Page 34 - Youth Discipleship Student Textbook

If we could get to the bottom of a majority of the church splits and incidents that resulted in youth
pastors being asked to leave churches, we would probably find that the root cause was not a theological
disagreement at all but was a case of people who just could not or who chose not to get along with each
other. In many of those instances we could trace the difficulty to a youth pastor with a fiery spirit who
did not control his temper.

9. Gentle (1 Tim. 3:3, 2 Tim. 2:24)

How many unfortunate incidents in the church could be avoided if Christians could learn to be
gentlemen and gentlewomen?

Some youth pastors have all the finesse of a steam roller pushing their way through obstacles, injuring
the saints as they attempt to make changes in the church.

The world is hungry for someone who is genuinely kind and gentle.

10. Uncontentious (1 Tim. 3:3; 2 Tim 2:24)

These are people who glory in a good argument.

“A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

11. Free from the Love of Money (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7)

If you know that God has genuinely called you to a particular
group of people, God will faithfully meet your needs.

Personal note . . . “I’ve never lived lavishly but God has
consistently supplied more than my needs.” Rod Elliott

12. Managing His Own Household Well (1 Tim. 3:4)

The word of Scripture reads, “Keeping his children under control with all dignity.” The statement
presupposes an understanding relationship between father and his children. It requires that he be
consistent in his discipline and true to his word.

A youth pastor should be a model of loving discipline. He should love his children more than his job, be
extravagant in his expressions of love for and praise to them and treat them as genuine human beings
capable of profound thoughts that can contribute to this life. Families with continuously uncontrollable
children are not suitable model for a congregation. Unless parents can manage the art of parenting, they
should not engage in the youth pastoral ministry.

Here Paul warns against men who could be too preoccupied with the affairs of the church and too little
occupied with what is going on within their households (1Sam.1-2).

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