I LOVE TEENAGERS

  • February 14th, 2011 | Johnny Bragg | No Comments |

    Like many pastors, my roots are in youth ministry.  One of my first official jobs in church was leading a junior-high boys ministry. That followed years of pizza, Bible studies, road trips, fundraisers, and the general silliness that comes with working with young people. This year I have jumped back into working with teens at The Oaks, and am LOVING it! I’ve been thinking about why I love teens…why I always come away from a youth meeting lifted…and want to encourage YOU in your walk. Let me share with you three qualities is see in today’s teen:

    1. Teens are hungry for God. Although the way they SHOW their hunger is different from adults (refreshingly different!), they are hungry nonetheless. Young people genuinely want to know God, to know who He is, and how He interacts with us as His kids. I told a story last night from my testimony. The group got remarkably quiet, and stared at me. First time I have seen them really soak up some truths about God. Oh, to be hungry for God like that once again!

    2. Teens know a phony when they see it. In an instant they can dissect whether an individual is genuine or not. Somewhere along the way, adults lose this ability and become easily fooled. We can be “spiritual” by wearing the right clothes on Sunday and speaking with “brothers” and “thees, thous, and withersoevers.” I’ve been there. I’ve played the Sunday game. Working with our youth again has challenged me to NEVER stand in front of them and go through the motions. It feels good to be challenged to be authentic. Authenticity….now there’s a word for 2011!

    3. Teens love to laugh. They enjoy fellowship and the joy (JOY!) of being part of a church family. True, their social-ness can get out of hand. But boy, oh boy, am I encouraged to hear laughter in a church building. Paul said that the Kingdom of God is about “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17). Too often we focus on the right-living (praise God!) and peace…while forgetting that living as a Christian is a life of joy.

    I encourage you to work today to become more childlike (Matthew 18:3) in your walk. Be willing to listen to your Father, to enjoy your life as His kid, and to be genuine in your hunger for the Lord!


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