When we look at the call of youth ministry, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of such a calling. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus called his disciples to, “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). This is no small task! As Christian leaders, we too have been invited to proclaim the good news of Jesus to the whole of creation. Jesus asks us to think big. But how do we even begin such a giant mission? The only way to understand Jesus’s design for mission is to learn from his perfect example of life on earth.

Photo by Jonas Wurster on Unsplash

JESUS: THE LEADER WHO DOESN’T FOLLOW OUR EXPECTATIONS

How would you expect someone as powerful as God to spread the good news of his salvation to humanity? Writing in the sky? Massive outreach events across the globe? A booming voice above every continent?

As imperfect humans, we aren’t great at predicting the ways of a perfect God. The Jewish people expected their coming Messiah to be a triumphant political leader. Instead, the Messiah who came was a humble carpenter. While the Jews hoped for external relief from the Roman rule, Jesus offered internal rescue from their greatest problem: the sin that separated them from God. Jesus’s plans were always unexpected, and frequently nontraditional.

JESUS HAS A RARE STRATEGY TO REACH PEOPLE

When we look at Jesus’ entirely unexpected plan for salvation (a lowly life on earth leading to death on a cross and resurrection from the grave) it would be fair to assume that his plan for mission is also different from our initial expectations. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

-Matthew 28: 18-20

Jesus asks his disciples to think big about the scope of salvation—it’s news to be shared with every nation—however, the strategy that Jesus gives them is to focus small. They should focus on the modest task of making disciples.

The only way to reach many is to go deep with a few.

From the New Testament, we can guess that Jesus spent about 75% of his time with his twelve disciples. He wasn’t “maximizing” his thirty-three years on earth with a full schedule of rallies and big events. Of course, Jesus spent significant time teaching large groups of people and socializing with outcasts. His heart is for the lost. But Jesus knew that the best way to reach the masses was to invest significant time into his small group of disciples, knowing that when they replicated this pattern, they would trigger a chain reaction that would multiply the kingdom of God.

REPLICATE JESUS’S STRATEGY WITH GREEN ZONE MINISTRY

We call Jesus’s big-picture, small-focus strategy “Green Zone” ministry. Green is the color of growth. Think about a flourishing garden: growth only happens in the context of a gardener’s tender, faithful care. As youth leaders, it’s important to remember that Jesus prioritized his small group of disciples. He shared his whole life with them, from the mundane hours of traveling, sleeping, and eating to the unforgettable experiences of calming storms, raising the dead, and walking on water. He tended to them like a gardener. We should adopt this same mentality in our local youth ministries. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the great commission, youth leaders should trust in God’s perfect plan:

Think big; focus small. It’s God’s design for discipleship.

REFLECT

1. Which comes easier to you, thinking big, or focusing small? Examine your own definition of discipleship. How does it match up to Jesus’s example, and how does it fall short?
2. Who are your three? Jesus spent most of his time intentionally pouring into three disciples. Identify your “three” and block out time this week to pray for them. After this, consider your larger circle (for Jesus, his 12 disciples). Here’s a helpful tool to map out your intentional connections: LINK
3. Green Zone ministry often means sharing regular, everyday moments with people. As a youth leader, how open are you to inviting your close disciples into the mundane parts of your life? What is one way you can share your life as Jesus did?

For a broader understanding of how the Green Zone fits into Full Spectrum Youth Ministry watch this overview from Ashley Denton:  Ashley Denton – Full Spectrum Youth Ministry Overview