Category: Students

Why Student Discipleship is Priority

2/28/2020

Zach Bauer speaking to teenagers on a Wednesday evening

Today begins Broadway's annual D-Now Weekend. D-Now stand for "Discipleship Now" - a 3-day weekend of evangelistic discipleship training for teenagers. Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, shared the crisis in baptisms among middle & high schoolers. Churches aren't leading teenagers to Christ as they did in past generations.

There's no better time for churches to hold D-Now Weekends - it should be a staple church event such as VBS is for children's ministry.

Why student discipleship?

First, teenagers are at the age they'll commit their lives to Christ. I was saved when I was 15 years old. Giving your life to Christ as a youth prepares you for a lifetime of service to the Lord. Use every opportunity to direct young people to Christ - they're open to what He offers.

Second, teenagers are distracted. Discipleship will not happen by accident - it's always intentional. This will be an ongoing struggle for youth. Parents, FCA leaders, and youth pastors should be a constant encouragement of daily living for Christ. Fighting for their attention is a constant battle.

Third, revivals and Gospel movements always begin with students. Hillsong and Passion are ongoing revivals. When you hear those two words, what age demographic do you think of? Despite both founding leaders being over 60 - they're associated with youth and college-age. Young people want to experience something greater than themselves.

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Living in a SEC College Town

8/23/2019

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Wednesday Night Youth Group!

This week is K-Week for the University of Kentucky - this means college students are moving in. Tonight begins high school football. Tomorrow begins SEC football, at least for Florida.

Lexington is a college-town - a young city with a rotating number of students passing through. This year's incoming freshman class at UK is the largest in history. The school is growing in numbers and influence.

I still believe the decisions people make between ages 18-24 shape the rest of their lives. It's critical that believers and churches are having influence on young adults in their late teens and early twenties.

Here are some facts I've observed about young people in a college town:

1). There's too much going on. There's an event somewhere everyday. It's a fight for attention. Don't take "no" as a personal rejection. For every "yes," that young adult said "no" to 20 other things, people and events.

2). These 7 years can be the best times spiritually for young adults. Single, no children, little responsibility - what an opportunity to spend time with God, be committed to missions, and experience personal revival!

I was at UK's BCM two nights ago and met some outstanding young disciples. An excited, young believer has a lifetime ahead of him to devote to the Lord. John Piper wrote a book about this, Don't Waste Your Life.

3). You have to begin the friendship. If you're waiting for teens to come to you, you'll be waiting and waiting. Discover their interests, passions, and step into their lives. This ministry won't fall into your lap. Children's ministry falls into your lap, not student or college ministry.

When I was 18, I was discipled by my youth pastor in the basement of his church-owned home. When I was 23, a man from Campus Outreach met with me weekly at a Mediterranean restaurant.

Today's college students are tomorrow's influencers. College towns are exciting because of the potential impact of who's there. What a blessing for someone to come to Lexington, Tuscaloosa or Auburn and say, "I came to college to learn, but most importantly, I found Christ!"

UK's Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM) at Death by Chocolate

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Seniors...Consider Georgia Baptist Colleges

9/30/2016

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Shorter University Cheerleaders

If you're a senior in high school, you're probably thinking about life after graduation. Which colleges will you apply to? What will you major in? Are my grades good enough to get in?

If you're a Southern Baptist high schooler looking at colleges, you need to consider the three colleges affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

All three of the schools are accredited and have active student life, spiritual life, and athletic programs.

Sherri and I were both blessed to attend an Alabama Baptist Convention college and hope to send our four children to Baptist schools.

One of the great fears of Christians parents, is their children move off to college and lose their faith or make regretful decisions. Of course that can occur anywhere, but ideally college can be a time for phenomenal academic and spiritual growth.

Here are the three schools high schoolers and their parents should consider:

Shorter University in Rome, Georgia is the largest and oldest of the three Baptist colleges.

Truett McConnell University is located on the edge of the north Georgia mountains in Cleveland.

Brewton-Parker College in the south Georgia city of Mount Vernon. Brewton-Parker also has an extension center in Newnan, Georgia (near where I live).

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3 Tips for Keeping Teenagers' Attention

8/31/2016

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Brantley teaching Middle / High School Groups

Every youth worker knows it's going to happen. You have a 30 minute message, but one of two things occur. Either the teens are bouncing off the wall and you don't finish 10 minutes of your lesson, or the teens zone out and you're finished in 10 minutes.

Student ministers work in extremes. Either too much discussion or crickets. Youth leaders love engaging their listeners, but there's a balance to run an effective class.

Here are three teaching tips to help youth teachers keep teenagers' attention:

1). Never read from the book. You can read from the Bible, but not the study book. If you're reading the study book, the teens are thinking, "He didn't prepare."

2). Never teach with a PowerPoint. If you ever use a PowerPoint, the teenagers are thinking, "If he uploaded the PowerPoint online, I could read it myself on my on time." PowerPoints turn preachers into teachers. They should be banned from all churches. Boring, Boring, Boring.

3). Never use handouts. Teenagers don't want to walk into youth group and receive a copy machined handout. They want their youth leader to teach with passion, real-life stories and appropriate humor - bring the Bible alive. If you hand out anything, hand them a Bible. Teens have been sitting in class at school for seven hours, don't make youth group hour eight.

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4 Keys to Disciplining Teenagers

1/10/2013

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Do you have teenagers with an attitude? Does your 10th grader know more than you? Parents of teenagers can struggle with how to discipline their teens.

Obviously when a child grows older they earn more freedom - but they're not ready to be treated like they're 25 when they're 15.

