Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Even though we will do almost anything to avoid conflict, sometimes conflict arises no matter what we do. It may be a problem between parents, teens, or even the church leaders. Misunderstanding motives or poor communication skills are often behind these conflicts, but other times it’s just because of strong differences of opinion. Perhaps someone wants more control or authority then they should be granted, or someone else seems to enjoy causing trouble. No matter what the cause, conflict must be faced and resolved.

Prevention is better than correction, but we might not address the issue until it becomes large. Maybe we may feel it is not our duty or responsibility, and so we do nothing. However, when God shows us something that needs to be corrected it is our job to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We need to thoroughly articulate our response in our minds before doing or saying anything. We also need to pray about both the problem and the solution. God will provide wisdom and guidance. Then, when we act, we can often expect that others may not respond in a godly way, but we still need to do what is right to the best of our abilities, doing what Jesus would do if He were in our shoes. Afterward, we can learn from the experience and move on.

Remember, Jesus Himself faced conflict in His ministry, especially from within his own group of disciples. If He faced conflict, so can we! Don’t let the experience discourage you, distract you, defeat or depress you.

Scripture
Romans 12:18-20, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’”

Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

Galatians 6:1-5, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”

Reflect

• What is your “style” of handling conflict? Do you avoid it, rush headlong in, seek compromise, or just ignore it? What should your personal conflict management style look like?
• Think of some conflicts you’ve had in the past. What did you learned from them? What might you have done differently?
• Are you facing any conflicts at the present? What would Jesus do? Who can you go to for advice? Have you been praying about it? What is your plan of action?

P.S. Download Tim’s Principles for Confrontation from his Free Youth Ministry Resources page.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Getting paid to do what you love is a real privilege and blessing. Every once in awhile I awaken to my own awesome opportunity of being able to spend my time serving God while watching Him work and receive a salary for it. I feel as though I should be paying others for this great opportunity! Being a pastor moves me deeply and I am humbled and inspired to give God my very best every day.

But, at times, I admit I see my job as a merely a job; a burden to be worn; something I am stuck doing to pay the bills at home. Sometimes this happens because I get discouraged during tough times, or because I’ve drifted in my own personal walk with the Lord. It can also happen because I get too busy doing too many things. Other times it is a hobby that diverts my focus, or administrative work that becomes cumbersome. There are many things which are fine in themselves, but can distract me from the main job.

In 2 Timothy 2:3-7 Paul uses the example of a soldier to explain the difference between a job and a lifestyle. A soldier’s first loyalty must be to his commanding officer. He can not be so involved in civilian matters that they affect his availability or commitment to his leader. He must be ready and available to do whatever and to go wherever, at any moment’s notice. In life, enjoying things outside of work is good, but when those things interfere with serving the Lord, then those things are out of place. They can become an idol, and we all know what God thinks of idols!

Scripture
2 Timothy 2:3-7, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”

1 John 5:21, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Reflect

• What is ministry to you, a job or a lifestyle?
• If it is just a job, what must you do to change that?
• What most distracts you from your ministry?
• What must you do to keep your focus where it needs to be?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

When God rates the requirements of those who serve Him, He elaborates on one characteristic specifically and explains it in more detail than any of the others: the one about family (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6). Clearly, this trait is very significant. Why is it so important to manage one’s family well? What does Paul mean when he says that the way we relate to our mate and children is the way we will relate to those to whom we minister? Maybe because our “real” self comes out most vividly at home and God is concerned with who we really are. He is not impressed with the face we show others — He knows that face is just a veneer and will one day crack and fall off. He knows if we use anger to get our way at home, we will eventually do this with others outside the home. He knows that if we avoid difficult situations, if we use others as a means for our purposes, if we manipulate guilt, whatever we do, that it will inevitably creap in our ministry, as well. Even the best hypocrite will slip up sooner or later.

Sadly, often our mate and family get the worst side of us. When was the last time that you were having a heated discussion with your mate, and the phone rang; you answered in a tone of voice completely different than that which you were using just a moment ago with your mate. Doesn’t our mate deserve our best behavior? Shouldn’t they be treated as well, or even better, than strangers? They know us better than anyone, and yet they love us unconditionally. They will be a part of our lives long after everyone else has gone. That relationship is the one that must come first. Sure it is harder because our spouse knows us as we truly are. It is much easier to be nice to the young teens in our group who are easily impressed with us. The young teens gives us an ego boost, but it is our mate at home that really matters.

