This is what I am presenting not only to our pastor, the elders, and the students themselves, but I'm going to mail this home to every parent of our youth so they know "what we're doing" when we gather together and what the goal of our meeting together is. I trust this will be helpful to those who check out this blog...
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I want to make clear some of the foundational truths that we stand on here at
Our youth group is built upon 5 pillars
- Extolling God’s Character
It is our commitment to extol the absolute and utter sovereignty of God (Ps 93:1; Isa 46:10; Rev 19:6). The Bible clearly explains that God is holy (Lev 19:2), just (Deut 32:4), loving (1 John 4:8), merciful (Deut 4:31), gracious (Neh 9:17), angry with sin (Ps 7:11), and able to save (Eph 2:8-10; 2 Tim 1:9). We commit to extolling God’s character as we come together to worship corporately (Heb 10:25), and individually in the privacy of our own lives (1 Cor 10:31). Soli Deo Gloria.
- Explaining God’s Word
It is our commitment to explain God’s Word as we faithfully interpret and accurately apply God’s Word to the hearts and lives of our students (Neh 8:8). First and foremost, this requires the teacher to make certain his heart is right before God as he studies and prepares his own heart in order to be a pure vessel fit for the Master’s service in explaining and teaching the Scriptures to others (1 Tim 4:13-16). We commit to make the teaching of God’s Word the primary focus of our youth meetings—whether we are working through a book of the Bible, going through a topical study, or simply observing a singular text—so that the students know what God has to say. For after all, God has given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3-4).
- Enthusiastically Worshiping God
It is our commitment to worship God in a way that is true, spirit-based, controlled, and yet enthusiastically joyful (Ps 100:1, 4). We desire to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We believe that God has revealed that He is, indeed, the God of gods and must solely be worshipped (Ps 96:5). He is to be worshipped with awe and joy (Ps 2:11). However, it is altogether recognized that this enthusiasm in worshipping God only comes from the Holy Spirit (John 3:8) when one has been born-again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3) to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4; Eph 4:1) growing in sanctification (1 Thess 4:3; Heb 12:14). Therefore, worshipping God is something that is never dull or boring but rather sincere and joyous (Ps 32:11)!
- Encouraging One Another
It is our commitment to habitually encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11). This may take several forms. First, this may evidence itself in a loving rebuke (Prov 27:5). We are confident that a loving confrontation when another brother sins is the loving thing to do (Gal 6:1; Matt 18:15-18; 2 Tim 4:2). Second, this may be evidenced in verbally encouraging and giving glory to God for what another individual has done (1 Thess 5:14; Heb 3:13). Our goal in encouraging one another is to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24) and becoming more Christlike in our private walk with Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:17).
- Evangelizing Lost Sinners
It is our commitment to make evangelism a central mark of our ministry. It is clearly stated in the Bible that most people are unbelievers and headed for an eternity in torment in hell (Matt 7:13-14). Therefore, we take it as our responsibility to proclaim the gospel (2 Tim 4:1-2; 2 Cor 3:6) and let God change the heart and draw the sinner to Himself if He deems it best (1 Cor 3:7-8; John 6:44; 1 Pet 1:2-3). Therefore, we make it our ambition to clearly and faithfully proclaim the biblical gospel during each teaching session when we corporately gather together (Acts 17:1-3; 1 Tim 4:13) as well as to personally share the gospel with those we come in contact with day by day (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 8:34-36).
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Blessings.
Pastor Geoff
