The Spiritual Lives of American Students

Information from the National Study of Youth & Religion as presented in LifeWay’s Transforming Student Ministry: Research

Calling for Change

• Teenagers typically rebel against their parents and other adults in their lives and thus reject the faith of those adults.

• The lives and faith of most teenagers closely reflect the lives, faith, culture, and institutional settings of the adult world they inhabit.

• Teenagers raised in Christian homes and the church have a pretty fair understanding of their religious beliefs.

• The vast majority of teenagers are incredibly inarticulate about faith and practices, and its meaning or place in their lives. They find it almost impossible to put basic beliefs into words.

• Church teenagers understand that God is intimately involved in every facet of their daily lives.

• Teenagers are “functional deists.” They believe God exists, created the world, and set life in motion – but the only time He becomes involved with them in a personal way is to make their lives happier or to solve some problem.

• Church teenagers have resisted the influence of those who want them to be politically correct and “tolerant” in all their religious conversations.

• Teenagers are incredibly well-trained in using “correct” language so they will not offend anyone in public. Away from church they cannot bring themselves to say that Jesus is the only way to God.

• Evangelical teenagers have a fairly good understanding of grace or the basics of salvation.

• There is strong evidence that many evangelical teenagers do not understand grace or the basics of salvation.

• Teenagers in the church are no different that teenagers out in the community.

• Despite its weaknesses and lack of influence, religious practice does indeed make a clear significant difference across all standard measurable outcomes in adolescent’s lives.

A Demographic Snapshot Source: Magazine Publishers of America

• From 1990 to 2000, the number of teens ages 12-19 rose from 27.5 million to 32 million and are expected to climb to 33.5 million by 2010.

• Teens are ethnically diverse with 33% belonging to a minority racial or ethnic group

• Today the Hispanic/Latino Teen market is 4.6 million and will grow to a size 62% larger than today by 2020

A Youth Ministry Snapshot Source: Youth Ministry Leader Count - Annual Church Profile

Year Full-time Part-time Bi-vocational Interim Volunteer No status given

Total

2003 4,874 4,139 218 83 13,301 36 22,561

2004 4,614 3,919 475 124 10,620 2,954 22,706

2005 5,744 4,006 559 139 10,874 901 22,223

SBC Baptisms (ages 12-17) Source: Annual Church Profile

YEAR BAPTISMS1995 92,0321996 87,6531997 93,5931998 94,3411999 93,7572000 93,1002001 86,928

2002 84,0562003 81,246

2004 84,0402005 81,708

A Few Observations• There are growing numbers of students in our

country• There are large numbers of churches who are

ministering specifically to students• Student baptisms are not keeping pace with

the population growth• Large numbers of students are “graduating”

from church when they graduate from high school

An Important Question

As student ministry continues to mature, are

we developingstudents, or

student ministries?

Other Important Questions:

What if students were equipped to…

Recognize and respond to the lordship of Christ? Practice spiritual disciplines? Develop and demonstrate Christ’s character? Make wise decisions? Develop godly relationships? Make an intentional impact on others?

The solution is not to find a better plan for student ministry, but to find a

biblical model for student development.

Is there a biblical model that will:

• Ensure a balanced approach to student development?

• Operate through the two God-given institutions of the home and the church?

• Allow our students to grow as Jesus grew?• Equip students to KNOW Jesus, OWN their faith,

and make their faith KNOWN?

Are there any clues to how Jesus developed as a

teenager?

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with

people.”Luke 2:52

What does this tell us about student development?

1. There is a development process2. Teen development centers on 3 main areas:

Wisdom and stature Favor with God

Favor with people

For development to be biblical, it must also be relational

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

How does this all come

together?

Another Important Question

If Know, Own, and Known form the foundation of student development,

what scriptural principles further flesh it out?

Does the Sermon on the Mount offer us a clue of what should be taught to students?

• It was one of the few times that Jesus addressed the masses.

• It was Jesus’ first recorded sermon in the Scripture.• From beginning to end it covers a wide variety of life

issues.• Could the Sermon on the Mount provide students with a

framework for effective Christian living?

Sermon on the Mount Topical Breakdown1. Character

• Matt. 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)2. Influence

• Matt. 5:13-20 (Salt and Light)3. Relationships

• Matt. 5:21-48 (Heart condition; Love your enemies, etc.)4. Disciplines

• Matt. 6:1-24 (Giving, praying, fasting, true treasure)5. Lordship

• Matt. 6:25-34 (God’s sovereignty; “Seek first the kingdom of God”)

6. Discernment• Matt. 7:1-27 (The Narrow Gate, False Prophets, The Wise

Builder)

Building a Biblical Model of Student Development

ETERNAL1. Students will

recognize and respond to the lordship of Christ. (LORDSHIP)

Experience personal salvation

Cooperate with God’s activity in everyday life

Order their lives based on the lordship of Christ

2. Students will practice spiritual disciplines. (DISCIPLINES)

Identify and value life habits that help them grow closer to God

Develop skills such as prayer, knowing God’s Word, and stewardship

Examine motives for pursuing religious activity

Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student Spiritual Development

INTERNAL3. Students will

develop and demonstrate Christ’s character. (CHARACTER)

Know the story and mission of Christ’s life

Discover and embrace their identity in Christ (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual)

Demonstrate Christlike character

4. Students will make wise decisions. (DISCERNMENT)

Affirm Scripture as the authoritative guide for their life

Apply Scriptural principles to daily decisions

Assume responsibility for their decisions

Practice a life of purity

Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student Spiritual Development

EXTERNAL5. Students will

develop godly relationships. (RELATIONSHIPS)

Recognize and submit to proper authorities

Encourage and minister to fellow believers of all ages

Cultivate relationships with non-Christians

Practice Christ’s love and grace in their families

6. Students will make an intentional impact on others. (INFLUENCE)

Join God in His mission Regularly participate in

mission and ministry actions

Tell the story and mission of Christ’s life and their relationship with Him

Desired Outcomes and Indicators of Student Spiritual Development

One Last Question

How is this strategy for student development

carried out in the home and the church?

Building a Biblical Model For Student Development