Video Transcript: Lesson 8 Section 4

As you develop student led ministry teams, it is of the utmost importance that each student  continues to develop spiritually on their own. It can be easy for ministry activities to become a substitute for spending personal time with God. And in His Word, you may have struggled with this in your own life, there is so much that can fill our time. Before we know it, we have  prioritized good things such as serving others over individual faith development. One way to  counter this temptation is to motivate youth to share God's truth while they learn God's truth.  As youth leaders, we must be doing this as well. Unless we are spending time in Scripture and listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance, we will not have fresh insights to share with our  students. conversations about God and faith can be difficult to work into our daily lives.  People tend to view religion as a private matter, that is not something to talk about with  others. In addition, we may feel inadequate to discuss something we're learning about God,  because the knowledge is new, and we have yet to understand it fully. However, this is  actually the perfect stage to share with others what we are learning. empower youth to teach  others what they are learning about faith, encourage them to share what God is doing in their  life, even if they are still in the middle of figuring out what it means. The goal is not to have a  perfect presentation, but to be able to integrate their new knowledge in the current belief and thought patterns. Sharing what we are learning is a powerful witness, because many people  have no knowledge or an incorrect understanding about Jesus. The apostle Paul writes about  this in Romans chapter 10. How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And  how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear  without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it  is written? How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news? Our calling to share  God's truth is so important. You should realize that they have much wisdom to share with  friends and family members who are not believers. They can preach the gospel in their words  and actions. Here are some reflection questions that can help youth process what God is  doing in their life. describe the feeling you regularly experience in your time with God as you  read the Bible or participate in worship. What are you learning about God? And how has this  impacted your life? How are you experiencing more love, joy and peace in your life? Because  of your growing understanding of Jesus and obedience to Him? You should reflect on these  questions yourself before encouraging your youth to answer them. Here are two approaches  we can take to sharing God's truth with others. First, we can talk about authentic faith  experiences that have produced a Christian character quality in our life. This might be a  before and after style story. Before I felt like this, but now God has worked in me to change.  This is also a natural way to share when someone asks you a question such as Why are you  different from other people? Or why are you so happy? This is an opening to share our story  and the faith we have. A second approach is to state a biblical truth that is impacting our  thoughts and actions. Can you remember a time when you learned something new, and you  couldn't wait to tell someone else about it? That was because the knowledge was so  important, you couldn't keep it to yourself. Our faith should be like that, too. It should be so  real that there was no way we could not talk about it. Youth might be afraid to share their  experiences with their friends, so remind them that no one can argue with their story. One  way to help is to create opportunities for youth to share what they are learning, and a space  where they can discuss the results and encourage each other to be brave. Here are a few  ideas for how you can do this. First, plan events, topics and activities that are relevant to  youth and their peers. involve students in planning gatherings, they would want to invite their friends to second, allow youth to step up and lead parts of the program. They could make  announcements, lead at game time or sing in the worship band. They could even just stand at the door and greet people as they arrive. All of these are opportunities for them to be visible  and demonstrate that their faith is important enough to act on. Another good idea is to  provide a regular time for youth to share their story. They should become comfortable in  talking about what God is doing in their lives. Help them understand the connection between  their experiences and the Bible's principles. Then make space for them to share that with the  community. Finally, you can invite students to lead a portion of their small group Time. This is  another great way to develop responsibility and leadership. Students could prepare discussion question, facilitate the prayer request time, or bring an application point from Scripture. 

Rotate this task among various students, so all have a chance to participate. As students  practice sharing God's truth, it will become less intimidating for them. Perhaps you know,  students who find it very easy to talk about their faith with their friends. For others, it would  be the last thing they would ever want to do. Your role as a youth leader is to help both sets of students develop in maturity and courage. Remember, this process takes time and will not  look the same for every student. Avoid the temptation to focus only on those students who  are doing well. And are natural preachers encourage all in the group to share God's truth in  their own way with the people he has placed in their lives. Let's look at a scriptural example.  John, Chapter Four describes Jesus' interaction with a Samaritan woman. When a Samaritan  woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, will you give me a drink? His disciples had  gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, You are a Jew, and I am a  Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? For Jews do not associate with  Samaritans? Jesus did not let the woman's response discourage him. Instead, he continues  the conversation. Jesus answered her, if you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you  for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Sir, the  woman said, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where can you get this  living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gives us the well and drank from it  himself, as did also his sons and his livestock. Jesus answered, Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the  water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman  said to him, Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water. Let's look at some of the lessons we can learn from this passage in our own  conversations with unbelievers. Here are some things Jesus did. First, he ignored social  prejudice just by choosing to spend time with her. He asked a leading question to pique her  interest. He was sensitive to her spiritual need and he presented truth that started from her  existing spiritual knowledge. Notice also what Jesus did not do in the conversation. He did not  wait until the woman spoke to him first. He did not quote a lot of Scripture to her that she did  not understand. He was careful not to condemn her lifestyle, even though she was living in  rebellion and disobedience. And he did not seek to win an argument with her. These lessons  can help youth engage in spiritual conversations with their friends. First, remember, the  person is your friend, not a target. They should not feel like a problem you're trying to fix.  Prioritize the relationship, and don't drive them away by making them feel like they have to  change in order to be friends with you. interject faith into the conversation naturally by  commenting on something occurring at the time, or in recent events in the world, or your life.  Any conversation can become a spiritual conversation. Secondly, share God's story through  your story. Tell your friend that you are a Christian and take opportunities to share what that  means to you. Why did you choose to follow Jesus? What are the changes you've experienced  in your life? Equip your students to fully understand the gospel message and work this into  their testimony. Here are the four main points of the gospel. We are made to be in relationship with God, but we are separated from God through our rebellion and the sin in our lives. Jesus'  death and resurrection restores our relationship with God. Once we have accepted that  forgiveness, we are empowered to live out our unique calling it obedience to God. The  student's testimony will reflect these four truths. Don't try to discuss all of this in one  conversation. Share a little bit at a time. As you sense your friend is ready to hear it. Providing youth training and opportunities to share God's truth as they are learning it will help root  them in God's word and grow in spiritual maturity.