Greg Stier @ the National Youth Ministry Conference

Jesus the Master of the Challenging/Controversial Conversation. His life was a continual challenging conversation interrupted by healings.

Matthew 17 : : Jesus was a youth pastor. Only adults 20 & older had to pay the Temple tax. Only Jesus & Peter paid. Ergo...Jesus was a youth pastor.

"Jesus is Lord" : : treason to the Romans; blasphemy to the Jews. And challenging to OUR culture because of our Starbucks, custom made mix & max spirituality. "I'll take a double muhammed mocha with two pumps of buddhism and a sprinkle of Jesus." But to say that a venti Jesus is the only thing on the truth menu is blasphemy to our culture.

JESUS IS JUST AS CONTROVERSIAL TODAY AS HE WAS 2,000 YEARS AGO.

Charles Spurgeon: "I take my text and make a beeline for the cross."

Ask a question then shut your mouth. Even if it's uncomfortable for 30 seconds or more. WAIT. The more you listen the more you're really interested in what others believe and the more others care what you believe. And the more you can pray specifically for wisdom and help.

We speak to teenagers but they are deaf to us. Why? Because we are deaf to THEM.

Theology + Practice/application

"Give me the mixture of the lion & the lamb." _Whitefield (Reitano...confirm?)

Do you love Jesus? . . . FEED HIS SHEEP.