I wanted to quote one of the Diagnostic Questions for Youth Pastors [and Parents]:
Does our ministry compete in any way with the priority of corporate worship for students? We might consider, for example, how our desire to have relevant and age-appropriate teaching for our youth might sometimes prohibit them from being challenged to begin engaging with expository preaching, even during their young teenage years. This diagnostic question might force us to evaluate musical choices and styles as well, in both the youth group context and the corporate worship context.
For those at Wellspring, this is perhaps our number one critique we have received from parents, especially Junior High [but also High School aged parents]: My kids can't understand the sermons. This is the very reason we are about to begin a Junior High class on Sundays, recognizing that we want to serve parents in these transitional years where kids are moving from childhood to adulthood. However, I would like to rebut this critique by saying:
1. Kids Understand More Than We Realize
Anyone who has kids knows this to be true. They truly are sponges who have a very high capacity to learn and comprehend. We parents though regularly underestimate this fact. What parent hasn't caught their kids listening in on adult conversations capturing most if not all of very complex scenarios? What child has not asked significantly philosophical questions to parents on all sorts of life issues? Sometimes I wonder if we parents simply want to assume kids do not understand simply because they don't understand a few complex thoughts that need explaining. And that explaining actually means we need to have a conversation which leads to my next rebuttal.
2. Parents need to invest in their kids' spiritual lives through significant conversation.
What a blessing it would be if you asked your child about the Sunday message and she responded, "I didn't understand such-and-such part." What an opportunity to talk about Jesus. But the parent that doesn't see such times as opportunities, but rather as burdens (oh I wish they would just hear something that I don't need to have to explain to them about Jesus). Again, this simply reveals the parents' hearts and the fact that they are conveying to their child that Jesus is not worth the time to simply ask or investigate such questions and answers. No gifted youth pastor can undo the heart attitude that the parent is conveying to that child.
3. That Kid Will Be an Adult in the Church One Day
Your child will grow, quickly. He or she will no longer be in high school or college. He will be looking for a church to attend. And if he is unable to unpack God's Word or care for the exposition of it faithfully, then his soul will only be satisfied by messages that tickle the ears, a dangerous proposition for anyone's soul. One of the greatest tools you can teach your kids is to find joy and excitement in faithful expository preaching. It will feed his soul for a lifetime.
We will be providing this Junior Class on Sundays and I am really excited for it. However, it is not a panacea, not a replacement for biblical preaching. I had a mom of a Junior High youth tell me that her son referred to a message I preached on recently. He used it in a way to encourage his mom. I don't believe this had anything to do with MY preaching, but rather, the simple notion that an 11-year old can understand God's Word exposited on Sunday. I also know that such kids who hear God's Word and apply it will eventually bear lasting fruit one day. I hope our parents will come to see this as well.
1. Kids Understand More Than We Realize
Anyone who has kids knows this to be true. They truly are sponges who have a very high capacity to learn and comprehend. We parents though regularly underestimate this fact. What parent hasn't caught their kids listening in on adult conversations capturing most if not all of very complex scenarios? What child has not asked significantly philosophical questions to parents on all sorts of life issues? Sometimes I wonder if we parents simply want to assume kids do not understand simply because they don't understand a few complex thoughts that need explaining. And that explaining actually means we need to have a conversation which leads to my next rebuttal.
2. Parents need to invest in their kids' spiritual lives through significant conversation.
What a blessing it would be if you asked your child about the Sunday message and she responded, "I didn't understand such-and-such part." What an opportunity to talk about Jesus. But the parent that doesn't see such times as opportunities, but rather as burdens (oh I wish they would just hear something that I don't need to have to explain to them about Jesus). Again, this simply reveals the parents' hearts and the fact that they are conveying to their child that Jesus is not worth the time to simply ask or investigate such questions and answers. No gifted youth pastor can undo the heart attitude that the parent is conveying to that child.
3. That Kid Will Be an Adult in the Church One Day
Your child will grow, quickly. He or she will no longer be in high school or college. He will be looking for a church to attend. And if he is unable to unpack God's Word or care for the exposition of it faithfully, then his soul will only be satisfied by messages that tickle the ears, a dangerous proposition for anyone's soul. One of the greatest tools you can teach your kids is to find joy and excitement in faithful expository preaching. It will feed his soul for a lifetime.
We will be providing this Junior Class on Sundays and I am really excited for it. However, it is not a panacea, not a replacement for biblical preaching. I had a mom of a Junior High youth tell me that her son referred to a message I preached on recently. He used it in a way to encourage his mom. I don't believe this had anything to do with MY preaching, but rather, the simple notion that an 11-year old can understand God's Word exposited on Sunday. I also know that such kids who hear God's Word and apply it will eventually bear lasting fruit one day. I hope our parents will come to see this as well.