Years ago we did a foot washing ceremony during a short-term mission trip.  It was one of the most powerful moments of the trip, and it was a power image of biblical servanthood.   It quickly became a staple of our annual summer mission trip.  We’ve done this ceremony yearly [...]]]>

Years ago we did a foot washing ceremony during a short-term mission trip.  It was one of the most powerful moments of the trip, and it was a power image of biblical servanthood.   It quickly became a staple of our annual summer mission trip.  We’ve done this ceremony yearly for nearly 15 years, and in that time we have come up with a mostly seamless process for pulling off this ceremony.  This process works best with a group smaller than 20.  When I have had larger groups I split into groups smaller than 20, and I place a leader in each group to begin the ceremony.

You will need:

1. Music. I have used a worship mix from an ipod and speakers, and I have used a live musician.
2. A Bible
3. A chair for each participant.
4. A plastic (waterproof) shoebox sized box for each participant
5. A bottle of water for each participant.
6. A small travel sized tube of shampoo or soap for each participant.
7. A small washcloth for each participant.
8. A bit of darkness and candles help the mood.

The set up:

I set all the chairs in a circle facing inward leaving a bit of space between each chair.  Under each chair I put a shoebox sized plastic box.  Inside each box I put a water bottle, shampoo or soap, and a small washcloth.

Introduction:

Before walking the teens to the place where the ceremony will be, I instruct them that this ceremony is to be done reverently and in silence.  Once all are seated I grab my Bible and stand in the middle of the circle.  I instruct the teens to take off their socks and shoes.

“Tonight we are going to have our foot washing ceremony.  This ceremony goes back to the time of Christ, and Christians throughout the centuries have continued to do this.  It would be very easy to giggle and make light of this time, but do you best to take it seriously.  Also I know some of you are uncomfortable with people touching your feet, or maybe if you are like me you are ticklish.  To you all I can say is suck-it-up.  You will be blessed by doing so.  I will wash the feet of a person in this circle.  When I am finished I will give that person a hug, and they will wash someone else’s feet. This will continue until the last person washes my feet.”

Next I grab my Bible and begin reading aloud John 13:1-17

Scripture:

 1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

   Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

The foot washing:

Once I have finished reading the scripture I have a leader hit play on the ipod.  I put my Bible in my chair and walk to one of the youth.

1. I kneel in front of the youth
2. I pour water from their water bottle into their plastic box
3. I take their first foot, and I place it in the water.
4. I use the soap to wash their foot.  I set an example to the group by washing their foot very well.
5. I rinse the soap off of their foot
6. I use the washcloth to dry their foot.
7. I do the same process for the second foot.

Once I am finished I stand up and hug the student.  Then I sit in their chair and they go to the next teen.

When every person has had his or her feet washed the last person will wash my feet.  After my feet are clean and I hug them I grab my Bible again.  I stand in the middle of the group, and read John 13:12-17

 John 13:12-17 

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

 “You may now leave this area.  Please go in silence.”

http://thejoeyphillips.blogspot.com/

]]> http://www.youthministryideas.net/2011/09/23/15-years-of-youth-ministry-feet-washing/feed/ 0 http://www.youthministryideas.net/2011/08/05/ideas-take-inspiration-where-i-found-mine/ http://www.youthministryideas.net/2011/08/05/ideas-take-inspiration-where-i-found-mine/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:35:04 +0000 nheyboer http://www.youthministryideas.net/?p=1485

We are all inspiration seekers.

In youth ministry we seek to inspire the youth in our communities.  We seek to inspire for God.  How creative can I be?  How long can we walk that culturally relevant tight rope?  Can we make cooler logos and use “artsy’er” PowerPoint backgrounds?  We seek to inspire.

There [...]]]>

We are all inspiration seekers.

In youth ministry we seek to inspire the youth in our communities.  We seek to inspire for God.  How creative can I be?  How long can we walk that culturally relevant tight rope?  Can we make cooler logos and use “artsy’er” PowerPoint backgrounds?  We seek to inspire.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with creativity, cultural relevance, logos or artsy graphics—truth be told the ministry I lead is saturated with that list—but all too often those things can place the pressure of inspiration solely on us.    You may ask. “What’s wrong with that?”

When we seek to inspire for God, when we take on all that pressure, we are essentially swallowing a little red pill called Control.  We love the illusion of having control and the power that ultimately lies in God’s hands.

So how do we combat the pill?  I suggest we take the time to lower our guards and experience God through our students.

This past winter our ministry took 50 Junior High students to Spring Hill Camps in Evart, MI for our winter retreat.  Spring Hill puts on superb winter retreats for Jr and Sr High groups providing hours upon hours of excitement with snowboarding, sledding, euro bungee, indoor pool, coffee shops, caffeine, more caffeine, the list goes on.   In fact, the fun side of the retreat is the selling point for most students—and leaders—who attend with our group.  Every day of the retreat there are 2-3 camp-wide worship and lesson sessions that simulate a youth group or church service.   This is when students rock out with a live band leading worship in a style that electrifies campers.  It’s loud… it’s crazy; there is a lot of running, screaming, smelly bodies bumping into one another and exposing their rancid pits with arms raised to the heavens.  This is not the time to touch base with another person one on one; there is zero chance of audibly communicating with anyone because of the deafening volume of the music and crowd.  It’s youth ministry paradise.

Yet, she heard it.

