Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. What a joy it is to gather together in this sacred space, to lift our voices in praise and to open our hearts to the wisdom of God's Word. As we come together today, we are reminded of the beauty of our shared faith, of the strength we find in our unity, and of the hope we carry within us, a hope that is rooted in the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, we are going to turn our attention to a particular theme that resonates deeply within the heart of God's message to us. It's a theme that is woven throughout the tapestry of Scripture, a golden thread that ties together the Old and New Testaments, the prophets and the apostles, the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul. It's a theme that speaks to the very core of who we are as followers of Christ and as members of the human family. That theme, dear friends, is the call to be a blessing.

Our guiding Scripture for today's sermon comes from the book of Genesis, chapter 12, verse 2. Here, God speaks to Abram, saying, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." This is a promise, a covenant, a divine mandate. It's a call to Abram, and to all of us, to be instruments of God's grace in the world.

But today, we're going to focus specifically on how this call to be a blessing applies to our young people. Our youth, those bright and shining stars in our midst, are not just the future of the church, they are the church of today. They are not just recipients of God's blessings, they are carriers of those blessings, called to share them with others.

Before we continue, let's take a moment to invite God's presence into our gathering. Let's bow our heads in prayer. "Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for the gift of life, for the privilege of gathering together in your name. As we open your Word, we ask that you would open our hearts. Help us to hear your voice, to understand your truth, and to respond with faith and obedience. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Now, imagine with me, if you will, a river. This river starts as a small stream, high in the mountains, fed by the melting snow. As it flows down the mountainside, it gathers strength, it grows in size. It's fed by other streams, by rainfall, by the very earth itself. And as it flows, it brings life. It waters the fields, it nourishes the animals, it quenches the thirst of the people who live along its banks. This river, my friends, is a blessing.

But what if the river decided to keep all its water for itself? What if it refused to share its life-giving flow with the fields, the animals, the people? It would cease to be a blessing. It would become a stagnant pool, a dead sea.

Our young people are like that river. They are filled with potential, with energy, with life. They are blessed by God with talents, with gifts, with a unique purpose. And just like the river, they are called to share those blessings with others, to be a life-giving flow in the world.

So, let's journey together today, along the banks of this river. Let's learn from the wisdom of Scripture, from the teachings of Jesus, from the examples of the saints who have gone before us. Let's discover together how our young people can live out their call to be a blessing, how they can share their gifts, their talents, their faith with others. And in doing so, let's be inspired to be a blessing ourselves, to share the love and grace of God with everyone we meet.

Be A Blessing - Genesis 12:2

Friends, let's turn our attention to the book of Genesis, chapter 12, verse 2. It says, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

Now, let's focus on the last part of that verse, "you will be a blessing." This is God's promise to Abraham, but it's also His promise to us. We are called to be a blessing. And this is especially important for our youth.

Our young people are not just the future of the church; they are the church right now. They have a role to play in God's plan. And part of that role is to be a blessing to others.

So, how can our youth be a blessing?

Firstly, they can be a blessing by using their gifts and talents for God's glory. Each one of us is uniquely gifted by God. Some of us can sing, some can write, some are good at sports, and some have a knack for technology. These gifts are not just for our own benefit. They are meant to be used to bless others.

When our youth use their gifts to serve others, they are being a blessing. They are following in the footsteps of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve.

Secondly, our youth can be a blessing by showing love and kindness to others. In a world that often seems filled with hate and division, a little bit of love and kindness can go a long way.

When our young people show love to their friends, their family, and even to strangers, they are being a blessing. They are reflecting the love of God, who loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us.

Now, let's look at the word "blessing" in the original Hebrew language. The word used here is "barak," which means to kneel or to bless. It conveys the idea of giving honor or endowing with power for success, prosperity, and longevity.

So, when we talk about being a blessing, we're talking about giving honor to others, about helping them succeed, about wishing them prosperity and a long, healthy life.

The great Christian theologian, C.S. Lewis, once said, "The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it."

This quote reminds us that being a blessing to others requires humility. It requires us to put others before ourselves, to carry their burdens, to help them succeed.

Thirdly, our youth can be a blessing by sharing the good news of Jesus with others. The greatest blessing we can give to anyone is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

When our young people share their faith, when they tell others about the love of Jesus, they are being a blessing. They are fulfilling the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations.

Finally, our youth can be a blessing by living a life of obedience to God. Obedience is not always easy. It requires sacrifice. It requires us to say no to our own desires and to say yes to God's will.

But when our young people choose to obey God, when they choose to follow His commands, they are being a blessing. They are setting an example for others to follow. They are showing the world what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

So, let's encourage our youth to be a blessing. Let's remind them of their unique gifts and talents. Let's show them how to love and serve others. Let's equip them to share their faith. And let's inspire them to live a life of obedience to God.

In doing so, we will not only be helping them to fulfill their God-given potential, but we will also be helping to build a church and a world that is truly blessed.

