Adolescent Spiritual Transition and Development Attaining and Maintaining the Standard of...

Adolescent Spiritual Transition and Development

Attaining and Maintaining the Standard of Righteousness

© 2006 Scott Brawner All Rights Reserved.

The youth pastor’s (and pastor’s) job is to help members of the body (born again believers) reach and maintain

the Biblical standard of righteousness.

The Standard: Biblical RighteousnessThe Standard: Biblical Righteousness


Personal righteousness is displayed in and through our personal conduct.


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While we cannot judge an individual’s salvation, we can observe the

production of fruit (growth of “Biblical” conduct)


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Obviously the goal is to meet or exceed the Biblical standard of expectation


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But reality is, few of us ever constantly and consistently maintain the standard.


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Remember! Meeting a standard is not a precursor for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) we can only strive to met and keep the

standard because of our salvation and consequential walk with

Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:2)

God’s GraceGod’s Grace-1.-1.

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Reaching and maintaining a standard of conduct (transformation) is also known as personal discipleship. This transformation involves a process of growing and changing over time.

Time (Months/Years/Decades/Etc.)

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Point of Salvation

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Point of Death/ Adolescent Transition

Point © 2006 Scott Brawner All Rights Reserved.

This process of transformation is about time; it begins at the point of salvation and ends at the point of death. It is

a journey through our emotional and non-emotional commitment to Christ.


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Point of Salvation

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Emotions (rash actions)

Non-Emotional

Attachment/Commitment



Hopefully, the individual who comes to Christ begins growing with Christ from their

emotions toward non-emotional attachment/commitment.


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Point of Salvation

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StrengthNon-Emotional





The average American adolescent lives within the range of their

emotions


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Point of Salvation

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Given the lack of discipleship and a culture that bases reality off of an individual’s feelings, the following adolescent responses generally apply:

1.The longer a person maintains their relationship with Christ at merely the emotional level, the more we see adolescents hoping from event to event for their

“spiritual high.” 2. Conversely, the longer a person maintains their relationship with Christ at

merely the emotional level, the harder it is to see transformation within the individual’s life and greater the possibility that the person leaves the church after high school graduation (no more high charged emotional community or events.)


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1 John 2:13 describes the levels of maturity for the believer (Children, Young Men, and Fathers). This

passage can also help youth leaders establish standards of growth in the life of the adolescent believer.


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Point of Salvation

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Non-Emotional

Attachment/CommitmentFathersYoung Men

Children



As the individual grows and matures in Christ, the individual’s capability to handle responsibility, leadership, and service grows as well (Daniel 1-2;Luke

2:52; 19:17; 1 Corinthians 4:2). This type of growth is integral to the transformational process. As with leadership skills, an individual’s actions (and service) increase in scope and complexity as the individual moves from direct

leadership positions to organizational and strategic leader positions later in life.


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Attachment/CommitmentFathersYoung Men

Children

Responsibility, Leadership and

Service

Daniel 1-2; Luke 2:52; 19:17; 1 Corinthians 4:2



As pastors and religious educators, it is our responsibility ensure a strategic transitional

process by which a believer can grow and be transformed from the point of salvation. This

means that we provide them with both practical knowledge and experience.


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Adolescent Transition

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Fathers

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“The

Process”


In reality, an individual’s growth looks more like this.


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Process”

Point of Death/


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Add to the Discipleship process Leadership and service.


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Responsibility, Leadership and Service



As the believer grows and matures over time according to 1 Timothy 4:16 and Romans

12:2, the believer is held to a higher standard of righteousness and expected not to “fall.”


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Point of Death/


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But again reality sets in and it is understood that it is only by God’s grace that we are who we are and that His grace toward us did not

prove vain (1 Cor.15:10)


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Point of Death/


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Closing Thoughts• Evangelical leaders struggle with defining the Biblical mandate

and mission of youth ministry. – If our goal in Y/M is to turn out deeper, more spiritual “kids” (read:

“spiritual adolescents”) we have already failed.

• Evangelicals currently have NO formal process for equipping adolescents for adulthood.– Any formal process created must be based on a Biblical model or

principles. – Any program or activity we plan and execute in this type of ministry

MUST pass through the filter of • Is this program/event necessary?• How does this event/program help my kids to mature in their faith? • Does this program/event help fulfill the mission of the ministry?

• Maintaining a standard of Biblical righteousness takes time, effort and much grace! This means that leaders MUST grant much grace while maintaining a standard of conduct throughout the process.


Closing Thoughts• Fusion is designed provide a transition for adolescents

into adulthood using:– Rite of passage that incorporates:

• Individual and corporate discipline• Spiritual/physical accountability• Opportunities for pushing the physical, spiritual, emotional limits of

the individual.• Providing the individual a “safe” place to fail and be restored.• Special intimate rite of passage ceremonies throughout the program.

– Significant tasks involving:• Domestic and international experiences in evangelism, church

planting, and ministry service. • The possibility of personal and corporate failure through the process

of service.

• The Fusion process is incomplete if the individual does not return and serve the Lord through the local church or ministry.


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