Sermon Recap: Rejoice Always (1 Thessalonians 5:16a)

Rejoice always? How is that even possible?

With so much sadness and suffering in the world, our communities, and our personal lives, how can we possibly obey this command?

It's obviously a command; it's obviously essential. After all, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you."

So what does this kind of joy look like in the Christian life?

I. What does Paul mean by "the will of God in Christ Jesus"?
There are three things that "the will of God" can refer to in the Bible:

• God's will of purpose, or the things that he makes happen in the world;
• His will of provision, or that which he gives us to enable us to follow his commands;
• and His will of precept, which are the rules that we are to follow.

All three of these come into play here. It is God's sovereign purpose that we rejoice always. He gives us the ability to rejoice always, and he commands us to rejoice always.

This is not optional! This kind of heart attitude is what distinguishes true Christians from nonbelievers. It is essential to our life of faith.

II. What does this joy look like?
Joy requires that we delight in something. Some joys are more important; some are more at the core of who we are. These are the joys that last longer. Outward expressions of joy can vary widely, so that is not a good test of joy.

Christians are called to have a spiritual joy in spiritual things: the desire of God and the finding of joy when that desire is satisfied.

This joy comes from the Holy Spirit. It is the crucial gift of God and it gives us the ability to enjoy all of His other gifts to us.

Christians can have joy because we know that we are loved unconditionally and this love cannot be lost.

III. How can joy be commanded? You can't force it, right? Doesn't it just happen? And what about other feelings?
The way that we can obey this command sincerely and not try to fake joy is by deliberately thinking about things that will result in joy. This is an act of the will and can be done voluntarily.

In times when you aren't feeling particularly joyful, the memory of times of blessing is critical. We can direct our attention to things that will make us feel joy.

As for other feelings that are a legitimate part of the Christian life, such as sorrow over sin, they aren't competing with joy. Think of it as a hierarchy; the joy is deeper and more constant, with layers of other, temporary emotions on top.

Application Points:

• This is the test of a true Christian; false Christians find their joy in things that will not last.
• This is our calling every day, through the day. Are we pursuing it? Are we finding true joy in the Lord?

Leave me a comment and tell me how you seek joy in your life! Is this something you need to work on? How can you pursue this calling every day?

I Surrender All

Do you ever have those times where you feel listless, unable or unwilling to do anything, not motivated, and you can't help but think that your life is a big mess, even if nothing abnormal is going on?

Do you feel like there's no point in praying, because God is too far away?

How can we find hope in times like this? How can we pull ourselves out of this sadness and depression and find the joy and peace that God promises us?

I'm such a good Christian! we cry. I do all of the right things! I pray and read my Bible and go to church and act selflessly and work hard. Why don't I feel joy?

We try to be perfect, believing that if we can just work harder at following God's commands that everything will come right.

But is it always that easy?

Does joy and peace come from following all of the rules?

Or does that just lead to stress and anxiety?

The only way to feel the peace of God is to give our anxiety and sadness to Him. Surrender our lives to Him. Let Him know that we trust Him in everything. Give Him the front seat and let Him lead us wherever He desires.

Succumbing to pointless sadness does nothing for our lives. It doesn't make anything better. It hinders our work for Him and makes us unable to see past the everyday.

Our cry every day, instead of Lord, I don't deserve this! should be Lord, lead me and help me to trust you more!

Whatever a day may bring, we have to learn to trust that God has everything in His hand. He knows what we need most, and He will provide.

Trusting is hard. Trusting sometimes feels like more effort than it's worth. It can seem easier to stay in our sadness, crying and moping and persuading ourselves that there's nothing worth doing.

But is the easier way always the best way?

My prayer is that God would help me to trust, help me to surrender my wishes to His, help me to realize that His ways are better than my ways.

Only when we can trust God fully will we receive true peace.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

A Challenge to Shift Your Mindset

At church on Sunday, someone mentioned something that I thought was a great tip for changing the way we look at things in the Christian life.

