Ross outlines vision for ‘historic harvest of teenage Christ-followers’

During the final chapel service of the 2021 fall semester at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Nov. 19, Richard Ross, professor of student ministry and J.M. Price Chair of Religious Education, challenged students and faculty to “have enough faith to envision a historic harvest of teenage Christ-followers.” Ross’s chapel appearance coincided with the release of his book, A New Vision for SBC Student Ministry, published by Seminary Hill Press.

In his introduction of Ross, Michael S. Wilder, dean of the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries, recognized Ross’s service to the seminary as a professor since 2000 and for his 50-years of contributions to youth ministry. 

“When I think of the epitome of a Southwesterner … it would indeed be Dr. Richard Ross,” Wilder said. “He has been a part of our faculty now for 20 years, with more than five decades of total service aimed directly at youth ministry and discipleship in the local church and in the home.”

During his opening remarks, Ross reflected on his lifelong connection to Southwestern Seminary.

“I’ve loved this school, literally from the time that I was born,” Ross said. “I will continue to love this school, and I’m thrilled that moving forward I get to continue investing in the school. That’s the joy of my life.”

Ross then asked the chapel audience to consider the current generation of teenagers, and said the church is facing a “fork in the road.” Citing studies that show a notable decrease in practicing Christians, he stated that the American church is in a crisis.

“All of you know that about half of any church youth group walks away from the church and often from the faith after high school,” Ross said. “What you may not realize is that is not just a phenomenon that happens to the high school graduates, that exodus actually begins at age 16.”

Even then, Ross continued, among the teenagers who do remain in church, many are “pew-sitters,” who show “little transformation and they make almost no impact for the Kingdom of God.”

While Ross underscored his conviction that the “church of Jesus Christ” will survive and continue, he insisted that individual churches and denominations are at risk if they cannot reach their youth.

There is no indication, Ross continued, that teenagers of 2021 and beyond cannot be reached or discipled. In fact, teenagers will grant “relational authority” to adults with five characteristics: adults who listen carefully to a teenager; adults who are transparent about their lives; adults who show genuine concern; adults who have integrity; and adults who have expertise regarding the Bible.

Ross then outlined four examples of where the church is at a “fork in the road,” as it relates to student ministry.

First, Ross said, the church must decide between “more Gospel conversations inside church buildings, or more Gospel conversations in the community.” The problem with only focusing on evangelizing the teenagers who make it inside the church is the process is “too slow.”

“If our way of evangelizing is just sharing the Gospel with the people who happen to walk in, most of this generation are going to spend their eternity in torment,” said Ross.

Directing his attention to pastors, Ross said, “you cannot send your people to have Gospel conversations outside of the church. You can’t. You can only lead them.”

The second “fork in the road,” is for parents to either be “on the fringe,” or “at the center of spiritual leadership.”

Ross said that even as more churches advocate parents as the primary spiritual leaders, many fail to follow up with a concrete plan.

“Where in your churches are parents in a room and somebody is demonstrating, ‘This is how you spiritually lead in your home with the children,’?” Ross asked. “The philosophy is great, but we’ve got to do something to show parents how to do this.”

Third, Ross continued, the church must decide to either “[disciple] teenagers mostly through programs, or in life-on-life relationships.”

“We have never had a greater need for high school graduates that think like Jesus and who act like Jesus,” said Ross.

When adults who love Christ and make an effort to connect with teenagers, Ross said, “then you have a conduit through which the power of God’s Word can travel. It’s the conduit that completes the plan.”

Although he recognized that programs can be a helpful avenue to reach teenagers, Ross said, “It is not the program that’s turning that teenager into the image of Christ, it is a relationship with a God-fearing adult leader that makes that possible.”

Ross acknowledged that discipleship takes time and intentional commitment from both the adult and the teenager, but is valuable for training them to be disciples of Jesus who “change the world.”

“Real discipleship is not going to be apparent in the young generation until we are bringing young people into those very intensive, highly accountable and grace-filled relationships, and intensely preparing young people to go and live for Christ in a broken world,” said Ross.

The final “fork in the road,” Ross said, presents two options: “Teenagers mostly stay in a silo, or they become integral participants in the full life of the church.”

Ross explained that he does believe in the value of age-specific ministry and teaching. However, it is the “balance” that is off with a lack of “hand-in-hand” ministry between age groups in the church.

“Teenagers today often will speak, ‘I love my youth group,’ but they’re not saying, ‘I love my church,’” Ross said. “When they’re 18, they don’t have their youth group. And if that is their only affection, what is there to hold on to?”

Ross concluded that even with these four points of consideration, a more important issue is that of the discipleship of adults in the church.

“The limp faith of teenagers is not because the adult church has failed to pass on its faith,” Ross said, “but because it has successfully passed on its limp faith.”

The discipleship of the adults in the church is essential not only for the sake of the adult, but for the sake of future generations, Ross said.

Turning his attention to students at Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College, Ross said, “You do not need to leave this place until you have been in classes where you are being carefully trained how to disciple the adults and the age groups of the church.”

Ross closed his message with a look to the future of the church and of student ministry, and with a call for prayer.

“Do you think, maybe, it is time for the church to wake up to the glory of Jesus? Do you think teenagers and parents and volunteers and pastors could begin to see Jesus on the throne of heaven and worship Him as He really is? King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” Ross said. “I saw a Jesus Movement. I’m ready for a King Jesus movement. Could it come in our day? Historic harvest. Lifetime discipleship. Completed Great Commission. Sails up for revival. Can you see it?”

The entire sermon can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.edu/live.