youth – La Vista Church of Christ

Why Are We Losing Our Young People?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:51:59 +0000

by James P. Needham
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 1, 31 March 1991

I’m sure you are aware of the tragic loss to the church of many of our young people. It has reached alarming proportions. Have you ever wondered why? It is high time we investigate the reasons and work to eliminate them. Otherwise, the future of the church looks quite dim. I’m sure I don’t know all the reasons, but let me suggest a few:

Working Mothers

Today, the majority of mothers work outside the home. In the most critical years of their lives, many children are jerked out of bed at 6 AM, and carted off to the baby sitter by 7:30 and are unseen by anyone in the family until late afternoon, then mother has to do the housekeeping she didn’t have time to do before going to work this morning, make dinner, wash the dishes, give baths, do the laundry, and get herself ready for bed and for work the next morning. (During this time, the kids are either out getting "street smart" or watching violence and immorality on television, and, father, well, there’s no telling where he is or what he is doing!). Poor mother! By the time she finishes her evening chores, she is a nervous wreck.

Children raised in this kind of situation have little chance of forming a genuine bond with their own parents and a sense of home and family. They spend more time with strangers than with their own families. There is a "copout" expression going around that says, "It’s not the amount of time one spends with his family, but the quality of the time he spends with them that’s important." Horse feathers! Utter nonsense! This "baloney" has been hatched by the "pop" psychologists to salve the consciences of today’s fragmented and scattered families. All the time parents spend with their children is quality time, whether they realize it or not. Quality time is the only kind of time we have ever spent with our children. Whether we were on a trip, having a picnic, or all of us were home with each doing their own thing, there was still a sense of family and domestic security. Each was as close as a beckoning call. That’s a far cry from being separated by miles and miles with the children being attended to, or maybe even abused, by strangers.

Did you notice that I didn’t mention homework for school or church? I left them out deliberately, because there is little time in today’s parents’ schedules for that, and so we are graduating young people from high school who can’t read well enough to fill out a job application or look up a number in the phone book! (Did you know that the first thing many corporations do with such employees is hold classes for them to learn the basic skills they should have learned in school?)

Many of today’s young parents are struggling with a severe case of mixed values. I know very well that it is sometimes necessary for a mother to work, even when the children are small, but these are not the ones of whom I write here. I’m writing about young mothers who work because they don’t want to stay home and "raise kids." I am writing about those who work so they can have the extras; so they can keep up with the "Joneses"; so they can have a fancier car or a bigger house, wear better clothes, etc. I say that parents who send their small children to a day care center for these reasons are jeopardizing their own souls, as well as those of their children. I affirm without fear of successful contradiction that parenting is the most crucial function any person can perform in this world. Until we all realize this, our homes will never be what God would have them to be.

Neglect of Religious Training

And what about religious training? Where is the time for or interest in that? Well, it is minimal with many, if it exists at all. Elders struggle, and preachers offer their time and efforts to conduct development classes on any needed subjects, but these often fall flat due to a lack of interest. We often can’t get members to attend the regularly scheduled assemblies, much less extra ones. Let me put it in perspective with the following excerpt from a little article I read recently:

24 Years in the First Grade

"Statistics show that if public schools met only as often as Sunday Bible class at church, it would take 24 years to get through the first grade! Many people attend about half that time, thus a span of 48 years in the first grade would be spent." [Gary Fiscus].

If we are graduating people from high school who can’t read, what are we "graduating" from our Bible classes?

We often see young adults who have gone through our Bible class system, which consists of two class meetings per week, from kindergarten through 12th grade, whose knowledge of the Bible is minimal, and I mean minimal. (If we are graduating people from college who can’t read, remember, if they can’t read the telephone directory, the newspaper, or the job application, they can’t read the Bible either!) There are several reasons for this biblical illiteracy. Often, parents don’t prepare their lessons, so obviously, the children don’t do theirs. Parents would look foolish insisting that their children prepare their Bible lessons when they never look at their own! Parents often neglect to attend Bible classes, so if parents don’t attend, children tend to follow suit. Some who attend arrive when the class is half finished. Therefore, children develop the idea that Bible study is not particularly important. Also, in many churches, there is a woeful lack of qualified teachers. Teachers often are conscripted to do a job for which they are ill-prepared, but are willing, God bless them, to do the best they can. In this case, the church must bear some of the responsibility for not providing training for teachers. However, it matters not how often or how readily such instruction is offered; it does little good if teachers and prospective teachers don’t attend and apply themselves.

