Why We Need to Get Back to The Sunday School Answer

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Every youth pastor can share frustration about students only offering up Sunday School answers during small groups or discipleship groups. Many Sunday School lessons or small group curriculum are written as a time of question and (one-word) answer instead of helping students to engage in conversations.

While I can completely share in these same frustrations at times, these aren’t my greatest frustrations when it comes to students’ answers in groups.

Not only are Sunday School answers simple one-word answers from students, but they also are the ones that students repeat over and over again. The reason students repeat the same answers over and over again are because most questions are written to be answered by those same answers.

“Over the years in youth ministry, I feel like the Sunday School answers have changed. The go-to Sunday School answer over the past several years has seemed to morph into “God’s glory.” While I’m all about God being glorified, I believe that the vintage Sunday School answer better clarifies and personifies God’s glory: JESUS CHRIST.”

I want to share with you many reasons why I believe we should get back to the Sunday School answer of “Jesus.” But first, I want you to know that I believe not only every Sunday school answer, but also every lesson, sermon, study, devotion, event, and trip should ultimately culminate in Jesus. Jesus should be the reason and the motivation for everything we say and we do.

“I am certainly not a Jesus-only student pastor, but I am Jesus-always!”

Here are 10 reasons why I believe we need to get back to Jesus as the Sunday School answer.  Continue reading

Youth Group Truth: Chip Dean’s Blog

chipmic2Chip Dean is the Global Student Pastor over all 3 campus Student Ministries at Liberty Baptist Church in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

“My goal is to SEND out GOSPEL-centered, RELATIONAL students who make DISCIPLES on MISSION with Jesus.”

This blog is all about sharing the resources from my years in Student Ministry. There are 10 years, all 66 books of the Bible, all 13 major Christian doctrines, over 25GB’s of info, and over 5,000 files to be downloaded.

If you would like all of these files more easily downloaded in one place on DropBox, email me at cdean@libertylive.com. 

Here are other places you can follow Chip and his Student Ministry: Continue reading

CBSM Small Groups: The Apostle #9 – Discussion Questions


CBSM Small Group Leaders:
Here are your discussion questions for a successful small group session with your students for this Sunday!
The Apostle Small Group Questions 9.doc
The Apostle Small Group Sermon Outline 9 – Mars Hill
You can listen to the sermon again at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maximum-life-pastor-zach-terry/id111108397

CBSM Small Groups: The Apostle #8 – Discussion Questions

CBSM Small Group Leaders:
Here are your discussion questions for a successful small group session with your students for this Sunday!
The Apostle Small Group Questions 8.doc
The Apostle – Praise (sermon notes).pdf
You can listen to the sermon again at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maximum-life-pastor-zach-terry/id111108397

CBSM Small Groups: The Apostle #7 – Discussion Questions


CBSM Small Group Leaders:
Here are your discussion questions for a successful small group session with your students for this Sunday!
The Apostle Small Group Questions 7.doc
The Apostle – Acts 16 Notes.pdf
You can listen to the sermon again at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maximum-life-pastor-zach-terry/id111108397

CBSM Small Groups: The Apostle #6 – Discussion Questions


CBSM Small Group Leaders:
Here are your discussion questions for a successful small group session with your students for this Sunday!
The Apostle Small Group Questions 6.doc
The Apostle – Acts 15.pdf
You can listen to the sermon again at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maximum-life-pastor-zach-terry/id111108397

CBSM Small Groups: The Apostle #5


CBSM Small Group Leaders:
Here are your discussion questions for a successful small group session with your students for this Sunday!
The Apostle Small Group Questions 5.doc
You can listen to the sermon again at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maximum-life-pastor-zach-terry/id111108397

Mark 5 – The Authority of Christ in Missions (by Justin Nettles)

Justin is one of our CBSM summer interns. Our summer interns are given tons of responsibilities like: write a message each each from the passage CBSM is going through that week, walk through their study of the message with Pastor Chip, go to staff meetings, go to CBSM small groups, lead a CBSM small group once over the summer, take one student out to eat to mentor them each week, complete miscellaneous tasks, work for/with each church staff member, etc. Since Justin believes he is called to be a youth pastor, I also gave him an opportunity to teach our students. So here he goes…Mark 5…The Authority of Christ in Missions (by Justin Nettles). Mark 5 on The Authority of Christ in Missions by Justin Nettles (mp3)

CBSM Website Blurbs

Andrew is working on a brand spanking new website for CBSM and asked me to write up a few quick blurbs about our ministry.  Here’s what we came up with…

Storyline:  Our every Wednesday worship service is the time where we are coaching our students toward Christ.  Through epic videos, crazy games, awesome worship, and life-changing preaching: we are constantly pointing to Him.  So, if you’re looking for real worship that takes a real look at God’s Word, come check out some Storyline.

Framework: Our every Sunday morning small groups is the time where we are growing our students in community.  Through tight friendships and interesting discussions: our students are growing closer to Christ and each other.  So, if you’re looking for relationships that really grow together spiritually, come check out some Framework.

Ministry: Our every Sunday night student ministry teams is the time where we are commissioning our students to serve.  Through using their different God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to serve Christ, their church, and the community: our students making a huge difference by just doing what they are good at.  So, if you’re looking for real purpose that takes your life seriously, come check out some CBSM SMTs (Student Ministry Teams).

Bio: Chip has been the pastor of student ministries here at Capshaw Baptist Church since November 2007.  He grew up in Alabama (Tuscaloosa to be exact), so he’s pumped to be in an area where he gets the people and they get him.  He graduated from Baptist Bible College in PA with a youth ministry degree in 2001, and he graduated from Southern Seminary in KY with a masters of divinity degree in 2006.  Knowing Chip is really simple, he’s just super passionate about teaching teenagers the gospel and glory of Jesus Christ in all of life.

CBSM Video Newscast #12

Our somewhat weekly video announcements: this Wednesday’s worship service, CBSM Ski trip, , Storyline student worship service, Framework small groups, SMTs (Student Ministry Teams), service video ideas, game ideas, event ideas, etc.

Weekly Student Newsletter: 1.24.10 (pdf)