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Missional Small Group Youth Ministry

Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 by Jeremy Zach in Discipleship, Evangelism, Mission, YM Philosophy, YM, Culture, & Church, Youth Pastor Tips

NT Wright in his book “Justification” states:  God’s plan, God’s single plan, always was to put the world to rights, to set it right, to undo Genesis 3 and Genesis 11, sin and the fracturing of human society which results from that sin and shows it up into full colors.

Some youth ministry philosophies heavily rely on small groups ministry.  Some youth pastors think getting students in small groups is the bread and butter of youth ministry.  Some think if only students would take the next step and join an awkward small group, then their life with Christ will be legit because of the authentic accountability that transpires in youth ministry small groups.

My point:  Small groups aren’t bad or not necessarily good.  But, what is the sole thrust of  our youth ministries?  Getting kids to join small groups or getting kids to join the mission of God, here and now? Or both?

Small groups are more about accountability which essentially means more “sin management”.  Participating in the movement of God means to restore the world, which is more about “participation in advancing the Kingdom of God”.

The majority of Jesus’ ministry is not about gathering his disciples to talk about how they feel and what sins they committed.  No.  Jesus’ ministry with the disciples was about healing people and leading people to Jesus.

My problem:  Too many youth ministries devote to much time, $, resources, staff, and effort to small group ministry, than they do to advance the kingdom of God in their town and on their school campuses.

Think about it…small groups are for the good Christian kids.  Atheists are not necessarily stoked to join a small group, but they stoked to join a movement of God that restores.

Here is a crazy thought….what if our small group ministries not only confessed their biggest sins, but actually served the community together while sharing the good news?  Youth pastors need to have a shift.  The shift is accepting the reality that throwing a new Christian into a small group, who they would not naturally get along with, is NOT the end all for youth ministry.  Throwing a new Christian in a service project where they have to collectively share and talk about Jesus with other Christians is a better solution.

Can you see my point?

Hear me out here because I know I am going to get some angry youth pastor who loves small group ministry commenting on this post.  I think small groups are great if they are outreach focused.  Generally small groups are inward focused and closed off to outsiders.  Think about how intimate and closed off small groups are?  Yeah we say small groups are open and want “visitors” but there is no way an atheist will feel a sense of belonging in a Christian based small group.

I am recommending we rethink our small group youth ministry.  Youth ministry small groups need to have a mission focus agenda in order to move past a “self help-AA (alcoholics anonymous)”  type of small group youth ministry mentality.

What should bother youth pastors more?

1.  Students who don’t memorize their Bible verses?

2.  The local needs of their community

No, you cannot say both.

© 2009, Jeremy Zach. All rights reserved.