Star Preacher

In an intiguing sermon, Spurgeon uses the star in the story of the nativity to offer challenging words for would-be preachers. Like the star, we are to be all about Christ:

"Are you in a hurry to preach, young man? Are you sure you are Christ's? Do you think it must be a fine thing to hold the company of people listening to your words?

Have you looked at it in another light? Have you weighed the responsibility of having to speak as Christ would have you speak, and of yielding yourself in your entire personality to the utterance of the mind of God? You must be consecrated and concentrated if you hope to be used of the Lord. If you have one ray, or ten thousand rays, all must shine with the one design of guiding men to Jesus.

You have nothing now to do with any object, subject, design, or endeavour, but Jesus only: in him, and for him, and to him must you live henceforth, or you will never be chosen of the Lord to conduct either wise men or babes to Jesus. " (From Spurgeon's sermon: The Star and the Wise Men, delivered Dec 24th, 1882)

there was no youth ministry

I came to the church that I am now youth pastoring at when I was a freshman in highschool. They did not have a youth pastor or a youth ministry.

And I'm glad.

Well, a thriving ministry might have reached out to other teens in the area. Might have.

I spent most of my time with the pastor and another guy in the church about my dad's age. They were men of God and it did not take too many visits at their houses, meals with their families, or evenings just having fun before I realized that I too wanted to be a man of God. I hesitate to think that I would be where I am today if there was a youth ministry in place. I would have been one in twenty or so teens, probably would have laughed much over people eating salty egg water and the pastor having shaving cream sprayed all over his chic hair. But I probably would not have responded to Christ in the same way, if at all.

So now I'm the youth pastor. Afraid I might be settling for the gimmicks. Well, I'm not content to just be wild. The teens need to connect with other adults in a setting that fosters encouragement, listening, palatable teaching, and plenty of tears of joy and sorrow.

This is so exciting. I'm not sure of all of the implications or ministry applications but the one man circus model is out.

What are your thoughts on effective youth ministry?