If you followed my commentary on NYMC07 you'd have seen that I concluded that "Australian Youth Ministry needs leaders who will preach Christ Crucified to a dying generation." Over the weekend Greg Stier spoke at a similar conference in the US about the need to preach Christ crucified. Check out his talk summary. Marko didn't agree with the talk (last paragraph). Schmoyer did. I'm with Stier and Schmoyer on this one.
wait — i didn’t say i “disagree” that teenagers need to know about the cross! i just think they need to know more about jesus than only the cross. i don’t want to reduce jesus to only the cross. i want teenagers to know the jesus of creation, the jesus of the incarnation, the jesus of the parables and justice and healing and all the other stuff of his life and message, and the jesus of resurrection, IN ADDITION to the jesus of the cross.
Awesome blog by Greg!
Marko, definitely agree that youth ministries should focus on other aspects of Jesus.
The danger:
Multi-focus can lead to blurred centrality, which distorts Christianity.
That has been my experience serving in youth ministry.
The solution:
The cross needs to be central, and
the cross needs to interpret.
If these two are combined then
- creation
- incarnation
- parables
- miracles
- justice
all flow from the same entry point.
Paul says “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
and then he continues with many words on many issues.
I want to imitate Paul as he imitated Christ.
Peace out
JPJ
Just thought of something: Dave, have you heard of Paul Washer?
He is on about the Cross in a big, big, BIG way.
hey haysey…
i just googled him… too many videos and pages… so… shoot me the video that’s stood out to you the most.
i’ve been reading more about greg stier and the dare2share ministry.
it looks pretty good!
might blog on it more in the future.
peaceout
davo.