Sorry to Keep You Waiting
I started off the week strong, with two early posts. But now, as the days have worn on and the week is waning, I find myself slacking in the category of "frequent posts." So without further ado, let me get to some content.
Sunday marks the beginning of the observation of a great tradition - the Southeastern Church of Christ Bible Camp at Spring Mill. For all but perhaps 2 or 3 of my 24 years of life, I have attended camp. The first time I went to camp I was a young 4.5 months old. And for I believe 3 of the last 5 years I have served as a counselor for the high school boys. This year the tradition will be repeated as Tom Perkins (the youth and worship minister) and I take on a cabin of 13 rowdy teenage boys. I'm sure the week will prove to be a grand one. In addition to my usual responsibilities as counselor, I will also be leading singing in the morning chapel times and I will be one of the designated rental van drivers for the week. All of this suits me fine. I've led singing a number of times, and the rental van driving, while a very big and serious responsibility, is nothing entirely new to me.
But there is an added burden facing me at camp this year. Strangely enough, this burden is not some new responsibility that I have never faced before. In fact, I have done it multiple times in the past. But something about teaching the high school Bible class is weighing on me this time like a bench-press bar resting on my chest that I just can't muster the strength to lift. (I'm quite familiar with that feeling, which is one reason I avoid working out) While I have willingly taken on this task, and fully intend to carry out my responsibility faithfully, I am intimidated by facing 24 teenagers for an hour and fifteen minutes each morning to talk about "building character like Christ." And in all honesty, I think the pressure comes not from the 48 eyes that may or may not be upon me for that time, but rather from the topic that I am expected to "teach."
What do I know about the character of Christ? Well, of course, I was a Bible major at ACU, so I ought to know plenty about the character of our Lord (not to mention the fact that I've been a Christian for 13 years now). Ok, fair enough - so for the sake of argument I'll admit to knowing a decent amount of information about the character of Jesus. But that is not the topic for the week. The topic for the week is "BUILDING character like Christ," and at this point I have to throw in the towel. I know nothing about how to build character like Christ. Or at least, I feel like I know very little.
Let me take an aside here to add a disclaimer to this conversation: Please, I repeat, PLEASE do not read this as me looking for compliments. I don't want comments encouraging me by saying "You're a great guy" and whatnot. Do I want encouragement? Yes, but encouragement about teaching this class, not about my status as a follower of Christ. So please don't comment about that. It will only give me a big head, and that won't help anything.
So how am I supposed to instruct a group of teenagers about being conformed to the likeness of Christ, when I myself feel no closer to the goal than those who I am instructing? How can I, being fully aware of the sin in my life (or maybe not being fully aware - which would be worse) take it upon myself to spend more than 6 hours this week teaching some kids how they ought to be like Jesus? This is the source of the burden I feel weighing heavily upon me.
I know that the transformation of a life is accomplished by the gracious and graceful hand of God, not by the eloquent, skillful words of a wiseman. And I know that the softening of a heart is result of the work of the Holy Spirit, not the effect of a well organized worship service. And I know that the salvation of a human being is great work of the grace of God, not the end product of a life well lived. So I recognize that the building of Christian character in the lives of these teenagers (and in my life) is not dependent upon my skill and suaveness, my humor and intrigue in this week-long Bible class at camp. But what a burden I feel in spite of those truths.
Please pray for our class, and for the campers, and for the staff. It will be a great week of fun. I pray that it will more importantly be a great week of spiritual growth - for me and for the campers.
thanks for bearing with me.
Sunday marks the beginning of the observation of a great tradition - the Southeastern Church of Christ Bible Camp at Spring Mill. For all but perhaps 2 or 3 of my 24 years of life, I have attended camp. The first time I went to camp I was a young 4.5 months old. And for I believe 3 of the last 5 years I have served as a counselor for the high school boys. This year the tradition will be repeated as Tom Perkins (the youth and worship minister) and I take on a cabin of 13 rowdy teenage boys. I'm sure the week will prove to be a grand one. In addition to my usual responsibilities as counselor, I will also be leading singing in the morning chapel times and I will be one of the designated rental van drivers for the week. All of this suits me fine. I've led singing a number of times, and the rental van driving, while a very big and serious responsibility, is nothing entirely new to me.
