Empowering Youth Through Service and Community

Devotional

Day 1: Empowering the Next Generation Through Keychain Leadership

Keychain leadership is about sharing our capabilities and access with young people, empowering them to lead and serve. This approach is not limited to church leaders but is a call for everyone to mentor and guide the younger generation, as Jesus did with Peter. The concept of keychain leadership is rooted in the idea that true empowerment comes from entrusting others with responsibility and opportunity. By sharing our "keys," we allow young people to unlock their potential and contribute meaningfully to the community. This requires a shift from seeing young people as merely the future of the church to recognizing them as vital participants in the present. [49:22]

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Who is a young person in your life that you can empower today by sharing your "keys" of knowledge, experience, or opportunity? How can you take a step to mentor them this week?

Day 2: Leadership Through Service

True leadership in the kingdom of God is rooted in service, not authority. Jesus demonstrated this by serving others and empowering his disciples, showing that leadership is about using our abilities to uplift and support others. This model of leadership challenges the conventional view of power and authority, emphasizing humility and selflessness. By serving others, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. This approach to leadership invites us to consider how we can use our positions and resources to benefit those around us, fostering a culture of mutual support and growth. [54:30]

"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice servant leadership in your daily interactions? Identify one specific action you can take to serve someone in your community today.

Day 3: Creating a Warm Community

A warm community is inclusive and welcoming to all, reflecting the actions of Jesus who embraced those on the margins. This warmth is felt, not seen, and is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and connection within the church. Creating such a community requires intentionality and openness, inviting people from diverse backgrounds to find a place of acceptance and love. By mirroring the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry, we can build environments where everyone feels valued and connected. This warmth is not just about hospitality but about genuinely caring for one another and building authentic relationships. [59:13]

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a warm and inclusive environment in your church or community? Think of one person who might feel marginalized and consider how you can reach out to them this week.

Day 4: Inclusivity in Community

True community is open to everyone, regardless of their background or status. This inclusivity can be challenging but is necessary for creating a space where all feel valued and accepted, as demonstrated by Jesus' interactions with diverse groups. Embracing inclusivity means actively breaking down barriers and welcoming those who might feel excluded or different. It involves listening, understanding, and valuing each person's unique contributions. By fostering an inclusive community, we reflect the kingdom of God, where all are invited to participate and belong. [59:59]

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: What barriers exist in your community that might prevent inclusivity? Identify one step you can take to help break down these barriers and promote a more inclusive environment.

Day 5: Engaging Young People Today

The church must view young people as an integral part of the present, not just the future. By involving them in leadership and community, we ensure the church remains vibrant and relevant, continually growing and adapting to the needs of all generations. Engaging young people requires intentional efforts to include them in decision-making processes and provide opportunities for them to lead and serve. This approach not only benefits the young people but also enriches the entire community, bringing fresh perspectives and energy. By valuing their contributions today, we build a stronger and more dynamic church for tomorrow. [01:04:33]

"Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you." (1 Timothy 4:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively involve young people in your church or community today? Consider one practical way to invite their participation and leadership in a current project or initiative.

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of "Growing Young," focusing on two pivotal strategies: keychain leadership and fostering a warm community. These strategies are not just theoretical but are deeply rooted in Scripture and modeled by Jesus himself. The idea of keychain leadership emphasizes the importance of empowering the younger generation by sharing our "keys"—our capabilities, power, and access. This empowerment is not limited to church leaders but is a call for every individual to engage and mentor young people, guiding them to serve and lead within the community. Jesus exemplified this in his interactions with Peter, demonstrating that despite past mistakes, everyone is called to contribute to the kingdom of God.

The second strategy, fostering a warm community, challenges us to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. This warmth is not something that can be easily defined or checked off a list; it is something that is felt. A warm community is one where people from all walks of life, including those who might be marginalized or different, can find a place of belonging. This inclusivity mirrors the actions of Jesus, who dined with tax collectors and sinners, showing that true community is open to all.

As we reflect on these strategies, we are reminded that leadership in the kingdom of God is about service and submission. It is about creating spaces where young people are not just seen as the future of the church but as an integral part of the church today. This requires a mindset shift, where we actively seek to engage and involve them in meaningful ways. By doing so, we ensure that our churches remain vibrant and alive, continually growing and adapting to the needs of all generations.