It's very simple.

Instead of thinking that you have to do something, think that you get to do something.

So...

Instead of "I have to dress modestly", think "I get to dress modestly to honor God and my future spouse."

Instead of "I have to be thankful", think "I get to be thankful for all of the gifts God has given me."

Instead of "I have to be patient", think "I get to be patient to show God's love to others."

Instead of "I have to read the Bible", think "I get to read the Bible to be encouraged and learn more about my faith."

Do you get the picture?

If we made an effort to think like this, it would have a radical effect on our happiness. You can apply this in every area of your life, not just your faith, and watch your attitude improve.

Will you give it a try with me?

A Crucial Cross

 

A long time ago, very long ago in fact, a man was about to be put to death. His crime? Saying that he was the Son of God. He would be crucified on a cross to satisfy the demands of an angry mob.

Some people believe that three days later, he rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven.

His name? Jesus.

If you are a Christian, you probably know what you celebrate on Easter: the day that God's Son rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, lifting the punishment for sinners so that all who believe could have eternal life in heaven.

But why was this necessary and what does it mean for us?

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
So why couldn't God just let our sin go and take us to heaven anyway?

To put it simply, for God to be a God who can let sinfulness go, he also has to let righteousness go. In other words, no punishment, no reward. God would be indifferent to the whole thing. Is that the kind of God you want? Probably not.

God has to punish sinfulness. But this created a problem for us when sin came into the world: all of us are sinful. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

No one is exempt from this; in order to go to heaven you would have to live a perfect life and follow all of God's commandments perfectly. Unfortunately, none of us are capable of doing that. So Jesus came. He lived his life perfectly, following all of God's commandments, and then died a sinner's death that he did not deserve.

What Does This Mean for Us?
Jesus was our substitute; all of our sins are forgiven and we can now go to live in heaven with God.

This doesn't, however, mean that you don't try to live a life pleasing to God; on the contrary, if you love God you want to please Him. Just because we aren't capable of perfection doesn't mean we shouldn't try to get closer.

Accepting Jesus changes your life. If you are not a Christian, I encourage you to talk to someone you know who is and ask them to help you understand these things better.

If you are a Christian, rejoice in the knowledge that Christ died to save you and that one day you will live in heaven with God! Recommit your life to serving Him and growing to become more like Christ.

Happy Easter! He is risen!

One Big Reason Why the News Shouldn't Scare You

All you have to do these days to freak yourself out for weeks is open a newspaper.

When you pick one up, you read about terrorist attacks, deadly diseases, greedy governments in other countries...where does it end? When will it end? And how are you going to sleep at night?

We find the answers to these questions in Psalm 2.

Psalm 2 begins, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together...He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision...Now therefore, O kings, be wise: be warned, O rulers of the earth..." (boldface added).

The truth is, as we learn from this Psalm, God holds power over everything and everyone on this earth. Those who plot evil things will eventually be destroyed, as God "holds them in derision" (which means scorn or disgust), and those who trust in God for their salvation will receive eternal life.

Earthly kings and powers can't do anything unless God lets them. Possible terrorist attacks, spread of disease, or world wars can only come to pass if God allows them to. Isn't that reassuring?

So next time you read, watch, or hear the news, remember that you have a reason to hope and no reason to fear. God is watching over His people; he will protect you and do what is best for you no matter what.

And in the meantime, since you know God is the one with power over these things, be praying! When you hear something in the news that worries you, take it to God in prayer. Since He has ultimate control, it's the best thing you can do for the world.

What do you think? Are you freaked out by the news? Can you use these truths to be reassured? How do you keep from despair when it seems like everything in the world is going wrong? Tell me in the comments below!

5 Truths About Prayer

Prayer. Arguably one of the most important responsibilities and most exciting benefits of the Christian life. I mean, you get to spend time talking personally to the God of the universe, something that other religions really have no equivalent to.

