Character Of God
The Bible promises in Isaiah, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord." When God places inside you the desire to know Him, you quickly discover His characteristics and attributes are endless. He is Jehovah, our provider. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In sorrow and suffering, He's our comfort, and in times of confusion, He's our direction. The amazing aspect of being a youth pastor or youth leader that refuses to get caught up in God's acts and chooses to be a man or woman who studies His ways, becomes most crucial during the difficult seasons. Along this road we call life, inevitably we encounter unfortunate circumstances that our mortal minds cannot comprehend. The hurt overwhelms us, and when fear and doubt begin to creep in, your spirit rises up embedded with a sense of the faithfulness of God, allowing you to stand firm and grasp the faith and strength to continue on with the Lord.
I honestly believe if we'd ask ourselves what is the greatest need in our own life, our own church, our own ministry...it would be the need to truly know God. One of the most pragmatic things I've ever done is very simple. A long time ago, I started keeping a Character of God notebook. Sounds really profound, doesn't it? I began it in my devotional times, as I got alone with the Lord. At first the majority of my focus in studying the Word went towards this one task, but as time progressed I studied it in shorter segments. I might spend a month on one attribute or role of the Father, or I might spend one week or even a day. Use wisdom and be led by the Holy Spirit as you create your own personal notebook.
Begin by taking one attribute of God and writing it down, then studying all the verses that reference that attribute or any story, which reflects the specific characteristic. Start with the one area you lack most in, the area you're weakest, and go from there. In my own life, I didn't grow up in a household with a godly father, and I desperately needed to fully understand the Fatherhood of God. I took a basic Concordance and began writing down every Scripture that mentioned the word, "father," and I mentally went through biblical stories to find ones that discussed the issue of having a father. In understanding the subject of fatherhood, I went back to the story of the prodigal son and studied the father's words and actions. Through the story I discovered insights into the father heart of God. As I delved into this intriguing study, I learned how God's heart loves us, forgives us, pursues us, even when we reject Him.
As I developed my Character of God notebook, I also looked for men and women in the body of Christ who I believed exemplified a specific character I respected. Secretly, I would write little notes saying, "I know God better because I've seen His acts of mercy through your kindnesses or through your life." This quickly became an amazing tool of encouragement. From mercy to joy, from kindness to self-control, I took those tools and allowed it to help me see the Father in a new way, but it also allowed me to be Jesus in the lives of those around me. You may decide to create a tangible Character of God notebook in your own personal devotional time or begin looking through the Bible to find new insights to who God is and all He longs to do in our lives. Regardless, my prayer is that through the paved roads and the rocky climbs, you begin to trust not what you see...God's acts, but that you become so grounded in trusting His character that you begin to honestly know His ways.
The Bible promises in Isaiah, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord." When God places inside you the desire to know Him, you quickly discover His characteristics and attributes are endless. He is Jehovah, our provider. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In sorrow and suffering, He's our comfort, and in times of confusion, He's our direction. The amazing aspect of being a youth pastor or youth leader that refuses to get caught up in God's acts and chooses to be a man or woman who studies His ways, becomes most crucial during the difficult seasons. Along this road we call life, inevitably we encounter unfortunate circumstances that our mortal minds cannot comprehend. The hurt overwhelms us, and when fear and doubt begin to creep in, your spirit rises up embedded with a sense of the faithfulness of God, allowing you to stand firm and grasp the faith and strength to continue on with the Lord.
I honestly believe if we'd ask ourselves what is the greatest need in our own life, our own church, our own ministry...it would be the need to truly know God. One of the most pragmatic things I've ever done is very simple. A long time ago, I started keeping a Character of God notebook. Sounds really profound, doesn't it? I began it in my devotional times, as I got alone with the Lord. At first the majority of my focus in studying the Word went towards this one task, but as time progressed I studied it in shorter segments. I might spend a month on one attribute or role of the Father, or I might spend one week or even a day. Use wisdom and be led by the Holy Spirit as you create your own personal notebook.
