Explaining Rules in Youth Ministry (cont.)
Take the no-sex-before-marriage rule. As a teenager, I heard that more times than I can count. But seldom did anyone explain the why. They just said premarital sex was a sin. To me, it seemed God had created sex to give us pleasure, so why was that sinful?
Only later did I grasp the truth. God wants us to save sex for marriage because he loves us and wants the very best for us.
The rules mean nothing outside of the relationship. We need to show teens that truth in every possible way. That means we need to explain the why of our rules in relational terms too.
Let’s say a small-group rule states that members should respect one another’s opinions and religious viewpoints. Why not explain the relational rationale behind it? The rule of respecting opinions shows others you love them.
We express love by showing respect. In the same way, God gives us rules that show his love for us. After all, the two greatest commandments are to love God above all else and to love others as we love ourselves.
How good are you at explaining rules in youth ministry? What tips can you share with colleagues?