But there is an added burden facing me at camp this year. Strangely enough, this burden is not some new responsibility that I have never faced before. In fact, I have done it multiple times in the past. But something about teaching the high school Bible class is weighing on me this time like a bench-press bar resting on my chest that I just can't muster the strength to lift. (I'm quite familiar with that feeling, which is one reason I avoid working out) While I have willingly taken on this task, and fully intend to carry out my responsibility faithfully, I am intimidated by facing 24 teenagers for an hour and fifteen minutes each morning to talk about "building character like Christ." And in all honesty, I think the pressure comes not from the 48 eyes that may or may not be upon me for that time, but rather from the topic that I am expected to "teach."
What do I know about the character of Christ? Well, of course, I was a Bible major at ACU, so I ought to know plenty about the character of our Lord (not to mention the fact that I've been a Christian for 13 years now). Ok, fair enough - so for the sake of argument I'll admit to knowing a decent amount of information about the character of Jesus. But that is not the topic for the week. The topic for the week is "BUILDING character like Christ," and at this point I have to throw in the towel. I know nothing about how to build character like Christ. Or at least, I feel like I know very little.
Let me take an aside here to add a disclaimer to this conversation: Please, I repeat, PLEASE do not read this as me looking for compliments. I don't want comments encouraging me by saying "You're a great guy" and whatnot. Do I want encouragement? Yes, but encouragement about teaching this class, not about my status as a follower of Christ. So please don't comment about that. It will only give me a big head, and that won't help anything.
So how am I supposed to instruct a group of teenagers about being conformed to the likeness of Christ, when I myself feel no closer to the goal than those who I am instructing? How can I, being fully aware of the sin in my life (or maybe not being fully aware - which would be worse) take it upon myself to spend more than 6 hours this week teaching some kids how they ought to be like Jesus? This is the source of the burden I feel weighing heavily upon me.
I know that the transformation of a life is accomplished by the gracious and graceful hand of God, not by the eloquent, skillful words of a wiseman. And I know that the softening of a heart is result of the work of the Holy Spirit, not the effect of a well organized worship service. And I know that the salvation of a human being is great work of the grace of God, not the end product of a life well lived. So I recognize that the building of Christian character in the lives of these teenagers (and in my life) is not dependent upon my skill and suaveness, my humor and intrigue in this week-long Bible class at camp. But what a burden I feel in spite of those truths.
Please pray for our class, and for the campers, and for the staff. It will be a great week of fun. I pray that it will more importantly be a great week of spiritual growth - for me and for the campers.
thanks for bearing with me.
posted by kentbrantly at 2:03 PM
3 Comments:
Kent,
By posting on your blog, your problem has already been solved! All they want to be told is the honest truth:
"So how am I supposed to instruct a group of teenagers about being conformed to the likeness of Christ, when I myself feel no closer to the goal than those who I am instructing? How can I, being fully aware of the sin in my life (or maybe not being fully aware - which would be worse) take it upon myself to spend more than 6 hours this week teaching some kids how they ought to be like Jesus?"
These are things they desire to hear! To know that the people they look up to also struggle in their walk, that it is ok to struggle, and that is the reason why we have to lean on each other for this support. Jesus did not do it alone, and neither are we expected to. These people are merely years away from adulthood (whatever that may be) and could be scared out of their minds knowing that they will soon be taking on the same roles as you. Comfort and pure honesty is needed most.
I agree, Kent. I think you answered the question yourself. No teacher ever has all the answers or can fully explain their subject. Your call as a teacher is to explore what that means together. "How do you conform yourself to the likeness of Christ?" I know how I should, and I'm sure you do too, but putting that into practice is a whole different story. Explore that! Don't worry so much about coming up with something profound to share with them - God himself is profound, not you. And it is sharing what you know about Him that is good teaching. Also, those kids are probably going to teach YOU a bunch. Get ready for it. Hope you are having a wonderful week. :),
~Jacque
Kent I am sure that your class was a great success. As others have already said all those kids want is the honest truth about what it means to live for Christ and like Christ. So many times we sugar coat it for them or make it sound like a huge burden they have to carry around, but if we just lay it on the line for them and let them see it as it is, that's what they are searching for. Sorry for the late "encouragement" I just returned home from a week in Mississippi. And low and behold I also looked at your counter and 151 visitors to your site in less than two weeks, see I told you that you will never know who you may touch by taking the time for a short blog. Keep it up.
the preachers wife
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