Constant Criticism of the Church and Its People

Often, people who show the least interest in the local church are the most intolerant and critical of its work and people. Children often go home from church to a diet of "fried" preacher, "grilled" elders, "dissected" deacons, and "barbecued" brethren. We may kid ourselves that the children are not listening. Don’t be foolish! Kids are like sponges, and they absorb a little here and a little there, and these "tid bits" accumulate and crystalize and clone in our children our attitudes toward the things we talk about in the home: the Bible, the church, the elders, the preachers, the government, the school, etc. Is it not passing strange that we parents often wonder where our children got their attitudes? Why don’t they respect the authority figures at school and church? Why aren’t they interested in listening to the preacher? Why do they speak disrespectfully of the elders? Why do they disrespectfully call the preacher and other adults by their first name, and sometimes, by their last name? Why do they dislike preachers and consider them necessary evils?

A little girl I once knew in a local church (maybe 6 or 7 years old) constantly misbehaved in Bible class. When the teacher tried to straighten her out, the little girl said, "You leave me alone, my mamma hates you." You see, parents’ attitudes toward the church and its people can influence how children behave in Bible classes, worship, and other settings.

A preacher was holding a meeting. A little boy ran up to him and said, "Preacher, you’re going to eat at my house tomorrow." The preacher, trying to have a little fun, replied, "Wonderful! And what are we having?" To which the little boy replied, "buzzard!" "Buzzard?" the preacher asked. "How do you know?" The little boy replied, "Well, I heard mother say to daddy last night, 'We’d might as well have that old buzzard tomorrow and get it over with.’"

I once knew a little girl who now has a grown family, who overheard a conversation at home about some of the church members. One day, out of a clear-blue sky, she walked up to the preacher’s wife and said, "My daddy doesn’t think you’re a bit pretty!"

A preacher friend of mine was having dinner at the home of another preacher. A third preacher’s name came into the conversation at the dinner table. The host preacher’s little boy (6 or 7 years old) suddenly asked his father, "Daddy, is that the preacher that tells all those big old lies?" His father replied, "Yes, son, eat your dinner."

We are all fooling ourselves if we think our children are not picking up on and absorbing our attitudes, as manifested in what we discuss in their presence. I certainly don’t think parents are always responsible for their children’s attitudes, but it is a settled fact that parents make certain and definite contributions thereto. If that contribution is strong enough and persistent enough that it leads our children to forsake the Lord, despise His church and people, and, eventually, are lost, then we need to remember God’s words to Judah through Jeremiah, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 17:10). We’re not only responsible for our "doings," but also for what our "doings" produce in others.

So, the bottom line is that if we want to find the trap door through which we are losing our young people to the world, we need to look first at their home life and secondly at the local church's program. It is a proclivity of human nature to overlook the obvious. This is what we often do in this matter. It is much easier to look for the reason for our problems in somebody else’s closet rather than our own.

Young parents often kid themselves that their children’s lack of interest in church work springs from the shortcomings of the elders, the preacher, the Bible class teachers, the members, their parents, etc., and all these may have made a contribution thereunto, but the real problem is in themselves; in their marital, family and spiritual relationships. "Every man shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5). Until we face up to our responsibilities and understand that we can’t blame somebody else for our lack of interest, we’ll never solve our problem.

Our Entertainment-Crazed Society

We lose many young people because they are hooked on our entertainment-crazed society. Many adults are also addicted to this craze. This explains why the preacher who possesses the most showmanship, a catchy gimmick, and can tell the funniest jokes in the pulpit, etc., is the one in most demand by churches. Nearly everyone wants to be entertained, even in church! It is so difficult to find people who are genuinely committed to life, their responsibilities, and their destiny. It is most difficult for young people who have been raised in front of a television set to get interested in simple, plain gospel preaching or any other activity that requires mental concentration. They find a gospel sermon about Christ and Him crucified boring unless it incorporates some gimmick.

For this reason, denominations and many of our own brethren address the problem by hosting youth rallies and programs that focus on the trivial and mundane. This explains why denominational church buildings and those of our liberal brethren are often running over. People are accustomed to being entertained, and the church that is willing to furnish recreation attracts those who are addicted to it. "Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together״ (Matthew 24:28).

