Student Ministries Kickoff Recap: How Will You Hear

Dear Parents,

Last night Student Ministries finally gathered again after the summer off. It was so good to be back together. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who was excited for Student Ministries to start again. The room was packed, and the students sang as loud as ever and were attentive through the lesson.

The night began with Kris and the band leading us in worship through song. If your child has musical ability and loves the Lord, serving in the band is something I would encourage them to pursue. Kris Drent leads the students very well to think rightly about this. Please talk to Kris or reach out to [email protected] to talk about beginning discipleship with Kris in how to think about music and service in the church.

Team Redbull then dramatically hoisted their well-earned trophy from Summer Camp and placed it in our trophy case. The students watched the video remembering all the fun we had at Summer Camp. You can find the Camp Winners Only/Cow Heist Intro Video and the Summer Camp Video on YouTube. It was fun to remember camp and give God thanks for the fun we had at camp and the fun we have together each week.

Then I had the privilege of opening Matthew 13 and Jesus’ Parable of the Soils to the students. You can find the video and transcript of the message at the church website: How Will You Hear. Jesus told a story of a sower and four soils, but it is really a story of four hearts hearing the same Word. The hard heart never receives the Word, and the evil one snatches it away. The shallow heart receives it with joy but has no root, so it withers when trouble comes. The crowded heart hears the Word, but the cares of this world and desire for other things choke it out. The fruitful heart hears, understands, and bears fruit. The difference is not the Word that was sown, but the heart that received it. Jesus did not tell this parable so students would shrug and say, “I guess that’s just the kind of soil I am.” Instead, each student should plead with God to make them respond in faith before His Word. At the same time, we all must work diligently to cultivate a heart that responds rightly to God’s Word, with roots of trust and delight that go deep, bearing much fruit. I’ve summarized this prayer for Student Ministries with the acronym LUBOT. Each time before we hear a sermon or read God’s Word, we should pray that God would help us Listen, Understand, Believe, Obey, and Trust His Word.

Throughout the year, I will be recording and transcribing the lessons and sending out discussion guides to you. This is because I want you parents intimately connected to what we are learning in Student Ministries. Ideally, you are able to discuss what your students have learned and help them deepen their understanding and apply the lessons at home.

You can download the discussion guide with some suggested questions to help you talk through the lesson.

We are also encouraging the students to have a Bible reading plan, something for them to read each and every day in a systematic way. If you are already on a plan as a family, please keep doing that. If not, I would encourage you to start with the Student Ministries bookmarks. The bookmarks follow one of the columns from the M'Cheyne reading plan. You can download the bookmarks or pick them up from the Student Ministries room Sunday night.

My family has experienced the blessing of all being on the same reading plan for years. Especially during these formative years when your child is building habits of reading the Bible, please consider joining them and reading the same thing independently in the morning for discussion and application together later in the day. As we learned in Jesus' parable, the seed of God's Word bears fruit in a prepared heart.

After each week’s Student Ministries lesson, parents provide snacks. This year Andie Fuller is organizing the volunteer list. If you are able, please reach out to Andie to get on that rotation.

Thank you again for the privilege of coming alongside you as you disciple your children. We have an amazing team of volunteers who love your students and pray constantly for them. It is our joy to come alongside you in the evangelism and discipleship of your children in this ministry. If there are ways we can do this better, please reach out to me or your student’s discussion group leaders. Many of you have already done this, and I greatly appreciate it.

I look forward to seeing your students this Sunday.

Your servant for His glory,
Jacob Hantla