The Spiritual Lives of American Students

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The Spiritual Lives of American Students

• Information from the National Study of Youth
  Religion as presented in LifeWays Transforming
  Student Ministry Research Calling for Change

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• Teenagers typically rebel against their parents
  and other adults in their lives and thus reject
  the faith of those adults.

• The lives and faith of most teenagers closely
  reflect the lives, faith, culture, and
  institutional settings of the adult world they
  inhabit.

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• Teenagers raised in Christian homes and the
  church have a pretty fair understanding of their
  religious beliefs.

• The vast majority of teenagers are incredibly
  inarticulate about faith and practices, and its
  meaning or place in their lives. They find it
  almost impossible to put basic beliefs into words.

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• Church teenagers understand that God is
  intimately involved in every facet of their daily
  lives.

• Teenagers are functional deists. They believe
  God exists, created the world, and set life in
  motion but the only time He becomes involved
  with them in a personal way is to make their
  lives happier or to solve some problem.

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• Church teenagers have resisted the influence of
  those who want them to be politically correct and
  tolerant in all their religious conversations.

• Teenagers are incredibly well-trained in using
  correct language so they will not offend anyone
  in public. Away from church they cannot bring
  themselves to say that Jesus is the only way to
  God.

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• Evangelical teenagers have a fairly good
  understanding of grace or the basics of salvation.

• There is strong evidence that many evangelical
  teenagers do not understand grace or the basics
  of salvation.

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• Teenagers in the church are no different that
  teenagers out in the community.

• Despite its weaknesses and lack of influence,
  religious practice does indeed make a clear
  significant difference across all standard
  measurable outcomes in adolescents lives.

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A Demographic Snapshot Source Magazine
Publishers of America

• From 1990 to 2000, the number of teens ages 12-19
  rose from 27.5 million to 32 million and are
  expected to climb to 33.5 million by 2010.
• Teens are ethnically diverse with 33 belonging
  to a minority racial or ethnic group
• Today the Hispanic/Latino Teen market is 4.6
  million and will grow to a size 62 larger than
  today by 2020

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A Youth Ministry Snapshot Source Youth Ministry
Leader Count - Annual Church Profile
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SBC Baptisms (ages 12-17) Source Annual Church
Profile
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A Few Observations

• There are growing numbers of students in our
  country
• There are large numbers of churches who are
  ministering specifically to students
• Student baptisms are not keeping pace with the
  population growth
• Large numbers of students are graduating from
  church when they graduate from high school

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An Important Question

• As student ministry continues to mature, are we
  developing
• students, or
• student ministries?

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Other Important Questions

• What if students were equipped to
• Recognize and respond to the lordship of Christ?
• Practice spiritual disciplines?
• Develop and demonstrate Christs character?
• Make wise decisions?
• Develop godly relationships?
• Make an intentional impact on others?

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• The solution is not to find a better plan for
  student ministry, but to find a biblical model
  for student development.

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• Is there a biblical model
• that will
• Ensure a balanced approach to student
  development?
• Operate through the two God-given institutions of
  the home and the church?
• Allow our students to grow as Jesus grew?
• Equip students to KNOW Jesus, OWN their faith,
  and make their faith KNOWN?

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• Are there any clues to how Jesus developed as a
  teenager?
• And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and
  in favor with God and with people.
• Luke 252

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• What does this tell us about student development?
• 1. There is a development process
• 2. Teen development centers on 3 main areas
• Wisdom and stature
• Favor with God
• Favor with people

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• For development to be biblical,
• it must also be relational
• He said to him, Love the Lord your God with all
  your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
  mindLove your neighbor as yourself.
• Matthew 2237-39

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• How does
• this all come together?

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Another Important Question

• If Know, Own, and Known form the foundation of
  student development, what scriptural principles
  further flesh it out?

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Does the Sermon on the Mount offer us a clue of
what should be taught to students?

• It was one of the few times that Jesus addressed
  the masses.
• It was Jesus first recorded sermon in the
  Scripture.
• From beginning to end it covers a wide variety of
  life issues.
• Could the Sermon on the Mount provide students
  with a framework for effective Christian living?

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Sermon on the Mount Topical Breakdown

• Character
• Matt. 51-12 (The Beatitudes)
• Influence
• Matt. 513-20 (Salt and Light)
• Relationships
• Matt. 521-48 (Heart condition Love your
  enemies, etc.)
• Disciplines
• Matt. 61-24 (Giving, praying, fasting, true
  treasure)
• Lordship
• Matt. 625-34 (Gods sovereignty Seek first the
  kingdom of God)
• Discernment
• Matt. 71-27 (The Narrow Gate, False Prophets,
  The Wise Builder)

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Building a Biblical Model of Student Development
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ETERNAL
Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student
Spiritual Development

• Students will recognize and respond to the
  lordship of Christ. (LORDSHIP)
• Experience personal salvation
• Cooperate with Gods activity in everyday life
• Order their lives based on the lordship of Christ

• Students will practice spiritual disciplines.
  (DISCIPLINES)
• Identify and value life habits that help them
  grow closer to God
• Develop skills such as prayer, knowing Gods
  Word, and stewardship
• Examine motives for pursuing religious activity

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INTERNAL
Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student
Spiritual Development

• Students will develop and demonstrate Christs
  character. (CHARACTER)
• Know the story and mission of Christs life
• Discover and embrace their identity in Christ
  (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and
  intellectual)
• Demonstrate Christlike character

• Students will make wise decisions. (DISCERNMENT)
• Affirm Scripture as the authoritative guide for
  their life
• Apply Scriptural principles to daily decisions
• Assume responsibility for their decisions
• Practice a life of purity

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EXTERNAL
Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student
Spiritual Development

• Students will develop godly relationships.
  (RELATIONSHIPS)
• Recognize and submit to proper authorities
• Encourage and minister to fellow believers of all
  ages
• Cultivate relationships with non-Christians
• Practice Christs love and grace in their families

• Students will make an intentional impact on
  others. (INFLUENCE)
• Join God in His mission
• Regularly participate in mission and ministry
  actions
• Tell the story and mission of Christs life and
  their relationship with Him

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One Last Question

• How is this strategy for student development
  carried out in the home and the church?

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Building a Biblical Model For Student Development