Northside Student Ministry

Based on Matthew 28:18-20, God has commanded all believers to make disciples in Christ’s authority. Ephesians 4:11-12 gives Christians a clear look of how they are to be involved in the disciple-making process. Discipleship is the ultimate goal of the Northside Student Ministry. Northside Student ministry exists to present the gospel to every student, teach dedicated students how to spiritually mature, and train them to reach out and disciple others. Discipleship at Northside is a three-step, cyclical process.

Present the Gospel to Every Student
In the early church, it was a common misconception that the gospel was for Jews only. Because of this, Paul goes to great lengths to challenge everyone with the gospel message of Christ. Romans 3:29-30 makes it clear that God is the God of all people. Therefore, Northside Student Ministry exists to present the gospel to every student, not just those that show up in church. The goal is for every student in Caldwell county to hear the gospel message at least one time and have the opportunity to respond to it. It is not our job to convert students. Salvation is the work of God alone. We cannot force students to respond to the gospel, but we are called to give them the opportunity.

Teach Dedicated Students How To Spiritually Mature
Because not every student will respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ, not every student will progress towards spiritually maturity. But those dedicated students who are willing to take the opportunity to spiritually mature need to be guided in spiritual disciplines. Psalm 119:9-16 provide insight on how a young man can “keep his way pure.” The answer is simple: through studying the Word of God and applying it to their lives. Joshua 1:8 commands believers to “meditate on [the Word of God] day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” Those students who seek to grow in their faith will have opportunity to do so.

Train Them to Reach Out and Disciple Others
Evangelism by addition is the most common way of reaching people for Christ. Unfortunately, if Christians evangelize and neglect to teach others how to evangelize, Christianity will die out. On the contrary, evangelism by multiplication is much more effective and long lasting. The goal is not conversions, although salvation is the first step. The goal is a discipled believer who can in turn disciple others. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. Each student should be equipped to use whatever gifts God has blessed them with to reach others for Christ’s sake.