Basic Student Ministry Tip #42

Surround yourself not only with people who celebrate and cheer you on, but also those who challenge you.

Good Theology

During a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, noted atheist Christopher Hitchens laid down some seriously good theology. Most people recognize Hitchens as the author of the bestselling book God Is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything. Since the book's publication in 2007, Hitchens has toured the country debating a series of religious leaders, including some well-known evangelical thinkers. In Portland he was interviewed by Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell. The entire transcript of the interview has been posted online. The following exchange took place near the start of the interview:

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I'm a liberal Christian, and I don't take the stories from the Scripture literally. I don't believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make any distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens: I would say that if you don't believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you're really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.

Sewell wanted no part of that discussion so her next words are, "Let me go someplace else."

This little snippet demonstrates an important point about religious "God-talk." You can call yourself anything you like, but if you don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead, you are not "in any meaningful sense" a Christian.

Talk about nailing it.

In one of the delicious ironies of our time, an outspoken atheist grasps the central tenet of Christianity better than many Christians do. What you believe about Jesus Christ really does make a difference.

Excerpt from PreachingToday.com

Basic Student Ministry Tip #41 - Pride

Take pride in your ministry, don't be prideful because of it. If you aren't finding fulfillment in what God has called you to do, maybe it's your pride not your position that is causing the frustration.

Basic Student Ministry Tip #40 - Scripture and Prayer

One scripture reference that is prayerfully considered is better than five verses that I just pull out to fill space. It's not how many, it's how prayerfully!

Basic Student Ministry Tip #39 - Love

If I have the best idea, blog, video, marketing team, facilities, and leaders around me but have not love, I gain and am nothing! 1 Corinthians 13

Remember that a relational student ministry will always outlast, outpace and outgrow a student ministry that is exclusively built on "cue sheets" and programs. Take time to love your students and the families God has entrusted to you.

Basic Student Ministry Tip #38 - Prioritize

Surround yourself with people who can help you discern what is a good investment of your time and those things that will just consume it.

Basic Student Ministry Tip #37 - Meetings

Don't have meetings for the sake of having meetings. Plan your meeting, dare I say it, with an agenda. If your meetings are only "informative" and allows no interaction or input, don't have a meeting... send an email or letter. Those attending our meetings are letting us know that they think what we represent is worth their time and energy, don't convince them otherwise.