The conservative churches are very vulnerable here. They refuse to build kitchens, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, and other facilities to stop the exodus of many young people and some older ones. Until parents and churches do a better job of teaching young people the scriptural reasons why we cannot do these things, we will continue to have this problem. Let’s not kid ourselves, many among us would find no objection to our doing this; the social gospel is not far from the doorsteps of many conservative churches. Many preachers are asked upon prospecting for a church, ״What kind of program do you have for the young people.״ Most of us have been asked this from time to time. Brethren are often offended when we ask, ״Are you looking for a preacher or a youth minister?״ I have often answered the question by saying, ״I have the same program for the young people that I have for the old people: Bible study." Some of this pressure to create a special class for young people stems from parental failure at home. Many parents have relinquished much of their parenting to others as their children grew up, and now that they are teenagers, they want the church to take over.

We must keep the mission of the kingdom of God firmly in mind. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men" (Romans 14:17-18). "And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation..." (I Corinthians 11:34). We do our young people no favors by trivializing the mission of the church with entertainment to keep them coming to our church buildings. If the gospel doesn’t bring them to our buildings, it won’t keep them there. It is foolish to think we can lure people into the church with hamburgers and soda pop, then keep them there with the gospel. Sooner or later, we will have to reap what we have sown in such a case. The result of such trivializing of the work of the church is seen in the second and third generations of our liberal brethren. Their harvest is the social gospel, purely and simply; church-supported secular schools, gymnasiums, youth rallies, hospitals, family counseling centers, general benevolence, etc.

In many cases, these brethren have no understanding of the church's scriptural mission. Often, they have no idea what the church is all about. They really think it is "meat and drink." Many of the liberal churches don’t preach enough gospel to "wad a shotgun."

Conclusion

It is "old hat" to say that our young people are our most valuable resource, and that they are "the church of tomorrow," but the truth is so profound that it needs to be repeated over and over again. We do our young people no favors by trivializing the church's mission to keep them interested. The only thing that will save the church is the saving gospel. Nothing else will even come close to doing it. Trying to save the church with the social gospel is like trying to cure a cancer with an aspirin. Or, it's like throwing tacks in your driveway, and wondering why you keep having flat tires. We need to put mothers back in the business of mothering, fathers back in the business of bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and churches back in the business of preaching the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. Only then will we stop our young people from falling through the cracks.

Reclaiming Purpose: Young Men, Tradition, and the Gospel’s Answer to Modern Chaos

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:03:26 +0000

by Gregory Alan Tidwell

The coffee shop was packed for a Tuesday night—young people with laptops open, headphones in, and half-finished lattes going cold. Over by the window, three young men sat hunched around a tattered book, voices low but intense. If you walked past, you might think it was a college group cramming for a philosophy exam. But listen closer.

“It’s like Lewis says here,” one of the guys said, frowning thoughtfully as he flipped a page of Mere Christianity. “‘A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.’” He looked up, searching for the right words. “How can people say right and wrong don’t exist? Look around.”

The guy across from him nodded, tugging a leather-bound Bible from his backpack. It was worn—edges cracked, pages creased like they’d been worked over a hundred times. He thumbed to I Corinthians and read out loud: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” That line landed heavily as if it meant something more than the usual Instagram quote of the day. Outside the window, headlights passed in steady streams.

This scene occurs more frequently—young guys with rolled-up sleeves talking not about video games or politics but about purpose, order, and what it means to live with meaning. It’s not cool. It’s not trending. But that’s the thing—they don’t seem to care. There’s quiet defiance in the way they search, in how unembarrassed they are to talk about God in a place where most people are more comfortable debating oat milk versus almond.

“Everyone’s talking about freedom,” the third one said, leaning back in his chair. “But nobody’s telling us what to do with it. You know? It’s like we’re just…drifting.”

There it was—the thing resounding in other corners of life. A frustration with the noise. The promises that didn’t deliver. The culture that shouted endlessly about individuality but left a lot of young men feeling small and adrift. Some of them were giving up. But others? They were leaning into something solid, something old, like they’d stumbled onto an anchor in a storm.

It’s happening everywhere—quietly, steadily. And if the church is watching, it might realize these young men aren’t just running to politics or culture wars. They’re searching for something deeper, older, truer.

And it might just be the church’s moment to step up.

