Do BIG Things!

Have you read the bestselling book by Alex & Brett Harris Do HARD Things?


Theirs is a unique story. As 16-year-old twins they developed the most-visited web site ever for Christian teenagers (http://www.therebelution.com/). Then just 2 years later they wrote their bestseller which has been mightily used of God to challenge and entire generation of millennials to launch a “rebellion against low expectations.”

I had the unique opportunity this week to meet and minister alongside one of the twins (Brett Harris) at a large youth conference in Ohio. I found Brett to be a Godly and highly-motivated young man. He is a true servant of God – with a great desire to impact others for eternity. (Please pray for the entire Harris family, as their Mom went home to be with the Lord recently following a brief bout with cancer!)

However, I must admit that I struggle some with the idea of “hard” things. I found myself thinking that there must be more to accomplishment than just a significant level of difficulty. I get their point. I really do. I’ve read the book and I listened to Brett’s talk on the importance of doing “hard things”. I too want to challenge others to consider developing high expectations and to prayerfully dream of doing great things for God.

Yet, in my mind I wonder. I wonder if the level of difficulty is the point. God has used the Harris brothers in remarkable ways; and after hearing Brett speak on the subject, I am almost positive that they would agree with my premise in this post. But, I wonder if going beyond what is expected (if you haven’t read their book yet, you should!) should be our objective.

I believe with all my heart that God wants us to consider BIG things!

Take a fresh look at the Bible’s “Great Commission” passages. (Notice my emphases below.)

Matthew 28:19 & 20, “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe ALL things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you ALWAYS, even to the END OF THE AGE.”

Mark 16: 20, “And He said to then, ‘Go into ALL THE WORLD and preach the gospel to EVERY creature.”

Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in ALL Judea and Samaria, and to the END OF THE EARTH.”

Think about the scope of that assignment: ALL nations, ALL things, ALWAYS, to the END OF THE AGE; ALL the world, EVERY creature; to the END OF THE EARTH.

That God-given obligation to His church never ceases to amaze me! We have a huge project ahead of us. Looking at the Great Commission this way motivates me to think that God has charged us and equipped us to do BIG things. The Lord Himself developed His plan for this age when He declared in Matthew 16:18, “…I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

God’s work (the church) is what He is doing in our age. That’s His plan. I admit that I love being a part of something big. I read these verses and come away challenged with an overwhelming desire to be a part of the biggest thing ever. I want to be a part of what God is doing – and, let me tell you something – that’s BIG!

I want to do all I can to call this generation to be a part of something big. The Lord has put a burden on my heart to be a voice motivating this generation to BIG things! Perhaps God’s plan has always been to challenge each emerging generation to be a part of His big, global, eternal plan! I say that after reading passages such as 2 Timothy 4:16 – 22. Take a few moments to read through those verses noticing the words all, every, and forever. Here, in the last letter we have from the aged Apostle Paul, is a global and eternal challenge for his student, Timothy. In verse 16, Paul writes that “all” of his so-called friends and co-workers had deserted him in his time of need. But, in contrast to that human discouragement, Paul lists his life goal in the very next verse. Look what he says. “…that ALL the Gentiles might hear.” He knew God’s work would face opposition and so, he writes, “…the Lord will deliver me from EVERY evil work and will preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory FOREVER AND EVER.”

Wow, what a visionary. In spite of personal disappointments and spiritual opposition, Paul kept his focus on His Lord’s ability to accomplish His work and to fulfill His mission.

I love the language here – ALL, EVERY, and FOREVER. God is all-about doing BIG things – global things and eternal things. Friends, that’s BIG!

So, with my sincere apologies to the Harris brothers, let’s challenge this generation instead toward BIG things – God's work in this age! We must be about the things that matter – the work of God that will last forever.

Please join me in praying for an emerging generation to develop an all-consuming desire, with corresponding goals, dreams, and plans, to accomplish God’s work in our age. We must be about calling this generation to accomplish BIG things – EVERYWHERE, with ALL people groups – things that will last FOREVER.

As Paul would say, “Grace be with you. Amen!”

“Teaching Theology to Teenagers” – VFY Plans Think-Tank at BBC

I had a unique opportunity the other day to sit in on a discussion about “beliefs” during a small group meeting with a group of late-twenty-something young adults. This was a church-based small group where all of the participants of singles in one way or another were regular church attendees.

 

The topic of discussion turned to “faith”, so since I’ve been thinking about my think-tank this summer at BBC’s Teen Leadership Conference in a couple of weeks, I asked this group of young adults 3 basic questions about their theology. 

1. How do you know there is only one way to heaven?
2. How do you know that the Bible is truth?
3. How do you know that Jesus Christ is God?

I wish you could have heard their answers. All of the group members had grown up in Sunday School and Youth Group. Most of them were from solid Christian families – and all of them, as young adults, had made the conscious decision on their own to stay in church and to participate in this particular group. But, I need to tell you: they each struggled with even basic theological questions. 

 

These questions were basically the ones cult members or people from other religions would ask. This is basic stuff - salvation by “grace through faith”, inspiration of Scripture, and the deity of Christ. But, they struggled to answer them. The group members knew a lot of Bible facts, and they could review all of the familiar Bible stories. But, they struggled with theology. I’m positive they each believed in salvation through Jesus Christ alone, the inerrancy of the Bible, and that Jesus Christ is God. However, they basically didn’t know how to back up those things from Scripture.

 

Our discussion in the small group that day again made me realize that as youth workers we MUST be intentional about teaching theology to our students. We’re working with a generation that wants to know what they believe – and, I’m convinced they want to learn deeper, theological truth.

 

I’m also convinced that during their young adult years, whether they go to a Christian college, a major university, or go into the military or the work force – it’s at this time of their lives that they’ll be confronted about what they believe.

  

That’s why we’re inviting all youth pastors to join us at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA on July 19 – 23 or on July 26-30 for a conversation-oriented think-tank on the subject of “teaching theology to teenagers.” Bring your thoughts and ideas and join us during the 2 weeks of BBC’s Teen Leadership Conference. I know other youth pastors will appreciate hearing what you are doing. So, bring your lessons and come ready to talk with peers about what they’re doing.

 

I’m convinced that this discussion may prove to be one of the most important subjects we’ve ever talked through! Join us. Call BBC at 570.586.2400 to register.

 

For more information about TLC: www.bbc.edu//tlc2010

New VFY Magazine On-Line Now

Interested in developing student leaders?

You should check out our new magazine on-line at: http://www.visionforyouth.com/. You'll hear what Tim Ahlgrim, Jim Jeffery, Dave Michener, Joe Castaneda, Brian Hanson, Andy Woodall, and others are saying about this subjecct. Some thoughts are what you'd think - other ideas may rattle you a little bit. Read it through and let me know what you are thinking.