But so many people see prayer as a chore, something they do before they eat and before bed so that they can be a "good Christian". Today I want to dive into some of the Bible's teachings about prayer, what it is and isn't for, and what you will get out of it if you stop viewing it as a chore and start viewing it as a privilege.

1. Prayer is not an outward show.
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
-Matthew 6:6

Now, this verse isn't saying that it's wrong to pray with a group of people. It only means that you should not see prayer as primarily something to do in front of others to show them what a good Christian you are.

This was something the Pharisees were very guilty of; they would pray on the streets to show the whole world how righteous they were. That is not the point of prayer. The point of prayer is to come into the presence of God and develop your personal relationship with Him.

2. We are to pray continually.
"...be constant in prayer."
-Romans 12:12b

Prayer is not something that you only do before meals and before bed as part of your routine. You should be in the habit of praying anywhere, anytime, about anything. Send little prayers up to God all throughout your day, whenever you think of someone who needs it or find yourself in a difficult situation where you need a little help.

3. We are to pray for others.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
-James 5:16

While it's fine to pray for things in your own life, prayer is very powerful when many people are all praying to God for each other. If you have Christian friends, share prayer requests with them and pray faithfully for them, trusting that they are doing the same for you. There is nothing more encouraging than going through a hard time knowing that there are people praying on your behalf.

4. Prayer is a cure for worry.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:6-7

When we pray, we are essentially turning our lives over to God. We are saying, "Lord, this is where I need help, and I am giving it to you because I know you will do what is best for me." When we know that God is in control of our lives, we will naturally be less anxious, because we are giving our worries to Him and letting Him take care of it.

5. God hears the prayers of His people.
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry...when the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."
-Psalm 34:15-17

The reason prayer is such an amazing, encouraging thing is because God actually hears us. If we believe and trust in Him, He listens to every little prayer you think throughout the day. So never worry that he isn't listening to you; He hears every word you speak to Him and knows exactly what you are going through each day.

What do you think? Do you find these truths encouraging? Are there things here you never thought about before? Are there other verses you can think of that talk about prayer? Tell me in the comments!

Hardships, Happiness, and the Hope of Heaven

Has anyone ever told you how hard it is to be a Christian?

There are school dances that you don't go to even though you really want to because you are afraid they will be inappropriate.
There are super-popular movies that you don't see because they are rated R.
There's the struggle to find dresses that are long enough to wear without pants.
You find that your friends don't understand some of your beliefs no matter how often you explain. You are looked down upon, called old-fashioned.
You lose friends because of your faith.
You may lose family as well.
And then there are all of the inward battles as you struggle to overcome sin and grow in your personal faith.
All of this, in addition to the normal everyday struggles that every teenager goes through.

So is it worth it?

The answer is absolutely!

Because as big as some of those problems may seem right now, they are all earthly things. And as we read in 1 John 2:17, "The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

If you follow the crowd and do things of the world just so you can be happy here, in this life, it will make you happy in the moment. But it will not last.

On the other hand, if you faithfully follow God's will in your life and live in a way that makes him proud, you will receive eternal life in heaven. And that will be a happiness that will last forever.

So all of the ridicule, embarrassment, and inconvenience you go through because you are a Christian is only temporary, and totally worth it.

Because in the end, all of those things will pass away, and the only thing that will remain will be God's kingdom. Wouldn't you rather be on God's side when that happens?

So don't give up! Rest in the truth that everything you go through now will end and you will receive eternal life in Heaven. Being a Christian in today's culture is hard, but totally worth it!
 
What do you think? Have you gone through hardships for Christ in the past? Do you find these truths encouraging?

4 Verses About God's Love

Ah, February. The month of roses, chocolate, and romance. As Valentine's Day is this Saturday, I wanted to do some posts centered around the holiday this week.

