Untitled Sermon (2)

Age Sermon

1 Timothy 4:12 & Jeremiah 1:7

Hey guys, for those of you who do not know me, my name is Becca and I am the youth intern here at FCC. So to get to know me I thought I would play a game of 2 truths and a lie. So 1. I grew up here and attended MGA 2. I graduated from Westwood 3. I have a dog. (wait for answers)

So number 3 is the lie, I do not have a dog. I did graduate from Westwood and I did grow up here and attend MGA church. That is where I started my Christian journey as I attended their Sunday service, helped in the nursery and just like you guys I went to their youth. I went to that youth group for many years, I think I started at 12. Growing up going to that church I got to know a lot of the other teens who went there and I grew fairly fond of our youth pastor at the time. He always seemed to see things in me that I never saw in myself.

When I was roughly 16 the youth pastor asked me to lead a program at my school. He explained that I would be in charge of getting friends to join my group, finding a teacher to help and supervise as well as plan each meeting and run it kind of like a Bible study. That last part scared me, I wasn’t a pastor or a teacher. How was I to lead a group of my peers. I felt like this was a pretty big job for someone who's still in high school. I was only 16 there was no way I could run a group on my own. Running this meant that I would have to have confidence in myself and my faith.

Even if I did stir up enough courage to start the group, no one would come. Who would want to listen to little 16 year old me? I went to my youth pastor to voice my concern and essentially quit before it even started. My fear turned to anger, how could he ask me to do this? I was too young and unqualified to run a Bible study at a public school. I remember meeting my pastor in his office. I told him I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. He kind of chuckled and pulled out his Bible.

The verse he read was 1 Timothy 4:12

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”. He told me how Just because I am young it does not mean that I don’t have something to say or to contribute.

In 1 Timothy we see that God wanted to put Timothy into a position of authority. God called timothy to be a leader and teacher in a Church. Timothy didn’t believe in himself though, he claimed he was way too young to be called by God.

Yet, Paul gives him this encouragement. It’s kind of like Paul pulls Timothy close and gives him one of those inspirational speeches you know? Like the ones you see in sports movies where the coach has a mini pep-talk with the star player.

“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” see Paul is telling him, “Hey, you are young but God has put you here. Don’t be ashamed of being young and use the authority that God has given you.

My youth pastor had been working with me since I was 13. That’s a long time, he was slowly training me up to be a leader of my friends. For years he mentored me and allowed me to ask those hard-hitting questions we all have as new believers. He was always there to encourage me and help me when times were tough. Just like how Paul believed in Timothy, my youth pastor believed in me.

1 Timothy isn’t the first time we see age talked about in the Bible though. Jeremiah was 16 when God called him. In Jerimiah 5 God tells Jerimiah that he formed him and knew him before he was born. God appointed Jerimiah to be a prophet to the nations. Jerimiah responded saying he was too young there’s no way he could be called at such a young age. Jeremiah 1:7 God responds saying “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

God doesn’t define you by your age. He doesn’t look at you and go “Oof shes 14, yikes” No, He calls you by your name and says “go make a difference, I’m with you. You don’t have to be afraid”

When I was called not just to lead the alpha group but also to ministry I feared that I couldn’t be called into ministry because of my family background. I don't come from a Christian home, I never attended kids ministry how could someone like me be called into something I’m so new at. Timothy was raised in a home that believed in God, his family knew and spoke of the gospel. Timothy was basically raised for his calling. That isn’t why God called him though. At a young age Timothy took a mature step in proclaiming his own faith in God. Timothy was all in, not because his family or culture said so, but because he believed.

Paul knew Timothy could achieve what he was called to do. With the help from his mentor and the Holy Spirit, Timothy went on to lead and preach in the churches of Ephesus.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 tells us that God doesn't call the qualified He qualifies the Called.

Paul encouraged Timothy to help lead a congregation and not be intimidated by the fact that he was young because he knew God called Timothy to do this so he would equip him with everything he needed.

But like all of us, Timothy wasn’t perfect. He had times of doubt, insecurity just like I did when I was called. Despite this, God continued to guide, teach, and bless Timothy. God never leaves us. . He wouldn’t call timothy to lead a church and then disappear leaving timothy to figure it out on his own and he's the same way with us.

If God calls you to lead a group of friends, or maybe to one day go into ministry he won’t leave you. He will always be there seeing your calling through. As you guys spoke about this past year all of us have been given unique callings and gifts. Don’t let fear scream lies at you. Instead, and this is what I love, let God whisper truths to you.

Do you know why God whispers truth to us? It's to draw us in closer, it’s to bring us closer to him. And here’s the thing, God isn’t going to wait until you are 27 to put a passion in heart, no He created you with passions why? Because God isn’t limited by age, and neither are you.

So go all-in with Jesus, as Timothy did, and you will see God bring change into situations and scenarios that you had no idea they could be fixed. Don’t wait until you “grow up”. And listen, you don’t have to wait for God to shout in a thunderous voice “HEY, GO PRAY FOR THAT GUY”, NO! Go pray for him now, go buy someone lunch. Here’s the deal, when I see you I see people who can change the world, who can make a difference because of the Love of God. So, what’s holding you back?

In the words of the Nike, “Just do it”

Whether you are from a non-Christian family like me, or you were raised in a church going family your whole life, if you are seeking to do God's will He will answer you. If you allow Him to work through you, there’s no telling what the Holy Spirit may do, regardless of your age.

God doesn’t see you as “only a youth” He sees a leader that he has called to go and do what he has commanded them to do.

So whether you're called to lead a group at church, volunteer with kids min or even leave your current school. Go out knowing that God called you, he’ll equip you and He’ll never leave you. He never gave up on Jerimiah, nor Timothy and he won’t start with you.

So go out, make a difference, change the world. God has created you for a purpose, for a reason, and He is so ready for you to stretch out your hand and run with Him through all the crazy adventures in life. Don’t let age define you, that’s God’s job and He already says you’re loved, you’re valued, you’re significant, you’re His.

Let’s pray.