Deep Ministry in a Shallow World By Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell.

Deep Ministry in a Deep Ministry in a Shallow WorldShallow World

By Chap Clark and Kara E. By Chap Clark and Kara E. PowellPowell

Prepared by Jennifer HansonPrepared by Jennifer Hanson Evangelizing and Discipling Youth, Fall 2008, Rev. Brian M. Kelly,Ph.D.Evangelizing and Discipling Youth, Fall 2008, Rev. Brian M. Kelly,Ph.D.

What keeps us floundering in What keeps us floundering in the shallow end?the shallow end?• Is your ministry producing the deep Is your ministry producing the deep

change it’s “supposed to”?change it’s “supposed to”?

• Your ministry’s shallowness might be Your ministry’s shallowness might be taking away your sense of hopetaking away your sense of hope

• ““Good farmers” evaluate the state of Good farmers” evaluate the state of their cropstheir crops

• They don’t comfort themselves by They don’t comfort themselves by remembering previous bountiful cropsremembering previous bountiful crops


Shallow “Solutions”Shallow “Solutions”• 3 Common “solutions” many youth 3 Common “solutions” many youth

workers impose when they begin to workers impose when they begin to realize their ministries aren’t as deep realize their ministries aren’t as deep as they would like them to be:as they would like them to be:

Solution 1: “More of the Same”Solution 1: “More of the Same”

Offer more activitiesOffer more activities

Bigger budgetBigger budget

More adult workersMore adult workers

dDwtMjA3


•What’s the problem?What’s the problem?Our culture changesOur culture changes

Our theology changes (our Our theology changes (our understanding about God)understanding about God)

Our churches changeOur churches change

You changeYou change


Solution 2: “It Worked for My Friend”Solution 2: “It Worked for My Friend”However, what worked for their church However, what worked for their church might not work for your church.might not work for your church.

Solution 3: “That’s What the Book Said”Solution 3: “That’s What the Book Said”We believe we can cut and paste the We believe we can cut and paste the results we see in “youth ministry results we see in “youth ministry expert” books into our ministry.expert” books into our ministry.


What we need: New Ideas That What we need: New Ideas That Take Us DeeperTake Us Deeper

• Insanity is “doing the same thing Insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting over and over again and expecting different results”different results”

• How do you feel about learning new, How do you feel about learning new, deeper ideas?deeper ideas?

• What makes you nervous about it?What makes you nervous about it?

• What appeals to you?What appeals to you?


““But now let us try a subversive But now let us try a subversive thought. Suppose our failures thought. Suppose our failures occur, not in spite of what we are occur, not in spite of what we are doing, but precisely because of it” doing, but precisely because of it”

––Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard, The Divine The Divine ConspiracyConspiracy



Deep Method: What’s our plan for Deep Method: What’s our plan for going deeper?going deeper?• If our goal is deeper youth ministry, we If our goal is deeper youth ministry, we

need a whole new way of doing ministryneed a whole new way of doing ministryWe want thorough, deep reflection…but We want thorough, deep reflection…but

nothing too nothing too complicatedcomplicatedWe want specifics…but room for creativityWe want specifics…but room for creativityWe want it to be practical…but more than We want it to be practical…but more than

the usual the usual “Tips and Tricks”“Tips and Tricks”We want sensitivity to our own unique We want sensitivity to our own unique

contexts…but to still learn from other ministriescontexts…but to still learn from other ministries

Ultimately though, we want our ministries Ultimately though, we want our ministries to be all that Jesus wants them to be!to be all that Jesus wants them to be!


Deep DesignDeep Design

• Deep Design is a four step processDeep Design is a four step process

Step 1 (Discernment): Step 1 (Discernment): Now?Now?

Step 2 (Reflection): Step 2 (Reflection): New?New?

Step 3 (Observation): Step 3 (Observation): Who?Who?

Step 4 (Application): Step 4 (Application): How?How?

It will be messyIt will be messy –the actual process isn’t –the actual process isn’t always clean, neat, or linear.always clean, neat, or linear.


