Teen: "What Young People Bring to Jesus" by Vince Daugherty

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 9:30 MPR 4 Speaker

Speaker: Vince Daugherty

“What Young People Bring to Jesus”

Negative things teens bring to the table:

• Pick and choose what to pay attention to in the Bible.
• Teens like to have it their way.
• Rebellion.
• Teens like to be counter-cultural at times.
• Drama.
• Think they have it all figured out.
• Shame.
• Guilt.
• Questions/doubts.
• Hurts.

Need to remember that as you are growing up, you won’t be perfect and you will make mistakes, and that is okay!  Even people that we read about in the Bible made mistakes; they failed; they came up short.  Actually making mistakes, having guilt and shame can be good teachers in life.  Psalm 25:1-7.  Your brains aren’t even fully physically developed until age 25, so it’s inevitable - you will mess up, but you will get through it.  It’s not about falling down, but it’s about getting back up.  Read this when you mess up – Psalm 51.  David wrote this psalm after he messed up royally.  Admit when you make mistakes.  Learn from your mistakes.  

You don’t have to have it all figured out.  It’s better to ask questions to learn which can help strengthen your faith.  Remember doubting Thomas in John 20.  Jesus gave Thomas evidence.  Don’t put off asking questions.  If you let questions and doubts fester, then that little bit of questioning and doubt can cause your faith to suffer.

Teens have a lot going on.  Matthew 11:28-30.  Think about prayer and what it does.  I Peter 5:6-7.  Jesus cares for you.  

Positive things that teens bring to Christ:

• Youth.
• Energy.
• Confidence.
• Opportunities/possibilities.
• Desire for belonging.
• Responsible.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 and 12:1.  You are young and you need to rejoice in this.  Teens have many stresses in life, but it seems like as you get older, the stress can go up (even with good things).  So, rejoice in being young.

As a youth, you have opportunities and many possibilities.  Acts 2:17.  Young people typically have dreams, visions for their lives.  There are endless possibilities as to what you can do.

Even the most rebellious teens want to belong.  Ephesians 2:11-13.  At one time, you were without hope, apart from Christ, but with Christ - you have a built-in family.  Remember the times that you felt all alone, but in Christ, you are never alone.  Ephesians 2:19-22.  

What should we be working toward as youth?  1 Timothy 4:12.  Work toward consistency.  Sometimes older people look at the teens and just think they don’t have it all figured out - they are inconsistent.  Teens should show up anyway - be consistent, even if they mess up at times.  Don’t give anyone an excuse to look down on you.  Be an example.  

Philippians 4:8.  Seek out the good in the world and you will find good.  Think about the things that are lovely and praiseworthy.

2 Peter 1:5-7.  Add to your faith.  You aren’t just baptized and then that’s it.  Keep adding to your faith.  Continue to grow in your faith. 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlEMlF541I

Duration 41:28