For The Youth 1 Tim. 4: 12 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

We are planning to have a bake sale tonight to raise money for the kids to go to camp and to help with their youth activities.  Well, they also need:

Prayer – Matt 21:13 – the prices you’re going to pay for their baked goods is robbery.  Just kidding.  Seriously, we must pray for the young people in this church [1 Tim 2:1].  You should make a list of them, get to know them and their parents and pray specifically for them.  

Examples to follow – 1 Tim 4:12 – children look up to others.  They want someone to follow.  You often here young professional athletes say that they followed the example of a certain well-known athlete that was in the generation ahead of them.  Be careful to set a good example for the young people coming up.  They need good Christian role models.

Instruction – Prov 1:8; 4:13 – children are teachable when they are young.  They learn from parents, they learn from teachers and they learn from interested adults.  Parents, you should instruct your children in wisdom, but also in many practical things.  Teach them to observe things around them.  We have taught several of our young people about hunting and camping.  We should teach them other practical things they’ll need to know.

Chores – Lam 3:27 – we should get young people involved in work at home and in the work of the ministry at church.  They should have responsibilities at home: cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, mowing, taking out the trash, washing the cars, etc. They should also learn to play an instrument, learn to sing, learn to study the Bible and help in Sunday school.  They should learn to preach.   We mustn’t cater to them; this generation is spoiled and soft.

Encouragement – Deut 3:28 – the Lord told Moses to encourage Joshua.  He was the one who was going to carry on in Moses’ stead.  These young folks are going to carry on in our stead and we must encourage them.  Pastor Adam was just out of his teen years when we met.  Pastor Ben wasn’t even a teenager.  And today look how they carry on.  Young men need to be encouraged about what they can do for the Lord.

Conclusion: now there are other things they need, as well.  However, if we would concentrate on doing these things, we would genuinely help them grow up well.