Defining the Job Description
“What exactly do you do?” This is a question I get asked frequently. People know I am a Youth Pastor, but they don’t understand what I am doing on a daily basis. My job description isn’t defined in their mind.
An Internet search of job descriptions for Youth Pastors will only add to the confusion. When looking for young men to pastor their students, churches list things like “a heart for the youth of America.” Or someone “who thinks outside the box.” Hmm. With qualifications like these almost anyone could apply, including most Taco Bell employees. So many job descriptions say things like “working with students” or “working with parents” or “working with the rest of the church staff,” but it is not clear what youth pastors are supposed to be working on.
To be honest, I think that many Youth Pastors are confused about their own job. They don’t know how to organize their time in their office every day. They would tell you ministry is about more than games, knowing the latest trends and getting students excited. But how would they really define what they do?
Fortunately, this is not a question we are left to figure out for ourselves. Scripture is clear on what pastors are supposed to do. Paul tells a young pastor like Timothy (
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV)
) exactly how to conduct his ministry in the church. Here’s the context:
11 Command and teach these things. (ESV) -
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (ESV) -
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV) -
Now, I know that Timothy is the pastor of the whole church, including people who are older than him, but the job description here applies to all pastors: teach the Bible! Or as Paul puts it in
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)
, “Preach the Word!” Sure, as youth pastors we will direct our preaching towards a younger audience. We will say “dude” more. We will talk about going to high school instead of going to work. We will give illustrations referring to Facebook or text messaging. But why do we completely change the role of pastor just because we put “youth” in front of it?
The first thing that should come to our minds when we hear the phrase “Youth Pastor” is a Bible teacher to teenagers. Youth Pastors should give themselves to the ministry of the word and to prayer (
). They should spend more time studying Scripture in books than the culture of youth through screens. The truth is if youth pastors in America were to think of their job like this we would start a worldwide revival that could not be stopped!
High school is four short years. We can try to provide safe places for students to hang out but they won’t stay long. We can administrate camps and activities but they will soon be forgotten. We can work hard to get students whipped up into an emotional frenzy but this will always fade with time. The Word of God lasts forever. Let’s invest ourselves in getting the Bible into student’s lives. At least then, we will really be doing something.
I am so thankful for our high school ministry:True North! True North is just flat out amazing! That last part of the blog encouraged me that we are really doing something that is meaningful giving God glory by being obedient and living our lives devoted for Him. We also got hope, that we have eternal life all because of Christ! And also encourage me when we have something we can remember, like salvation! Just thinking of baptism last week, it was just an awesome reminder of the feeling of having salvation…just brought chilling thoughts!
mmmmm amen! we need sound Biblical preaching that will prepare us for the dangers and temptations of the world as adults! thanks for preaching sound doctrine and staying true to God’s Word Pastor Bobby!
Right On! Lets take this blog and send it to Christianity today. People need to hear this all over.
The fact that all of our Pastors follow CBC’s 8 distinctives and preach a Biblical gospel, is another reason to thank God daily for Compass Bible Church! How true that we need to impact the lives of our high schoolers for eternity, not just for a few years of fun. Thank you Pastor Bobby for your teaching and preaching!
As a parent of a couple of teens sitting under your tutelage, I for one am enthused that you are following this guideline for how to pastor them. Both of them came to CBC from youth groups at other churches – one totally connected, so a high benchmark of what she was looking for and the other totally disconnected, so looking for something engaging to totally reel him in. Both were achieved upon their first visit. We have something special at this church – it’s replete through all the ministries. And I praise God for it. Amen and amen!
Ohh so thats what you do.
Praise God that you understand your role in walking along side parents to preach and teach the Word to teenagers! It’s such an important job – I’ll continue to pray for you and your family – and the students and every kid in your ‘target area!’ And for all us parents to do exactly the same job, being pastors, in our own homes and neighborhoods!
Thanks Pastor Bobby, huge reminder that you are in the role of the preacher, teacher….Preach the Word, dont stop….just keep teaching….the Holy Spirit will do the work in the hearts of the young people. The evidence is in the stand they make everyday, and also before their people with testimony to Christ in baptism. What a joy to see the dedicated hearts of these young people anxious to live for him, to share without apology their love for God and people.
Our son is also a youth pastor with the same heart and desire to impact the young people in teaching the Word. Our prayers go out everyday for you, your staff and all the young people who have committed to learn, yearn, and burn for Christ!
In Christ alone
Amen! Thank you, Lord, for Pastor Bobby!
Lets pray for a revival that cannot be stopped starting at the highschool level and carrying on through into the adult lives of True North students.
Pastor Bobby,
Thank you for knowing your job! I was blessed by your insight taken straight from where it should be, Scripture!! (thanks Paul) Thank you for comming along side us parents that love the Lord and are comitted to raising our kids to know Him! Thanks for being a Pastor and Christian parent and teacher to those kids who don’t!
I agree with Alicia.
Thank you Bobby. Well spoken.
From a father’s perspective, a youth pastor is a shepherd who, along with my wife and I, shepherds my child during their formative years with the goal of:
Training them in the Word of God
Developing in them a well founded, clearly integrated Biblical worldview
Fostering an environment where accountable relationships can be formed
Forming a team of leaders with whom my child can find security, encouragement, and safety as a place to discuss their development spiritually
Living as an example of a Godly man for them to look to
Exhibiting to them, and infecting them with a passion for lost souls
Congrats on your new child!! Thank you for your ministry at Compass Bobby, we truly appreciate you!
Amen, Pastor Bobby! The Word of God does LAST FOREVER!!! And it is the TRUTH that we all need to guide us through life! Thank you for teaching the Truth that Lasts Forever!