What are the strongest influences in helping students become better worshippers of Christ?

By Aaron Clayton

What is worship?

We could go into long theological dialogues referring to Greek and Hebrew words, but practically speaking, if we’re trying to help our people become better worshippers, what are we actually hoping will happen?

Are we hoping they will sing harder or close their eyes tighter?

Are we hoping they will pray better?

Are we hoping their lifestyles will change as an expression of worship?

The answer, of course, is yes (except to the eyes closed harder thing).

But how?

Answers abound here, and their effectiveness depends on a whole slew of contextual elements. So let me just give two answers that I have seen as effective and important in our context:

1) The Gospel. We don’t change people. Our preaching doesn’t change them. Small groups don’t change them. Music doesn’t change them. Jesus changes people by the grace of his gospel (Col. 1:27-28).

One thing I have seen change our students and our ministry over time is the cumulative effect of gospel-focused preaching. We’ve worked very hard not to get off-target in our message. Some subtle ways to get off-target:

-   Teaching in ways that are more focused on us than on Jesus

-   Teaching the gospel as a means to a goal (happiness, peace, knowing God’s will, healthy relationships, financial accountability, heaven, etc.)

-   Stressing application at the expense of good doctrine

-   Thinking of the gospel as foundational or elementary and that we need to move on to other things in order to reach maturity

-   Doing things mostly because we think they will attract people

-   Trying to manage behavior or legislate morality (let the gospel change them)

-   Using our teaching/preaching times to get on our soapbox or push our agenda

We talk about all kinds of issues, but the discussion always comes back to the gospel because the gospel is what changes everything. There wasn’t a specific day when everything clicked, but over time we have seen the overall culture shift.

2) Intentional Discipleship. More than just telling people things or passing on information, we have made an intentional effort to come alongside and walk with our people. We are journeying together, knowing that discipleship doesn’t happen once a week or in a large group. Discipleship happens in the course of life.

            A few practical points on intentional discipleship:

-   Smaller is better (one on one or in groups of 2-4)

-   Spending time together outside of regular church gatherings

-   Life on life - in regular, everyday situations

-   More mature with less mature, but disciplers don’t have to be “pros”

-   Students being around your family is good

-   Students seeing you interact with your spouse is good

-   Ask hard questions AND be ready to answer hard questions

-   You have to take the lead in being vulnerable & honest

What thoughts do you have, and what elements have you seen work in your context?

The intent of the team blog website and format is to aid collegiate/young adult leaders in their ministry to college age students in Texas.  The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention does not necessarily agree with or condone all of the thoughts in every blog written by ministers, they simply are providing a platform for resources and thoughts to be shared through this blogging opportunity. If you have any questions contact our offices.

Unreached People Groups (Tuesday Morning Missions)

Today, and everyday, I want to encourage everyone to take time to pray for unreached people groups.  I read an article in the July 2010 edition of Prayer Points which encouraged me to pray more for these people groups and for those missionaries who God uses or will use to reach these groups.  I wanted to share a brief story out of the newsletter:

 “There are no churches and no believers on one small island off the coast of Indonesia.  They are fiercely proud of their Muslim identity and adherence to Islamic law.  A believer sat with a group of men outside a mosque as an announcement was made over a bull horn.  The imam (mosque leader) said, ‘On this island Islamic law is, and it shall always be.’  All the villagers burst into cheers.  One of the men turned to Peter [name changed] and said, ‘We don’t know till we die if we will go to heaven.’  He paused a moment and then continued, ‘I know a little about your faith.  You believe that Isa (the Arabic name for Jesus) knows the way to heaven and that He will take you there when you die.’”

While the story concluded with the Muslim man inquiring into who Jesus is, the main idea of the story is that this man was open to discuss the Gospel in a completely unreached land.  This particular newsletter focused on Southeast Asian unreached people groups which are estimated to be 52 and in upwards of 5 million people.  While we should be praying for everyone, sometimes these people groups pass through the world unnoticed and so I encourage you to have your students pray specifically for unreached people groups. 

For specific group names and information see: www.prayerthreads.imb.org or http://www.joshuaproject.net/

How Can Your Ministry Connect with Campuses?

Throughout the school year, you will be challenged to come up with ways to reach out to the students of colleges in your area.  In fact you probably have events that specifically minister to these students in an attempt to get them plugged into your church body.  If you don’t have anything planned, don’t worry, Benson Hines suggests a very practical solution to connecting with students on campus; “Find out what the campus is already doing…and show up!” 

In a recent blog, Benson advises that many ministries he has talked with make an effort to get involved in the student activities on campus, such as intramurals, freshman move in, etc.  This will help your students and ministry connect with many students on campus and interact with them on their terms.  But you’re main goal is not just to have fun; it should be to show these students the love of Christ and the salvation available through trusting in Him.  Remind your students of this purpose.  Benson suggests “sometimes it might simply involve encouraging, pushing, and helping students to be present and active within their campus, and teaching them how to do that with Jesus-purposes in mind.”  So as you are debating good events for your ministry to get involved in, pull out the campus events calendar and get your ministry involved on campus.