I got to preach in "Big Church" this past Sunday.
I decided to preach on Ephesians 4.11-12. I love how the NRSV puts it, "He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some teachers and pastors..." and now my favorite part, "to equip the saints for the work of the ministry."
If we break down the word "saint" it means something different then a dead person with a building named after them. The Greek word for saint is the same word that is translated as "holy." So a saint is someone who is holy. if we read in Ephesians 5.25-26 we discover that Jesus gave himself for the Church to "make her holy." Jesus, through his blood shed on the cross, made the Church holy, made them "saints." So if you are a part of the Body of Christ, then you're a saint! Cool thought.
"Ministry" is about far more than a nicely dressed person (usually male) giving a nice speech in the front of a room. The Greek word for ministry means "service" or "servanthood," or literally "to wait on tables." a minister was a waiter, someone who existed to serve others. With this understanding of being a minister, you don't need seminary, Bible college, or any of that. You just need to serve. So if you're a servant than you're a minister. another cool thought.
so what's the point? Sometimes I think that others see me as an adult who forgot to grow up, and now spends his time eating pizza, playing xBox with youth, doing some Bible studies, and hopefully keeping the youth off drugs and out of bed with one another.
but here's why I'm in youth ministry...
Because I have the grand opportunity as a leader in the Church to equip some teenage saints to do ministry! what an awesome, big, and humbling task we have as youth workers! So may you know this week that your work is going far beyond just hanging out with teenagers. You're equipping some teenage saints who just might change the world.
and yes, we might eat some pizza and play some guitar hero along the way...
Have you registered for our NCC youth worker training yet?
Blessings to you all this week,
Erick
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3 comments:
When I was in high school, one of my favorite songs was "History Maker" by Delirous. That's what I wanted to be. It's what I still want to be. And sometimes, I find myself wondering if what I do as a youth pastor has anything to do with changing history.
As I was doing my devotions this morning, I spent some time listening to God. And at some point, God impressed upon me, "If you want to change history, change this generation."
Hmm... So that means, what I do as a youth pastor is changing history! The teens that I and we love on and show Christ to are being changed, and we may never know the full extent of that. What an awesome privilege to let God work through us to change history by working with youth.
Thank you Erick for your thoughts. I'm glad to be working with you and every other youth worker on changing history by helping grow teenage saints. :)
~ Emily
amen Emily! Maybe our titles should be changed to "history maker" pastors?
great post man! love the idea of changing the world one young saint at a time!
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