From Middle School to High School - A Concert of Takeaways

Ever sat through a band at your local school? I recently did. The set opened with two songs from our 6th graders, then three songs from our 7th graders, eventually building to the finale by our 12th graders. As you might imagine, the younger students were still finding their confidence (or in some cases, the beat), while the older students offered polished covers ranging from “La La Land” to “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Each performance offered surprising ministry parallels. I’ve been a small group leader for the same group of boys for the past seven years, seeing firsthand the challenges and rewards that come with every season. It can be tempting to cherry-pick a favorite “moment” from their lives, be it eagerly awaiting the day they got their driver’s license, or cherishing how easy it was to make plans before they got jobs.

Ecclesiastes 3 describes how “for everything there is a season” (v. 1), be it a time to plant or harvest (v. 2), build up or break down (v. 3), and seek or lose (v. 6). In all these contrasting moments, God is the uniting presence who transforms them into eternal investments (v. 14). Similarly, when we claim the godly potential in every season of our students, we can faithfully plant unique seeds of faith as they mature.

To borrow from this youngest-to-oldest “concert,” here are three takeaways that we can all absorb.

YOU’RE EXPERIENCING A SYMPHONY IN THE MAKING

As rough as the middle school performance was, their lack of experience meant they were naturally open to new experiences. They could experiment with playing the drums or clarinet. They could learn any number of new songs. Best of all, they could grow alongside a consistent group – learning, laughing, and looking out for one another for the years to come.

When I first started leading, I remember feeling overwhelmed and questioning what was and wasn’t working with our group. Now that they’re in high school, I’ve been blown away by how much those boys remember from those early years. Multiple times, they’ve quoted something back to me that I said four or five years ago. What I viewed as a brief moment then had now taken root and developed into an enduring value.

Just as it takes time for a middle schooler to turn sheet music into a symphony, it takes time for an idea to cement into their identity. Our role isn’t to say “no” for them, but give them every opportunity to say “yes” after “yes” to Jesus. This can be as simple as helping them build camaraderie with their peers or letting them volunteer to help uncover their gifts. Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Never underestimate your power to activate the young men and women your youth has yet to become.

YOU’RE SEEING THE BAND

There was a unique privilege in seeing the talent of each grade’s performance over 90 minutes. Only two or three teachers were running the program, but it was clear that they had developed a relationship with each group. The teachers’ commitment inspired a commitment in their students, leading them to engage in this concert together.

Being with my small group over the years has taught me the value of communicating commitment. Some students were willing to connect with me after a few months, while some took a few years. Rarely did this come about because I said the right thing at the right time, but rather through the relationship we had forged over time and could then build upon.

Jesus is a perfect example of making the most of His earthly ministry, and shares in Luke 12:34: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” When we help our students feel treasured, we give them a tangible glimpse into God’s heart. Be it an extra minute, hour, day, week, month, or year, your presence and participation in a student’s life create the boosts they need to encounter their next breakthrough with Christ.

YOU’RE HEARING THE SONG

By the time we got to the senior group, there was anticipation in the air. This was not only the final performance of the night, but their final performance of their lives. There was a maturity in their music and a confidence in their community. There was no doubt that these students knew their song and how to play it really well.

This got me thinking about how this confidence was not only reflective of the high schoolers’ talent, but also of their development. They weren’t looking to learn new songs, but how to play their current song the best way possible. Similarly, I see the seniors in my group make decisions based on conclusions they’ve made about themselves. One student wants to pursue an engineering degree because he’s “good at math.” Another student (I kid you not) is considering bull-riding, because he’s gotten used to being knocked around in his years of football.

If middle schoolers are exploring the right questions to step into, then high schoolers are exploring the right answers to stand on. This isn’t to say you won’t find a 7^th grader set in their ways, or a 10^th grader who undergoes a lifestyle change. Just as Jesus reminds us to “become like children” in our faith (Matthew 18:3), we can encourage our older students to keep asking questions and ground their inner narrative in the loving reality of the Father.

Hebrews 13:8 proclaims, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Imagine if we applied that eternal longevity to the investment of our students… empowering them in middle school, high school, and beyond.

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

1. What’s an opportunity you could give your middle schoolers to volunteer and explore their unique gifts?
2. What’s a question you could encourage high schoolers to ask themselves as they enter young adulthood?

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