So remember, God does not look to see how we treat the teens that admire us, but how we treat our mate and family. That is how He evaluates our growth and maturity. What kind of score is He giving you?

Scripture
1 Timothy 3:4, “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)”

Titus 1:6, “An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”

Ephesians 5:21-33, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself…. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Reflect

• As God looks at your relationship with your mate, where would He give you good marks? What are you doing right?
• Where would God say there is room for improvement?
• What would your mate change about you if they could? Maybe you should have that hard conversation with him/her to find out honestly.
• Write down 3 things you can do to improve your relationship with your mate, starting now.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Black and white are distinct colors that are easy to distinguish. But not everything in life is black and white. Many times we see shades of gray, and sometimes it is very hard to decipher which option, or shade, is better than the other. Some decisions are not easy to make; the better option is not always apparent and the consequences may not always be popular. When our popularity, and even our ministry’s future are involved, decision-making becomes very confusing. Some decisions are extremely difficult. As ministers, what do we do?

1. Be certain that your mind is making the decision, and not just your emotions. Feelings can have their say, but they should not make the final choice. If they do, the choice will be a reaction, and not a pro-action. Allow your mind to explain the reality of things to your emotions.

2. Make sure fear is not controlling your thought-process. God does not give us fear, (2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15) therefore, we cannot let fear influence our decisions.

3. Putting off a decision is not good either. Avoiding a decision is itself a decision. To do nothing is a decision to go with the flow, or the status quo, (no rhyme intended). Thus, no decision is really a decision.

4. Get advice from a mature and experienced person whom you trust and respect.

5. Pray about the decision. God promises wisdom; trust Him, and He will guide you.

6. When it is time, make the decision and trust that God is behind that decision. Trust Him to be with you through it all, as He Himself promises (Proverbs 3:5-6).

7. Afterward, do not keep remaking the decision in your mind, wondering if you chose correctly — that will drive a person crazy! Instead, look ahead and do not look back.

Remember, Jesus knows how tough decision-making can be. He faced a difficult one in the Garden of Gethsemane, but He looked ahead and did what He knew was right even though it was hard. Follow His example, and you will be just fine.

Scripture
James 1:5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

Joshua 1:7-9, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Reflect

1. What are some of the hardest decisions you have ever had to make? Why were they so hard?
2. Why are some decisions harder for you than others?
3. Whom can you go to for advice about a tough decision?
4. Are you facing any really touch decisions now? What principles can you apply to help you make a wise and godly choice?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Maybe you’ve heard someone refer to a “God moment.” This usually is a special time when it is clear that God has intervened and shown Himself in an exceptional way. It is important to notice and appreciate these unique moments and interventions of our Heavenly Father. We must enjoy them and thank Him for a clear answer to prayer, a sudden revelation of His will, a perfect circumstance that is no chance happening, a provision for a need, or a deep feeling of love and worship. These moments are important to recognize. They can become special teaching moments when we use them to minister to others. They can increase faith and intensify worship. Too bad there aren’t more of these God moments in our lives.

But wait a minute! Who are we to limit “God moments” to only those special events we notice and appreciate? Aren’t all events and occurrences part of God’s plan and purpose? How many God’s activities bypass our recognition because they do not seem special or unique enough for us to recognize them as coming from God? After all, God is good all the time and in every way. In happy moments we must praise God. In difficult moments we must praise Him. In quiet moments, worship Him. In painful moments, trust Him. At every moment we are to thank God. So appreciate the “God moments” as the “icing on the cake” special love notes from God, but do not limit God’s involvement in our lives to these. Realize that every activity and every event in our life is, in fact, a God moment.

Scripture
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 5:2-5, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Reflect

• Think of some of the recent, clear God moments in your life. Why did God provide them for you? What should your response be?
• How can you use these God moments to teach and encourage others?
• Where has God been working in your life that you may have forgotten to give Him the credit?
• What difficulties are you experiencing that God has willed for a purpose?

