When I wrote that title, my first thought may have been the same as yours, “Why would we need to help Christian students understand the gospel? Don’t they go to church? Haven’t they already heard and responded to the gospel?” The answer that I will give you is simple. The average person needs to hear something 7 or more times before they understand it. So, how can we help Christian students (or those that attend church regularly and we call Christian) understand the gospel?
- Share the gospel regularly.
The average human only retains 5% of what they hear from lecturing. This method is at the bottom of the retention ladder. So, if you find yourself speaking to the same group week after week, do not be afraid to say the same thing over and over again. Chances are, they have not remembered what you said last week anyway. - Share the gospel differently.
Every person sees, hears, and remembers things differently. If you shared the gospel through the Romans Road to Salvation last week in youth group, you captured the Bible study crowd. This week, if you use the EvangeBall to share the gospel while doing a few foot tricks, you’ve captured a different crowds attention. Keep the message the same, but mix up the approach every time. - Have students share the gospel in your weekly youth group and at special youth group events.
I remember the first time that I was given the opportunity to prepare a talk for youth group. It was my second year of my internship in college. The first year, I built relationships. In the second year, the student pastor gave me an opportunity to lead the whole program one Wednesday night. It changed my life forever and gave a foundation for ministry that I’ll never forget. Don’t get me wrong, I stuttered and probably said a few things that weren’t theologically correct. That moment still was used by God to set me on a path to full-time ministry. Give the message of the gospel to the students and let them teach it. They will never be the same again. - Share the gospel socially when students are with you.
I will start out saying that this is the hardest one for me. It is lifestyle, not programing. I am always encouraged when I am out with First Priority leaders and they ask our waiter or waitress how they can pray for them. Back in the day, Doug Fields took this a slightly different way. Lifestyle evangelism is when you built a dog house for your new dog, but didn’t build it alone. You invited students from the student ministry over to help and had God conversations while working together.
Whatever your method, recognize that just because students show up on a regular basis, does not mean that they know and understand what Christ did for them on the cross. Stay consistent and give it away. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, ‘The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men (and woman) who will in turn teach others.’
