The Gospel for Students

The Importance of Getting the Gospel Right in Student Ministry

According to the Health Encyclopedia of the University of Rochester Medical Center,

It doesn’t matter how smart teens are or how well they scored on the SAT or ACT. Good judgment isn’t something they can excel in, at least not yet. The rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25 or so… In teens’ brains, the connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making center are still developing — and not always at the same rate…

In quoting the Health Encyclopedia, I am seeking to make the point that teenagers’ brains are quite malleable and can be led astray by emotions and feelings a little bit easier. The false gospels and false teachings of our day rely heavily on poking and prodding at the emotions. If it feels good, then it must be good. If it sounds right, then it must be right. Because of the nature of the teenage brain, it is of utmost importance that Student Pastors know the Gospel, preach the Gospel correctly, and teach students to share the Gospel as well. Let’s take each of these and think through how they can work themselves out in church ministry.

Know the Gospel

God’s Word is so vast that we cannot plumb its depths, but it is so accessible that we can come to know and understand its truth. So, are we (pastors and ministry leaders) dedicated to studying and learning the mysteries God has made known to us through His Son, Jesus Christ? Do we know the one true Gospel?

John Calvin clearly states: “The Gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart.” Does the Gospel possess your whole soul and penetrate the inner recesses of your heart?

Before we are to preach the Gospel, we must live the Gospel; not perfectly, but persistently. Receive this wisdom from Kevin DeYoung, “The one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians.”

Preach the Gospel

Jesus and Paul are both adamant about contending against false teaching. Jesus, after departing from the Pharisees in the region of Magadan, speaks with His disciples who had followed Him.

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them,

Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? … How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:5–8; 11, 12).

Paul mentions multiple times to “beware of false teachers!”

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil (Romans 16:17–19).

Smooth-talking false teachers plus an easily moldable teenage brain equals a convincing disillusionment. We must protect our student’s minds and hearts by preaching the one true Gospel. The Gospel that leads us to deny ourselves (in an “all about me” world) take up our cross, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24).

Teach Students to Share the Gospel

Regrettably, the piece that I have faltered on is teaching the students to take what they learn in the church walls out to the communities in which they live. It is not easy to convince students of the importance of sharing the Gospel. As a high schooler, I felt as if my faith with Jesus was MY faith with Jesus, and no one else needed to worry about me “shoving my faith down their throat.” However, I did not recognize that mindset hindered me from sharing my faith. I would not be surprised if our students, in today’s always-offended, morality-changing culture, are where I was: scared to offend or upset someone.

As Student Pastors, we must teach our students to proclaim the Gospel with their lives boldly. This does not mean we teach them to be street evangelists who make sure everyone knows that their destination is hell. No, we are teaching them to model the Gospel with radical hospitality, trustworthy friendship, unending forgiveness, and immeasurable joy. We must teach our students that evangelism is more than just inviting someone to church; it’s inviting people to a new life. And here’s the key: it takes time. We teach them to plant the seed, water the soil, and let God do the growing (see 1 Corinthians 3:6).

I once heard someone tell a story (that I will probably butcher) of their interaction with an atheist. This atheist essentially explained how confusing it was to them how Christians could believe that Jesus could save the life of an unbeliever from eternal damnation. Yet, it doesn’t seem that urgent to the Christian to be shared. The atheist explained how, if they had this good of news, why wouldn’t they share it with as many people as possible?

So, let’s know the Gospel well, preach the Gospel boldly, and teach our students the importance of sharing the Gospel with others.