Read the full article

http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/19140

1. God said “if you love me keep my commandments” these are rules

2. Technically Christianity is a religion

3. Churches (organized religion) are there to help us along our journey

4. If Jesus came to our church absolutely we’d let Him in

Watch the video for yourself and see if you completely agree. Feel free to comment

I hope everyone gets a chance to read their research results and take a minute to exam what they are doing to prevent these things from happening.

Here is a link to the full article for you to read yourselves.

Barna Group – Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts

Irrelevant Relevance in Youth Ministry

Author: DavidJones  //  Category: Pop Culture, Youth Culture

Is your youth ministry relevant?

There could be many answers to this question. Popular answers might include: Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know. What is “relevant?”

For many youth ministries, the answer is depends on a deeper question. When we speak of relevancy, do we mean a relevancy that is wrapped up in culture, or a relevancy that is applicable and life-changing to students?

For far too many youth ministries, the answer seems to be the former. By trying to make youth groups and ministries “relevant,” many leaders, youth pastors, etc. have sold out to the popular culture around them. Go back 10 years. How would you describe a “cool” youth pastor? He probably had an earring, played acoustic guitar very well, and listened to awesome bands like Hanson and the Wallflowers (Okay, kidding about that last part.)

How would you describe the “cool” youth pastor now? Well, the look has changed a little bit. One piercing might not be enough. Tattoos could definitely be added. That acoustic has been traded it for something a little bit harder. Favorite bands? Maybe Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Underoath. In fact, today’s “cool” youth pastor might look like someone edgy on American Idol.

Maybe that’s a bad example, but hopefully you’re catching my drift. In attempts to be relevant to students, many youth ministries have become a part of the world and a part of the culture. Instead of discerning the culture, they have engulfed themselves in it, blurring the lines between an actual ministry and a trendy hangout place with moral teachings.

We already tried this. It didn’t work. Youth ministries used to look hip and cool by having posters on the wall, videos playing, smoke machines going, strobe lights flashing, PowerPoint running, and a worship band playing. It worked for a little while, but after some time, people finally got bored and left. They didn’t need the youth ministry for that. They bought their own iPods, owned their own computers, and realized the church could no longer stay one step ahead of them. In fact, in a short time, it fell far behind.

Relevancy in youth ministry does not have to be about the latest trends, technology, or trends. While it is important to understand that’s happening in those areas, we do not have to drown ourselves in that culture to be relevant to students. The relevancy students need is something much deeper. Unfortunately, it is also harder to tap into, which is why many youth leaders opt for the easy way out.

Students need a youth ministry that is relevant on a spiritual level. Bleached hair, earrings, and guitars might attract attention, but they do not help students understand how to take the Word of God and apply it to daily life. Teenagers have to see that faith and the Bible should not be compartmentalized to Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. Biblical teaching should permeate our entire lives and be displayed as we go about our business every second of every day.

Relevancy is about taking the words of Jesus and understanding our need to act, think, and talk differently because of the example He set before us. It’s about learning about Job and seeing how we can hold onto our faith when we go through difficult storms in life. Relevancy involves seeing how we can be obedience just like Isaiah when God sent Him to speak to Judah.

Relevancy is not about our programs, lock-ins, loud music, wild games, or ability to be involved in culture. Relevancy is about showing students how to apply the Word of God so it transforms their lives.

2012 is almost upon us. Looking towards the new year I wonder will it be normal and nothing different. I like to use an illustration of a coke rocket, look it up if you don’t know what it is. A coke rocket is a 2-liter bottle of coke shaken up that is just waiting for the cap to blow off. It has seemed that 2011 had all kinds of possible stories and events that could have set the world in a war. Economy is horrible everywhere, Israel close to war, still no peace in middle east, these are just a few. Aside from all this is the theories that 2012 will be the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. There are just tons of things to ponder about what 2012 will hold. I do believe something major will happen this year in the middle east which will effect us, maybe just gas prices I don’t know. keep and eye on Iran and gas prices they will be linked together I can almost guarantee it. What do you think of 2012? Normal year or a train wreck?

Q. Assuming that you agree with Christmas, why should it be celebrated?
A. To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

Q. Why was Jesus born?
A. To save us from our sins and the consequences of sin, namely God’s wrath which will eventually lead us to hell. (Romans 5:8-9, Romans 6:23, 1 Timothy 1:15)

Q. What exactly is sin?
A. Sin is the breaking of God’s law. e.g lying, stealing, adultery (1 John 3:4)

Q. How does Jesus save us from our sins?
A. By dying on the cross and taking the punishment that should have been ours (1 Peter 2:24)

Q. In that case, is everyone saved?
A. No, only those who have repented (said sorry to God and turned from their sins) and put their trust in Jesus alone for their salvation (Acts 20:21)

Q. How then can I be saved?
A. As stated above, through repentance and faith in Jesus. For a more in depth explanation of this, click here or go to www.needgod.com. If you like hip hop, go to www.readthisbeforeyoudie.com and if you don’t like hip hop, you can still go to this site and click STOP and flip through the pages and read them.

Hopefully this is clear. No need to be a ‘dummy’ anymore.