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Discipling like Jesus

We recently spent a quarter of our yearly budget in one afternoon. The church lawn sparkled carnival style: arms, knees, and feet bounced up and down in the circus-grade inflatable obstacle course; the world’s largest slip-n-slide propelled backs and bottoms down its plastic-covered carpet; and a stage fit for Relient K overlooked the yard. This hoopla may be standard fare for some ministries, but for our 25-person youth group, the Ultimate Splash was a grand affair.

And then it was over. Crumpled paper cups and water balloon confetti were strewn across the lawn, and we wearily begged for the clean-up to wait until tomorrow. Was it worth it? Should we base our success on numbers, commitments, or lack of broken bones?

Personal bias shades our views on subjective matters and circumstances and often tints our approaches to youth ministry. Whether we cater to the crowd, dote on the disciples, or indulge the individual often depends on leadership personality and church philosophy. No doubt, each ministry will mirror its leader and his or her strengths, but aligning one’s focus to better reflect Jesus’ strategy will result in creating disciples Jesus-style.

The gospels clearly record Jesus’ concern for the masses, the small group, and the individual, with comparable emphasis on all three. Images of Jesus’ grassy mountain teaching, his bread and wine treatise to three dear friends, and his willingness to entertain an undercover late-night visitor all demonstrate the Savior’s tender heart towards each. Following Jesus’ pattern we must also try to reach all three groups.

Jesus’ approach to each group differed according to its size and heart condition, but his message remained the same in every venue; he consistently and deliberately pointed to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ ministry centered on communicating Kingdom values: the heart of God and God’s plan for people. Understanding Jesus’ approach to all three groups will equip us to reflect him as we disciple teens.

The Masses

Jesus purposefully spent much of his time with the crowd. Before a thorough reading of the gospels, my bias was that crowds were more irritating than welcome. But the gospels record quite a different scenario: Jesus drew the masses to himself. He made it his business to be the miracle doctor in the land, guaranteeing himself a strong following (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 15:30). Jesus also made himself known in the synagogue to a group of people who perhaps wouldn’t be wowed by a wonder-worker (Matthew 9:35; Luke 4:15). In his three-year ministry on earth, Jesus created hoopla to attract people, but all for the purpose of communicating Kingdom values and bringing God glory.

Once Jesus captured the interest of the people, he opened his mouth and spoke (Matthew 5:1), taking full advantage of their fascination. During his (assumed) first interactions with the crowds (Matthew 5-7), Jesus spoke plainly in his Sermon on the Mount—addressed practical issues the people could understand, relate to, and apply. He used images like salt and light to clearly illustrate his discourse. However, as his three years of ministry continued, his approach to the crowd shifted. He began telling stories whose meanings weren’t readily apparent. Jesus’ mysteries were designed to provoke questions from those who were true Kingdom seekers.

Large numbers of people were attracted to Jesus, not solely because he carried the truth but because he met their needs and fascinated them. Youth workers should apply Jesus’ approach—care for teens with acceptance and appease them with absurd amusement. This amusement doesn’t have to cost much. Anything out-of-the-ordinary with freedom to let the crazies out will draw a crowd. Take our giant slippery slide: heavy-duty plastic from the hardware store, some soap and water, and a football, and you’ve got hours of entertainment. (We laid old carpet underneath for safety’s sake.) Blow the dust off your creativity.

But to fully implement crowd-ministry Jesus-style, the intention cannot be solely entertainment. Jesus never gathered a crowd without communicating truth. So, in the planning of each larger event, your purpose is to create a spiritual climate. Originality and authenticity will serve as the best teen-appeal: a magician with an object lesson on the deceptive nature of appearances—a twist on a popular theme—the spiritual significance unveiled as the event progresses.

Remember how Jesus spoke with the crowd; he first plainly addressed their hearts. Youth workers must first connect with teens, speaking to core issues using relevant pictures and analogies. For instance, challenge them to reconsider their dependence on the seen world by using The Matrix as a springboard. Secondly, Jesus related deeper truth through perplexing parables. Reach those who are seeking by piquing their curiosity, then point them to leaders available for discussion and invite them to your weekly meetings. Speak the truth, and do it in a way that’ll spark interest in those searching.

The intent of Jesus’ communication with the crowd was to spread the message of the Kingdom and produce permanent followers. Jesus roused the curiosity of those who followed with puzzling stories; those who sought Jesus out for interpretation were serious about following him. This weeding process revealed the true disciples.

The Small Group

Jesus’ close followers included the 12 hand-picked disciples, a larger group comprised of those Jesus sent out to minister (Luke 10), and those who followed him diligently searching for truth (Mark 4:10). Jesus’ discipling ministry first and foremost involved example; Jesus taught by modeling. The 12, the other disciples, and the seekers were with Jesus night and day. He personified Moses’ teaching to the Israelites, “Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise" (Deut. 6:7).