Deep DesignDeep Design


Step 1 (Discernment): Step 1 (Discernment): Now?Now?

• We need to slow down and discern We need to slow down and discern what God is up to in our ministries what God is up to in our ministries Now.Now.

• What does God intend?What does God intend?

• Transformation Transformation –In our individual –In our individual lives, in our churches and lives, in our churches and communities, and in our larger worldcommunities, and in our larger world

• Romans 12:1-2: Don’t conform, but Romans 12:1-2: Don’t conform, but be transformed . . .be transformed . . .


3 3 Now Now questions…questions…• 1. What type of transformation is 1. What type of transformation is

God bringing about now?God bringing about now?

• 2. What is creating space for God’s 2. What is creating space for God’s transformation now?transformation now?

• 3. What is hindering God’s 3. What is hindering God’s transformation now?transformation now?


• What’s the process for answering What’s the process for answering these “Now sub-questions”?these “Now sub-questions”?

• Short answer is through Short answer is through experienceexperience• Not just Not just youryour experience… experience…collective collective

experienceexperience• Invite other adult leaders, parents, Invite other adult leaders, parents,

and students to be a part of your and students to be a part of your NowNow conversation conversation

Where in your ministry do you see actions and Where in your ministry do you see actions and attitudes that resemble Jesus’ life and attitudes that resemble Jesus’ life and ministry?ministry?Where in your community are the passions of Where in your community are the passions of Jesus being expressed?Jesus being expressed?


Step 1 in action: our small Step 1 in action: our small groups groups nownow• Hypothetical situation: small groups Hypothetical situation: small groups

programprogramWhat type of transformation is God What type of transformation is God bringing about now? bringing about now? God has brought God has brought enough small group leaders and has enough small group leaders and has brought a few new students to the brought a few new students to the ministry every month who want to be ministry every month who want to be connected in small groupsconnected in small groups


What is creating space for God’s What is creating space for God’s transformation now?transformation now? Small group leaders Small group leaders have initial training. Some small groups have initial training. Some small groups leaders are integrating times of worship leaders are integrating times of worship into their meetings, which students enjoy.into their meetings, which students enjoy.

What is hindering God’s transformation What is hindering God’s transformation now? now? Many of the new leaders are young Many of the new leaders are young and asking for more mentoring and and asking for more mentoring and coaching than we are currently providing. coaching than we are currently providing. Relationships in groups are pretty shallow. Relationships in groups are pretty shallow. Students apathetic about studying Students apathetic about studying Scripture. Groups aren’t serving those on Scripture. Groups aren’t serving those on the outside.the outside.


Step 2 (Reflection): Step 2 (Reflection): New?New?

• Reflect upon Reflect upon newnew ideas and insights ideas and insights that speak to the issues that arose in that speak to the issues that arose in step 1step 1

• Ask four sub-questions about new ideas:Ask four sub-questions about new ideas:1.1. What does Scripture say?What does Scripture say?

2.2. What does history say?What does history say?

3.3. What does research say?What does research say?

4.4. What does experience say?What does experience say?


What does Scripture say?What does Scripture say?•Scripture has two types of Scripture has two types of

authority:authority:Historical authority –God’s commands to Historical authority –God’s commands to people in Biblical timespeople in Biblical timesNormative authority –When properly Normative authority –When properly interpreted, the Bible helps us understand interpreted, the Bible helps us understand God’s commands to us todayGod’s commands to us today

-Instead of skimming the surface-level -Instead of skimming the surface-level meaning of Scripture, we need to treat it like meaning of Scripture, we need to treat it like a great poem, and meditate upon it’s beauty a great poem, and meditate upon it’s beauty and significance.and significance.

