My first year in youth ministry.

My Wednesdays are typically spent the same way. I have the day off from my 9-5 (or 10-6 or 11-7 or 12-9 or 1-9 or 3-9) job and get to spend the day to myself. I never set an alarm and usually get out of bed around 10 a.m. or so. I start up my computer, turn on The Herd on ESPNU, and pour a bowl of cereal. I usually relax on my couch and rotate between ESPN TV shows, Facebook, and my favorite blogs until mid-afternoon. Then I shift into “youth pastor mode.” I do a final preview of the night’s lesson and prepare myself mentally for any unseen obstacles that the youth (mostly the 7th grade boys) might throw at me and seek God’s help for humility.

I’m a week away from my one year anniversary as youth pastor at Christ Wesleyan and it’s crazy to see the difference a year makes.

My first few months, I spent my Wednesdays studying the material for the night’s lesson, typing the lesson word by word (to practically recite to them later), and spending close to an hour before the Fellowship Meal going over my typed out lesson. I was typically planning series weeks in advance and trying to give them different topics and thinking (with little success) of “fun” ways to try and teach it to them.

Throughout time, I realized how wrong my teaching philosophy was. I was no longer relying on God, I was trying to build my own little Kingdom in the western wing of the church. I dropped the precisely written notes, dropped the catchy gimmicks, and decided to let God take control. God has given me the opportunity to further His kingdom to the most fragile and easily influenced age bracket in our world and I had snatched it right out from under Him.

We are now spending close to 45 minutes with our Bibles open reading step by step through His Word. I still prepare for the night, but without any notes or extended study. We switched from a traditional teacher-teaching-student format to a discussion based format that has worked wonders for their confidence and mental capacity for God’s Word.

I’m not sure that there was a point to this post other than urging teachers and students alike to seek Him first. Don’t try to be the “cool guy” if it means sacrificing Biblical leadership. Students, don’t try and be the “smart guy” who fills his head with basic knowledge but learn to meditate on the lesson after you leave and expand your understanding of Him. There is nothing this life can offer that you cannot find in Christ, and we so often forget about Him and glorify ourselves in both leadership and student roles.