Ministry Tools Resource Center | Christian Ministry Training Blog

The Focus of Youth Ministry

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

Focus of Youth Ministry to Reach Teens
If we want to truly reach today’s teenagers, we must get beyond programs and activities. More than ever, today’s young people need real connections — community. With that in mind, let’s keep the focus of youth ministry on relationships that build into their lives.

Reach Teens by Keeping the Focus of Youth Ministry on These Relationships

Relationship with God: Make youth ministry about knowing God personally and intimately, not just learning about Him. Get beyond religion or a bunch of rules to presenting a God who cares about them and has their best interests at heart. — to grow to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matt. 22:37)

Relationship with One Another: Face it. Most teens initially attend youth group because of their peer, unless a parent forces them to go. Purposely incorporate activities to build them into a community of believers, not just friends. Give them a taste of Body Life, what God intends the Church to be. — to be able to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thess. 5:11)

Relationship with the Youth Leader(s): Trust and respect grow out of relationship, not control or superiority. Be affirming and encouraging. Truly listen to them, actively, with your heart, to their feelings and body language, not just their words. Be available. Be a friend … an adult friend, not an overgrown teenager. Be real. Be genuine. — to care for them so much that we delight in sharing our very lives with them, not just the message(1 Thess. 2:8)

Relationship with the Total Church Body: This is often overlooked in youth ministry. Students need to realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves. If you don’t incorporate them into the total church body while they are still teens, why should they stay in the church when they can no longer attend youth group? Treat them like they are the church of today, not just the church of tomorrow. — to sense they belong as members of the whole Body (Rom. 12:4-5)

Everything we do in youth ministry should be seen as a tool to building these kinds of relationships.

For More: Youth Ministry Resources

Limitless Possibilities in Worship

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

In answering questions about worshiping God like where, why, how, and who should worship, Psalm 150 shows the limitless possibilities in worship. Too often we confine worship to a certain time and place, to be done in a set way.

Learn about Worshiping God and the Limitless Possibilities in Worship

Let’s read through Psalm 150 and note what it teaches us about worship.

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. (Ps. 150:1)

Answers the Question Where, letting us know that worshiping God isn’t limited to a house of worship (church) or any other place.

Also Read: Spiritual versus Physical House of Worship

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. (Ps. 150:2)

Answers the Question Why, making clear the limitless reasons to worship as His greatness surpasses our ability to comprehend

Also Read: How Can We Not Worship Our God?

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. (Ps. 150:3-5)

Answers the Question How, showing that worship isn’t limited to any one means.

Internal Blessings in Serving

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

When asked about the effects of ministry on the one serving, my first inclination is to make it clear that our primary focus in serving should be on what we give rather than what we get. Even Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, came to serve and not be served (Matt. 20:28; Phil. 2:5-8). Yet, God’s Word does refer to honor from the Father (Jn. 12:26) and rewards for what we do (Matt. 10:42; 19:29; Lk. 6:38; Col. 3:23-24). While we might not receive our “crowns” for what we do until later, we certainly can experience internal blessings in serving right now.

Experience Internal Blessings in Serving Right Now

Many byproducts, or blessings, come from serving when we serve for the right reasons and from an undivided heart devoted to the Lord. The transformation that happens inside surpasses any tangible reward we might receive. Reflect on these examples:

>>When we see His power at work through us, it builds a confidence in us. We find ourselves then doing things we would never have imagined ourselves doing — not because of our own abilities but because of God’s “power that is at work within us” doing “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20).

>>When we realize we have made an eternal difference because of serving, we have a renewed sense of purpose in life. This can bring a joy and passion to life we might not otherwise experience. — “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11)

>>When we know we have been faithful stewards of what He has given us through serving in the strength He provides, we can be at peace within ourselves knowing all is well and so we find ourselves “content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11-13).

