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Biblical Basis |
Hebrews 5:11-14
tells us that believers are subject to being “dull of hearing”
(v.11), or hearing without faith or the moral fruit of faith.
This problem manifests itself in the failure to believe in an
obeying way because of dullness, slowness, and hardness in
the heart. It is characterized by a lack of sharing, mastering,
and experience with God’s Word (v.12, 13). Because of the great
danger of being dull of hearing (Luke 8:18), there is an
imperative to prevent and treat this spiritual development
problem. The remedy is to continue feeding on milk while
training, through constant practice, to discern moral good from
evil (v.14) that we might live obediently. Exercise with the
rich, nutritional and precious milk of God’s gospel produces a
spiritual mind that is able to discern between good and evil. It
is that mind that can go on in maturity to digest the
meatier things of the Word.
Proverbs 8-9
describes a scene in which the way of wisdom is contrasted with
the way of folly. The author clearly and consistently calls the
foolish, the simple, the young, and the wise (1:4-5, 8,9) to not
only choose wisdom, but to cherish it (8:10, 34-35). Just as
emphatically, the reader is warned of the consequences of folly
(8:36, 9:18). The author first and foremost is calling us to the
Wisdom of God, Christ (Col. 2:3; I Cor 1:24). The author is also
calling us to learn wisdom, that is, to
live skillfully manifesting God’s
character and will in one’s everyday life, making godly
decisions, and being so oriented to God that one’s life choices
always please Him. The
primary method utilized by the authors of Proverbs is to
describe what the wise and the foolish person are like – to give
us illustrations and examples of the principles of wisdom. A
consistent consideration, application, and demonstration of
wisdom not only develops foolish, simple, or youthful people
into wise people, but it calls them to Christ, who is their
Savior and the manifestation of God’s wisdom.
Ephesians 1-2
explains in bold statements who God is (our redeemer), who we
are (people dead in sin and children of wrath), what God has
done through Christ (saved us), and, as a result, who we are “in
Christ.” It not only causes us to marvel at the plan of
redemption but it serves as a foundation for establishing a
clear understanding of our position and identity in Christ. Such
fundamental truths are essential for young believers to treasure
and believe in an obeying way. As a ministry, we pray as Paul
did (vv. 17-19a), “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give you [the youth] a spirit of wisdom and
of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your
hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which
he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable
greatness of his power toward us who believe…” As we pray, we
work to see the youth inspired by the spiritual reality set
forth in Ephesians 1.
I Timothy 4:6-16
draws the various ministry approaches utilized by the youth
ministry together in the context of Paul giving instruction to
Timothy on how to minister to those around him. In vv. 6-9 Paul
inspires Timothy by reminding him of the past truths he
has come to know and follow, to not become preoccupied with
worldly things of the present but rather with godliness, and to
set his focus and energies on his future hope, the living God.
In vv. 11-16 Paul instructs Timothy to teach those
believers to whom he ministers. It is established clearly here
and throughout Scripture that the formal teaching of the Word is
of utmost importance (2 Timothy 3:14-17, Romans 10:5-17). The
implication being that believers who are taught the Word, grow
in understanding and practical holiness. Finally, in vv. 11-16,
Paul exhorts Timothy to neither underestimate nor undermine his
influence, particularly the influence that is wielded
through example. Similarly, in the context of relationship, the
youth ministry team will have opportunity to influence the youth
through their example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and
purity. |
