:
Yes our church website is www.firstbaptistnet.com

2. What is the best way to contact you if someone has a specific question regarding your field of ministry/expertise?
jeff.prosser@firstbaptistnet.com

MISC:

1.  What books are you currently reading/recommend?
The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

Who Stole my Church by Gordon McDonald

2. What was your latest itunes download?
Toby Mac’s “Tonight”

3. What is your latest project/event that people should know about?
Single Mom’s Oil Change Ministry, a ministry to Single Mom’s in our community.  May 15th.

Ministry Helps – Called to be a Youth Pastor

by Ryan Marcum on April 27, 2010 in Blog, Ministry Helps with No comments

I have recently sent out a questionnaire to a group of individuals who are in ministry positions or are in fields that some of you are interested in. This is the first in a series of posts from these dedicated individuals whom I look up to. The goal of these posts are to serve as connection points for those seeking ministry positions and or just looking for more information.

Here ya go, fresh off the press! This ministry help is from a Youth Pastor from Bowling Green Kentucky. His name is Brian Smith and his game is youth ministry!

Ministry Position or Expertise: Student Ministry
Where are you located: Bowling Green Kentucky
How long have you been in/doing current ministry? Part Time 5 years = Full Time = 6 years – Total 11 years

Coaching:

(In your opinion)
1. What are some things you wish you knew before entering into your specific ministry/expertise?
I wish I would have had a firm grasp of how to write a Bible lesson. I also wish I would have had some ideas on how to plan trips, mission projects, etc. I feel that we did without because of my fear of the unknown. I didn’t know how to do it, so I didn’t.

2. What are some specific ways to build knowledge/experience in your area of ministry/expertise?
Find a mentor. This is a must in ministry. Someone you can bounce ideas off of and that you can learn from. I also recommend that you never stop reading. Place a priority on your family, and on your personal time with God. Church life can so easily get in the way of these!

3. What are some common challenges associated with your area of ministry/expertise?
People understanding that ministry has changed “since they were teenagers.” I would say one of the most frustrating issues is leaders and parents not understanding today’s student ministry. I feel called to ministering to the entire family. Many people just want a baby sitter.

4. What was your biggest learning experience concerning your ministry/expertise?
Seeing that church life is a lot different once you are on staff. This is positive and negative. I always thought working at a church would be spiritually uplifting. I quickly learned that I have to make my spiritual walk my #1 priority, I can’t just assume because I work at church it will already be.

5. What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing ministry/expertise?
Get as much education as you can. Education is key. I was not much for studying, but as I began seminary I felt like I couldn’t learn enough! Some of the things you learn in seminary doesn’t seem relevant, but I find myself using the things I learned in school on a daily basis.

6. What tools/websites do you use in your ministry/expertise?
I have several books with current ideas. I use a lot of commentaries and Bible Study helps as I study to teach. There are several websites that I rely on where I can bounce ideas around. www.youthspecialties.com, www.pastor2youth.com, I also frequent state Baptist convention sites. Also of course ryanmarcum.com

7. What are some key failures that you would pass along to someone interested in ministry/expertise?
Pray through everything! Sometimes I want to jump the gun and not truly seek God on an idea or opportunity. If we are not praying through our ministry, then they will never be successful. Also don’t always assume the grass is greener on the other side. Whether it is another ministry you are looking at or another church that you think you want to work at. Sometimes the reason the grass is greener is because it is sitting on top of the septic tank!

8. What traits must one possess in order to excel in your area ministry/expertise?
Servant attitude, and a humble heart. The ability to fail, stand back up and try again. And you must have a desire for longevity. Change in student ministry does not happen overnight. We must stick around in order to see God do a miraculous work!

9. What is the vision for your ministry/expertise?
Lead believers and non-believers to have a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. And to help families live this relationship out as one unit.

10. Do you see any current trends in your area of ministry? Will the trend(s) have a positive/negative impact on future ministry/expertise?
Trends are changing every day in student ministry! I do see a trend that could possibly change the way that we do ministry and that is social media. I think we need to begin to really rethink how we, as student pastors, are using social media, and how we can use it better to draw students and families closer to Christ. Another SHIFT if student ministry is FAMILY ministry. Student pastors encouraging and resourcing parents to disciple their children more than planning the NEXT BIG EVENT.