Make a very conscious effort all day to notice how and when God works in your life — in obvious and subtle ways. Carry a paper and pencil to write them down so you can read over them at the end of the day. This will help keep your eyes on Him rather than of the world around you.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

As pastors, we enter ministry to serve God and change the world for Him, but somewhere along the way we find that our ministry has become a job that only brings in a weekly paycheck. We started the journey with specific dreams and goals we wanted to accomplish before we picked up expectations from the senior pastor, parents, and others in the church. Then we go to a conference or read an article and find out more worthy goals that we should accomplish. Before long, we’re trying to meet all the expectations and, in so doing, find that we don’t meet any of them. How can we know which goals to pursue and which ones to drop? Perhaps all are worthy, but not all can be accomplished. So what should we do? Should we pick the easiest, the most flashy, the ones that make us look best? Or should we choose the hardest, the most challenging?

Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer. We can only focus on one thing: God’s vision for our ministry. He has a plan and a purpose for us and our service for Him. He has a path for us to follow, an image to be created. He wants all of us to become like Jesus. That is His goal for every believer, but how that goal translates for each of us will be different, as is the path He leads us on. What is God’s plan for your ministry, your marriage, your students? What are His dreams and plans for you and those you serve? Often, we purchase a program or curriculum because it looks attractive to us when we should first know God’s vision for those we minister. We must first be able to see the complete picture. Only then can we start seeking a program or curriculum to paint that picture.

Scripture
Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Philippians 3:10-14, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Reflect
Spend some time in prayer asking God to share His vision for your life and ministry. Get away for a few hours or a whole day — whatever it takes for you to feel you understand what He wants to accomplish through you. Then, and only then, can you start to look at programs or curriculum to accomplish this vision.

• What does God want to see in the lives of the people you serve ten years from now?
• What should you be doing, today and tomorrow, to move in that direction?
• Write down a description of what you believe God’s vision is your ministry. Re-read it and pray about it every day for the next week.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

We all have them, or at least one of them: a parent who just seems to make ministry harder it should be. Instead of appreciating and supporting what we do, they seem to find something wrong with everything. It could also be someone in the church who doesn’t even have a son or daughter in your group. Even worse is when they criticize or condemn our mate instead of us. Jesus knows what that is like – He certainly faced criticism, even from his own family members.

First, see if there is anything you can learn from this nit-picky person. Often hidden in some very poor packaging can be kernels of truth and wisdom, if we’d only search them out and use them. Remember, always respond in gentleness and love. It is legitimate to try to guard our time from lengthy conversations that produce little fruit, since defending ourselves and explaining our actions sometimes waste time. Second, perhaps you can go to someone this nit-picky person will listen to and enlist their aid in speaking to this person. And third, Pray for this person and for the root cause which may be producing this type of critical behavior. Do not get caught in a power struggle with them. Do not gossip about them. Do not criticize or put them down in retaliation. Never stoop to their level. Pray and ask God to help you see them through His eyes and to love them with His unconditional love. Pray to God with sincerity. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes!

Scripture
2 Timothy 2:24, “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Reflect

• Which parent(s) do you find yourself avoiding? Who do you dread to hear from?
• Why might they be treating you in this way?
• What truth or wisdom can be gleaned from them that can help you minister in a better way?
• Do you find yourself doing or not doing certain things to please them (or to annoy them)?
• What would Jesus do if He were in your position?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

How do you react when someone refers to the youth group you lead as “your” youth group. “We’re going to Tim’s youth group tonight.” “Tim’s youth group is going on a trip…” What runs through your mind when you hear it referred to in that way? It’s OK to feel good since this is what God called you to do. You trained for it and throw your whole life into it. Yet down inside something should feel a little wrong about hearing it called “your” group or even when you call it “my youth group.” Sure, we know well enough what people mean by that term, and its OK for others to use it. The problem comes in if we start believing that, if we think of it as “my” group. We can sometimes loose perspective of whose group it really is.

Jesus says “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). We can use whatever terms we want as long as we keep foremost in our minds whose group it really is. It isn’t mine, it’s the Lord’s group. I can’t build it, only He can. We are growing the youth for Him, He is growing them through us. He is the chief shepherd, we are just the under shepherds, the ones with the awesome privilege of having a front row seat to watch Him work. Thank Him for that privilege. Enjoy your ministry. Pour yourself into it. Just always remember it is His group, His work, His church.

