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Make Adult Ministry Intentional

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For our adult ministries to make an impact, we need to follow the instruction in Psalm 90:12 and make adult ministry intentional – “teach us to number our days”.

Goal to make Adult Ministry IntentionalWhile this phrase suggests an instructional goal (“teach us”), what we’re asking God to teach us is how to make whatever days He gives us matter (“number our days”). Because life is so fleeting, and we don’t know if we’ll have tomorrow, we need to help adults grasp hold of how God wants them to use each and every day.

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Eph. 5:15-17)

Making Adult Ministry Intentional Provides a Good Example

To help adults live meaningful lives wherein they’re good stewards of their time and resources, numbering their days, we need to set a good example for them in our adult ministries. We can do that by …

  • making it worth their time to get involved.
  • investing into their lives in meaningful and helpful ways.

If we’re consuming their time with endless programs that do little to meet needs, how can we expect them to understand the concept of making their lives count for eternity?

Intentionally Implement Strategies to Meet Needs

To help adults make the most of every opportunity, we need to come alongside of them, where they are, with strategies that instruct and meet the needs of that phase of their lives. A broad stroke won’t effectively reach them. Adulthood comes with a wide spectrum of needs and issues that change through different seasons of their lives. Think about and take time to learn more about the various need differences based on the following. Even within each category you’ll find a wide range of differences.

age levels (young adults, middle-aged, elderly)

For Help: Adult Ministry Resources (click on ‘Age Level’ tab)

marital status (single, married, separated, divorced)

For Help: Adult Ministry Resources (click on ‘Marital Status’ tab)

parenting (not parents but want to be or can’t, two parents family or single parent, biological or adoptive, new to parenting versus already have children, grandparents, co-parenting and step-parenting, as well as parents of different ages … infants and toddlers, grade-schoolers, teenagers, adult children, or a combination of ages)

For Help: Biblical Parenting Resources

All these differences among adults in our midst doesn’t mean we have to develop a program or class for each and every variant but we do need to be sensitive to varying needs. While we might offer support groups, Bible studies, small groups, or seminars targeting specific issues, it’s not always necessary, especially on a permanent basis, if we …

  • encourage mentoring relationships with those have experienced similar life issues, which can be quite helpful and is also biblical (Titus 2:1-8).
  • exercise sensitivity in using illustrations in our teaching and preaching that we don’t always go in one direction (i.e., primarily using illustrations about married people or traditional families).
  • provide, or at least suggest, resources that target specific needs or issues (books, websites, online or printed articles, podcasts, DVDs, or other audio or video instruction, etc.).

An intentional approach in adult ministry will look at the time constraints, interests, and needs of people and plan the best approach to reach and teach.

Intentionality in Spurring Adults on in Serving the Lord

Since God says everybody has a part (Eph. 4:16), we need to implement strategies to encourage and equip them to be contributing members of the Body and their communities. No matter what the season of their lives, each person has something to contribute. All serving does not require excessive amounts of time and energy. All serving does not require physical stamina. All serving does not have to happen within the walls of the church.

Because people at different places, can’t expect every adult to serve in the same way or with the same amount of time. We must learn to be flexible and help them find their best fit for the season of life in which they find themselves. And, we must remember that seasons also change so we must be intentional in what we encourage them to do and not expect them to stay in it for life. When Hebrews 10:24 exhorts us to “consider how” to spur people on to love and good deeds, it’s just one more reminder of how we need to be intentional in adult ministry.

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4 Replies to “Make Adult Ministry Intentional”

  1. Thanks for the message. There are many adults in the Churches Who do not know Who Jesus Christ is. Some go to church just for entertainments to sing songs and dance. Who Is Jesus? I would like you to teach the topic. Do not forget to include the following. That’s His Pre-existence, Humanity. Divinity, etc. Thanks.

    • Yes, Olushola Olasehinde, there are many adults in our churches who may believe Jesus existed but don’t know much about Him and some don’t truly know Him as their Savior. With that in mind, this ministry published a teacher training worksheet, Some Outreach Do’s & Don’ts in the Adult Classroom, that begins with the statement, “Don’t assume all your adult students are Christians.”

      A good number of churches have abandoned strong doctrinal teaching and apologetics. Even among those who have put their trust in Jesus alone to save them, many remain Bible illiterate. We need to remember that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Rom. 10:17). We also need to remember that Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32). And, the Word is that which thoroughly equips us (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

      I’m not sure this blog will head in the direction of “Who Is Jesus?” as you requested, but we do have a page with Resources about Jesus that suggests resources that provide teaching on the truths about Jesus that you mentioned.

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