Your children needs you the most in middle school, high school and the transition to college. Don't pull back and believe the lie, "He's an adult when he's 18."

Discipline is more than punishing your kids. It's establishing an environment with these 4 keys:

1). Structure. Routines are good. They keep you in daily Bible study, keep you at church on Sundays, and keep you going to bed and getting up at the same hour. Your teenagers shouldn't live a "whatever" lifestyle - waiting on a text from a friend for something fun and free to cure their boredom. Structure also improves your teenagers' grades.

2). Consistency. If you threaten to take away their phone for not taking out the trash when asked, and they wrote you off - your teen's phone should be confiscated. Consistency shows you're serious. If you don't come through on your word, you become a noise-maker to your daughter. Power with no punch.

3). Love. You must have the best interests for your teenager. They don't always know their best interests. Two 16 year olds shouldn't be riding around Newnan at 1 a.m. on a date in his truck. They're not doing Bible study at 1 a.m. You must lovingly tell your son, "no." You're not a "yes man," rather his dad.

4). Consequences. She said she was going over to her best friend's - but ended up at her boyfriends'...Your teenager will lie to you - and you respond with consequences. There goes the phone, the Xbox, the car, the basketball team - you take away what they love the most. Remember, it's possible to grow up without a phone - and no one uses a phone, "only for emergencies."

Avoid using church as a consequence. Possibly no Winter Jam or no youth softball - but preventing your daughter to worship and hear the Word ultimately hinders their developing relationship with Christ.

Related Posts:

Which Bible Should You Buy Your Preteen or Teenager?
5 Secrets to a Successful Preteen Ministry

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5 Secrets to a Successful Preteen Ministry

11/28/2012

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Does your church have a Preteen Ministry? Preteens are 11 and 12 year olds - 5th & 6th graders. Some people call them Tweens - too old for elementary ministry, but a little young for the youth group. This is one of the most important ages in a child's spiritual growth - a church can't clump them with younger children or teenagers.

Here are 5 Secrets to a Successful Preteen Ministry:

1.) You must involve their parents. A 12 year old will want you to believe they're in high school - but they're in 6th grade. A teacher/minister must communicate with mom & dad what's going on. For example, a monthly newsletter, Facebook group for preteen parents, a Googlegroup for preteen parents, or a bulk text message lets mom and dad know what's going on, how they can be involved and events coming up for their child to attend. You cannot rely on the preteens to tell their parents what's happening.

2.) Allow preteens the opportunity to lead. Let them own the ministry - create a cool name (Infusion, Switch, Becoming), they should say the prayers, decorate the room, read the Scripture, give a testimony, lead worship, start the video, plan mission projects, set-up and take-down, clean-up).

3.) Programming should be cutting edge. Every 6th grader I know is on Facebook, Twitter, and carries an iPhone. They don't want to be read a children's picture Bible. Make sure the curriculum/lesson is geared towards 11 & 12 year olds and is up-to-date.

4.) Preteen ministry must be active, fast-paced. If you have 1 hour on Wednesday nights to plan for Preteens, here's a good schedule: Welcome/Hang-out (5 minutes), Game (10 minutes), Testimony/Ministry opportunity at school (5 minutes), Video clip about the lesson (5 minutes), Lesson (25 minutes), Prayer requests (5 minutes), Junk food (5 minutes). You need to come to class over-prepared with multiple changes throughout the hour.

5.) Plan outings and mission projects exclusively for preteens. Do not allow other ages to attend, especially younger children. For example, preteens can have a separate VBS class, drama team, mission projects, Preteen Sunday (a special Sunday when the entire service is devoted to them), Preteen Conference, and the Annual Preteen Kickball Tournament (the most favorite game of all 5th & 6th graders).

Preteen Resources:

LifeWay Preteens
PreteenMinistry.net
Preteen Lauchables
Which Bible Should You Buy your Preteen or Teenager?

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Which Bible Should you Buy your Preteen or Teenager?

11/22/2012

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Is Santa bringing your teenager a new Xbox 360? Tomorrow is Black Friday, aka Iron Bowl Eve in Alabama - which is an outstanding day to find a good deal on a new Bible for your preteen.

Here are 4 study Bibles for Santa to consider:

Apologetics Study Bible for Students - the HCSB geared for teenagers. This is the Bible First Baptist Moreland gives to our graduating seniors and the first choice I and our minister of students recommend for parents to buy their middle and high schoolers. When a teacher questions the scientific support of God or the reliability of Scripture - this Bible offers a solid response.

ESV Student Study Bible - this is the condensed and student geared version of the incredible ESV Study Bible. This Bible came out in July 2012 and our minister of students gave one away on a Wednesday night - I wish I had been downstairs to win. This Bible is mainly for high schoolers.

NIV Teen Study Bible - this is my favorite Bible for Preteens (5th & 6th graders). It's a little young for high schoolers - Zondervan publishes a Teen Girls and Teen Boys edition as well. All 3 of these are great for preteens/middle schoolers.

NIV Student Bible - this is the all-time classic of student Bibles. Every teenager had one when I grew up in youth group - my wife still has hers. This Bible was the DC Talk "Jesus Freak" of Christian Music back in 1995. Every home should own one!

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Why Student Discipleship is Priority

Living in a SEC College Town

Seniors...Consider Georgia Baptist Colleges

3 Tips for Keeping Teenagers' Attention

4 Keys to Disciplining Teenagers

5 Secrets to a Successful Preteen Ministry

Which Bible Should you Buy your Preteen or Teenager?

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