Youth

Here's a message I preached at Maranatha Middle/High School's chapel this past Wednesday, based on 1 Timothy 4:12. I had a great time with them! Props to Rob for recording.

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

Some of my main points:
Don't let the world set the standard for young people, live according to God's standard. What the world says and what the Bible says often contradicts. We need to cling to the Bible.
Find what you're passionate about or what gift God has given you, figure out how you can use it for His glory, and do it. Train in those things.
Set the example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
Look to God's standard alone, not anyone you know.
We need to turn to the Gospel, away from ourselves and to Jesus who did it all.
Do these things, not reluctantly, but out of the overflow of your heart, seeing how amazing God is. It is the proper response to the Gospel.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

North of 30

Last year I wrote out 30 thoughts as I entered into year 30. Here are some that stood out.. 1. I am a mess, but I am deeply loved by God.  2. I love my people. 3. Who > What + Where 4. Who = Why 5. I am where I need to be.  .. 9. It is okay to spoil myself.  10. I am my own person.  11. I know I love much, but not always well. .. 16. Life does get overwhelming sometimes.  17. Time scares me. 18. I love the twins.  .. 20. Life is so precious.  21. I once dreaded this day because I felt like I could have done so much more with the time I had.  .. 24. I am worthy. 25. It is okay to let go. 26. It is okay that I've lost parts of who I was before.  27. Keep learning who I am and who I am becoming.  .. 29. I'll be alright.  30. I am at peace with where I am. 
Read more

Reflections In The Fire

Hope is my center. Hope in God, who cares for both the body and soul. Hope for a better world. Hope for liberation. Hope for restoration. These past couple months I've spent a great deal of time reimagining what these look like as well as my place in all of this. And I'm always brought back to the idea of hope. Not in the sense of wishing for something, gambling with fate. But knowing that because of where my hope is, what I hope for will one day come, whether I get to see it fully bloom or not - hope deferred is still hope. So though my faith may often be like the waves, I know that hope is that steady rock. My reality is grounded by my hope in the Heavens. And while I have lost it many times, it pulls me back to remind me that restoration will come. Liberation will come. The better world we long for will come.  Our country has been on fire, as we are in the midst of a double pandemic and a revolution. I have been slow to speak because I have always been one to let things mari...
Read more

To the Class of 2019..

When we know what we got What right do we have to deem who is worthy of love? Family - not always decreed by heritage But declared by commitment. A crossing of borders To make refuge in this soil God song stitching our souls together This connection as exodus From lands that sought to oppress our joy; Sing freedom Sing, celebration of being, a holy cypher Sing, show me your scars and I won't walk away Sing, how we find Heaven in our shared hereness Sing, this table is for us And if us is all we got The fist beating in our chest Is revolution in itself.. When we wear heart that is not our own We realize ourselves whole. You hold a special place in my heart.  Long story short.. I probably wouldn't have decided to be a teacher without you. The more I think about it, I realize that I gravitated towards all this because you helped me remember that I was worth something, just like so many people who I've met in this over the years. I cher...
Read more