Millennials love social justice.
Give today’s high school students an opportunity to serve, and most will take it. They’ll readily fork over their money in support of companies, such as Toms, that benefit others. They’ll also wield a hammer, make phone calls, raise money, cook and advocate on behalf of others.
In many ways, social justice is in. This makes our job as youth workers simultaneously easier and more difficult. Because serving is in, it’s easy to sign up students for summer mission trips. What’s hard is connecting their desire to serve with their faith. This is especially true in an age when the church is no longer the only—or maybe the primary—outlet for service opportunities.
As youth workers, one of the best ways we can help students connect their desire to serve with their faith is by digging into Scripture together. This is, without a doubt, a critical part of mission trip preparation. It connects students to the larger body of Christ (and to their history as a people of justice) and challenges them to follow Christ—not just by studying His words but by putting them into action. In so doing, Scripture helps teens see those they’re serving not just as poor, helpless people but rather as people inherently worthy and valuable because they, too, are made in the image of God.
To prepare teens for their mission experience, discuss passages that address servanthood and unity. Two of my favorites are Philippians 2:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Rather than giving a talk about these passages, in order to help students engage with Scripture more effectively, wrestle with their questions and come to lasting conclusions about what Scripture means for their lives. Discuss passages using questions such as these:
1. Read Philippians 2:1-2. According to this passage, what unites us?
2. Read Philippians 2:3. Think about our upcoming mission trip. What might you be tempted to do out of selfish ambition or conceit? How might such motivations impact our team?
3. Read Philippians 2:4. What’s humility? On our mission trip, what might your own interests be? Practically speaking, how might you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others?
4. Read Philippians 2:5. What mind was in Christ Jesus? How would our lives change if we let that same mind be in us, not just during our mission trip but throughout the rest of the year?
5. Read Philippians 2:6. How might Jesus have exploited the fact that He is God’s equal?
6. Read Philippians 2:7-8. How did Jesus empty Himself for us? On our mission trip, how might we empty ourselves for others?
7. Read Philippians 2:9-10. This passage describes an incredible worship scene. On our mission trip, how will we worship?
8. Read Philippians 2:11. How might our service work help others know Jesus is Lord? What might we learn about what it means for Jesus to be Lord from those we serve?
9. Read Romans 12:12-13. You are part of the body of Christ. What does this mean to you? How are those we’ll serve during our mission trip also part of the body of Christ?
10. Read Romans 12:14-20. Based on this passage, what do you think it means to be part of the body of Christ? Why?
11. Read Romans 12:21-24. Think about our mission team. Without naming names, who do you think are the weaker members? Why? According to this passage, do you think God sees them as weak? Why or why not? If those who are weaker are actually indispensable, then what might this suggest about the importance of those we’ll be serving on our mission trip?
12. Read Romans 12:24-25. Why is it important for there to be no dissension within the body? When and how might dissension occur during our mission trip? In light of this passage, how can we deal with dissension in a way that honors and glorifies God?
13. Read Romans 12:26. How might someone from our team suffer during our mission trip? How might that cause others to suffer? As a team, how can we affirm and encourage one another throughout our trip?
14. Read Romans 12:27-31. What’s a spiritual gift? Look at those gifts listed in this passage. Which do you possess? Why? How might you use your gifts for the good of the body of Christ while on our mission trip? After we return home?
Certainly, these questions are not exhaustive. However, they will root your team in Christ and help teens connect their desire to serve with their faith by providing them with a solid introduction to servanthood and unity. This will, in turn, greatly enhance your team’s experience and increase the likelihood their mission trip will have a lasting impact on their faith and life.
Stay tuned for the remaining articles in this series. We’ll be discussing how to prepare your mission team through team-building, cross-cultural training and the creation of a team covenant.