Scripture
Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Ephesians 2:19-22, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Reflect

• Do you sometimes take credit for what God is doing? Don’t steal His glory in any way!
• Do you put pressure on yourself to “do great things for God?” Try relaxing and letting God do great things through you.
• Do you ask Him to help you with your plans and program or do you report for duty and listen sensitively for His plans and leading?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

You’ve worked really hard on a great devotional or Bible study. You think its one of the best you’ve ever put together and are excited to share it with the kids, but when you’ve finished delivering it, you walk away from the youth meeting confused because it just seemed to lay there, flat, without life. Or, how about the time you deliver a lesson you felt God wanted you to share, but despite not expecting much from it, several teens say your words touched them and changed their lives. What’s up with these situations? There’s great danger in evaluating what we do just by the results we see. If our audience likes our Bible lessons and responds well, we feel we did a good job. If they don’t — failure.

What we do is similar to being a quarterback. A quarterback’s job is to deliver the ball to the receivers and move it down the field. He is rated by how many passes he completes, but if you know anything about football you know that isn’t a true measurement of his skill. Passes can be dropped, receivers run wrong routes, or they may let the ball bounce out of their hands into the hands of a defender. Once the quarterback lets go of the ball, if it is caught or not is not up to him. He can’t throw it then run down the field and catch it. Of course he has to throw the best pass he can, a right spiral right into the receiver’s hands. Even so, they aren’t always caught, but that’s not the quarterback’s fault.

The opposite is also true. Sometimes the quarterback throws a wobbly pass that isn’t very accurate, but the receiver will make a great adjustment and end up with a miraculous catch. All a quarterback can do is try to throw the best pass he can making it as easy as possible for the receiver to catch it, but the catch is up to the recipient.

Do you see my point? We are the quarterback. We are responsible to deliver the message in the best possible manner, making it as easy as possible for our recipients to catch it, but God does not hold us accountable if they miss it. Sometimes we don’t pass as well, but a listener will come away with a miraculous change inside anyway.

Focus on delivering the message in the best way you know how and let the Holy Spirit work in their lives to do the rest. What happens after that is between them and God. Don’t put extra pressure on yourself. Don’t manipulate for results. Just put it out there and leave the rest up to God.

Scripture
2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Reflect

• Do you put extra pressure on yourself to get certain results from your ministry?
• Do you have a hard time patiently letting God work?
• Do you find yourself frustrated with the teens you lead because they just don’t seem to be getting it fast enough? That’s a sure-fire recipe for discouragement. Take a few moments and turn it over to God. Ask Him to help you just focus on faithfully ministering to your kids, and let the results to Him and them.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years now, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Sometimes when I’m busy driving errands around town I put off things that feel like a hindrance, like putting gas in the car. I have too much to do to stop for gas so I tell myself I’ll just do it later. Obviously, you can figure out what happens if I put it off for too long. It’s like skipping meal after meal because I’m too busy to eat. That will quickly catch up with me, as well. The same is true spiritually. It’s easy to be so busy that we neglect regular time alone with the Lord. After all, we deal with spiritual things all day. We plan Bible studies, pray with people and give Biblical counsel, but unless we have a daily personal intake of God’s Word and a time of close connection with God we will soon be running on empty. We can be so focused on what we DO that we start to neglect who we ARE. Then we start to become discouraged, drained, impatient and frustrated because we are trying to operate without the proper fuel. Let God fill you with His presence. As any worthwhile relationship, it takes time, quality time, with the other person listening and talking. We don’t want to become like the religious rulers in Jesus’ day — so busy doing godly acts that they missed out on their personal connection with God. Remember, its all about relationship, and that means our own relationship with God.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Reflect

• Do you find yourself looking for a Bible lesson on line or in your files because you don’t have time to do something fresh from your own relationship with God? (See “Free small group curriculum: My life.”)
• Do you find yourself spiritually empty without anything new to say to those you minister to?
• What’s your plan? When do you try to schedule regular time with God?
• What gives you the most difficulty in spending time with God each day? Is it business, laziness, unconfessed sin, poor priorities, etc.?
• Who is your accountability partner? Who will ask you the tough questions about your relationship with God? If you don’t have someone (and your mate doesn’t count) then get someone now.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years now, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!