In high school and college I really wanted to be in great shape. I used to dream about how cool it would be to have 6-pack abs, well-defined biceps, and shoulders that looked like the Rocky Mountains. Then I could go play professional baseball or football, or at least I could look good on the beach.
The problem with my dream during those years was that I wasn’t willing to do whatever it took to achieve it. While I would workout sporadically, exercise always took a back seat to a good TV Show, movie, or nap time. And, as far as nutrition goes, let’s just say Cherry Coke was (and still is) my Achilles’ heel (It’s just so tasty!).
I was the king of excuses:
“I’m too busy.”
“I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”
“I have too much homework.”
“If only I had more energy…”
This list could go on and on, and I wondered why I couldn’t achieve this goal. I tried to convince myself that perhaps the goal was unachievable, but reflecting back on it, the problem wasn’t that the goal was too big. The problem was quite simply: my small excuses.
Unfortunately I find a lot of us have the same problem in youth ministry. I know I did. I made excuses there too.
“If only I had a bigger budget.”
“Once I get that LCD Projector, ministry will really take off.”
“When we get a Youth Room, we’ll be able to do great Relational Ministry.”
“If our Music Minister was cooler, then teens would enter into prayer more.”
This list could go on and on as well, but the problem is that excuses don’t get us anywhere. They don’t bring teens to Life Nights. They don’t lead them closer to Christ. And they don’t help them get into heaven. Excuses are a waste of time, and it’s time for us to stop making them.
I once heard someone say, “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” If we want to lead teens closer to Christ, let’s find a way. If you have a small budget, who cares? Lead teens closer to Christ anyway. If you don’t have a Youth Room, who cares? Do good Relational Ministry anyway. If you don’t have a cool Music Minister, who cares? Lead teens in prayer anyway.
I don’t know much, but I do know one thing: teens need to know Jesus Christ. It’s time to get our ministries into great shape and stop wasting time making excuses.
The life of each teenager we encounter is worth it.
Question: What excuses do you need to stop making to lead teens closer to Christ?