11. Are you on social media? If so, which ones?

Twitter – briansmith10

Facebook – briansmith10

Youtube – briansmith1200

Contact:

1. Does your ministry have a website? Yes or No, If so, write url in space below:
www.eastwoodbc.org

2. What is the best way to contact you if someone has a specific question regarding your field of ministry/expertise?
email: brian@eastwoodbc.org

MISC:

1. What books are you currently reading/recommend?
I just ordered “Shift” and am looking forward to starting it. Lost and Found by Ed Stetzer. Every new youth pastor should read Doug Field’s “First Two Years in Youth Ministry.” “Leading From the Second Chair,” “1001 Ways to Reward Your Employees” – it is a secular book that gives great ideas of things to do for your volunteers.

2. What was your latest itunes download?
I believe it was some 90’s rap. Kicking it Old School!

3. What is your latest project/event that people should know about?
Been working on some different missions activities. Doing local Servant Evangelism type projects around the community and working on a Mission Trip in the state of KY, to work with locals in the Appalachian Region.

Love God Love People ryanmarcum.com

Nicodemus Part 2 of 4

by Ryan Marcum on April 6, 2010 in Blog, Ministry Helps, Sermon Outline with No comments

NICODEMUS – BORN AGAIN LESSON #2

Tonight is the second part of our series on Nicodemus! Who can tell me anything from last week? (Wait for something about shallow faith) Good answers. Let’s pick up where we left off, Nicodemus met with Jesus at night and gave Jesus a compliment about being from God, but what we did not see is Jesus’ response. Check out:

John 3:3-8   3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Here some things that stick out, that we will be looking at:

  1. Born Again
  2. Kingdom of God
  3. Born of water and spirit

So, what does it mean to be Born Again? (give adequate time for students to think about the question) The phrase, born again, is the display of God giving eternal life to a person who is dead in sin. Let us take a look at some verses to explore this though even more. (Divide students into groups, depending on the number of students you have) had out the following verses for each group to look up, act out and recite to the group as a whole; BORN AGAIN:

Ephesians 2:4-5  4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17  17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Titus 3:5  5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

James 1:18 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

1 Peter 1:3    3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

These verses give us a look into salvation that only comes from God through Jesus, this “new birth represents the gift of God that brings us life out of death! When Jesus tells Nicodemus You must be born again, this birth is a second chance! Wayne Grudem explains it like this; Regeneration is a secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life to us This is sometimes called being born again(using language from John 3:3-8)[1]. Jesus then goes on to say that Nicodemus cannot see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. What is the Kingdom of God? (again give students adequate time to answer) Nicodemus being a Jew anticipated the Kingdom of God and like all good Jews believed that doing the right things (observing laws and religious rituals) would work their way into the kingdom of God. For brevity when we say the Kingdom of God we are referring to; the Kingdom of salvation, the spiritual realm where those who have been born again by divine power through faith now live under the rulership of God.[2]

Born of Water & Spirit

What does it mean to be born of water and spirit? (give students adequate time to answer) Some would hear this and think there are two aspects of being born again; one being born of water and the second as being born of spirit. DO NOT LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.  Born of the water and Spirit parallels the phrase “born again” in verse three.[3] Some scholars believe that Nicodemus would not have understood our understanding of Christian Baptism because it did not exist yet.[4] Jesus new Nicodemus would have understood both water and spirit symbolically through the Old Testament to spiritual cleanliness. Have students read the following verses out loud;

Numbers 19:17-19  17 “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. 18 Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or someone who has been killed or someone who has died a natural death. 19 The man who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify him. The person being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and that evening he will be clean.

Isaiah 4:4 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.

Joel 2:28-29  28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Ezekiel 36:24-27  24 ” ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

John MacArthur says of Ezekiel 36:24-27; It was surely the passage that Jesus was had in mind, showing regeneration to be an Old Testament truth with which Nicodemus would have been acquainted.[5] Jesus’ statement was very clear, without being born of water and spirit which is acted out only by the Holy Spirit, no one can enter the Kingdom of God.

What is Baptism? Denfinition:

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.[6]

For our definition we will use this simple definition: Baptism = outward expression of inward transformation. (SHOW CLIP OF Oh’ Brother Where Art Thou Baptism Scene)

Oh’ Brother where art thou? Clip

Was this a picture of being born again? If Baptism is an Outward Expression of an Inward Transformation something must be different! The Holy Spirit washes us clean and we become a NEW CREATION!

