t-blog

Life is full a crossroads. Critical decisions come at pace that often finds us unprepared. How do you make the hard decisions or even the urgent decisions that face you? No one makes a decision to intentionally hurt ourselves or those we care about. But we all make decisions based on a set of values. None of us make decisions in a worldview vacuum.

If our values influence our decisions, what do our teenage sons and daughter value? Relationships? Media? Acceptance? Approval? Faith? Gadgets? Freedom? Money? Popularity? Teenagers will make decisions based on whether or not they will have more Facebook friends.

To see what teenagers value, just take a look at what you value. Our children will establish a pattern of decision making will look like that of their parents. Everyday, Christian parents make decisions based on social status, financial benefit, and leadership positions. Can you see the pattern? All too often we make decisions based on what will be the best for US! Our teenagers are doing the same thing.

If it is our desire to shape a Christian worldview in the lives of our, then our life decisions must be based on one thing only–the truth of God’s Word. Jesus asked the question,  “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46, HCSB). “Being a Christian means being a person who labors to establish his beliefs, his dreams, his choices, his very view of the world on the truth of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished” (Josh Harris, Dug Down Deep). The preeminent value for all decision-making in the Christian life is the Word of Truth.

With that in mind, here’s Rule #2 for Shaping a Christian Worldview in Your Teenager. Let your children see you looking for answers in God’s Word? That includes decisions to change jobs, make major purchases, vacationing, or choosing a school for your children, managing your finances, serving at your church, and wrestling with physical trials. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (Psalm 119:105, HCSB).

Parents should design a standard practice for decision-making that can be transferred to their teenagers. When you are faced with a life decision…

1. Begin with prayer and ask God for His wisdom.
2. Then study to find biblical principles to guide your decision.
3. Make the decision that follows the truth of God’s Word.

Remember, shaping a Christian worldview at home is neither easy nor fast. It requires intentional steps and a lifelong commitment. But the rewards are eternal.

Teenagers with a biblically grounded Christian worldview do not just happen, they must be built. “In the absence of biblical formative instruction, secular formative instructors take over. Our hearts are easily captivated by the hollow and deceptive philosophy of a godless culture.[1] The task of building a Christian worldview in the lives of our teenage children is a proactive one. It is not to be attempted passively. Before construction begins, parents and church leaders must have a blueprint. The powerful thing about a blueprint is that it allows the builder and the future residents to see how things should look from perspective of the architect.

If parents desire to build a Christian worldview in the lives of their teenagers, they must translate the dynamic truth of the Gospel into the daily trek of real life. Once again, we are faced with deciding to be intentional or reactive. One leads to building a Christian worldview the other leads to watching someone else build it.

But before construction begins, parents must take some time for a little personal reflection and lay out a strategy for shaping a christian worldview at home through what I call 8 Simple Rules for Shaping a Christian Worldview at Home.

In her recent book, Almost Christian: What the Faith of teenagers Is Telling the American Church, Kenda Dean states that “most teenagers are perfectly content with their religious worldviews; it is churches that are—rightly—concerned. So we must assume that the solution lies not in beefing up congregational youth programs or making worship more “cool” and attractive, but in modeling the kind of mature, passionate faith we say we want young people to have.”

The key to shaping a Christian worldview is this. You have to be a Christian worldview before you can teach a Christian worldview. Your kids will learn more from your life than your words.

With this in mind, here is Rule #1: In every situation ask, “Does this honor God?” Your teenager must see you evaluating every situation and decision with a concern for what will bring glory to God. That means that you have to ask (not just in your mind) if God will be glorified in this vacation to the Grand Canyon or how will God get the glory if you by a new car. The biblical foundation for this rule is centered on 1 Corinthians 10:31. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

Start today by seeking God’s glory in every day’s activities.

[1]Trip, Ted and Margy. Instructing a Child’s Heart (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2008), 15.

The last two days have been a blast! I love what I do and I am beyond grateful to god for the privilege to be a part of His plan to redeem the lost…globally.

Yesterday we had some outstanding class discussion. We didn’t cover as much as I had planned, but students are digging in and genuinely trying to grasp the transferable principles and how they apply in their context. Today, we were cooking. Great comments and questions plus we covered a lot of ground. The last two days of class looked like this:

• Develop a long term strategy for a campus ministry
• Key questions for assessing schools
• Restructure for a campus ministry(talked a little about Phil Rice)
• Becoming an Insider
• Understanding Contacting: To Be Seen, To Be Known, To Be Understood
• The Campus Meeting: Impact Meeting

Tomorrow we will wrap up the week by digging into student evangelism strategies. This is always my favorite part of this class. It will flow like this:

• The Campus Meeting: Insight Meeting
• Mobilizing Teens to Reach Their School
• Preparing for a Campus Ministry: The Youth Leader & the Students

Outside of class, we had even more fun. Mentoring can be the most fun you ever have in youth ministry. We left class and went to a mall for lunch at Chili’s.

What a great mall with unbelievable views of the city looking out over an infinity pool. My students (I mean Dennis’ students) really welcomed me to the group. (Did I say how much I love what I do?) It was their first time to eat at Chili’s, it’s a pretty new mall.

After lunch, we caught a movie. We saw Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was my second time to see it, but this time it was in Spanish without subtitles. I really enjoyed it (probably because I just saw it 5 days ago).

To all the students in my class, “Thank you.” You have made this an unforgettable adventure this week. I hope I have another opportunity to hang out with you in the near future.

This is from West Ridge Church outside of Atlanta. I know it is from last year, but still very powerful!

I know I just posted, but I just received this video from one of the youth ministry students who is from Monterey, MX. His father is a pastor who does so much to serve the people of Monterey.