BE PREPARED

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” -  Abraham Lincoln 

Preparation is needed for great ministry. 

Without God, man cannot do anything. Without man, God will not do anything. 

Joshua was a great leader of the Israelites, leading them to the Promised Land. 

Joshua went through great preparation in order for God to do great things in and through him. 

Exodus 17:9,10,13-14 - Joshua led the victorious battle against the Amalekites

Exodus 24:13 - Joshua accompanied the Jewish leader to the mountain of God

Numbers 11:28 - Joshua was the attendant of Moses from his youth. 

Numbers 13:16 - Joshua’s name changes from Hosea (salvation) to Joshua (the Lord saves)

Numbers 14:6-10,30,38 - Joshua, with Caleb and 10 others, spied out the land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who urged the nation to possess the land and, thus, they were the only ones who actually entered the land. 

Numbers 27:18-23 - Joshua was indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and was commissioned to serve the Lord for the first time. 

Numbers 32:12 - Joshua follows the Lord faithfully

Deuteronomy 31:23 - Joshua commissioned a second time 

Deuteronomy 34:9 - Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom

When we get to Joshua 1, I wonder if the trusting God was trusting in God above his experience. 

Still, preparation was key for Joshua to be who he was and how he was going to lead. 

Preparation does not mean knowing everything, but being ready for anything. 

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction - 2 Timothy 4:2

The role of a youth leader is to teach the Word of God to their students. 

This can come in teaching in main session, large group - or through small group questions. 

Our role is to teach the Word of God, completely, to our students. 

Here, the word prepared (or to be ready), gives the idea of urgency or readiness, like a soldier prepared to go into battle.

That they are ready and able to teach God’s word when it’s popular and not popular, convenient or not convenient. 

BE PREPARED IN STUDY

BE PREPARED IN STORY 

BE PRESENT 

Everything that we do as youth leaders is built on a foundation of trust. 

Trust is built with being present in the life of your student. 

Your student will not care what you know, until they know that you care. 

You need to be present in order for students to know that you care. 

When you are present as a youth leader, you begin to create an environment of community for those you are going to minister to. 

javascript:;You read throughout Acts how present people were - and you see the kind of life change that people went through. 

Acts 2:42-47 - the fellowship of the Believers 

There was devotion to teaching, and fellowship, and eating together. 

Those who believed were together and had things in common

They sold possessions for each other, and distributed the proceeds to each other. 

They were there for each other. 

They had glad and generous hearts towards one another. 

Acts 9 when Saul is converting to the faith. 

God speaks to Ananias and tells him to go look for Saul. 

Ananias is afraid that he will go to jail, but God tells him in verse 15 - that Saul (later Paul) was a chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel - Acts 9:15

We know the kind of man that Saul became, but part of his story is Ananias being present to minister. 

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” - Acts 9:17

Acts 8 Philip speaks with the Ehtiopian Eunuch

Angel of the Lord tells Philip to go to Gaza where he meets this Eunuch. 

Eunuch was reading passage (reading Isaiah)

Philip helps explain what the passage means and shares the gospel. 

The Eunuch sees a body of water and wants to get baptized

Desires to move forward in his relationship with God. 

BEING PRESENT ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY. 

How do we do this? 3 things

BE PRESENT PHYSICALLY 

Show when you’re supposed to show up. 

BE PRESENT MENTALLY

BE PRESENT RANDOMLY 

Part of building great trust with students is  also showing up in random parts in your students' lives. 

Concerts

Football games

Recitals

Birthday parties

Family lunches and dinners (when invited)

Christian clubs (when invited)

You also randomly show up to things that are hard. 

Memorial services

Hospital visits

Death of family members

Divorce 

Bad days at schools 

Episode 13

You’re not a know it all, and that’s a good thing

• Ever feel like you don’t know enough about the Bible or Christianity? Has that ever let you stop volunteering in youth or kids’ ministry? DON’T LET IT!

Episode 12

Attendance and Interaction are Key

• Have you ever showed up to youth group and there was “nothing for your to do”? Great!!! That means you have more time to personal interact with students!

Episode 11

Be there FOR THE students, not just with the Students.

• Now that we have made the commitment to serve on a consistent basis, what are we doing while we are at youth group?

Episode 10

Consistency An Impact Are Connected

• When we sign up to volunteer in youth group, we must prioritize youth group meeting times above most other events. This is the only way that consistency in the lives of the students will take place.

Episode 9

Know why you are serving in youth ministry.

1. Unless we know why we are serving it is hard for us to be able to fully commit to the commitment that is needed and required of us in youth ministry. 

Episode 8

Christmas Break Ideas

Christmas break is an easy time to connect with your students.

Here are 10 easy ways to connect with your small group over the Christmas break

1. Go to Walmart and buy a box of 10-20 blank cards and send them out. Hand written anything is like gold these days

Episode 6

Special Guest Justin Herman