a new year's word to youth ministers: you're meant for pouring not storing

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. - Mark 2:22

Early in Jesus' ministry, the Jewish leaders challenged Him on the fact that His disciples did not fast in the same ways they did, even though this was not a strict requirement of the Law. Jesus gave three examples of how things between God and man were about to change, with the last one being the familiar parable of putting new wine in old wine skins.

Through His very life, Jesus was about to prepare mankind for a Gospel that would be living, active, and dynamic, just like the fermenting of a new wine. The old vessel of law-keeping would not be capable of holding the absolute power of the New Covenent.

But note this one extra little point that has great application to our work with students 2015.

The wine skins weren't made to only store wine. They were also intended to pour out wine.

The message of the power of Jesus' triumph over death and the final defeat of the need for the old law is a powerful and life changing force. When our lives are transformed by this, we can barely contain it. It must be poured out and not stored up.

As you get ready for your ministry to students in 2015 are you more concerned with storing up the message of the Gospel by focusing on the internal aspects of your youth group? Or are you planning on ways of pouring the Gospel out through mission and ministry?

Keep the powerful Gospel living, breathing, and moving by pouring it and not storing it this next year.