First and foremost, we want to focus on the most important kind of love there could ever be: the love of God.

So what does the Bible say about this amazing love God has for His people?


"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8)

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

"...God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5)


God is Love
We read in 1 John 4:8 that love is a fundamental way to describe who God is. God's very essence is love, and hatred is completely opposed to the truth of the Bible.

In order to know God and have a personal relationship with Him, we have to show that kind of love to others. Only then will we have a true understanding of who God is.

Because God has this love for His people, He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, as it says in Romans 5:8. This is THE ultimate expression of God's love for us. He sent Christ to die while we were still sinners, completely undeserving.

God's Love is Forever
One of the most repeated truths in the whole Bible is the truth that God's love is steadfast. Almost every verse that mentions God's love calls it "steadfast love".

Steadfast means "resolutely firm and unwavering". This means that no matter what we do or how we sin, God still loves us. It will never leave you like human love can, and that is amazing news.

God's Love Has Been Given to Us
Romans 5:5 says that God has poured His love into our hearts. When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit changes your heart and gives you God's love.

We are called to share this life-giving love with others! It is, in a sense, a way of giving back for everything God has done for us.


To Do
This week, remind yourself that even if you don't have a date for Valentine's Day, God's love will always be with you. If it helps, memorize one of the above verses.

What do you think? Are you grateful for God's everlasting love? Do you like the verses I chose? Are there other verses you can think of that are related?

All Have Sinned (Romans 3:22-24)

"For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

This verse presents a classic duo: the bad news, followed by the good news.

The Bad News
The bad news is this: being a Christian doesn't mean you are suddenly perfect. No distinction means that everyone is in the same league: just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you are not a sinner.

Everyone falls short of heaven on their own: left to ourselves, there is absolutely no way we could live a good enough life to deserve heaven. That's the bad news.

The Good News
Now for the good part. While being a Christian does not mean that you are suddenly deserving of heaven on your own, being a Christian does mean that God has given an amazing gift to you. We have been justified by His grace through Christ.

We do absolutely nothing to deserve this; Christ paid for our sins so that we can go to heaven because He deserves heaven. 

What does this mean for you? 

• You are not better than other people because you are a Christian. It's hard not to be judgmental of others who are living in an obviously anti-Christian way; try your best! You are just as much a sinner as they are.
• Don't get hung up on trying to do everything perfectly, because it is humanly impossible. While you should strive to follow the Bible as much as possible, you will make mistakes. There's a reason Jesus came; you don't have to constantly beat yourself up over them.

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Do you have a verse you would like to see featured? 

Jesus...Created; Jesus...Was Needed

Happy December, everyone!

To kick off the Advent season, today I will be doing a study of the first eight Bible verses on my Advent Bible reading plan. These eight verses fall into two general categories: Jesus Created and Jesus was Needed.

Jesus Created-John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1-25, Genesis 2:4-9 and 18-23

In these verses we learn several important truths to keep in mind as we continue on our Advent studies:

• Jesus is God (John 1:1-5). Jesus is described as being the creator in this verse. God is the only creator of the universe, therefore this proves the deity of Christ, a truth essential to our understanding of His life, death, and resurrection.
• As God, Jesus created everything in the universe. We get a taste of this truth in the carol Joy to the World: heaven and nature rejoice in the advent of their creator to the Earth. 
• Man was created in God's image. Though, in the fall, the image was distorted, the resemblance still remains.

Jesus was Needed-Genesis 3:1-15, Romans 3:23-25

Everything was perfectly created, and then came the Fall of man and the entrance of sin into the world. 

• With the fall, the image of God in humans became broken and distorted, like a broken mirror. 
• Jesus' birth was the beginning of God's wonderful plan for redemption, without which we would be hopeless on our own. 
• Christ came into the world to save the people that He had created. He cares about and loves us, enough to sacrifice himself to us. 

What do you think? What do these verses mean to you? Do you like these verses? Can you think of other verses that would fit with these categories? 

