In the world of youth ministry, the imagery of fire abounds. Even our language crackles with intensity: we talk about summer camp “lighting a fire” under teenagers, or how a sermon “fired them up.” We name our programs things like Ignite, Awaken, or Passion to invoke a sense of energy and fervor. This fiery language reflects our deep desire for revival and for our students to “fan into flame” the gift of God (2 Tim. 1:6).
But maybe fire is not the best way to envision discipleship. If you look at ministry websites and curriculum guides, you will start to notice a creeping idea: youth ministry is all about high energy games, passionate worship, super-charged events, and electrifying sermons. As a busy youth pastor with small kids at home, sometimes just reading such lists is enough to make me feel tired.
Even worse, it’s not clear that all this energy and dynamism is producing lasting disciples. We all have seen students make spiritual commitments but quickly fade out and drift away. It does not take long for a passion that is “burning up” to “burn out.” When we amp up students’ expectations that the Christian life is one of never-ending enthusiasm, we are setting both them and ourselves up for disappointment. Unrealistic expectations lead to spiritual disillusionment, and reality can hit hard when the bus pulls back into the church parking lot from a retreat.
Discipleship is Planting Trees
It is necessary, then, that we remember another metaphor for spiritual growth: trees. While definitely a lot less flashy, trees are actually Scripture’s preferred image for godly life (Ps. 1; Jer. 17:7-8; et al). Trees grow over long years, drawing strength from deep roots and enduring through many seasons of change. They sprout from tiny seeds, growing almost imperceptibly. When planted firmly in the ground, they have what they need to weather any storm. And in their proper time, they bear good fruit.
Jesus described his disciples’ relationship to himself as one of “abiding” in the vine (John 15:5). Such imagery should make us stop and think whether we have set up our programs to produce flashes in the pan or to cultivate deeply rooted, enduring disciples. Three encouragements from Psalm 1 can help youth ministers prayerfully cultivate tree-like disciples.
Water Students Well
In the first few verses, the psalmist pictures God’s Word as “streams of living water” which provide nourishment and refreshment. Over the years, the godly person grows and flourishes as he or she “delights in the law of the LORD” (v. 2) and meditates upon it.
As youth ministers, we want to acknowledge the centrality of the Word in youth ministry, but planning a teaching schedule can be stressful. We want to reach our students and communicate to them in a way they will understand, but sometimes this can lead to a paralyzing inertia.
This is where the image of a tree is helpful. My mother taught Christian school and Sunday School for thirty-some years. She always said it was her goal in every Bible lesson to “put down another layer of soil.” This thought takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders as a youth pastor. When students enter the youth program, I have just seven years of middle and high school to walk through life with them. But when I remember that I am just one of many godly voices in their lives, I can do my part to the best of my ability and trust that God will give the increase.
Lasting transformation often comes from incremental faithfulness more than sudden, spectacular moments. Instead of feeling like every message needs to be a home run, I can trust in the slow, dependable buildup of years’ worth of teaching.
When it comes to teaching the Bible, there is no bad place to begin. God’s Word has been breathed out by him; all of it is useful (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Of course, it is logical and even helpful to use teaching plans or curriculum. Plan your messages — you should not come to youth group hoping to make it up on the fly. But at the same time, do not let the planning overwhelm you. Think of a curriculum like the map at an amusement park: these are the areas you want to spend your time. If you hit all the spots in a given message, great. If not, you can always come back around next week. What matters most is the regular, faithful teaching of God’s Word.
Plant Students In Community
If our students are like trees, they need to be firmly planted in an environment in which they can thrive. Psalm 1 warns about the “counsel of the wicked” and condemns those who stand “in the way of sinners” or sit “in the seat of scoffers” (v. 1). By contrast, the godly are those who stand in the “congregation of the righteous” (v. 5)—that’s the church!
The best place for students to grow is in the context of the local church. Too often, we section off students from the rest of the congregation, even when they are present in Sunday morning worship. In order to grow properly, they need vital connections ways to the life of the body.
Youth pastors and lay leaders have important roles to play in the lives of the youth, but they cannot be the only relationships. Students also need meaningful contact with other people in the church from a variety of ages and backgrounds. The church is one body with many parts, and every member has valuable gifts to impart. Paul set an example for Timothy to follow, and our churches are filled with faithful Christians whose lives are worthy of imitation.
Unfortunately, these mentoring relationships do not often happen on their own. When I ask adults to serve in student ministry, they often give me a confused look and awkward laugh that says, Who, me? Many people imagine youth group is just pizza, dodgeball, and endless lock-ins, and that they are not cut out for that sort of thing. Harder still, talking to teenagers can be difficult and many do not feel qualified to teach.
But discipleship does not have to be intimidating. Recently our church invited students and adult volunteers to participate in One to One Bible Reading. For five weeks, partners met after the morning service during our fellowship hour to read a passage of Scripture, discuss a short study question, and pray together. Most conversations lasted ten to fifteen minutes, but it was amazing to see the fruit. Adults who do not normally serve in the youth ministry were having spiritual conversations with students. Since then, several partners have coordinated on their own with parents to continue meeting. My hope is that these partnerships will lead to ongoing mentors. When students are planted in the church community, they will grow as God intends.
Count the Rings of Students’ Growth
Earlier this spring, my garden looked like a barren plot of dirt until one day it was filled with the first shoots of squash and cucumbers. You may never notice the height of middle schoolers until they are towering over you. In the same way, spiritual growth often goes unnoticed, happening over long periods as the Spirit works below the surface.
Because of this, it is important that we recognize and celebrate growth when we see it. In the Old Testament, God’s people celebrated the Feast of First Fruits, thanking God for his provision in joyful anticipation of the rest of the harvest (Lev. 23:9-14). Paul’s letters are full of praise and commendation to the churches, celebrating God’s work of sanctification among them. When we see the Lord at work, we should point it out and give him thanks.
One of the ways to ensure we do this regularly is to mark the youth calendar with times and events dedicated to this purpose. For instance, at the beginning and end of each school year, you might gather with students and parents to celebrate what God has done in an evening of worship, testimonies, and prayer. These gatherings can be a way of coming up for air and, like tree rings, identity spiritual growth.
When God is at work in the youth ministry, the rest of the church deserves to know, too. Invite your students to share testimonies of their experience at youth retreats or mission trips. In this way, one generation can declare God’s praise to another (Ps. 145:4-6). Like Israel’s Ebenezer stones, we need memorials and reminders of what God has done even as we look forward to what he will do in the future.
Take the Long View of Discipleship
Trees are an image of spiritual growth, and Psalm 1 invites us to envision discipleship in this way. What if, instead of setting short-lived fires, we made it our mission to plant seeds that, by God’s grace, will grow and bear fruit over the next 50 to 60 years? What would our programs look like if they were set up to help students mature into Christians who can endure the times and trials ahead?
Fortunately, the amount or the speed of growth is not up to us—God gives the increase. That is really good news. All he asks us to do is faithfully tend and steward what he gives us. So next time you are out walking in the woods, take a moment to look at the branches above you. Then, ask God to raise up disciples like that.
Join us for Rooted’s annual conference in Dallas, TX October 24-26 for resources and relationships to support you in gospel-centered ministry to teenagers.
