September 24

Loving our teens

1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:1 – 8

o How do we picture the youth of our culture?

§ Look down upon them

§ Assume they are on drugs or alcohol

§ Think they are immature and incapable of logical thought?

§ Ignore them

§ Expect little from them

o Paul told Timothy “Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT

o Youth today do face problems we all have faced

§ Peer pressure

· Drugs and alcohol

· Temptations

· “fitting in” with a group

· Acceptance

§ Parents

§ Preparing for an unknown future

o BUT, youth today face issues my generation never dreamed of

§ High power designer drugs

§ Deadly diseases (STD’s, juvenile diabetes and cancer, bird flu, aids, etc)

§ Internet predators

o Adults today must become encouragers of our youth and children

§ Think highly of them

§ Expect great things

§ Mentor and disciple them

o Love and accept them

Titus 2:1-8 “But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Let your teaching be so correct that it can't be criticized. Then those who want to argue will be ashamed because they won't have anything bad to say about us.” NLT