An unexpected trend has emerged in a cultural moment often marked by rapid social change and progressive ideologies: increasing numbers of young men are gravitating toward conservatism. This shift extends beyond politics, encompassing social and religious dimensions as well. It reflects a search for stability, meaning, and identity in a fragmented and uncertain world. This trend is particularly significant for Christians, offering opportunities and challenges as congregations seek to minister to this growing demographic.

Disillusionment and a Search for Meaning

One of the primary drivers behind the conservative shift among young men is a pervasive sense of disillusionment. Many young men perceive contemporary culture as hostile to their identity and aspirations. The rise of social movements such as radical feminism, transgenderism, and identity politics has sidelined traditional views of masculinity and meritocracy. Feeling alienated or vilified, young men respond by embracing frameworks that celebrate strength, responsibility, and purpose—qualities associated with conservatism.

This provides Christians with an opportunity to speak to a deeper need. The Bible’s teachings on identity offer young men something far more enduring than cultural narratives. Scripture calls men to live lives of purpose and integrity, rooted in Christ. Rather than reacting defensively to cultural trends, the church can offer a counter-narrative where true masculinity is defined by servant leadership, humility, and sacrificial love—the example of Christ Himself (Ephesians 5:25; I Corinthians 16:13-14).

Stability in Traditional Structures

At the heart of conservatism’s appeal is a desire for stability. Traditional values—especially regarding family and community—have gained renewed traction amid shifting social norms. Many young men are weary of the instability of modern life’s fluid definitions of roles and relationships. The nuclear family represents a foundational institution providing order, security, and clarity for them.

This resonates deeply with biblical teachings. Christians have long championed God’s design for the family, teaching the roles of husbands, wives, and children as outlined in passages like Ephesians 5:22-33 and Colossians 3:18-21. The church’s unwavering emphasis on strong marriages, active fatherhood, and godly homes positions it to speak effectively into the lives of these young men, providing a blueprint for a stable and flourishing family life.

A Reaction to Secularism

Conservatism’s rise is also a reaction to the secularization of society. Many young men see the erosion of traditional religious values as contributing to moral and cultural decline. They are drawn to institutions that uphold clear moral standards, reject relativism, and provide a sense of absolute truth.

The churches of Christ, with their commitment to biblical authority, are uniquely positioned to meet this hunger for truth and structure. Preaching that unapologetically proclaims the Bible as the inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17) resonates with young men seeking clarity in a confusing world. Churches can cultivate a bold, counter-cultural identity that calls believers to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

Community in an Age of Isolation

Modern life, for all its connectivity, has left many young men feeling profoundly isolated. Social media, while offering platforms for self-expression, often exacerbates loneliness and alienation. In contrast, conservatism often fosters a sense of belonging through shared values and traditions.
The churches of Christ offer something even more compelling: a genuine Christian community. The early church modeled a fellowship that transcended social barriers, where believers “had all things in common” and “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship” (Acts 2:42-47). Churches can create spaces where young men find friendship, mentorship, accountability, and a sense of purpose within the body of Christ.

The Role of Leadership and Purpose

A recurring theme in the conservative movement is the desire for strong leadership. Figures like Jordan Peterson have gained popularity by addressing young men’s need for responsibility, discipline, and direction—qualities often absent from modern discourse. Young men are drawn to leaders who challenge them to rise above passivity and embrace lives of significance.

Churches of Christ have a distict opportunity to raise up such leaders. Congregations must actively equip young men to lead in their homes, churches, and communities. Programs focusing on spiritual growth, leadership training, and evangelism can channel this desire for purpose into a Christ-centered mission. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy—“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (I Corinthians 16:13)—remains as relevant today as ever.

An Opportunity to Build the Kingdom

The rising tide of conservatism among young men reflects a deeper longing for meaning, identity, and stability—a longing that only Christ can ultimately fulfill. For Christians, this trend is both a challenge and an opportunity. Christians can effectively reach and disciple this generation by offering clear teaching, authentic community, and a Christ-centered vision of manhood and purpose.

The task is not to mirror cultural conservatism but to proclaim a gospel that transforms hearts and minds. Young men must hear that their identity is not found in political movements or cultural trends but in Christ alone. Paul reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17).

In a world searching for answers, Christians can offer what young men seek: a return to tradition and a life-changing relationship with the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

What One Teenager Can Do

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:04:20 +0000

by Dick Blackford

The article below was written about 17-year-old Tim Wadlington. Tim died of cancer on Sept. 8, 1989, and I attended his funeral on the 12th at Eddysville, Kentucky. The church at Suwanne, where Tim worshipped, has a bulletin that is published solely by the teenagers, called The River of Life.

