Teen Scene Series

I. Introduction

The very first question God ever asked was asked to force Adam to come to a clear understanding and view of where he was. Instead of living openly and honestly before God he is now crouching behind a bush trying to hide from God. God's voice thunders through the branches and his soul in . . .

Text: Genesis 3:9 (NIV)

But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

This same question should penetrate past our masks, our excuses and our tendency to hide from God and ourselves. This question continues to be asked to force us to evaluate our own condition and position in Christ. Are we growing? Are we maturing? Are we becoming more like Christ or have we made it our mission to make Christ more like us so that we can remain caught up in attitudes, behavior, actions and thought patterns with which we have become comfortable?

We are trying to help you answer that question this year. We have identified that there are basically 4 stages in our journey of spiritual maturity. Infant, Teen, Adult, Parent. Each stage is a necessary part of the journey. Each stage has some characteristics about them that we need to use to evaluate where we are in this journey. There is also an essential skill that is needed in each stage that enables us to move to the next stage. Until we develop, hone and operate in that skill we cannot move forward.

So, let's continue this journey together!

Everyone starts a walk with Jesus at the same place. It starts at birth. Being an infant is acceptable and necessary. We can't skip this step. But once we have been born again, we have a mandate to mature to the next level. Paul is adamant about the need to mature from infancy to the next step. In fact, it was so important to Paul that he not only addresses it with the Christians in Ephesus but also in general in Hebrews. Listen to what he says.

Ephesians 4:13 (NCV)

We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection.

We must! That doesn't give us any options. No wiggle room. No allowances. No get out of maturing free cards are available. He goes on and says in

Hebrews 5:12-14 (TLB)

You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God’s Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid food. And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life, and doesn’t know much about the difference between right and wrong. He is still a baby Christian! You will never be able to eat solid spiritual food and understand the deeper things of God’s Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by practicing doing right.

Hebrews 6:1a (TLB)?Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be. 

So, Paul is requiring us to move forward in the journey. In a moment, I am going to show you a scriptural example of someone who made this journey successfully and demonstrates for us the skill we must embrace to navigate this stage. But first let's stop a second and address the truth we all know and that is that the teenage years in the natural can be scary and painful. The same can be true in the spiritual.

Here are some of the characteristics of a teen.

1. Believes they are invincible. This belief causes them to do stupid stuff and pay the price.

2. Don't like accountability.

3. Wishy washy at times. Experiments but doesn’t commit.

4. Pushes boundaries & buttons.

5. Typically wants junk food.

6. Chases what feels good.

7. Benefits from the work of others.

8. Don't like to take directions or correction.

9. Picky. (Nice word for opinionated.)

10. Obsessed with trying to fit in.

These are typical natural traits. However, these same traits can be seen in the arena of our spiritual walk can't they. Those who fall into the teen scene think they can do anything and it won't impact their spiritual walk. They don't want accountability. They are hot, then cold, then hot again. They push boundaries, thrive on junk food. Driven by how things feel. Feelings are often in control even when their feelings don't line up with reality. They live on someone else's prayer life, devotional life. They won't take direction or correction because they think they know more. Tend to be opinionated. They are trying to figure out where they fit in the body. So, they chase giftings, positions, approval and applause.