What They Don’t Teach You in Bible College about Youth Ministry #2


Kyle Gets Broke

I was especially proud of this illustration, I had been preaching for a month about not living a double life and allowing God to enter every area of your life.  This was all leading up your Youth Vision Sunday, the day when we take over Sunday morning service and let the church know what we are doing.  I was comparing the Apostle Paul’s apparent dual identity in Romans 7 with James’ double minded man in James 1:8.

           

            Romans 7:15-20 (NIV)
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Or I have come to affectionately call it the “Who’s on First Verse”

            James 1:8 (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

            Making the point that the first man has made up his mind but is struggling against his flesh to be whom his spirit desires to be, whereas the second man has not made up his mind as to what type of man he wishes to be.  To drive this point home I asked for a volunteer to help me demonstrate.  Kyle jumped to his feet eager to assist and get out of his chair.

Every Youth Pastor should have a Kyle.  At this time Kyle was twelve or thirteen, typical JR high boy, youngest of three brothers.  He eagerly came to the front for his instructions.  I explained to the group that first Kyle would demonstrate for us the double minded man.  “Go to your destination,” I directed.  Kyle turned and looked at me confused, “Perfect,” I explained as the group began to chuckle.  Kyle was always a good sport when it came to a laugh.  I then instructed him on how to be the Romans man, I told him is goal was to get the right side of the sanctuary.  He casually strolled to that side of the stage to the thunderous applause of the Youth group.  I called him back and then asked for volunteers to represent the struggle Paul was facing.  I had a dozen or so students and leaders of various sizes come forward.  I, again, point out to you that Kyle is a shorter JR high student.  Then I asked Kyle to go to the right side of the sanctuary while the other group tried to detain him.

I assumed that the group would form a wall or grab Kyle and hold on to him as he tried to walk to his destination.  I was wrong.  The group decided the best way to arrest Kyle’s movement would be to for a dog pile on top of Kyle.  I saw my life of a youth minister passing before my eyes not to mentions Kyle’s short life.  As I dug through the pile like a referee looking for the fumbled ball I was relieved to see that Kyle was only a little worse for the ware.

I was able to share same concept, and the story of Kyle’s near death experience with the entire church at our Youth Vision Sunday and begged Kyle’s mom to still let him come back to our youth group.


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