Key Takeaways

1. Empowering the Next Generation: Keychain leadership is about sharing our capabilities and access with young people, empowering them to lead and serve. This approach is not limited to church leaders but is a call for everyone to mentor and guide the younger generation, as Jesus did with Peter. [49:22]
2. Leadership Through Service: True leadership in the kingdom of God is rooted in service, not authority. Jesus demonstrated this by serving others and empowering his disciples, showing that leadership is about using our abilities to uplift and support others. [54:30]
3. Creating a Warm Community: A warm community is inclusive and welcoming to all, reflecting the actions of Jesus who embraced those on the margins. This warmth is felt, not seen, and is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and connection within the church. [59:13]
4. Inclusivity in Community: True community is open to everyone, regardless of their background or status. This inclusivity can be challenging but is necessary for creating a space where all feel valued and accepted, as demonstrated by Jesus' interactions with diverse groups. [59:59]
5. Engaging Young People Today: The church must view young people as an integral part of the present, not just the future. By involving them in leadership and community, we ensure the church remains vibrant and relevant, continually growing and adapting to the needs of all generations. [01:04:33]
** [64:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:21] - Introduction to Growing Young
[49:22] - Keychain Leadership Explained
[50:46] - Jesus and Empowerment
[52:00] - Breakfast with Jesus
[52:47] - Peter's Restoration
[54:30] - Leadership as Service
[55:47] - Personal Story of Mentorship
[56:43] - The Role of Mentorship
[58:15] - Fostering a Warm Community
[59:13] - Feeling the Warmth
[59:59] - Inclusivity in Community
[61:22] - Community Beyond Sunday
[62:31] - Engaging the Next Generation
[63:43] - Call to Action and Prayer

Sermon Clips

And everything we talk about is, I believe, modeled by Jesus. I want to thank Drew for reading that passage for me because here in a minute I'm going to go back to that moment in the Gospel of John and talk about what it looks like for somebody like Jesus to empower a younger generation with leadership. So today I'm talking about one of the, I'm talking about two of the six strategies found in the book Growing Young. One of them is called key chain leadership. [00:47:41] (31 seconds)

And before I really jump into what key. Chain leadership is, I first have to talk about what is, what does it mean to be a key chain leader growing young establishes that the keys, every single one of us has a set of keys, not, not like an actual set, but like a, you know, a set of keys that keys are the capabilities, power and access of leaders that carry the potential to empower young people that every single one of us in this room has a capability to empower young people. Power and access to empower somebody else. [00:48:11] (38 seconds)

Because Jesus establishes that leadership in his kingdom is not about whether you say it or not. It's not about whether you say yes or no, or tell people what to do or how to do it. Leadership at its base level is about service. [00:49:10] (12 seconds)

And so key chain leaders are defined simply as people who are intentional about trusting and empowering all generations. Inclusive. Including teenagers and emerging adults with their keys, their leadership, their ability, their power to serve other people. [00:49:35] (18 seconds)

And so let me just make sure I establish that key chain leadership is not just for, for, for church leaders, but it is for all of us in this room to commit to helping young people find ways to serve and to lead. In the kingdom of God. [00:50:27] (20 seconds)

Say, no, if you've denied Jesus, we can't. We can't let you be a part of this. And yet, Jesus establishes very clearly that regardless of what you've done, we are all still called to do the work of the kingdom of God. [00:54:10] (19 seconds)

That Jesus is establishing for Peter that regardless of the mistakes you have made, you are still called to go and do the things that I'm telling you to. To feed my lamb. [00:54:33] (15 seconds)

And so I want to challenge all of us for a minute that if we are going to engage not just a younger generation, but all generations, we have to be willing to allow others to walk alongside. Alongside us in the work of God. [00:55:31] (16 seconds)

And I love the idea of keychain leadership. In fact, I want to share, I guess, a story. But I was in Lubbock about two weeks ago on Friday. I was at a funeral for a man that I loved dearly. And when I think about what keychain leadership looks like in my life, his name was David Savage. And he was a former paramedic like myself. Taught in biopsy. Bible class my whole life. [00:55:47] (29 seconds)

And so keychain leadership is not about just like checking a box. It's simply that mentorship, that leadership is not about trying to get somebody to do something else that you don't have to. But it's simply that you have an ability to help a young person walk in your footsteps and lead in the ways that you have led. So the first strategy of growing young, if we are going to live into being a church that is engaging to young people in emerging generations, every single one of us has to be willing to share the keys that we all hold. [00:57:22] (36 seconds)

And I was sitting in this corner, like tucked in the corner, looking out into this room. And I realized that warm community is not something you see. But warm community is 100 % something you feel. [00:59:01] (17 seconds)

You know what? True, warm community is a place for everyone. As Trey put it, is inclusive. [01:00:22] (11 seconds)

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