Youth Ministry Teaching End Goals

Teaching End Goals are 40 statements we pray teens know and personalize by the time they graduate from high school. As youth ministry teaches from Scripture and the Catechism teens will better understand these key tenets of their Baptismal faith.

Youth will be affirmed in their IDENTITY as a loved Child of God. Through the hearing and study of God’s Word, youth will know…

• My Heavenly Father wonderfully created me. (Psalm 139:14)
• I have fallen short of the perfection God desires and understand the temporal and eternal consequences of those sins. (Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23a)
• Jesus Christ loves me and has redeemed me by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. This is the Good News, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; I John 4:10)
• Jesus calls me to faith and is with me daily as I live in baptismal grace. (Matthew 28:19-20; Galatians 3:27)
• Christ feeds and sustains me with His gifts—Word and Sacrament—of which I am an active recipient for a lifetime.
  In Christ, I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• In Christ, I am both a citizen of heaven and of earth. I trust Jesus that He alone gives me life to the full in the here and now. (John 3:16; Philippians 3:20; John 10:10)
• I am simultaneously sinner and saint (a new creation), asking for repentance and resting in Christ’s grace, forgiveness of sins, and promises. I am strengthened in my walk with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 51)
• I was not created for myself, but for others. I am called to act justly and serve my neighbor, to love and show mercy, and to walk humbly with my God. (Micah 6:8)
• God has redeemed and gifted me to care for those around me.

Youth will deepen their understanding of the critical importance of Christian COMMUNITY inside their families, individual church communities, and in the worldwide church. Through the hearing and study of God’s Word, youth will know…

• God desires to bless me with family, friends and community. (Proverbs 6:20; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1-3)
• Through my baptism, God gathers me into His body/community, the Church. (Ephesians 4:4-6; John 1:12-13)
• Christ gathers and strengthens my local church community, and the Christian Church throughout the world through Word and Sacrament. With this community, I gladly hear God’s Word preached and taught. (Act 2:42-47; I Corinthians 11:17-34; Hebrews 10:25; Luke 10:16)
• Christ unites my church community in love, and we are strengthened to live in His love. (Colossians 3:12-17)
• Christian communities, especially families, are places I can receive and practice forgiveness. (Mark 11:25; Matthew 6:12; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Colossians 3:13)
• My Christian faith connects me to God’s chosen people over time and space—the joys, challenges, sufferings, and celebrations. At the Lord’s Supper, I join with “angels, archangels, and all the company of Heaven”. Together, we worship and give praise to Jesus Christ, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. (Revelation 5; Hebrews 12:1-2)
• The Church embraces and values the diversity of ethnicity, language, and culture God has created in His community. (Galatians 3:28-29)
• I do not have to face trials or questions alone but ask Christ for humility to ask others for help and prayer. (Galatians 6:2)

Youth will better understand how to have HUMBLE CONFIDENCE in themselves and in God. Through the hearing and study of God’s Word, youth will know…

• By the power of the Holy Spirit, I confidently confess my Christian faith personally and in every area of my life.
  Jesus Christ is THE “way, truth, and life” for life now and the life to come. (John 14:6)
• Sanctification by the Holy Spirit is a lifelong process through Christ’s Holy Word and Sacraments.
• I can boldly go before God in prayer in my times of need, celebration, and joy. I pray about sinful temptations and ask for the Holy Spirit to protect me from them. (Matthew 6:8-14; I John 5:13-15; John 17:15; Mark 11:24; Psalm 17:6; Psalm 145:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2)
• Out of love for my neighbor, I strive to be a witness of Christ in word and deed. (Matthew 4:19; Matthew 5:16; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:25-37)
• This fallen world will bring struggles with, “rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. (Ephesians 6:12)
• When faced with troubles, I boldly trust in God’s mercy and cling to His promises. (Psalm 5)
• At times, it will seem the world or “culture” may have victory, but I will trust in the truth of God’s Word and His desire for me. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 6:12; John 1:9-13; I John 1:5-10)
• This fallen world will bring tough topics and issues. God’s Holy Word gives me answers and responses to these topics. I may at times struggle with these answers, but God’s Word and promises are enough.
• Every Christian will not have every answer. I may not always agree with other Christians. Using answers found in God’s Word, I will listen with patience, engage in humble discourse, and engage with them (parents, pastors, church workers, other adults, peers, etc.).

Youth will grow in the understanding and living out of their VOCATION. Through the hearing and study of God’s Word, youth will know…

• God places me in multiple roles (vocations) in life where I share God’s goodness and love (student, child, athlete, friend, employee, part of the body of Christ, etc.).
• Motivated by the love of God in Christ, I serve my neighbor to the best of my ability and put their interests first. (Mark 12:31-34; Philippians 2:1-4)
• As a Christian, I love and respect all people and work as a steward of God’s creation. (Genesis 1:28; Mark 16:15)
• I rely on God to give me “daily bread” and strive to be good stewards of these gifts. (Matthew 6:11)
• I show respect and honor to people in vocations which have authority over me and/or serve me (parents, teachers, police, pastors, church workers, etc.). (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20)
• As a young person, I prepare for future vocations (citizen, employee/employer, spouse, parent, etc.), and strive to understand how I serve my world through these vocations.
• I will prayerfully consider opportunities to serve the church in roles such as pastor, teacher, directors of Christian education, deaconess and other church work careers.

As a reflection of Christ’s love, youth will learn and live out ACTS OF SERVICE AND MISSION to the world. Through the hearing and study of God’s Word, youth will know…

• I can support the mission of the church (locally and broadly) through the gifts of my time, talents, prayers and financial support. (Philippians 1:4-5; Acts 12:5)
• I can pray for the mission of God’s people to serve their neighbor outside of their regular vocation (medical missionaries, servant events, mission trips, mercy work of the Church, etc.).
• I will prayerfully consider serving outside my regular vocations when opportunities provide themselves.
• I trust the Holy Spirit to give me words to share my faith with others when opportunities become available. (Matthew 4:19; Matthew 5:16; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:25-37
• Where God’s Word clearly teaches, I will stand for justice and fair treatment in matters of life at all stages and help, serve, and protect the life and well-being of marginalized and vulnerable people.