I look over at a cluster of students who came with our group and they are all smiling and shouting with joy… well, all of them but one.  Let’s call this student Melissa.   She’s crying.  Standing amidst this joy she is showing sorrow; or so I thought.   In situations like this I typically get the attention of one of our female leaders and direct them over to a student like Melissa, but not this time.  I darted over to Melissa and her tear drenched face asking what was wrong.  Not atypical of a 13 year old she glanced up at me and mouthed, “Nothing.”  But it wasn’t her somewhat audible response that shocked me… it was her expression.   She was smiling.  Grinning ear to ear.  Surely Melissa sensed my confusion—as it undoubtedly was visible now by my expression—she pulled my shoulder down, stood on her tippy toes, and said into my ear, “I just heard God’s voice.  He told me he loves me.  I heard God said, ‘I love you’.”

I smiled at her, mouthed the words, “He certainly does,” and walked out of the auditorium into the gathering area to be by myself for a moment.   My eyes filled with tears; I had a hard time composing myself.

I wasn’t emotional because God showed up: he always does.

I wasn’t emotional because a student of mine encountered God: that’s our ministries Goal, we are somewhat prepared for that.

I was emotional because God showed Melissa who He is in that moment.  He spoke who He is to a 13 year old girl at a retreat that is 75% fun.  He inspired a little girl in an unexpected moment… because she was seeking.

And He inspired me… a measly youth pastor who prays he is serving the Kingdom properly.  A measly youth pastor who needed to hear those words because life and ministry were wearing me out.  I had popped the pressure of control pill in the prior months and I needed to hear from my Father that He loves me.  God spoke to me, though a student.  He inspired me, through a student.

While I aim to inspire students, while the camp aimed to inspire students, God ended up inspiring at least one student and her youth pastor with three little words, “I love you.”

It’s too easy for those of us who lead ministries to get caught up in inspiring others, creativity, cultural relevance, and the like.  I encourage you to seek God in your students.  You may be amazed at what you find.

Nate Heyboer

Director of Junior High Ministries

Community Church, MI

Here’s what we did so that I can share the idea with you:

Darlene – Excellence in worship.

What is excellence? I don’t want to bring him my left overs. [...]]]> Session 4 was about creating excellence in worship. My hope is that these ideas from the worship summit could also be used in your youth ministry. Ross Parsley spoke about this with a foreword by Darlene:

Darlene – Excellence in worship.

What is excellence? I don’t want to bring him my left overs. Excellence is when you come and bring your finest. When we do this – it’s almost like there is magic in the air. It patterns the whole glory of God. Don’t equate excellence with performance.

Developing a ministry of worship. What is the goal that you are after? If you are after the things that the world says it will lead you into disappointment. But if you want the outcome to see people’s lives transformed by Jesus Christ. Work out what drives you. Truth is the premium ingredient that the enemy comes after again and again. Keep your heart with all diligence. Always be working on your theology of worship. Make sure your a person of the word. And it’s through that you will help those enter into God’s presence.

Ross Parsley – A Call to Excellence in Worship.

Family of 7. We are always working on things to get better. All of us as artist are extremely sensitive to this idea of excellence. When people like what we do we feel good and when not we feel bad. It’s obvious that the bible gives us a challenge to do things well.

Old testament: sacrifices (first and best) tithing (bringing your first fruits)

God gives us his best (Christ).

I John – Jesus laid down his life for us. We are responsible to give our all. Psalmist – play skillfully I chronicles 15:22 – It’s all about being appointed. People were appointed because they had skill. I don’t think I have to convince you to be excellent – I think the American church has done this in the worship context that we lost something.

Worship leaders feel a tremendous pressure to do what the congregation or pastor will like. The perfectly designed service. The problem is we are missing something. Our culture understands excellence. American Idol examples.

So important that we get the why. Why do we believe in excellence? What is the reputation your church has? We tend to focus too much on this skill thing.

Skill is a thing that we all want.

David Psalm 78:70 He chose David

Excellence – there is a bigger picture

Some churches are obsessed with: Personality, Tradition, Skill, Music Style, Authority Structure, Ministry Philosophy but what about the WHY? Biblical Principles – this is where it starts. Biblical principles has got to be on the bottom.

Half of my rehearsals are teaching.

Col. 3:20 – It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Most people do it for themselves. I want excellence as a tool for ME. Your going to have to go deep into the scriptures.

Excellence is an attitude perfection is bondage.

Stewardship to explain excellence – Matt. 25

The master gives each according to his ability. It’s okay for your team to have different ability levels. Sometimes we get full of ourselves if we are better than the person to the left of us. Make sure your people know that it is ok to still be growing.

Position is nothing direction is everything. We got to be okay with our ability levels. I have to be the steward of what god gave me and when I do that God is pleased with me.

There is this fairness thing: It’s ok to be at a different level.
We are after the master’s happiness not our happiness. This is why your view of God is important.
We have to use what God gave us and be satisfied with it. Use and invest your talent that God gave to you.

The kingdom of God is about producing. You produce what the master wants you to produce.

Excellence is not a skill.
Excellence is not a sum
Excellence is a stewardship of the resources that God has given you. We are responsible to use them.

Excellence is best practiced in a relational atmosphere where priorities are clearly defined. What’s the best way to get better with your skill? PRACTICE (practice is not enough – they need someone else to speak to them and show them how to get better)

II Cor. 3:18 – You got to be willing to be a cracked pot and allow the spirit of God to work.

I had a little trouble trying to put Ross’s thoughts down in an orderly fashion, but they were great thoughts and he was interesting and animated. Using this along with the other sessions can impact your youth ministry worship too.

What say YOU?