I like the point that ministry needs to be specialized when you're young and then it will grow with you...mostly. You're dead on that 70-something people don't "get" a postmodern lesson - though they're living in a postmodern world so there will be some bleedover - still, it's generally the traditional "Get out your Bibles and the lesson book - Ezra chapter 2... Okay - question #1 is..." in the older crowd. I still like to learn that way - I'm in the gap, I guess - since I'm probably a global learner...
Still, I hear gripes from the old people that "all the programing is for the young people," who say "all the programing is for the old people" - so who's getting all this programing? Here's my point again - ALL programing is age targeted. We have Sunday school classes for all ages here - and people group according to grade (if in school) or to, well, other people their age. The 20-30 somethings have a class that is missional focused and disciple building and, no surprise, is video based. The 30-50 somethings have a class that reads a variety of books and discusses them (I got them to read Erwin McManus and they LOVED it). The 50pluses have the very traditional little booklet of lessons for Bible study.
Point? The classes are taught by people in those age groups.
So - again, postmodern worship, by and large, ought to be led by postmodern people, eh? Dare I say it? Youth ministry ought to be led (that is - content guided) by GASP youth.
Children ought to have some kind of say in HOW they are taught, too.
But it's all about framework. It doesn't help for me to say, "Okay you 20 somethings. You think there's nothing here for you at church . What do you WANT?" Um...heh...uh...
How about, "Okay - we're starting a new worship service...bible study...small group...for people your age. How should we do it? What would engage you? What would make you come in the first place? What would make you come back?"
Um...not sure any of that said much of anything...
*boink*
Still, I hear gripes from the old people that "all the programing is for the young people," who say "all the programing is for the old people" - so who's getting all this programing? Here's my point again - ALL programing is age targeted. We have Sunday school classes for all ages here - and people group according to grade (if in school) or to, well, other people their age. The 20-30 somethings have a class that is missional focused and disciple building and, no surprise, is video based. The 30-50 somethings have a class that reads a variety of books and discusses them (I got them to read Erwin McManus and they LOVED it). The 50pluses have the very traditional little booklet of lessons for Bible study.
Point? The classes are taught by people in those age groups.
So - again, postmodern worship, by and large, ought to be led by postmodern people, eh? Dare I say it? Youth ministry ought to be led (that is - content guided) by GASP youth.
Children ought to have some kind of say in HOW they are taught, too.
But it's all about framework. It doesn't help for me to say, "Okay you 20 somethings. You think there's nothing here for you at church . What do you WANT?" Um...heh...uh...
How about, "Okay - we're starting a new worship service...bible study...small group...for people your age. How should we do it? What would engage you? What would make you come in the first place? What would make you come back?"
Um...not sure any of that said much of anything...
*boink*
posted by Pastor Bill at 12:36 PM
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