Ecclesia was our sermon series this month. This series was a look into what the Bible says the church is supposed to be.
Week 1 = Was a night declaring how important it is to tell our story and the story of Jesus.
Week 2 = We looked at the need to take care of those in need. The poor, the hungry, the children and the elderly. We launched a new emphasis in Community Impact our local missions process.
Week 3 = We talked about the need for the church to take care of one another and to share each others burdens. We are a family and we don’t need to go through struggles alone. We also launched Life Hurts God Heals out of this night.
Last night = We had a Q and A. It was a risk with 200 High Schoolers in the room to not preach simply ask them, “What do we need to do to make this translate to your campus, home etc…?” I was a bit nervous about this. What if they don’t offer anything? What if they do and it is superficial dribble? What if we can’t keep order? However, I felt that if the students didn’t feel that they had a voice in this process they were never going to buy in.
I wish this paragraph started with a tear jerking story how the students “got it” and walked out with a renewed passion to “Be the Church!” It didn’t happen. They had some good ideas/observations but overall it was a night of platitudes. One student spoke up as we were about to leave and made this observation, “We are a big group but we aren’t really together.” Mind you it was already after 9:00 PM so I couldn’t unpack that anymore but that was the nugget of the night.
However, I would suggest that from time to time to talk WITH the kids in your program not just TO the kids in your program you may be surprised…good or bad.
Sean Rheaume 