-We will keep learning -We will keep learning newnew insights- not just insights- not just about the scene being described, but the about the scene being described, but the One doing the writingOne doing the writing


What does History say?What does History say?• Traditions and teachings from the pastTraditions and teachings from the past

• In our hunt for fresh ideas, we in youth In our hunt for fresh ideas, we in youth ministry often disregard the ministry often disregard the “outdated” wisdom of those who’ve “outdated” wisdom of those who’ve studied and served God before usstudied and served God before us

• Perhaps you will need to translate the Perhaps you will need to translate the beliefs and traditions of your church beliefs and traditions of your church and youth ministry in fresh ways for and youth ministry in fresh ways for your studentsyour students


John Wesley’s questions for John Wesley’s questions for small groups…small groups…• 1. What known sins have you 1. What known sins have you

committed since our last meeting?committed since our last meeting?

• 2. What temptations have you met?2. What temptations have you met?

• 3. How were you delivered?3. How were you delivered?

• 4. What have you thought, said, or 4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?be sin or not?


What does Research say?What does Research say?

• Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves-With-Kids Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves-With-Kids researchresearch

• Research that puts adults in the Research that puts adults in the position of listeners and students in position of listeners and students in the position of youth-culture expertsthe position of youth-culture experts


What does Experience say?What does Experience say?• Your church, your community, and Your church, your community, and

your kids are unlike any othersyour kids are unlike any others

• You as a leader are unlike any other You as a leader are unlike any other leaderleader

• By putting your experience under a By putting your experience under a microscope, you’ll see the tiny microscope, you’ll see the tiny nuances and hidden principles that nuances and hidden principles that you might otherwise missyou might otherwise miss


Step 3 (observation): Step 3 (observation): Who?Who?• Observe others who have come up Observe others who have come up

with new insights similar to ours (Step with new insights similar to ours (Step 2) and are already trying to go deeper2) and are already trying to go deeper

• Ask 3 questions:Ask 3 questions:What are some ways others are What are some ways others are

applying applying these new insights to their these new insights to their ministries?ministries?

In what ways are their situations In what ways are their situations similar to similar to ours?ours?

In what ways are they different?In what ways are they different?


Step 3 (observation): Step 3 (observation): Who?Who?

•www.barnabasmissions.org

•http://www.fuller.edu/

•http://www.cyfm.net/

•http://www.strategicdigitaloutreach.com/

•http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Home

http://www.barnabasmissions.org/

http://www.fuller.edu/

http://www.cyfm.net/

http://www.strategicdigitaloutreach.com/

http://www.strategicdigitaloutreach.com/

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Home

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Home


Application questions…Application questions…

For Small Group For Small Group DiscussionDiscussion


Application questions…Application questions…• 1. Who from your ministry should you 1. Who from your ministry should you

involve in these Deep Design discussions?involve in these Deep Design discussions?

• 2. Questions from step 1: What type of 2. Questions from step 1: What type of transformation is God bringing about? What transformation is God bringing about? What is creating space for this transformation? is creating space for this transformation? What is hindering it?What is hindering it?

• 3. What are your students like? What about 3. What are your students like? What about their parents? How would you describe the their parents? How would you describe the adult leaders in your ministry? What about adult leaders in your ministry? What about your church? Your community?your church? Your community?


Application questions cont…Application questions cont…• 4. What role does Scripture usually play in 4. What role does Scripture usually play in

finding finding newnew ideas for your ministry? What ideas for your ministry? What role do you want it to play? If there is a role do you want it to play? If there is a difference in your answers, what does this difference in your answers, what does this tell you?tell you?

• 5. Do you agree that history, research, and 5. Do you agree that history, research, and experience are all important ways to learn experience are all important ways to learn newnew insights? Why or why not? insights? Why or why not?

• 6. 6. WhoWho in ministry have you tended to in ministry have you tended to follow in the past? When, if at all, did you follow in the past? When, if at all, did you diverge from their models, and why did you diverge from their models, and why did you decide to branch out on your own journey?decide to branch out on your own journey?

Deep Ministry in a Shallow World By Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell.

Documents

discipling youth

jennifer hansonevangelizing

deeper youth ministry

youth workers

deep ministry

deep design slide

deep design deep design

deep change