>>When we sense the presence of the Lord, serving in ways that acknowledge our inability to anything of eternal value apart from Him (Jn. 15:5), we’re able to lay aside our fears and insecurities. We can instead “be strong and courageous … not be afraid .. not be discouraged” knowing that the Lord our God will be with us wherever we go (Josh. 1:9).

>>When we experience God taking care of our needs as we serve, seeking His kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19), we gain a greater appreciation for God’s faithfulness which propels us to keep going even when we don’t see results we might have hoped. We will persevere and not get discouraged because we believe that “He will not forget” (Heb. 6:10). We will “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9). Because of His faithfulness, we’re able to give ourselves “fully to the work of the Lord” because we know that our “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Resources on Prayer

Reading the Bible the Whole Way Through

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

Have you ever read through the Bible in its entirety? Reading the Bible the whole way through can seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be if you are doing it for the right reasons and if you have a good plan.

Why Read the Bible in Its Entirety

Our reason for reading needs to be about more than saying we read through the whole Bible. Aim at the difference it can make in your understanding of God’s character and ways which in the long run should yield greater trust and love for Him.

Getting a handle on the whole counsel of God helps us understand some of the harder passages. It gives a context in which to figure things out. Scripture must reconcile with the whole of Scripture.

Getting an idea of God’s big picture helps us gain perspective for the here and now as well as for the end times.

Getting a broad perspective of who God is and how He works helps us trust God more even when we don’t understand what is happening because we see through the pages of Scripture how He is a sovereign and faithful God.

Personal Testimony About Reading the Bible the Whole Way Through

Some people use a plan that guides them through reading the Bible in one year (link goes to affiliate store). While that approach has merit, I personally vary the ways I read through the whole Bible. I usually don’t give myself a time limit but rather simply go at a comfortable pace and get done when I get done because my objective is more than simply reading through the Bible. Some methods have taken me a few years to make it through but it has been well worth it. Here is what I’ve done some of the different times I’ve read through the Bible:

developed outlines as I went through the Bible
recorded everything that showed God and man communicating (prayer)
marked all passages that pointed to Jesus
determined what character of God it depicted
profiled the various Bible characters as I came to them
more diligently prayed over what I read than usual
underlined key verses for the passages I read each day
purchased a chronological Bible and simply read it in the order provided based on dates the various books were written (link goes to affiliate store)

By changing the way I read through the Word each time, it doesn’t grow old to me and God has used some of the results in providing substance for materials on the web site and in seminars. I didn’t read through the Bible for that purpose. I read it because of my relationship with God, to learn more about Him and consequently build my love for and faith in Him but He uses it in various ways.

What’s Your Plan for Reading Through the Whole Bible?

If you’ve never read through the entire Bible, or if it’s been a long time since you did, consider doing so for the purposes listed above. Make it your goal to get beyond mere words to encountering its Author. Ask God to use it to refresh your soul, to make you wise, to find joy in Him because of it, and to light your way (Ps. 19:7-8).

If you’re new to Bible reading, rarely or perhaps never have read it on your own, starting from the beginning and going through to the end may not be the best plan for you. Check out the New to Bible Reading Discipleship Tool for help understanding Scripture’s big picture and find a reading plan that helps you see that before venturing out on reading the Word from cover to cover.

Will the Summer Ministry Slump Lead to a Frazzled Fall?

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

The church calendar for many begins anew in the Fall. Due to vacationing members and resultant attendance fluctuation, a number of churches disband Sunday School, small groups, and other normally ongoing ministry activities for the summer months. While ministry leaders certainly can use a break during these times, if not careful the summer ministry slump could lead to a frazzled Fall.

Wisely Use the Summer Ministry Slump to Avoid a Frazzled Fall

Why go into the fall frazzled because of last minute preparations? Enjoy the summer but also use it to prayerfully work ahead in a relaxed frame of mind.

Be wise in making the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:15-16). Don’t let the Fall creep up on you, causing undo stress and cut corners.

