Why is the Bible Relevant to me as a Teenager?

I am so grateful to Speak this morning after such an exciting week at VBS. I am not going to lie my back is just a little sore. I learned this new dance move called the Iguana. I will just say if you know you know. before we get started I do just want to stop for a moment and say this week could not have been pulled off without each of the amazing leaders that served this week. It was simply amazing to sit back and see people serve with so much energy and passion and to see the kids be excited to dive into Jesus for a week was awesome.

One of the traps we fall into as a society is to always blame the Next Generation.

Music is to loud !

Why are they on there phones?

Why are they not serving at our church?

Why are they questioning Jesus so much?

However we do not have a Next Generation Problem I believe we have a Discipleship Problem

The Stats are mind boggling at how Open Gen Z is to Jesus.

60% of Young Adults and Teens Believe that Jesus existed and was crucified

47% of Teens say that the teachings of Jesus ultimately make the world a better place.

80% of Teens believe their Generation has a chance to do something Special to help change the world.

So why is it that we are seeing this mass exodus of Teens when they reach age 17?

I believe it comes down to one single statement that I hear quite often..

“Oh every church struggles to find help in the children's ministry and the youth department.”

64% Of church leaders believe a church cannot grow without an effective Childrens ministry

62% of Churched Parent with kids ages 5-14 said that the children's ministry and youth programs were the reason they decided to stay at the church they currently attend.

These stats contradict what is actually happening in the life of most churches. You see a handful of People taking up the mantle of influencing the next generation.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

The Next Generation needs a church that not only shares the Gospel with them but has people to walk with them during every season of life. They do not need someone to just say hey come to this event they need someone to say hey you guys come and do life with me as I walk with Christ at Reliant we call those Mentors.

Pastor Bill Defines a Mentor as this: Making a personal invest in another for growth and success

The Next Generation wants to come and experience:

Strong Relationships with a trusted mentor

They Want to actively be involved in the mission

This idea of a programmatic NexGen Ministry is a thing of the past. We must begin to think intergenerational or we will continue to see a massive exodus of the the Next Generation.

We must intentionally facilitate mentor relationships all the way from the Parking Lot to the Student Gatherings on Sunday Nights.

Reliant’s Statement of Faith when it comes to the Bible

THE BIBLE: The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspired it, it is the truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30)

BIBLE BELIEVERS: SUBMITTING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE FOR ALL LIFE AND PRACTICE.

As Christians we also believe the Bible is Inerrant(without error) due to 3 main reasons

Reliability of the Manuscripts.

The Smithsonian Department of Anthropology says this about the Bible.

“Much of the Bible, in particular the historical books of the old testament, are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archeological work. For the most part, historical events described took place and the peoples cited really existed. This is not to say that names of all peoples and places mentioned can be identified today, or that every event as reported in the historical books happened exactly as stated.”2. The bibles witness to itself

2. The bibles witness to itself. Matthew 5:17-18, John 10:35, John 17:17 , 2 Timothy 3:16, 2nd Peter 1:20-21

3. The Testimony and Witness of Jesus: John 10:35 John 17:17

Paul - An Early Christian Apostle who was Perhaps the most important and creative figure in the history of the early church.

Timothy - A Native of Lystra and one of Paul’s Closest Missionary Companions. (Born to a Jewish Mother and Greek Father)

1 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Church of Ephesus - This church was a church that was known for its faithfulness but it had began drifting from sound doctrine.

The last days are filled with Sin

2 Timothy 3:1–9 ESV

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

Stand Strong,Grounded in the Word

2 Timothy 3:10–17 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Next Steps

Spend time in prayer frequently for the Next Generation

Find a Mentor (180,Small Groups)

Invest in intergenerational relationships with empathy(Become a Mentor)

Small Group Questions

What is my place in helping establish an Intergenerational Church?

Who has been a Paul in your life?

Do you feel like you are equipped to be a Mentor?

Has there been a time in your life where the Bible has corrected you?

What are some intentional guardrails you have in place to establish time in the word?