In order for a new kind of evangelism to emerge within youth ministry (or in the church for that matter) we must help our students have a fuller and more comprehensive idea of who Jesus is. In other words, rather than beginning with the gospels to understand who Jesus is, we need to provide a whole narrative perspective of Jesus. I believe that all of who Jesus is can best be understood through a theology of mission or missio dei (the mission of God). I also contend that one cannot accurately share who Jesus is or the “Good News” until they have an accurate context and meaning of his life, mission, etc.
So, to best inspire and equip students to ’share’ their faith I believe we must…
- help them see God’s plan and continuous pursuit of God to restore the world
- help them find and embrace their own identity and calling found from within the biblical narrative
- help them live out the narrative and act on their calling by being an agent of restoration (Scot McKnight — Jesus Creed) to the world around them
- help them articulate to others the major characteristics, attributes and movements of God found throughout the narrative
- and help them articulate that Jesus has accomplished the mission of God and that through him, we are invited and welcomed to experience both a new and eternal life
We must move away from a tidy yet incomplete perspective of Jesus found only from within the gospels and encourage students to see Jesus through the lens of God’s entire mission. I pray that through such an effort our students might gain a fuller context and meaning for Jesus and therefore reveal light to a darkened world with a greater sense of passion, commitment and generosity — in the same way God has revealed it to us.
Here’s a question for you: what in fact are those other aspects of Jesus that don’t show up from seeing Him from inside the gospels? What other things need to be added in as you see it? I wasn’t clear on that from this article. Is that in fact what will make up Part 2?
John-
I am not so sure it is “aspect” of Jesus (as Jesus is the exact representation of God) that don’t show up as much as it is a reason for why he shows up (or incarnates himself) and how that “emmanualism” fits into the students theology, faith, identity and calling, rule of life and behaviors and practices…
So, the distinction I am making isn’t that we see more of Jesus outside of the gospels — it is that through a broader more comprhensive lens, we see a fuller context and mission of Jesus.
Thoughts?
Chris