Life and Faith

Category: On Ministry

  • Our Father In Heaven

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    Jon
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    In the Anglican tradition, the Book of Common Prayer defines adoration as ‘…the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God’s presence.’ I’m not sure about you but I find that hard.  Prayer is often hard, and I don’t think many believers, whether they are new in the…

  • Published: The Performance Trap

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    Jon
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    Last week I wrote about often feeling inadequate in the ministry, and it raised a few questions and comments. However, it also dove-tailed with a post I had published on The Gospel Coalition Australia later in the week, entitled “The Performance Trap“. In this post I write about the amazing grace God gives to us,…

  • Published: Theological Reflection In Training For Youth Ministry

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    Jon
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    It was only a little over a week ago I wrote about the impact my Master of Divinity studies had on my training for youth ministry. I outlined four points about how my theological education has prepared and impacted my role as a youth and young adult pastor. However, there was really a fifth point. And…

  • Published: 5 Advantages of Gospel Centred Youth Ministry

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    Jon
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    It’s very pleasing to have had another post about youth ministry published on The Gospel Coalition. This time I’m written about what I see as the advantages to a gospel-centred approach in youth ministry. It seems odd this even needs to be said. And using the phrase ‘gospel-centred’ when everyone else uses it beings to…

  • Published: You’re Not Wasting Your Degree In Youth Ministry

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    Jon
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    A little while back Tim Gough of YouthWorkHacks.com wrote a couple of posts encouraging greater training for those in youth ministry. The first, ‘Why Train For Ministry?‘, gives a number of bullet point-like sentences on how training can help in the formation and learning of a youth pastor. The second, ‘How To Pick A Youth…

  • Youth Ministry With The Training Wheels Off

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    Jon
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    On the outside basketball court, just down the road from where we live, we spent time as a family helping our eldest daughter with her bike riding. For a few hours we were focussed on helping her with her coordination, pedalling, steering, and balance as she learnt to ride a bike without training wheels. It…

  • Published: Fighting for the Joy of Our Students

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    Jon
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    For many of us there is the daily fight for joy, to find something to be joyful about in our day-to-day and week-by-week existence. As youth ministry leaders we also have the opportunity to fight for joy for those in our church and youth group. In fact, given the pressures on teenagers, and the ever-increasing…

  • Does Our Understanding of Evangelism Effect Our View of Sharing Faith?

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    Jon
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    My last post, which is a little reflection on a recent survey about how Millennials view evangelism, happened to come out the same day I attended an event where the speaker highlighted the need for understanding evangelism. While listening I was reminded of how important our understanding of evangelism is, and how that understanding then…

  • Published: 5 Benefits of Considering Youth Ministry as Intergenerational Ministry

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    Jon
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    Youth ministry is at its best when it seen as part of the whole church. Rather than seeing youth ministry as its own thing–simply useful for a certain generation–it is important to see it as significant and influential on everyone in the local church. This is why I agree with much of what has been…

  • 7 Ways To Use The Bible In Youth Ministry

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    Jon
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    I believe every Youth Pastor I know would tick the ‘Yes’ box when asked the question “Do you use the Bible in your youth ministry?” Surely. I can’t think of a Youth Pastor who would do otherwise. I can’t think of a Youth Pastor who would think of ticking ‘No’. It would be expected, wouldn’t…