National LCMS Youth Workers Conference: The Picture

The Big Picture

"Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)

Thousands of books and articles have been written about Christian theology. Often these writings are done not just to explain what is Christian doctrine but often to refute the doctrine of someone with whom one disagrees. Some would say all this theological writing is about minutia, that it's the small stuff. Many would say it is really pretty irrelevant in a world that knows little about Jesus. Seemingly, a lot of people get lost in the small stuff and fail to appreciate the big picture. If you are looking at a painting, it's like getting caught up in the brush strokes in one small corner of the canvas and missing the big picture.

Like it or not, admit it or not, there are a lot of people, including a majority of teenagers, who don't have a clue about the big picture. It's not a matter of theology, but of faith, and they don't know God. They don't know Jesus. And they have no idea about the Holy Spirit.

These days, youth ministry needs to always think about starting with the very basics of the faith. The easiest way to do that is to start with the Creed, the Apostles Creed, specifically. In a matter of a few paragraphs, the basics for God and His will for the world is outlined.

The first article is about God the Father and Creator. He is the source of all things. He put it all together in a perfect creation.

The second article is about Jesus. Human beings messed things up in that perfect creation, choosing to go their own way. Sin entered the picture and has plagued the human race for all time. "The wages of sin is death," St. Paul writes. Without a merciful and forgiving God, we would all be on the way to eternal damnation. But that was not God's way. Instead, He gave His only begotten Son—His very own son—to suffer and die for us. Then, Jesus rose from the grave. In His suffering, death and resurrection, we human beings have hope and promise for eternal life and the assurance of God's power and presence in our earthly life.

The Third Article is about the Holy Spirit. His job is to "call, gather, enlighten and sanctify us"—in other words, to claim us and make us part of God's family. He enables and empowers God's people to believe and to live as God's people. It is the Holy Spirit that brings us into the community of faith, the body of Christ.

An increasing number of people these days, as strange as it sounds, don't really know any of this and that includes a lot of young people. They don't know God the Creator, Jesus the Savior, or the Holy Spirit, the claimer. Heaven and hell aren't a part of the equation either. People are just concerned about getting through today.

It's no use dealing with the details when they don't know the big picture. Sadly, many don't see the need. Everybody is entitled to their own picture and spirituality in this world. Most don't see anything wrong with that. In fact, they prefer it that way.

The challenge is to first own the big picture for ourselves, something God's Spirit is more than willing to do with us. And then, second, to share the big picture with those who don't have a clue. It's not that easy when most people aren't really looking.

Nearly every time we worship, the big picture is included in the Creed that we recite. So, how do we take the big picture into every day, every setting, every thing that we do? That's what we will begin to explore at National 2009.

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This site runs on the Inspirlink system for Churches and Schools.
Site donated by Inspirmedia Ministries - Sponsor of the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference.




	The Big Picture "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31) Thousands of books and articles have been written about Christian theology. Often these writings are done not just to explain what is Christian doctrine but often to refute the doctrine of someone with whom one disagrees. Some would say all this theological writing is about minutia, that it's the small stuff. Many would say it is really pretty irrelevant in a world that knows little about Jesus. Seemingly, a lot of people get lost in the small stuff and fail to appreciate the big picture. If you are looking at a painting, it's like getting caught up in the brush strokes in one small corner of the canvas and missing the big picture. Like it or not, admit it or not, there are a lot of people, including a majority of teenagers, who don't have a clue about the big picture. It's not a matter of theology, but of faith, and they don't know God. They don't know Jesus. And they have no idea about the Holy Spirit. These days, youth ministry needs to always think about starting with the very basics of the faith. The easiest way to do that is to start with the Creed, the Apostles Creed, specifically. In a matter of a few paragraphs, the basics for God and His will for the world is outlined. The first article is about God the Father and Creator. He is the source of all things. He put it all together in a perfect creation. The second article is about Jesus. Human beings messed things up in that perfect creation, choosing to go their own way. Sin entered the picture and has plagued the human race for all time. "The wages of sin is death," St. Paul writes. Without a merciful and forgiving God, we would all be on the way to eternal damnation. But that was not God's way. Instead, He gave His only begotten Son—His very own son—to suffer and die for us. Then, Jesus rose from the grave. In His suffering, death and resurrection, we human beings have hope and promise for eternal life and the assurance of God's power and presence in our earthly life. The Third Article is about the Holy Spirit. His job is to "call, gather, enlighten and sanctify us"—in other words, to claim us and make us part of God's family. He enables and empowers God's people to believe and to live as God's people. It is the Holy Spirit that brings us into the community of faith, the body of Christ. An increasing number of people these days, as strange as it sounds, don't really know any of this and that includes a lot of young people. They don't know God the Creator, Jesus the Savior, or the Holy Spirit, the claimer. Heaven and hell aren't a part of the equation either. People are just concerned about getting through today. It's no use dealing with the details when they don't know the big picture. Sadly, many don't see the need. Everybody is entitled to their own picture and spirituality in this world. Most don't see anything wrong with that. In fact, they prefer it that way. The challenge is to first own the big picture for ourselves, something God's Spirit is more than willing to do with us. And then, second, to share the big picture with those who don't have a clue. It's not that easy when most people aren't really looking. Nearly every time we worship, the big picture is included in the Creed that we recite. So, how do we take the big picture into every day, every setting, every thing that we do? That's what we will begin to explore at National 2009. back to Home This site runs on the Inspirlink system for Churches and Schools. Site donated by Inspirmedia Ministries - Sponsor of the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference.