Don’t try to Please Everybody, Know the Real Needs

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

Tim Hawkins comments on youth ministries that seek to meet everybody’s expectations – the perceived needs of parents, of other pastors, the elders, deacons, councillors, and the neighbourhood – it can get extremely tiring and discouraging trying to keep everyone happy; in fact it’s probably impossible!

Instead, following a Biblical plan should involve discovering what the real needs of your youth are. Time in the word of God can make them pretty clear: to be saved, filled with the Spirit, discipled, equipped, led to worship, develop character, serve, use their gifts, etc… These are part of God’s plan for all believers.

The benefit of this attitude is that instead of just ‘hanging around’ church for the fun, young people can actually experience God’s desire for them: transformation and life-change. Eradicating the ‘pure entertainment’ or ‘please everyone’ mentalities may result in less students attending, but the spiritual soil will be better cultivated for healthy, lasting fruit.

Trained, Discipled… Released!

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

{We can capture the focus of} Jesus was specific in the way he called his disciples: “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And in Mark 3:14: “He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach…” The purpose for their calling was to reach people, not to just linger around him forever. It’s the lost sheep that demand our attention; the sick and dying people who need the doctor.

In my ministry, it can be easy to just maintain an atmosphere that’s comfortable and cosy. My challenge is to train and disciple teenagers, while remembering the next step: releasing – continuing to push them further into their area of gifting and unique method of outreach. While it’s demanding and uncomfortable to be reaching the unsaved, it’s the God-given purpose of all his followers.

Maintaining BIG Vision for BIG Global Impact

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

Tim Hawkins shared a conviction God gave him about his limited vision. The commission wasn’t just to “make disciples”, but to “make disciples of all nations”. God wants us to think worldwide as we set out on our mission. That means thinking, talking and praying with a global focus – even when we can’t see the specifics – that somehow God might use our ministry to impact people internationally. The Crossfire youth mission statement reflects that big vision: “We will impact the world for Christ by empowering students to be passionate disciples of Christ.”

I often struggle with the ‘hardened’ Christian students that Tim describes, having been in church most of their lives – lazy, apathetic, critical, and remaining on the fringe. I believe that if I was able to consistently cast a big vision for both local and global outreach, imparting God’s heart and passion for the lost, that many young people could be revived and stirred to action. When they’re involved and on the frontline, there’s little time for negativism; it’s a life and death struggle. That kind of evangelistic focus not only reaches more people, but raises passion, enthusiasm and growth in young people as they witness first hand the victories God is winning.

Filling young people with a vision, that God might use them to change nations.* When vision extends beyond the local scene, local ministry gets better. Paint a big vision.

“Sending out” produces passionate disciples. Apathetic, critical, fringe because they’re never in the real world. Keep before them the big picture of God raising them up to impact the world. And involve them in big ministry, frontline. Frontline troops have no time for negativism, as engaged with a life and death struggle.

Evangelistic focus is so vital to health of disciples. Keeps passion & enthusiasm high, as they serve and witness first hand the victories God is winning

Ministering for Long-Term Results

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

We desperately want to know we’re doing OK, and numbers are often a sign we look towards

God doesn’t care how many people are in your youth group…am I producing fruit that will last?

Keep your eye on the future result, not the immediate

What happens when they leave the ‘hothouse’?

Cheap substitutes: numbers, activities (social, staying busy), hype, bait ‘n switch, picking unripe fruit

The majority of youth leaders believe deeply in the work they are doing, and so look for some kind of measure to tell if they’re successful – “Am I actually making a difference?” Sometimes though, it leads pastors to focus on short-term growth, particularly in numbers of ‘decisions’ or people attending.

Tim Hawkins challenges leaders to be influencing students in ways that will last for years into the future, when they’re well out of the protective, comfortable youth ministry environment. This means not relying on the cheap substitutes for lasting fruit, including:

• looking at size of your ministry
• focusing on social activities more than spiritual growth
• shallow hype & excitement
• promising one thing but providing another
• enticing young people to make a decision before they’re ‘ripe’.

This section convicted me to examine the lasting fruit of my ministry as a leader. Sadly, several young people appear further from God today than they were a few years ago. My effort as a leader may have produced an amount of fruit in the short-term, but some was not lasting.

I need to gain a long-term perspective at ministry, and fight the temptation to produce ‘fast fruit’ instead of Jesus’ calling for ‘lasting fruit’.

A Heart Fully Devoted to God

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

Before discussing any programs or practicalities, Tim Hawkins dissects the leader’s heart. Why? Because it determines the kind of disciples produced, the extent to which God will work through them, and the amount of lasting fruit produced from their ministry.

Someone once said that the greatest gift a pastor or preacher can give to their congregation is their own personal growth. And I think the same is true of youth leaders. If there is one thing I should offer to the youth that I lead, it would be the example of my own heart, aflame with passion and abandon for God.

Before expending energy on programs and activities, I need to deeply root myself in God, and ferociously guard my heart from the diseases of pride, division, self-sufficiency, and idolatry.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

A Heart of a Disciple

[Reflections on Fruit That Will Last by Tim Hawkins]

Most leaders, by nature, have a desire to lead other people, but what about a desire to follow? Tim Hawkins challenges leaders to be disciples first. Beyond a passion for young people, a passion for ministry, or a passion to lead or speak, there should be a consistent passion to know Jesus and to grow into his image. It’s our calling to be branches grafted to the vine, drawing nourishment directly from God and not any other source. Only an intimate relationship with God provides the supernatural flow of empowered leadership and influence, not anything external. Far beyond any trappings of ministry and service, our greatest desire, treasure and fixation should be the relationship we have with him.

I need to continually search my heart for any self-serving motives or ambition that affects my leadership, and ensure that my heart is hungry for God alone, and submissive to his direction and leading.

As Tim Hawkins conveyed:

“Hang out with Jesus. Worship Jesus. Love Jesus. Read Jesus’ word. Pray to Jesus. Sink your foundations deeper into Jesus. Get immersed in Jesus. Be surrounded by him and engulfed in him.” (p.36)