Always Together (Romans 8:38-39)

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:38-39

I love this verse. It paints a beautiful picture of the love that God has for us because of Christ. Paul is sure of everything he says here; there is no doubt in his mind of the bold proclamation that he is about to make.

And it is a bold proclamation: Paul is sure that absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. Whether we are alive for the next thirty years or we die tomorrow, if Satan or human powers try to come between us, no matter where we are living or what we are doing, we can never lose God's love for us because of what Christ did on the cross.

To Think About

• Paul talks about "rulers" in this verse. Have you ever had an actual experience with a higher humanly power where they tried to challenge your faith, whether with parents or other older relatives, teachers, or an actual government official? Does it make you feel safer to know that these mortal powers can never separate you from God, no matter how much they try?
• If you have not had a situation like that above, how do you think you would react if you did? Do you feel grounded enough in God that you would be able to withstand it?

Next Steps: Go about your life feeling God's presence with you always and take strength and comfort in this verse!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Do you have a favorite verse you would like to see featured here? 

P.S. Sorry about my formatting issues; I can't figure out what's going on with my font and the weird highlighting!

God Is... (Isaiah 40:28)

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."

This verse is such a comforting one for us as Christians. It proclaims the majesty of God to His people. There are several attributes of God that jump out at us from this verse:

• God is everlasting: He is not human, but God, and He will always be there for us. He will not die or fade away.
• God is Creator: God made everything you see around you, no matter what you might learn in science class. He created every amazing leaf and tree and cell in your body. The whole earth is his.
• God is tireless: Once again, God is not like humans. He will not get tired and have to rest, but will work tirelessly on watching over His creation and His people. 
• God is wise: Wiser than wise, to be precise! We can't even imagine his wisdom and understanding compared to ours. It is too great for us.

Take this verse into the rest of your week knowing that God will always be there controlling our lives in the way that will be best for us!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Does it strengthen you as you go about your week? What are some of your favorite verses you would like to see featured? 

Works of Faith (James 2:14-16)

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

In this verse James is discussing an important point: the issue of how we act if we have been saved.

There is a distinction that must be made before we can understand the verse: we are not saved by works. We are saved by faith. What this verse means is that if we have true faith it will show in our lives and the way we act.

Think of it this way: if you particularly like or look up to someone, you want them to think well of you. You act, talk, and generally live in a way that you hope will impress them. If we have true faith, we love God with all our hearts. We want him to be pleased with the way we are living and so we try to live in a way that lives up to the instructions of the Bible. That is what true faith leads us to do.

What do you think? Do you like this verse? Do you have any verses you would like to see featured here?

A Challenge to Pray Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says this:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Too often, we think of prayer as something that you do at certain scheduled times. Some religions have specific memorized prayers that you have to say; Christianity is not like that! One of the blessings of being in a personal relationship with God is that you can talk to him anytime, anywhere.

It's important to recognize the rest of the verse too: rejoicing always and giving thanks in all circumstances. We are not only to pray without ceasing for things we need, but also give thanks to God for what he has given us.

This definitely does not mean you have to constantly pray out loud! Quick, silent prayers are so helpful in getting through the day. Thinking a prayer before a big test, audition, or game can help calm your nerves. A quick, "Thank you, God" when you notice something good about your day can make all the difference in your mood.

Get in the habit of praying silently for other people as well. Maybe there's someone in your class who is struggling in school or at home. Pray for the person who walks by your house every day with their dog. Pray for the bus driver, or the person in the car next to you at a stoplight. It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about them; you can pray for them anyway.

This doesn't mean that it isn't good to have time set aside only for prayer. It is! Time where you are focused only on God is important too. It just means that we should get in the mindset that God is with us wherever we go and helping us with whatever we need.

Next Steps: Get into the habit of praying silent prayers throughout your day, for yourself and others.