Here are some suggestions for what you should already be working on:

Spend time in prayer for God’s wisdom in planning and preparing for His desires to be accomplished.
Make sure all curriculum and training materials are ordered and ready to be distributed in a timely fashion.
Finalize any staffing needs so you don’t have to put out last minute recruitment pleas.
Ask all ministry workers to take time to pray and prepare their hearts for the upstart of fall ministries.
Schedule people early enough for them to put it in their calendars rather than leaving them wandering or frustrated but then make sure to provide last minute reminders.

Be wise in how you use the remainder of the summer, remembering the words in Proverbs 6:10-11. — “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” — Let’s not take away from potential ministry because we failed to use the summer slump to prepare.

Starting Point for Training Ministry Leaders

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Someone commented on a previous post about ministry training that they want to train leaders but find it overwhelming on where to start. Though training should be tailored to specific needs in one’s church or ministry, the response given to this comment may prove helpful to all. It suggests a starting point for training ministry leaders applicable to all of us wherever we’re located, whatever the size or makeup of our church or ministry, and whoever the leaders might be.

Make the Big Picture the Starting Point for Training Ministry Leaders

While we should provide training specific to the ministry leader’s area of oversight, it can be helpful to first provide the framework on which to hang the particulars. The big picture lays the foundation for what we do. Here are two factors that should infiltrate and guide all we do as leaders.

1) Our Purpose

Individual ministries will have specific purposes for which they exist which must be understood. But, God provides an overarching purpose that applies to all ministries — to love God with all of who we are and to love people (Matt. 22:37-40). Our purpose to love is so important that no matter how spectacular our ministry might seem, we gain nothing without love (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

The following links will take you to resources for a group of up to twenty-five so you can provide training for all ministry leaders at a greatly reduced cost. They are also available for a single copy.

Church Purpose Ministry Manual
Steering the Church Toward God’s Purposes Leadership Guide (This resource contains a section showing the practical outworking of this purpose in various leadership responsibilities and tasks.)
Church Purpose Bundle (contains both of the above resources)

2) Our Standard

Of utmost importance, is that we learn to do ministry God’s way. He is our Standard. The Word provides overriding principles that should be applied in whatever capacity we might serve. These are principles leaders should apply in their leadership but also should encourage both paid and volunteer staff to pursue.

Resource: Key Elements to Doing Ministry God’s Way

These two factors are important for leaders to effectively oversee their own areas but also to pursue a coordinated effort among all leaders so the whole Church heads in these directions.

Also Provide a Broad Look at Biblical Leadership

Who does God tend to call into leadership positions? How do our spiritual gifts affect the way we lead? How do the basics of our life in Christ affect the way we lead? What challenges might we face? How might we as leaders affect the church’s culture? How do we measure ministry success?

Resources:

Then Help with Training Related to Specific Areas of Oversight

Once again it might be helpful to begin with the big picture for that particular area of ministry. What are some of the specific tasks and needs? Where should the focus be? What is the potential?

Check out the Ministry Manuals Related to the Following Ministry Areas:

Christian Education
Nuts & Bolts, Serving Types of Ministries
Outreach
People Helping Ministries
Prayer Ministry
Shepherding
Staffing
Teaching
Worship

If it seems too overwhelming to provide training for all the different ministry areas, start with the greatest areas of need. As you are able, provide training for other areas. Sometimes you just need to start small and build on that.

Leadership Training Also Needs to be Tailored to One’s Setting and Leaders’ Needs

At some point, you would need to provide training that would be tailored to your specific ministries and leaders’ needs. However, beginning with the big picture, as well as a broad understanding of biblical leadership and specific ministries, often gives leaders sufficient foundation upon which to build and head in the right direction. During that kind of training, specific needs tend to surface, making the next step or direction for further training obvious.

If you’re interested in developing future leaders, go to: Developing Future Church Leaders: The Training Process