NYMC #14 - Preaching Christ Crucified
The National Youth Ministry Convention 07 was lots of fun! I met some great people, was reminded of some incredible truths and have been challenged to trust in God and not myself. There were just under 500 people at the convention and it was exciting to meet so many who are passionately proclaiming Jesus in their context.The convention closed with a time of communion. The organiser, Stephen Parker, closed with a clear reminder of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was an encouraging time - however the cross of Christ was not given the centre stage throughout the whole conference as it ought. I think that it is helpful to get speakers from different backgrounds, but there were some who share a different gospel and ought not be part of this conference if it runs again in the future.
I said it elsewhere, but what was missing most from the conference was the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection for sins. A pastors conference ought not be an evangelistic rally, but as the troops are brought in from the battlefront, they need to be equipped and reminded of what really matters. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul outlines that which is of first importance:
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.Australian Youth Ministry needs leaders who will preach Christ Crucified to a dying generation.
NYMC Live Blog Summary:
- #1 - Live Blogging
- #2 - Getting here
- #3 - Josh Griffin
- #4 - My Place on MySpace
- #5 - Thanksgiving
- #6 - Josh Griffin Podcast
- #7 - Tim Hawkins and trusting God
- #8 – The danger of assumptions
- #9 – Forge and the emerging church
- #10 – The Skit Guys
- #11 – Duffy Robbins
- #12 - Tony Campolo
- #13 - Graham Stanton
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:16:00 am
Thanks for your coverage of the conference, Dave. I didn't know it existed until reading about it here.
I really appreciate you passing on good things you've learned, as well as making the point that all of this must be Christ- and cross-centred.
That criticism is always the most significant and the most heartbreaking to make. top
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:49:00 am
hey benny. thanks for reading!
this was the first time that it's been run. it was in the same type of style as an american youth ministry conference. at this stage they are planning on doing it every two years.
it is heartbreaking to see the state of youth ministry in Australia - it means we need more and more reformed evangelicals to do GOOD Jesus-exalting, cross-centred youth ministry for the long term!!! top
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:05:00 pm
Amen to that. top
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 2:24:00 pm
Thanks for your comments. I was also at the Convention, and I came away with the same thoughts. I actually felt an aching in my soul because so much of our focus on youth ministry training is on models, methodology and how-to's and we have lost the central focus of the message of the cross. I only heard the cross spoken of as a great example of sacrificial giving that we can call young people to follow. Where doe proclaiming the justification acomplished in the cross fit???
Apart from this, an excellent conference, hearing from those with runs on the board... top