Who Stole Your Future? (Pulling Our Weight)

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Introduction- Who Stole My Future?

Who Stole My Future? A Guide to Building Positive, Productive, and Empowered Youth in Our Community by Micah Barnes
The Children are literally the key to our future
Both parents and kids fear not being able to pay for college, and students fail to realize the impact today's actions will have on their future. Some parents are frustrated and worry that their children will not take their education seriously or get enough out of it to really help them find a bright, successful future.
Business owners and community leaders worry that schools and families are not adequately raising children to become competent, capable, productive employees and members of society. They desire educated prospective employees who will represent them well. They need to know that their communities will be safe and free of crime and drugs. Thus, the very future of our society depends on the proper education and mindset of our children.
Chapter 1- Build self-confidence of youth
Chapter 2- Listen to youth
But then in...
Chapter 3- Get up and do something- extra-curricular activities and support
Opening lines of Chapter 3: It’s true: “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.”
Parents and mentors, most of us know what happens when kids get bored. It often turns to mischief. Many end up doing drugs, turning to violence, getting pregnant, or, even though not as serious, putting water and grease on the floor of their dorm hallways and creating a makeshift slip-n-slide (don’t judge me).
So, the benefits of getting kids involved in extracurricular activities are priceless.
Of course, it gives them something to do. Of course, it keeps their minds occupied. But getting kids involved is much deeper than that. It keeps them motivated. It keeps them hungry for a better way of life for themselves and for those around them.
The Caveat is
They try to dodge the personal failures of their youth by force-feeding their hopes to their kids.
You need to know that somebody cares about you both on and off the court.
We love to be supported, but many of us hesitate when the opportunity comes to support other people. And it’s especially important when supporting kids.
So, what are the best ways to show kids our support? Expose kids to everything and let them choose. The more positive experiences we expose our kids to, the better they will become.

Transition To Body

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 ESV
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Chapter 1- Suffering Faithfully For Jesus Christ
Chapter 2- Don’t Worry Jesus Has Not Returned Yet, so Stand Firm In Your Faith
Chapter 3- So Do Not Stand Idle
Honoring the Word of The LORD
Not All Have faith
The LORD is faithful
Confidence in the LORD about you
The You Are Doing Well
That You Will Do The Things We Command
May the LORD Direct Your Hearts-

Direct

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 36.1 ἡγέομαι; προΐσταμαι; κατευθύνω; φέρω; ἄγω

to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action—‘to guide, to direct, to lead

To the Love of God
To The Steadfastness of Christ

Steadfastness

capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances—‘endurance, being able to endure.

Body- How to faithfully pull our weight?

Watch The Company You Keep

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Paul is saying, it is not me speaking of my own authority, but I am speaking in the Name of Our LORD Jesus Christ
Those who walk in idleness & not in accord with the traditions you received from us. Instead....

Imitate Your Diligent Role Models

2 Thessalonians 3:7–9 ESV
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
Who are they? You know!!!! Set an example worthy of imitation

Resist Being An Idleness Enabler

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Others Are Hearing Our Witness

2 Thessalonians 3:11–12 ESV
11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Carefully Correct One Another’s Idleness

2 Thessalonians 3:13–15 ESV
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Transition To Close- God Doesn’t Call Lazy People

The famous, former, head football coach of Notre Dame, Lou Holtz once said:
“When all is said and done, as a rule, more is said than done”
The late great D. L. Moody once said:
It is observable that God has often called men and women to places of dignity and honor when they have busy and honest employment of their vocation. Rahab was working as an “innkeeper.” Deborah a wife taking care of her family. Saul was seeking his father’s donkeys and David his father’s sheep when called to the Kingdom. Esther was a queen in Persia. The shepherds were feeding their flocks when they had their glorious revelation. God called the four apostles from their fishing and Matthew from collecting taxes, Amos from the horsemen of Tekoah, Moses from keeping Jethro’s sheep, Gideon from the threshing floor, Elisha from the plows. Lydia, of Philippi, was a seller of purple clothes. Philippian Jailer. Aquila & Priscilla were making tents. God never called a lazy man or women. God never encourages idleness and will not despise persons in the lowest employment
Matthew 24:36 ESV
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Matthew 24:42 ESV
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Close- A God, the Father, the Son, & Holy Spirit that is always at work

John 5:14–17 ESV
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Luke 2:48–52 ESV
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
John 6:26–35 ESV
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Mark 7:37 ESV
37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
John 16:12–15 ESV
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Proverbs 16:26–29 ESV
26 A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. 27 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. 29 A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.
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