I knew Tim from summer camp and he had preached for me in Owensboro on one occasion. I had known the Wadlington family for over 20 years. During the past three months, the Suwanee congregation has had 12 baptisms — people with whom Tim had studied. Satan gained nothing by Tim’s death. Four of those obeyed the gospel the night before the funeral while Tim’s body was at the funeral home. His influence was also felt in the Bartlett, Tennessee church where 10 baptisms occurred recently. The Wadlington family worshipped there while Tim was receiving treatment at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He also left a list of people he had talked to or was planning to contact.

Tim was a bright boy. He was an honor graduate, Beta Club president, and a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Students. His plans to attend Florida College that fall were prevented by cancer. But his first love was the Lord, and he was a great example for young and old. He did more in 17 years than many of us do in 70. “And he being dead, yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:14).

Tim will be missed by his loved ones and in the ranks of gospel preachers. As I reflect on lessons learned from Tim, I think of the following:

A teenager can be a faithful, active Christian in his world of sin and corruption. He did not use his youth as an excuse.
It is not how long you live but what you do with your life that matters.
Instead of giving in to peer pressure, sometimes we have to go against the flow. And we can, both young and old.
Instead of withdrawing from society and feeling sorry for himself, he placed greater value on others.
In a sense, we are all terminal, and we need to realize the urgency of preaching the gospel now.

Visitors to the Kentucky Lake-Berkley Lake area would benefit by worshipping with the small congregation at Suwanee.

In the meantime, what about your prospect list?

What’s Wrong with Today’s Youth?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 20:31:33 +0000

by Bill Hall

All along we hear questions raised as to what has gone wrong with today’s youth. Recently, a brother expressed his concern along this line and then asked, “What advice would you give young parents to help them avoid mistakes that we have made in our generation?”

The first thing we would say is: All is not bad with today’s youth. We see young people in the church voluntarily attending special classes conducted for their benefit and studying diligently in preparation for these classes. We see them singing in the worship periods, listening to sermons, following in their Bible, obeying the gospel as they reach accountability, and living conscientiously before God.

But all is not good. We are aware of drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, drinking, gambling, and crimes of all sorts among the youth of our day. We are appalled at the lack of self-control exhibited by athletes in both college and pro ranks. What has gone wrong?

A recent newspaper article helps to explain what has gone wrong. The opening paragraph says: “A high school football player who was arrested and charged with hitting a 15-year-old in the face with a crowbar has his coach concerned and his mother worried about his football future.”

Worried about what? When parents are more concerned for their children’s football future than they are for their character; when they are more concerned for their children’s financial well-being than for their eternal well-being; or when they are just not concerned, period, we can expect problems among our youth. Priorities are all wrong. Too many parents, in order to feed their own egos, push their children into positions that will bring honor and popularity, but give little thought to what will build character, integrity, and responsibility within them.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV).

What advice would we give to young parents? Bring your children to every service of the church; encourage them to form close friendships with other children who attend regularly; do not try to shield them from hurts and disappointments, but allow them to work through their disappointments; hold them responsible for the consequences of wrong-doings; make sure that your greatest desire for them is that they go to heaven and that they are aware that this is your greatest desire; pray with them and teach them how to pray; and love them, love them, and love them some more.

Dealing with Criticism (Grushon)

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 14 May 2023 01:58:31 +0000

by Mike Grushon

One of the persistent problems young people must overcome is criticism from adults. Paul exhorted Timothy to conduct himself in such a way that he would give no one a basis of truth for such criticism (I Timothy 4:12). Unfortunately, some choose to criticize the young even if they do not provide ample fuel for the critic’s fires. This is especially so when young people happen to be actively involved in the Lord’s service.

This short article is directed to young people who are trying to use their talents to serve God and proclaim Christ. Our intention is to encourage you not to let the criticism of others deter you from active service. All Christians have an equal responsibility to use their talents to teach the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:19-20). Do not allow anyone to deter you as a young Christian from fulfilling your responsibility.

The criticism young people receive is one of two classes. It is either deserved or undeserved. Regardless of the type of criticism you receive, you should not allow it to keep you from serving God. If you acted in such a way that you deserved the criticism, you should make the necessary correction, and press on in your service to God. If you were the subject of criticism that you did not deserve, or of that which proceeded from an improper motive, pay it no need, simply continue to do what you know is right.

