What do we do with today's youth? (2)

What do we do with today's youth? by Samuel Bierig

INTRODUCTION

Being a disciple is not easy. Don't make it easy for our youth.

We are contrary to the world. We are light in darkness.

Luke 9:57-62 “57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””

We are called to be different. We will look like the Amish of today’s culture.

5 Reminders When Discipling Youth

Courageous Confession

They are broken, wounded, lonely, cold. (This is what the world gives us.)

The Gospel is powerful enough

1 Corinthians 1:23-25 “23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

God still saves people.

Psalm 16:11 “11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Speak Truth in Love

When counseling one-on-one, we must call their sin for what it is. Do not ignore it and do not say it is OK.

Sin costs significantly.

Be Patient

Exodus 34:6-7 “6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.””

Don’t Act Surprised

Be self-aware of our own sin.

Remember: no one wants to be known by their worst sin.

John 4 - Woman at the Well

Jesus took her sin head on.

He didn’t pile on the guilt but he called her to turn from sin.

Be safe place for them to talk.

Psalm 51

Colossians 3

Galatians 5

Persistent Prayer

Psalm 77

We must be in prayer. Not just casual prayer but earnest prayer.

Our posture= surrender to lordship of Christ. Prayer is not passive.

All of the youth struggle with something that is becoming an idol in their life.

Sports, video games, sex, etc.

Proof of our earnest prayer is journals filled with prayer and time taken in prayer.

They will not pray for themselves, we need to.

Disciplined Discipleship

Consistency. Keep teaching over and over basic discipleship.

Titus 2

Bible, prayer, giving, life-skills, morality.

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

Help them memorize passages like Galatians 5 and Colossians 3

Always Awkward

Be willing to be awkward.

You do not have to keep up with what is cool.

Be bold and do not fear what they think about you.

More important to be bold about being different.

2 Corinthians 3:1-12

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 “1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

Talk About The Timeless One

They are exhausted with internet and entertainment.

They keep going back to the same sin that is causing them to hurt.

We are all better at worshiping self than God.

They are investing in the trivial and there will be a time in their life they will regret it.

Focus on worshiping God.

ILL- What if I went to the gulf of Mexico and brought back a thimble full of water. Did I bring you the Gulf of Mexico?

We only have a thimble of God.

We must continue to offer them God, one thimble at a time.

Genesis 1:1 -- If true it changes everything.

God is life in himself.

He never tires or stops.

Never uses up any of his life.

He does not have a battery that is ever drained or in need of a charge.

God is above emotions.

He is not controlled by his emotions.

His anger is righteous/ ours is wrong.

God doesn’t react, he only responds.

He is the Apex Predator

Perfect being has given us a perfect Bible.

POINT YOUTH TO THE TIMELESS ONE.