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Can You Pass the Timothy Test?

3. Are you building a Gospel Advancing ministry?

“…do the work of an evangelist.…”

Paul was the ultimate evangelist. Although Timothy was probably more wired as a pastor/shepherd than evangelist (like most youth pastors), Paul challenged him to do the work of an evangelist. Contrary to popular belief, the number one job of the evangelist is NOT evangelism (that’s job #2). The numero uno job of the evangelist is equipping people to evangelize! Listen to Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:11,12:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11,12

Paul is challenging Timothy to be a Gospel Advancing Leader. This is someone who shares the Gospel personally and mobilizes others to do the same. Is that what you are doing with your teenagers? Are you reaching your friends, neighbors, baristas, family members and complete strangers with the good news and challenging your teenagers to follow your lead? Are you equipping your teenagers to have Gospel Urgency (helping them know WHY to share their faith), Gospel Fluency (training them to know WHAT the Gospel is) and Gospel Strategy (showing them HOW to share the Gospel effectively)?

If not, you are missing a vital component of effective ministry. You are not doing the work of an evangelist.

If you want to get started, sign up and show up to my upcoming webinar, How to grow your youth group in 2021. Like the Gospel, it’s free! It will give you a roadmap to doing “the work of an evangelist.”

4. Are you doing your job in every area as a youth leader?

“…discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Most youth leaders don’t get fired because of immorality, but because of irresponsibility. Nobody likes keeping track of receipts, going to endless staff meetings, collecting camp waivers, filling out insurance forms, filling out time cards or sending out calendars and updates to parents and teenagers. But, for most youth leaders, these are all part of “discharging all the duties of your ministry.”

Take care of the details so you can take on your mission. Do the grunt work so that you can keep doing the good work. Make your meetings on time so you can keep making disciples over time.

So, how did you do on The Timothy Test? Are you leaning toward 1 (uh oh) or 5 (yay!)?

Wherever you landed, keep praying and pushing. Youth Ministry, done right, is well worth it.

This article originally appeared here.