In dealing with criticism, it helps to try to understand the reason the criticism has been offered. Some people offer criticism out of a genuine concern for your spiritual well-being. It is usually not difficult who such people are. Their attitude and the manner in which they criticize make them easy to spot. Young people should have no problem getting along with such people. No matter how sharp their criticism may be, you know they are really interested in you.

However, what about the others? I am convinced that some of the criticism leveled against young people who are actively serving the Lord are outright attempts to discourage such activity. When young people show more zeal than the adults of a church, the adults are only left with a few alternatives. They can either

allow the young people’s zealous efforts to continue and suffer the embarrassment of their own inactivity, or
they can follow the young people’s activity and become energetic themselves, or
they can try to squelch the young people’s zeal and try to salve their consciences by removing the constant reminder of what they ought to be doing themselves.

When older members of the church discourage teenagers from doing personal work, visiting meetings, making notes on sermons, etc., I find it hard to believe that they have not selected the third option.

Young people, I am not saying that you should not pay attention to the criticisms made by older Christians. Constructive criticism offered by mature and understanding saints should make your talents even more useful to the cause of Christ. What I am saying is that should not allow the unjust criticism of lazy Christians to hinder or prevent you from doing what you know you should be doing! Be a faithful and active Christian regardless of what others, young or old, may say about you. Look to the faithful Christians that you may know, whether preachers, elders, or teachers. They are often the objects of severe criticism, yet it has not stopped them. Paul was criticized by some of the Corinthians, yet they could not keep him from doing what he knew needed to be done. Do what you know you can do in God’s service.

Planning Your Life

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:37:51 +0000

by P.D. Wilmeth

These seven teenage years are a great adventure in experiences, with all the risks and hazards of unknown paths. They are tremendously important years this is a journey that we make only once. There is no roundtrip ticket, most of us according to the calendar will be on this road for about sixty or seventy years.

I am one of those who wants to talk to you. Everybody does, you know. Whether friends or foes, parent or teacher, wise or unwise, Christian or non-Christian, it seems that it is always open season to talk to teenagers about their problems. I want to talk to you as a father would his own teenagers. After all, I used to be a teenager myself, and I have had a couple of teenagers around my house.

So you are not exactly strangers to me. I know some of the questions that you ask, some of the problems you face, ad how you desire to be that person who is really needed and who will live an abundant life.

What Is Life?

Sometimes young people ask, “What is Life?” I heard Dr. John Cayce of Nashville give this definition when he said, “It is a continual adjustment of internal relations to eternal relations.” It came from God who breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul (Genesis 1:27-30). It was God who established a law of reproduction of life, growth, maturity, age, and death (Acts 1:30; Hebrews 11:2-3; Genesis 4:1-4).

What Is the Best Age of Life?

Other young people often ask, “What is the best age of life?” The answer is that no one period is any more valuable than any other age. All periods are equally necessary if one is to secure the many interesting experiences of life and complete existence. Youth has its difficulties and also its compensations. So has middle life, and old age (from 90 to 100). It is impossible to obtain all the joys of life within any one period.

You’ve been asking a lot of questions. We’re going to look for the answers. You will come up with many more questions even after we’re through. We ask that you begin with some solid counsel from the Bible: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21). I shall assume throughout all these talks together that you are serious about living the Christian life as fully as you can. I know that you are going to make some mistakes. I’ll try to understand and love you for what and who you are. I know that you have what it takes, with a little help, direction, and guidance, to be the really wonderful, happy person God intends you to be.

These Are Fundamentals

What’s Your Purpose?

Why are you here? Everything in the universe has some purpose. Socrates said: “The unconsidered life is not worth living.” Dr. Alex Carrel gives us all courage when he declares, “In modern society, the great, the small, the average, and the mediocre are needed” [In Man the Unknown]. The part you play may not be great, nor is its importance always evident to you; nonetheless, your part is just as essential as that of any other person. So you must have a purpose in life or all it is aimless.

Remember Who You Are

Some years ago, archaeologists, delving into the ruins of an ancient Greek city, found a bit of papyrus o which had been written a comment not entirely foreign to our day. Freely translated, it read, “Youth is going to the dogs.” I believe those dogs have had a mighty long wait. Don’t you?

