“Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1
“Your job is to pastor your adult leaders, so they can pastor the students.” If you’re anything like me, we don’t like this advice–at all. Ministering to youth is why we got into youth ministry. But after five years of doing it my way, I plucked this advice out of the proverbial trash, and I’ve seen Jesus do more in the lives of students since investing in my adult leaders. Following Christ’s example with our time, the table, and the temple will formatively empower our adult leaders to share the good news!
1. TIME: SABBATH REST
“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’” -Mark 6:30
Notice how important it was to Jesus that his disciples’ rest with him. This is Sabbath. Time with God is the first thing to be set apart as holy. God commands Sabbath. The meaning of Sabbath is paradoxical—by working less, we often gain more in provision. Sabbath brings synergy to our souls, our relationships, and to our ministries. When we surrender productivity and submit to the authority of the Lord by resting with God, we learn how to humbly give up control while graciously partnering with those we serve alongside. When we practice giving our time to the Lord in Sabbath, we learn how to give time to our adult leaders.
Sabbath rest is a gift. It forms us to become better ministers. Not only do we find delight in God as we Sabbath, we also learn to better partner with others. And that’s good news!
2. TABLE: COMPASSIONATE SERVICE
“…[Jesus] had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things… ‘You feed them.’” -Mark 6:34, 37a
Etymologically, compassion means to suffer with. Christ chooses to suffer through service, and those with him experience redemption and restoration. Yet, Jesus doesn’t do everything himself; he wants to partner with his disciples and empower them to serve. So often, we set the table for our people, but what if we follow the example of Christ and charge our leaders to use what they have to serve: “You feed them.” Our leaders are each uniquely gifted. Beyond delegating tasks, let’s empower our adult leaders to serve in such a way that they learn to rely on the power of Jesus. It’s in our reliance on Christ that we become like Christ. By serving at the table, we bear witness to God’s fuller work! And that’s good news!
3. TEMPLE: DEVOTION TO PRAYER
“Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass… Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them… he kept giving bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.” -Mark 6:39, 41
Without prayer, the feeding of the 5,000 would have stopped at the five loaves. There’s a reason Jesus flipped tables in the Temple–the program is not the purpose…the Father’s house is to be a house of prayer. When we pray through the tension between people’s needs and our ministry program, we become Christlike. Our prayer anchors us to the Father, the only One who can truly save, redeem, and feed our communities. When we pray, we will witness others witnessing God at work. And that’s good news!
CONCLUSION
“They ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.” -Mark 6:42-43
As Christ followers, we are called to model Christlike discipleship. Sabbath rest humbly forms us as we partner with others, and we empower our adult leaders to serve with the charge, “You feed them.” In your ministry, between the need and the program, pray. Our time, service, and prayers must encourage our adult learners to follow Christ. Christlike disciples have the joy of administering God’s blessing–that’s when the world will taste and see that God is good. And that’s good news!
- Modeling Christlike Discipleship - May 12, 2026