Celebrate Youth
Guest SpeakerPastor Rob Weese - Sunday, July 18th, 2004
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Introduction:
People are looking for
1. Guidance in the dilemmas of life
2. Significance to life – relationships
3. Unconditional acceptance
Growing Churches are characterized by…
1. Children / youth ministry
2. Evangelism / outreach
3. A place to be known
Trust, love, normalcy – to be heard and valued.
Psalm 119:9,11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word…Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. ” NASB95
2 Timothy 2:22 “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ” NASB95
1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ” NASB95
7 Keys to building a relationship with a teen:
1. Affirmation
2. Acceptance
3. Appreciation
4. Availability
5. Affection – verbally and by appropriate touch
6. Approach – get into their world
7. Accountability – this is very important.
Four Issues in a teen’s life:
1. Biblical illiteracy
Without a solid foundation for life’s decisions it is heard to resist the world’s view point.
2. Belief that there is no absolute truth
How do you prove the Bible is God’s Word?
~ Archeology proves it
~ Eye witness accounts
~ Manuscripts
King Arthur…Camelot = 2 references to it. None are clear. He wasn’t a king. He was a Roman soldier. Yet people believe this and movies portray it.
The Bible has tons of manuscript evidence.
Choices have consequences.
3. A lack of vision – struggling today
“Extreme” this and that.
Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ” NASB95
God gives new beginnings…second chances.