Think Fundamentals Not Flash

"What are you doing in your student ministry that will outlast you?"

That is the statement God used from this book to wreck my thinking. 

In working with students it is so easy to spend your time, energy, and efforts focusing on things that are flashy but not fundamental.  Things that are good but not essential.  Things that are relevant, but not lasting.

For me, I love creativity.  I love things being fresh and new and all that.  I love sermon series with nice graphics and videos that challenge students to think about and respond God like never before.  I realize, that we are living in a media-driven generation whose attention must be captivated by any means necessary.  I understand all that.  I think we should have all that.  I think we should speak the gospel in the language of students today.  There is nothing wrong with that.  That is incarnational student ministry.  That is what Jesus did, he was not content just being a booming voice from a mountain, he wanted to come into the world so people could touch God.

I love all this, and if you came to reverb this past Wednesday, you would have seen all of the above.  Flash, I use it.  And I think you should use it too, but never at the expense of the fundamentals.

 

Prayer.  That's fundamental. 

Having a move of God.  That's fundamental.

Reading the Bible.  That is fundamental.

Being Holy.  That's fundamental.

Preaching doctrine.  That's fundamental.

Challenging students to share their faith.  That's fundamental....

 

It is so easy for me to spend hours upon hours preparing flash for our student ministry and neglect the fundamentals.  There is something wrong if I spend more time preparing flash for a youth service than I do in prayer and study for that same youth service.  We cannot substitue the fundamentals.  

I grew up hearing my Pastor make this statement,
"What God blesses as a supplement, he will curse when it becomes a substitute."

I want to put something in the lives of students that will outlast me.  I want to see students making a difference in their world for Jesus, not just while they are in High School, but for the rest of their lives.

I want to think fundamentals, not flash.

Comments

[Rick McGee]

Great article, Bro. Brandon. This is the struggle we face for proper balance as we seek to be creative and "cutting-edge" in our messages and presentations. We can't forsake the fundamentals. A vital reminder for all of us! A balance can be found.

[Susan Barnhill]

This is a "must read" article for every person involved in youth work. To be effective with the students I work with, I must first have fundamentals at work in my own life!