In closing, if you are here tonight and have ever made the decision to follow Christ with your whole being yet have never outwardly expressed that decision I invite you to come forward during the closing song and speak with a counselor and know that you know you have been born again.

[1] Grudem, Wayne Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Zondervan 1994) 699

[2] MacArthur, John The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, Moody Publishers 2006) 102

[3] Ibid, 104.

[4] Carson, D.A. The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans 1991) 191-196

[5] MacArthur, John The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, Moody Publishers 2006) 105

[6] Baptist Faith and Message Baptistm and the Lord’s Supper; available from http://www.sbc.net/BFM/bfm2000.asp;  Internet; accessed 06 April 2010.

Nicodemus, Jesus Knows Your Heart

by Ryan Marcum on April 6, 2010 in Blog, Ministry Helps, Sermon Outline with No comments

This is the first of four simple teaching outlines for youth ministry feel free to take and adjust for your needs!

Background of Nicodemus & Jesus Knows Your Heart LESSON #1

Good evening! Great Worship time guys, if you have your Bibles raise them up! If you need a Bible let a student leader know and they will help you out. Tonight we are going to begin our new series about Nicodemus. Can anyone tell me anything about Nicodemus? (Give Students the proper amount of time to respond) Does anyone know the verse John 3:16? You may not know what the context around this verse but the passage, John 3:1-21, is in the middle of a conversation Jesus had with a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Does anyone know where Nicodemus is mentioned in the Bible besides John chapter three? Let’s take a look at some scriptural references of where Nicodemus is mentioned;

John 3:1-21 (already mentioned)

John 7:45-51, Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why   didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”

John 19:39-42, He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Who was Nicodemus? Nicodemus was a Pharisee, his name was Greek in origin which means, victor over the people. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin a ruler of the Jews; however nothing is known about his background. We saw in John chapters seven and nineteen that Nicodemus became a believer. In the passage we will be talking about Nicodemus is still seeking answers from Jesus.

Check out John 2:23-3:3:

23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name, 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. 3:1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”

Here we see Jesus in Jerusalem performing miracles and they believed in His name. Like the people mentioned here there are some here tonight who believe the things we talk about but if you look in the very next verse we see something that I do not want you to miss. Check out verse twenty four; it says that Jesus knew all men and He knew what was in a man. Jesus KNOWS your HEART. True faith is much more that believing in miracles it is a whole-hearted commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior over your life. So the question tonight is; is your faith a shallow faith?

Then walks in Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who is connected with the superficial believers whose heart Jesus read like an open book.[1] In this passage we see Jesus pointing Nicodemus to the life changing nature of true saving faith.

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, this is interesting because it could mean a couple of things, one being that Nicodemus did not represent all of the Sanhedrin and two, he did not want others to know of the inquiry. The most important part of these two is that Nicodemus showed up! Nicodemus was willing to put himself out there, remember JUST SHOWING UP DOESN’T GUARANTEE SALVATION but it is important that you showed up tonight.

Back to the question; Is your faith shallow? Have volunteers read, Romans twelve verses one through two and James one twenty two through twenty four.

Romans 12:1-2 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? To live is to, well, BE ALIVE! And to be a sacrifice is to BE DEAD! So how can one be alive and dead at the same time? It does not make sense! (Wait for student responses) God calls those that follow after Him be alive in Christ, repenting of sin, accepting the gift of salvation and allow Jesus to be Lord over our lives. God also calls us to die to self, no longer living in sin which represents selfish desires in essence dying to ourselves. If you are here tonight living for self take a moment to evaluate why you are here, really dig deep and seek God. Some are here just talking the walk instead of walking the talk. Check out our next verse.

James 1:22-24 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

How many would raise your hand if I were to ask, how many here tonight know that you only hear what we talk about and never do anything about it? (Rhetorical) The simple fact is we all at times miss the point of walking by faith! We like Nicodemus are inquiring instead of living our faith out.

As we close tonight evaluate your relationship with God and ask yourself if you are living for God or if you are living for self. Jesus knows your heart. You can not fool Him, you cannot squeak by. You either are a true believer or you’re not.

CLOSING GAME:
(blind-fold obstacle course)
Students will pair off in two’s – Teammate will blindfold the other and guide blindfolded teammate through obstacle course while other teams try and confuse them by yelling and making noise.

[1] MacArthur, John The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, Moody Publishers 2006) 100