YF501:Introduction to
Youth Ministry
YF501:
Introduction to
Youth Ministry
Chap Clark and Dr. Tom Combes
Young Life NST
Winter, 2017
A few preliminary
thoughts…
Young Life and the
Theology of
Incarnational Witness
Chap Clark and Tom Combes
Young Life NST
Winter, 2017
The Goal …
INCARNATIONAL WITNESS:
- What is the “Incarnation”?
John 1
Colossians 1:15-20
Philippians 2:1-11
In light of this context, the
Goal of the Mission remains …
INCARNATIONAL WITNESS:
Matthew 5:13-16 (who we are)
Matthew 28:16-20 (our focus)
John 20:19-22 (our calling)
Isaiah 58:1-12 (our mission)
Acts 1:1-11 (our role)
The ways the church embodies witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
A.  St. Francis: “Preach Christ, if
necessary, use words”
(um… no… Francis never actually said that!)
“All the Friars…should preach by their deeds”
(St. Francis of Assisi, founder of Franciscan Order, 1181-1226)
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The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
A.  Preach Christ “by our deeds…”
B.  Coercion (Crusades, Billy Graham?)
C.  “Just say it”
The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
C.  “Just say it”
1.  Tracts and tricks
2.  Bumper stickers
The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
C.  “Just say it”
1.  Tracts and tricks
2.  Bumper stickers
3.  Christian clothing – wear your faith
4.  “Proclaim our faith!”
The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
C.  “Just say it”
1.  Tracts
The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
C.  “Just say it”
1.  Tracts and tricks
2.  Bumper stickers
3.  Christian clothing – wear your faith
The Style of Incarnational Witness
There are LOTS of viewpoints
A.  Preach Christ “by our deeds…”
B.  Coercion (Crusades, Billy Graham?)
C.  “Just say it”
D.  “As the father as sent me…”(Jn 20:21)
We join God’s mission – agents
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The Kingdom of God
and the Goal of the Mission:
God’s heart in the witness process:
Matthew 18:12-14
- God is focused on the individual (Luke 15)
- God is patient
- God pursues us (He is the Great Seeker! Luke 19)
Brennan Manning,"the relentless tenderness of Jesus”
- God rejoices when we respond
"Seized by the power of a great affection”
- God restores
(“gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12)
The Kingdom of God
and the Goal of the Mission:
“Incarnational Witness”
Our ULTIMATE GOAL:
To participate with the
movement of God toward the
fulfillment of the Kingdom
“The kingdom is in your midst” (Luke 17:21)
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