This is the discussion question: In your post, please address the following:
Since young people have played a significant role in many spiritual awakenings and movements, what do you think needs to happen to experience an awakening among students today?
Briefly discuss how you see this affecting the way you do youth ministry in the future.
You are to only reply to student 1 and 2 separately
Student 1
Since young people have played a significant role in many spiritual awakenings and movements, what do you think needs to happen to experience an awakening among students today?
I truly do believe that young people play a huge roll in spiritual awakenings. I recently had a debate about the worship music that is being produced by the generation that is rising up. A lot of people complain about it being repetitive or have some problem with how it sounds. I debated with them that is a fresh anointing that God has placed on them, and this is the cry of their hearts. For another spiritual awaking movement to come to past it is going to take young people buying in and embracing that what they are being taught to be real and authentic. They also need to know that they are being heard.
There are so many things today that can distract someone and grab their attention. For youth it is mostly social media. Youth are drawn to social media because it is away that they can poor themselves into something and see results by the amount of likes or hits they get. In the same manner we must introduce them to Jesus in a way that they are seeing the fruits of what they believe. Leaders must integrate biblical truths and live them out with them. There must be a true hunger for God that is exampled to them by the one who is leading them. Another aspect that is vital for young people that could forge a spiritual awakening is building a relationship with them that builds a relationship with Jesus. To pray with them, and disciple them in a way that creates a desire to seek Jesus for themselves. The textbook states, “When someone tells me that they seek to live a life full of the Spirit, but they don’t ever share the good news of Jesus, I have a hard time believing them. If you are full of the Holy Spirit, you won’t be able to contain your evangelistic efforts, and neither will your teenagers!”[1] This statement from the text truly examples if the youth is given a substance that draws them to the goodness of God than nothing will keep them from experiencing it fully.
Briefly discuss how you see this affecting the way you do youth ministry in the future.
I see this affecting me in doing youth ministry in the future by the way I lead. I think that it is important for me to be bold in what I believe, and to lead by example. For there to be a hunger or unshakeable desire for God within the youth, I know that I must live that out by example. Furthermore, the text states, “The first step in creating a Gospel Advancing Ministry is to lay the foundation. And that foundation is prayer.”[2] I know that prayer is not the only way to lead youth but putting a foundation in place for them to follow is vital in them advancing the Gospel and experiencing another spiritual awakening.
[1] Greg Stier, Gospelize Your Youth Ministry: A Spicy New Philosophy of Youth Ministry (That’s 2,000 Years Old) (Dare 2 Share Ministries, 2015), 87.
[2] Greg Stier, Gospelize Your Youth Ministry: A Spicy New Philosophy of Youth Ministry (That’s 2,000 Years Old) (Dare 2 Share Ministries, 2015), 88.
Student 2
One concept that comes to mind about this discussion prompt comes from our reading that there needs to be a change in the way we minister to students that relates to their culture today. [1] I appreciate the example also from our textbook that discusses the normalcy of a picture of a buggy and carriage. But, if you placed that buggy and carriage in the middle of a major city, it would be abnormal. [1] That being said, I would focus on what our youth finds normal today and use that as a medium of getting the gospel known. This day and age, I find that there is a common theme of what’s “trending.” For example, “Tik Tok” is a “trending” social media platform that has popped onto my “Pinterest” app now and then. On these “Tik Toks,” there are some videos of teens sharing how God has changed their life. They are not talking in the video but have lyrics stating their stories with some music playing in the background. I believe this is a great way to put a foot in the door for sharing the gospel among the youth generation. I don’t have a “Tik Tok”, but their videos still pop up on my screen, and I’m sure it has or will pop up on other’s screens. They could reach a believer or non-believer as well. This does not address the gap of where the parents and church come in, however. I believe how the parents and church can get involved is by either participating in their student’s “Tik Toks” or even give ideas about what to share in their next one about God and His Word.
This gave me the idea that youth pastors can reach the youth with their own “Tik Toks” but make sure there is some actual face time with their youth in sharing of the gospel. My ideas of these face time activities include park outings, evening youth worship services, and volunteering. And with any of these activities, I would encourage my students to share them via “Tik Tok” for anyone to see their love and service to our Lord and Savior. Cellphones seem to always be attached to any youth among this generation and understand some of the difficulty parents struggle with in restricting their “screen time.” Instead of restricting their usage, parents can show interest in their student’s social media content. As Colossians 3:21 (ESV) states, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” As for the church, the youth ministers can set the example of a healthy amount of “screen time” but then get back out to serving in the field by the activities previously listed or any other activity that has cellphones tucked away.
[1] Jones, Timothy P. Family Ministry Field Guide: How Your Church Can Equip Parents to Make Disciples. (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Pub. House, 2011).,43.