Great Commission Update - Feb 2025

By Pastor Michael Denton, FBC Nipomo

Many of us have experienced the joy of watching young people lead well in ministry—a beautiful result of both discipleship and yieldedness. We have also experienced the frustrations of seeing teens completely disengaged, on their phones or distracted by each other while they miss a ministry opportunity.

I’ve seen older adults give up on youth of today, telling me and others in leadership that “Teens today don’t want to serve” or “It’s impossible to get teenagers to help out or pay attention” etc.

Not all the blame for a disengaged generation can be laid at the feet of apathetic or resigned adults. Nor can we hope to change an entire generation’s culture with a few minor tweaks of our ministry style or methodology.

However, we CAN change our church’s culture toward this generation, one I like to call The Kingdom Generation.

So many of them are focused on reaching their generation for Christ and being salt and light in this world. It is encouraging! And many of us are trying our best to train, disciple, and encourage them. Praise God for the Kingdom Generation!

And there are some things we CAN do better! Even those of us with decades of paid ministry to teens under our belt ought to be asking ourselves these two questions:

•   What are the GOOD things we are doing in leading and discipling young people?

•    What could we do BETTER in leading and discipling young people?

Here’s what I found by asking these questions. You may find this helpful in your ministry context, or even with your kids and grandkids!

Good: Ask about school and what’s going on in their lives.

Better: Pray for them and check in on important events in their life.

Good: Ask teens to join your men’s / women’s group or adult Bible study.

Better: Talk to them like you respect their opinion and ask for their input.

Good: Be relatable. Joke around with them and gently tease with them.

Better: Be sincere.

Good: Learn the names of the music artists they are listening to and sports figures they admire.

Better: Learn the names of their friends and teammates.

Good: Compliment them publicly and privately about what you see in them and how they are a blessing and encouragement to others.

Better: Share the spotlight with them and give them credit for wins publicly and privately.

Good: Give them significant opportunities to serve in ministry.

Better: Invite them into the planning stages of ministry, not just the doing of it.

“But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Philippians 2:22 ESV

May I be frank with you? Inviting the next generation into ministry with us is not easy. It requires humility and often a major time investment.

 Pray for a genuine love for them which desires to see them mature in their faith. Discipling the Kingdom Generation is what we are called to do. And it is worth it!