What do you think? Do you do this already? Do you like the idea, but need to get started? How has prayer blessed your life?

The Peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7)

Another one of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7. This verse says, in the ESV translation,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I have always been a worrier. I worry about the smallest, most insignificant, and most unlikely things. I always have to remind myself of this verse when I notice myself starting to think worrying thoughts.

The verse is quite clear: We are not to be anxious about anything. We are to place everything, even the big things that matter, into God's hands through prayer.

What strikes me is the way the word thanksgiving is used in this verse. Rather than worrying, we are to give thanks for all things, all the time. I think if we begin to try to practice thanksgiving every day, we will really see a turnaround in the way we think about things, and begin to worry less.

And if we do this, what will happen?
We will receive the peace of God. If you think about, this makes total sense. If you stop worrying and let it rest in God's hands, you will have peace. Worrying is, essentially, the opposite of peace. If we let go of our anxiety and simply rest and trust in God, His peace will come to us.

That's true faith.

Next Steps: Begin to focus on thankful thoughts rather than anxious thoughts. If you find yourself worrying, say a short prayer about whatever it is you're worrying about and then simply let it go.

What do you think? Is this something you struggle with? Do you find this verse helpful? What are some of your favorite verses I could discuss in the future?

Ask in Prayer (Matthew 21:22)

Recently I got a request asking if I could do a Bible study on Matthew 21:22 because they were having trouble understanding it. I looked it up and I could see why it would be difficult!

This verse says,
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

At first glance, this seems strange. We all know that God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

But what does the word faith mean? Faith is complete trust or belief in something or someone. If we have faith in God, it means we trust fully in him to know what we need and do everything in our best interest.

One of my favorite authors, Jan Karon, in her Mitford series, has the main character (an older pastor) refer to the "prayer that never fails", or "thy will be done". I think this is a wonderful way to think about it. When we have true faith, our prayer will always be, "Thy will be done". When we pray this prayer, we will receive what we ask, when we ask for God to give us what we truly need.

I'm not saying that it's bad to pray for specific things. I'm only saying that the prayer of faith is the prayer that will give us everything we need.

What do you think?

• Do you agree with my interpretation of this passage?
• Do you have other opinions or help to offer our friend on what this means?

My Life Motto (1 Timothy 4:12)

I have several all-time favorite Bible verses. These are the verses that I know by heart, verses that inspire my daily life, and the verses that will be recurring themes on this blog. Today I want to look at one such verse: 1 Timothy 4:12.

This verse says, in the ESV Bible,

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

 

Let no one despise you for your youth: In some versions, this is “don’t let anyone look down on you”, which I think illustrates what this means well. People have a tendency, especially with teenagers, to think that we are ‘just teenagers’ and to have low expectations of us. The truth is that teenagers are capable of doing amazing things. When we live in a way that makes others look down on us, we will never realize what we are capable of.

Set an example for the believers: Instead of living in a way that leads to bad opinions from others, we are to live in a way that models the Christian life to our family, friends, and church; just because we are teenagers does not mean that we cannot live the Christian life just as well as adults—in fact, we can!

What follows is a detailed list of areas we are to set an example in:

• The way we speak (cursing, complaining, gossiping, etc. are things we should avoid.)
• The way we act (do everything for the glory of God.)
• Our love for God and those around us (they are all made in God's image.)
• Our faith in God and his plan (He knows what is best for us.)
• Our purity and morality (don't follow the example of the world.)

When we do all of these things, we are setting an example to our church family. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are “only a teenager”; you can still live like a follower of Christ!

Next Steps: Start actively striving to set an example in all of these ways. Pray that God would help you to fulfill this calling from day to day. If you catch yourself thinking anything along the lines of, “I’m too young” or “I should have fun now because I’m a teenager”, stop!

What do you think?

• Do you like this verse as much as I do?
• What are your favorite verses?
• Have you ever fallen into the trap of belittling what you can do because of your youth?