Begin by taking one attribute of God and writing it down, then studying all the verses that reference that attribute or any story, which reflects the specific characteristic. Start with the one area you lack most in, the area you're weakest, and go from there. In my own life, I didn't grow up in a household with a godly father, and I desperately needed to fully understand the Fatherhood of God. I took a basic Concordance and began writing down every Scripture that mentioned the word, "father," and I mentally went through biblical stories to find ones that discussed the issue of having a father. In understanding the subject of fatherhood, I went back to the story of the prodigal son and studied the father's words and actions. Through the story I discovered insights into the father heart of God. As I delved into this intriguing study, I learned how God's heart loves us, forgives us, pursues us, even when we reject Him.
As I developed my Character of God notebook, I also looked for men and women in the body of Christ who I believed exemplified a specific character I respected. Secretly, I would write little notes saying, "I know God better because I've seen His acts of mercy through your kindnesses or through your life." This quickly became an amazing tool of encouragement. From mercy to joy, from kindness to self-control, I took those tools and allowed it to help me see the Father in a new way, but it also allowed me to be Jesus in the lives of those around me. You may decide to create a tangible Character of God notebook in your own personal devotional time or begin looking through the Bible to find new insights to who God is and all He longs to do in our lives. Regardless, my prayer is that through the paved roads and the rocky climbs, you begin to trust not what you see...God's acts, but that you become so grounded in trusting His character that you begin to honestly know His ways.
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If I could do just one single thing for youth pastors today, I would try to fan their spiritual passion.
In my journey, I have found that there is really very little correlation between spiritual success and ministry success. Too often, talent becomes a remarkable substitute for character and spiritual passion. In ministry it is too easy to know "things" and not know "God." With ease, we can bluff our way through and, unfortunately, more than likely nobody will catch us.
I am determined not to be a "poser." In this Youth Leader's Coach, I will give you tips I've learned along the way that might prevent you from becoming one as well.
Lovingly,
As with you, there are some aspects of God's character that are easily exemplified and amplified in my ministry because of how I am wired. My true heart's desire, however, is for students to understand the whole character of God, not just a slice or two. In order to do that, to operate at full-throttle, it takes intentionality on my part, as it will on yours. So, in this Youth Leader's Coach, we'll hit on eight overall themes that we need to make sure are woven throughout our youth ministry - up front, in small groups, personal discipleship, etc.
Remember, we are the closest representation to the character of God that most of our students and youth leaders will feel and sense. Therefore, it is our honor and responsibility to represent Him in a balanced way.
Lovingly,
Ever need a jump-start in your relationship with Christ? I know that sometimes I do. This Source, "Jump-Starting Your Walk With Christ," is one that works for any youth ministry at any time, simply because in every audience there are people who need a jump-start in their walk with Christ.
This is also a message that you can apply to your own life. All of us who are trying to do this "youth ministry thing" right are going to encounter points in our own walks where we need a simple jump-start. Take a few minutes and prayerfully apply the six points to your own relationship with Christ.
So enjoy as you listen to me help my students get a jump-start. I hope it will also be a great night for you to jump-start your gang.
Lovingly your cheerleader,
How does God shape a man or woman of God? There is this amazing pattern that I find in the book of Genesis as God creates authentic spirituality inside of people that I still find evident today. This is an incredible message to challenge your students to be all in on their relationship with Christ.
I shared this month's Source, "A Making Of A Man Or Woman Of God," with our Atlanta Leadership College gang during our college experience days, but it is so applicable for all ages. Listen in as I lay down the challenge that "to be a conqueror, we must first be conquered."
Walking with a limp,
Jesus has a COURSE for all His kids. It's not an "elective," but rather a "required course for graduation." The ULTIMATE AIM remains the same though the "curriculum" is different for all of us. The ULTIMATE GOAL of this "required course" is to cultivate your DEPENDENCE upon the Lord rather than on anything or anyone else. Any other "source" is painfully UNSAFE.
In this month's Source, "When The Brook Dries Up," we watch how Elijah walked through his own times when God dried up provision around him. This resource is a great message to challenge your students to put their trust in the CHARACTER of God more than just what He does for us.
Happy listening!