Be A Blessing

Scripture: Genesis 12:2

"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

In Genesis, God spoke to Abraham. He promised to bless him. But the blessing wasn't just for Abraham. God wanted Abraham to be a blessing to others. This is the same call God has for us today. He wants us to be a blessing. He wants us to shine His light into the world. He wants us to help others see His love and grace.

Firstly, let's look at the idea of being a blessing. What does it mean? It means to bring joy, peace, and comfort to others. It means to help others in their time of need. It means to show kindness and love to those around us. It means to be a positive influence in the world.

Secondly, let's consider how we can be a blessing. It starts with our attitude. We need to have a heart that is willing to serve. We need to be open to the needs of others. We need to be willing to give of our time, our resources, and our love.

Thirdly, we need to understand that being a blessing is not about us. It's about God. It's about showing His love to the world. It's about being His hands and feet. It's about letting His light shine through us.

Now, let's turn our attention to the New Testament. In Acts 20:35, we find a similar theme. "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Here, we see the apostle Paul reminding the Ephesian elders about the words of Jesus. He's reminding them about the importance of giving. He's reminding them about the blessing that comes from helping others.

This brings us to our fourth point. Being a blessing requires action. It's not enough to simply have good intentions. We need to put our faith into action. We need to actively look for ways to bless others. We need to be proactive in our service.

Finally, we need to remember that being a blessing is a journey. It's not something that happens overnight. It's a process. It's a journey of growth and learning. It's a journey of becoming more like Christ.

So, let's commit to being a blessing. Let's commit to shining God's light into the world. Let's commit to helping others see His love and grace. Let's commit to being His hands and feet. Let's commit to being a blessing.

Overcoming Challenges in Being a Blessing

Being a blessing, particularly for our youth, is a journey that is not always smooth sailing. It's like navigating a ship through turbulent waters. There are times when the waves of doubt, discouragement, and difficulty may threaten to capsize their vessel of faith. Yet, it is in these moments that they must remember the words of Philippians 4:13, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

The first point to consider is the role of resilience in being a blessing. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, to keep going in the face of adversity. It's a quality that our youth need to cultivate if they are to be a blessing to others. Research by the American Psychological Association has shown that resilience is not a rare ability; in reality, it's found in the average individual and can be learned and developed by anyone. Resilience involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.

So, how can our youth develop resilience? They can start by making connections. Good relationships with close family members, friends, or others are important. Accepting that change is a part of living is another aspect. Certain goals may no longer be attainable as a result of adverse situations. Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help them focus on circumstances that they can alter.

The second point is the importance of a positive attitude. A positive attitude is like a beacon of light that shines through the darkness of challenges and difficulties. It's the inner voice that says, "I can" when everything else seems to be saying, "I can't." A study by the Mayo Clinic found that positive thinking and optimism are key factors in managing stress, which is crucial for our youth if they are to overcome challenges and be a blessing to others.

A positive attitude begins with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through the head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of the self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that we create because of lack of information. If the thoughts that run through the head are mostly negative, the outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If the thoughts are mostly positive, then the outlook on life is more likely optimistic.

A.W. Tozer, a renowned pastor and author, once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This quote is a powerful reminder for our youth. Their perception of God, their understanding of His love, power, and grace, will greatly influence their ability to be a blessing. If they see God as a loving Father who is always there to support and guide them, they will find the strength and courage to face any challenge that comes their way.

The third point is the role of faith in overcoming challenges. Faith is the bedrock upon which our ability to be a blessing is built. It's the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, as stated in Hebrews 11:1. Faith is not just about believing in God; it's about believing that God is working in and through us to bless others.

Faith is like a muscle; it grows stronger with use. The more our youth exercise their faith, the stronger it becomes. They can exercise their faith by praying, reading and meditating on God's Word, and putting their faith into action by serving others. Research by the Barna Group found that young people who engage in acts of service are more likely to have a strong faith and a positive attitude.

In conclusion, being a blessing is not an easy task, especially for our youth. But with resilience, a positive attitude, and faith, they can overcome any challenge that comes their way. They can be a blessing to others, just as God has blessed them.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, we have journeyed together through the words of Genesis 12:2, where God calls us to be a blessing. We have seen how this call is not just for us, but for our youth as well. They are not just the future of the Church, but they are an integral part of it today. They are the hands and feet of Jesus in their schools, in their communities, and in their homes.

We have a responsibility, a sacred duty, to guide them, to nurture them, and to help them understand what it means to be a blessing. It's not about grand gestures or impressive deeds. It's about the small acts of kindness, the words of encouragement, the prayers offered in quiet moments. It's about showing the love of Jesus in tangible, practical ways.

Our youth are watching us. They are learning from us. Let's show them what it means to be a blessing. Let's model for them the love, the grace, the compassion of Jesus. Let's demonstrate to them that being a blessing is not a burden, but a joy. It's not a duty, but a privilege. It's not an obligation, but an opportunity.

In the coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to be a blessing to those around us. Let's strive to show the love of Jesus in tangible, practical ways. Let's strive to make a difference in the lives of others, not because we have to, but because we want to. Because we love Jesus, and we want to share His love with others.

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