Jesus opened his life up to his followers and allowed them take every breath with him. They listened as he lectured the crowds, they watched his wisdom to the Pharisees, and they watched closely as he cured debilitating diseases (Matthew 12; Luke 9: 37-42). As a youth worker, make yourself available to your teens and allow them into your life. Let them see you interact with your spouse and welcome their footsteps along side yours as you minister.

Be ready to make the most of each opportunity. Jesus used teachable moments to turn his disciples toward the Kingdom. When an argument was brewing, he silenced it with an object lesson on humility (Luke 9:46-48). When hungry crowds craved the truth miles from the nearest town, he taught them of faith and God’s provision (Matthew 15:32-39). When the disciples turned the children away from Jesus, supposing he was too busy, Jesus reminded them of God’s priorities (Luke 18:15-17). Change a few names and move the setting to urban America, and the circumstances are much the same. When a close friend betrays a teen’s trust, crude music spills from the headphones, or race wars ravage the local high school, discipling Jesus-style requires inserting God’s perspective. Ask questions to provoke conversation based on Kingdom values: How has the situation affected their view of God? What may God be trying to teach them? Help them put their God-glasses on and view their decisions from a holy perspective.

Questions also spurred the Savior to teach his disciples. Peter once asked the limit on forgiveness (Matthew 18:21). Another time he wondered aloud about the reward for the disciples’ sacrifice (Matthew 19:27). Others outside the inner circle often petitioned and challenged Jesus as well, and no matter what the intents of the inquisitions, Jesus consistently responded with Kingdom truth in story form. Teens may seldom ask direct questions, but they delight in challenging the accepted. Look at their objections as inquisitions—as their backhanded way of looking for answers, and turn their challenges into opportunities. They’ll receive your fables better than your sermons.

As Jesus’ followers asked questions and learned from his example, they were mastering the skills of communicating and discipling. Mark 6 speaks of Jesus empowering his followers to work miracles, but he also commissioned them to speak in his name by challenging them to spread the word (Luke 10:1-24). Teens also need the opportunity to minister. After you’ve equipped students through example and teaching, they need the chance to exercise their growing gifts. Build service into your youth calendar. We’ve cleaned up people’s yards, provided free babysitting nights, and given food to the homeless. Many of our teens help with sound during the church service and serve in children’s church and AWANA. Encourage your kids to get involved in the church and look for needs in other people’s lives.

The Individual

Just as Jesus communicated at length with the multitudes and his smaller group of followers, he also made individual interaction a priority. Many instances of direct contact with individuals are cited in the gospels. People seemed to have unmediated access to Jesus to ask for healing and interpretation of spiritual matters.

Two lengthy one-on-one interactions are recorded in John, one with Nicodemus and one with an unnamed woman drawing water. Both instances take place at inconvenient times. Nicodemus comes to Jesus under cover of night and the woman fills her water pot in the presence of an exhausted, road-weary Jesus.

Jesus focused on Nicodemus’ heart during their dialogue. He patiently spoke Kingdom values to a searching soul. His conversation with the woman required Jesus to ignore many obstacles—He was tired and she was a Samaritan woman. Either of these qualities were enough to excuse a rabbi from interaction. But her spiritual condition compelled Jesus to disregard his physical state and her social status. He immediately engaged her in conversation, not to ask for a thirst-quencher, but to share the way to relationship with God.

Jesus met individuals where they were, at times that were convenient for them. Teens also function best at curious hours. Discipling Jesus-style may require working the graveyard shift and keeping up with technology. Whether it’s installing Instant Messenger or frequenting basketball games and school plays, we need to do what it takes to connect with our teens. The best opportunities often arise when we’re the most distracted or tired. Sensitivity to their needs involves selflessness, time, and care.

Applying Jesus’ method of discipleship will require planning and evaluation. In the summer evening after the Ultimate Splash, we sank onto a couch, consoling our aching muscles and pounding heads. Weeks, in fact months, of preparation were suddenly over. Which emotions did we allow to surface? Relief, excitement, and disappointment all fought for top billing. In the glow of the fish tank, we started asking questions. How did the hoopla we created rate in Kingdom value? Did we give people an opportunity to meet Jesus? Did we create a sense of mystery about the Kingdom of God? Evaluation can wait until daylight, but tonight, we commit ourselves to continue discipling like Jesus.

Becky Kellner has created an eight-year pastime out of spending time with teenagers. She lives in Maryland with her husband, a vocational youth pastor, and their new daughter.