Know. Grow. Go.

Introduction:

My glasses:

I need them

They are really scratched (show the students)

It’s not good to not be able to see

I have to strain harder

Reading is difficult

Driving is difficult

It is just more difficult to do life

So I have an appointment next Thursday in order to new frames

Obviously, physical vision is important (we all want to know what is in front of us), but something that is also important is casting vision for a youth ministry.

Proverbs 29:18a (KJV 1900)

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

People need to know purpose (what’s the point?)

People need to know where stuff is headed (clarity)

Without purpose and clarity, there is chaos

Vision creates excitement and enthusiam

We have a revamped purpose statement as a youth group

We are going to talk about it

Body:

Our vision at EBC|YOUTH is to glorify God by helping students to authentically KNOW Jesus, GROW in their faith, and GO impact their world.

We are going to break these down and look at a verse that goes with each

1. Know

John 17:3 (ESV)

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

What does the word “this” indicate?

The purpose of eternal life

“Eternal life”

We all live forever and go somewhere...

But what is the purpose of eternal living?

Q. According to this verse, what is the purpose of eternal life?

“The implication of eternal life is that God and Christ may be known.”

[1]Donald Guthrie, “John,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1059.

Eternal life exists so that Jesus can be known

Jesus wants people to know Him

Q. What does “know” mean?

More than information; continuous relationship & fellowship

We want to see students come to know Christ

True in multiple ways:

It is possible for you to grow up in church your whole life and to not truly know Jesus

This can be the place where you come to know Him if you don’t already

We also want there to be guests that come, here the Gospel, and respond to it

This is where inviting is important

John 1:44–46 (ESV)

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Nathanael is Phillip’s friend

He wants his friend to know Jesus, so he invites them to see him

Do you want your unsaved friends to know Jesus?

Every time you invite a friend to MDWK, you are inviting him to see Jesus

And if you don’t have many unsaved friends, what could you do to change that?

At school

In your neighborhood

Getting involved in the public schools

Because we want to see students know Jesus, we have the following goals for 2024 (by the end of the year):

Have more students on Wednesdays

Have more students on Sundays

Have more students sign up for Meta and Camp than last year

Have student baptisms

Be thinking: “what can I do to help contribute towards these goals?

Let’s get excited about how the Lord is going to use this ministry to help students KNOW Jesus!

2. Grow

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

I love how all of this works together!

What things are we called to grow in?

The grace and KNOWLEDGE

Not just any knowledge; of Jesus!

KNOWing leads to GROWing

This is all rooted in Scripture

“This process of spiritual growth begins by knowing Christ initially in regeneration (cf. John 17:3) and it continues in one’s deepening relationship with Him (Eph. 4:15; Phil. 3:10; 1 Peter 2:2).”[1]

Kenneth O. Gangel, “2 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 878.

Gangel continues:

Both of these are necessary

Without knowledge, there is no opporunity for growth

But without growth, the new believer struggles

“Grow”

Continuous (just like “know”)

Q. What is spiritual growth?

Learning more about Jesus and the Bible

Learning how to apply what you believe

Spiritual disciplines

Spiritual growth is really important:

There is always room for growth:

“No true Christian believes, ‘I have arrived.’”

David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, vol. 11, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 144.

Nobody has it all together!

GROWing is a life-long process

And this is the perfect age to really start pressing into spiritual growth

How do we prioritize growth as a youth ministry?

MDWK and Sunday mornings

Small groups on Wednesdays

One-on-one discipleship

Spiritual disciplines series and resources

Let’s get excited about allowing the Lord to use us to help GROW your faith and the faith of other students!

3. Go

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

How it all works together:

Jesus’ disciples have come to know Him

That have grown and are continuing to do so

Now it is time to GO!

Jesus’ last words

A principle: “Last words are lasting words.”

What does “going” mean?

Traveling geographically

Crossing social boundaries

Going out of your comfort zone

“Living life is ‘going’ with a purpose, every day.”

Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 485.

Giong means making disciples (the main command)

Disciples who make disciples (multiplication)

“At the heart of our mission is the reproduction in others of what Jesus has produced in us: faith, obedience, growth, authority, compassion, love, and a bold, truthful message as his witnesses.”

Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 484.

What does it look like for someone to “go”?

Being involved in community work (service projects)

Going on a short term mission trip

Serving in long-term missions

Ex. the Brown’s

Helping support missionaries by giving financially

Sharing your faith

How do we “go” as a youth group?

Monthly service projects

Frequent opportunities to serve at church

Esteban offering

Summer missions trip: Mission Serve (Charlotte, NC)

Eventually: overseas trip

Giving evangelism equipping opportunities

Let’s get excited about helping stiudents “go” and impact their generation for Christ!

Conclusion:

It is time for us to live out KNOW GROW & GO

This is going to be an awesome year here at EBC|YOUTH!

Thank you for your willingness to be involved with it

You will have more time to chat in small groups

PRAY

Overview:

Our vision at EBC|YOUTH is to glorify God by helping students to authentically KNOW Jesus, GROW in their faith, and GO impact their world.

Know (John 17:3)

Grow (2 Peter 3:18)

Go (Matthew 28:19)

Small Group Questions:

Why do you think that it is important for our youth ministry to have a vision statement?

What’s the difference between a “head knowledge” of Jesus and a true, saving knowledge of Him?

What are some ways that you can help students to authentically know Jesus?

What is your understanding of what spiritual growth looks like?

How does knowing leading to growing, and growing lead to going?

What can you do to help the youth ministry fulfill its vision statement?