Would Max Understand That?

on May 7th, 2009

A good thought running around our office this week is “Would Max Understand That?”

Max recently accepted Christ, and represents an entry-level student at our weekend program. You can read his story here and watch a video from the student film festival about him here. Too often we talk about the Bible like everyone knows every story in it. We gloss over details because we wrongly assume people know who David and Goliath were. We introduce songs as “one we all know” where Max hasn’t even heard it before. We become insider or ‘churchy’ without even really knowing it. When a new student enters our ministry, he or she realizes they don’t understand the lingo and intuitively know don’t fit in. You can say something to the contrary, but you’ve said enough already for form an opinion.

I’ve already written 5 Ways to Kill an Entry Level Service, but I like this way of personalizing some of those concepts. The next time you prepare a talk to entry-level students, ask yourself, “would Max understand that?”

JG

Comments (2)

Chris Gilmore at 5:42am May 8

Griffster…I feel like grammatically you’re slipping a little. Just thought I’d shoot you the part that didn’t make much sense with the words I read at first. I read the “intuitively know don’t fit in” line like 10 times and it still didn’t make sense. As for the last line–”for form an opinion”? What? Just bored on a Friday, figured I’d bust your chops a bit. Love what you’re doing for the Kingdom. You’re the man! (I re-wrote how it made sense to me when I inserted what I thought fit better) :)

“When a new student enters our ministry, he or she realizes they don’t understand the lingo and intuitively know (they) don’t fit in. You can say something to the contrary, but you’ve said enough already(to) form an opinion.”

JG at 3:12pm May 8

that’s what i get for blogging at 1am after feeling guilty i haven’t posted much this week. ha!!

JG