Introduction
1. Well, we are winding down our study of our Biblical ABCs...
We come to the letter Y...
With Pastor Jeremy and Stephanie joining us next week...
I thought we should look at...
Y is for Youth or young...
youth is found 61 times in both the Old and New Testaments...
And Young is found 334 times in both the Old a New Testaments...
2. It’s been said that our youth are the church of tomorrow...
but, I’m sure you’ve probably heard me say that our youth are the church of today!!!
While we were at assembly, they showed us a video that goes right along with what I would like to talk about tonight...
Show Video
Read Text: 1 Timothy 4:12
1. Let no one look down on you are young 1 Timothy 4:12
A. Paul is writing a letter to Timothy and encouraging him as a young pastor...
Now, Paul is talking to him as a young man...
but I would like for us to look at this from the other end...
Let US not look down upon those that are young...
Let us make sure that we treat every child...
and every teenager...
as an important part of God’s kingdom...
Because they are...
in the words of Christ...
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14
B. Time and time again, we see the importance that Jesus places upon children...
In fact, Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3...
I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
C. So, it behooves us to not only MINISTER to our children...
but also to be more childlike in our faith...
less jaded...
less cynical...
more trusting...
stronger in our faith...
In Titus chapter 2, Paul gives some instructions for both older men and older women...
And these instructions specifically speak to our duty to minister and teach and disciple our youth...
Read Titus 2:1-8
2. Lessons for Older Men Titus 2:2
A. we need to be temperate/self-controlled
we need to be slow to become angry and frustrated...
when kids run through the sanctuary or the foyer...
there’s a right way and a wrong way instruct them...
if we are self-controlled and calm, cool, and collected...
then we can instruct in such a way that builds up...
and doesn’t tear down...
but, if we fly off the handle...
if we show our deep frustration and irritation...
they pick up on that...
and we instruct in a way that is condemning and belittling...
B. Paul tells us that we need to be “worthy of respect”
we might be quick to tell children and youth...
“Respect your elders”...
well, are we worthy of respect?
Respect has to be earned...
I used to think that people should respect me just because I’m a pastor...
but I’ve found that that doesn’t happen!!...
I have had to EARN respect by faithful and loving service...
I can’t MAKE people respect me...
but I have found that for most people...
I can earn their respect as I faithfully carry out the task that God has given me...
and the same is true with how we interact with our youth...
we would like to think that they would just automatically respect us because we are older...
But that doesn’t often happen...
But we can EARN their respect by letting them know how much we love them and care for them...
by letting them know how important they are to us.
C. Paul says we need to be “sound in faith”
It should go without saying that we need to be strong in our relationship with Christ...
But let’s say it anyway...
Our children and teens see us...
they see how we live out our Christianity...
they see how we interact with others...
and we need to make sure that we are good examples!!
we need to be sound in our faith in the Lord.
Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. 1 Cor. 11:1
are we living in such a way that we could say the same thing to our children and youth?
D. Paul says we need to be “Sound in Love”
Paul also says that we can speak all the right words...
but, if we don’t have love...then our words are just so much noise.
Children KNOW when people love them...
and the opposite is true too...
they KNOW when people DON’T like them...
We need to make sure that our children/youth here at Belleview Church of the Nazarene KNOW of our love for them.
E. Paul says we need to be “Sound in endurance”...
we need to hang in there when the going gets tough...
our faith is not just the fair weather variety...
But we need to make sure our faith is strong through the storms of life...
and when we teach that to our children...
then, they understand that they too can be strong and endure.
3. In Titus 2:3, Paul gives Lessons for Older Women Titus 2:3
A. Be reverent
Reverent speaks to our attitude toward God...
Are we showing the proper respect for God in our own attitudes?...
B. don’t slander
We need to watch what we say and how we say it...
we need to be careful that we use words that build up...
we need to be careful not to gossip...
as my mom used to say...
if you can’t say something nice...
don’t say anything at all.
C. don’t be addicted to wine
D. teach what is good
We can’t expect our children to just learn on their own...
we need to teach them...
we need to disciple them...
we need to help them learn more about the Bible...
and about God...
E. Train Younger women
1. love their husbands
2. self-controlled and pure
3. busy at home
4. be kind
5. Be subject to their husbands
4. And then Paul has some instructions For all of us
A. Encourage them to be self-controlled
Not only are we self-controlled and show them that by our example...
but we ENCOURAGE them...
B. In EVERYTHING, set the example
C. do what is good
D. Teach them
E. Show integrity
F. seriousness
G. Soundness of speech
Conclusion
1. In closing...
let me just say that our children and youth are important...
it is crucial that we reach them with the Gospel while they are young...
because, if we wait until they are older...
we may lose them forever!!
2. I want to encourage you...
Pray for Pastor Jeremy and Stephanie as they lead our teens...
Pray for Karen as she leads our children...
pray for our children...
encourage them...
love them...
win them to Christ...
and with them to yourselves with the warmth of your love for them.
It is my great desire that our church would truly be a multi- generational church...
a church made up of people of all ages...
all worshiping the the Lord together in unity and love.
3. Our mission statement is:
Loving God...Reaching Families...Making Friends...
and we need to make sure that our children are included in that!!
