Page 42 - Youth Discipleship Student Textbook

Make sure your leadership team comes together to pray for and plan all activities and events. Normally
this should be a monthly special planning leadership event set on the same day each month. Also you
should annually plan out your calendar with general ideas.

Take students to visit Christian colleges and Universities where they can continue their discipleship
training within a Christian environment and prepare for their service to God however God calls them.

How do you get started?

1. Obviously, you need to have some students to disciple. You must first make sure that they know the
Lord as their Savior. Ask them to give a personal testimony during an informal time with them. Start
out with your own personal testimony. Be sure to emphasize how the Lord has changed you life as a
result of faith in Christ. A changed life is proof of a genuine faith. (James 1: 19-25). 2 Corinthians 5:17
says, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.

When asking students to give their testimony, instruct them to include several things: When did they
believe? What was the situation? What changes in your life occurred because of your faith? How do
you enjoy your walk with Christ presently?

From this information, you will most likely be able to ascertain those in the group who are genuinely
saved and those who may be on the fringe. Those that are excited about their relationship with Christ
are going to be the key individuals upon which you will want to build the group.

2. Carefully write out a philosophy of youth ministry. Your philosophy or beliefs should be rooted in
Scripture. List each belief individually and support it with the Word. At the beginning of this section we
started out laying a foundation for a philosophy of youth ministry. Take these seven basic principles and
build on them as you develop your philosophy of youth ministry. Other topics to include may be:

1. The process of discipleship
2. The approach you will take in instructing students in God’s Word
3. The goals of your youth ministry
4. How you will organize your ministry when you meet
5. How music and what kind of music will influence students in the ministry
6. The qualifications for those who assist in the youth discipleship ministry

3. Once you have a fully developed philosophy of ministry, you might want to obtain approval for this
document from the senior pastor of the church, so he knows what your plans are and how you plan to
move forward in the ministry. Be sure to support each point with Scripture.

4. Pray and seek ministry helpers who will assist you in the youth ministry. They don’t necessarily have
to qualify as a youth pastor does according to Scripture, but there are some basic characteristics in their
lives you will be looking for:
1. Are they walking daily with Christ? Are they in the Word on a daily basis? Do they have a
prayer life? Can you see the Lord in their daily life being demonstrated?
2. Are they enthusiastic about serving the youth?

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