I confidently believe that our youth today are as bright as any who ever lived. Heman G. Stark, former Director of the State of California said: “On the basis of my thirty years experience, I’d say. The teenagers of today are stronger, smarter, more self-sufficient, and more constructive than any other generation of teenagers in history.” Is he talking about you? The really bad youths of our land number less than five percent of the whole.

Every day since you’ve been old enough to remember you have been bombarded by visual appeals by men of base and sensual desires the liquor industry, the tobacco companies, the pulp magazines, and others have given you every encouragement to yield to their unwholesome demands. Many of you have not yielded, but have stood tall and straight and refused to be pulled down. We who are older are mighty proud of you who recognize that you are “made in the image of God.”

Develop the Ability to Think

Henry Ford said: “A man who cannot think is not an educated man, no matter how many college degrees he may have acquired. Thinking is the hardest work anyone can do—which is probably the reason we have so few thinkers.” (Mr. Ford himself was doing some real thinking when he made that statement.) Thinking comes through the exercise of our thinking powers. The Bible teaches us “that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Again, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

It is utterly impossible to go wrong when your thoughts are right. All wrong action is the result of wrong thinking and vice-versa. We are told what to think about if we are to be fruitful thinkers. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). This is the sum of all true thinking. It is the only cure for all evils. Don’t take all your knowledge secondhanded. “Prove all things.” Read the best books, study, investigate, and expand mentally. It is conservatively estimated that man uses but about ten percent of his mental capacity. Beware of shortcuts to learning. Beware of half-preparation.

Have a Goal

Do you have a goal in life? Do you know what you are going to do when you finish high school? College? The first mistake we unguided mortals make is not ascertaining what target we are trying to hit. Like Stephen Leacock's rider, we are prone to jump on our horse and “ride off madly in all directions.”

We are like the man who called for a taxi, jumped in, and shouted, “Hurry, please! As fast as you can!” The taxi charged off with a screech of burning rubber and speeded up the street. After several blocks, the impatient passenger shouted again, “Are we almost there?”

“Almost where, Sir?” blandly returned the driver.

Failing to know the destination does not hinder activity; it only prevents accomplishment. Much of our educational system is geared to prepare us for making a living, but too often it fails to point us in the direction of making a life. Although we do not always know where to get it, we know pretty well what we want. Happiness, security, contentment, prestige, "a little love that grows and grows" — it is spelled in many ways, but it amounts to the same thing. Jesus carefully examined and diagnosed a young man once when he said: “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). A goal outside of himself to give meaning and purpose in life — that is what he needed. Jesus pointed the way when he said, “I am the way…” (John 14:6) See also Matthew 6:33.

Wise Use of Your Time

If you know anything about the operation of a car, you know that the matter of timing is quite important. The timer, if correctly set determines the charge of the gas by the electric spark. If too soon or too late the power is greatly reduced. It is exactly the same in our lives. There is the best time for doing everything. There is the best time for getting an education, acquiring basic skills, accumulating money, getting married and rearing a family, and traveling. There is the best time for developing good habits, acquiring an attractive personality, and slowing down and taking life more easily.

You have perhaps observed that you make almost a complete change within every seven-year cycle. If you will watch the succeeding age periods, you will discover changes in your desires, appetites, moods, opinions of others, and even in your own bodily functions — all due to the passing of time.

During any of the years ahead, it is necessary to be thinking and planning for the future and particularly for the next period ahead. Any preparation that you may make today has little value now. The value of today’s preparation is always realized tomorrow. At the age of twenty-one, when you are out of your teen years, the things you like and want now, you’ll not have any interest in at all, and so on during life. One thing about time that makes it so important to wisely invest in it as we get it, is that it cannot be saved or hoarded like money. It must be spent while we have it.

Make Proper Decisions

There will be about three major decisions facing you from here on. For some, you will make a decision to become a Christian, and this will be the most important decision you’ll ever make. For others, the decision has already been made. Another decision you’ll make will be that of a mate for life. A third major decision will be that of your life’s work. We suggest that you think of some of these things:

Look at you — your abilities, your interests, your capabilities.
Face up to the educational demands involved.
Your chosen vocation or profession. It is overcrowded? What of advancement? What is the
compensation: Does it interfere with your being a Christian? Is it creative?
Investigate. Read pamphlets. Talk to people. Take an aptitude test. Try out some
occupations in which you have an interest. Work in the summer and other vocations where
you think you’d like to work.

At the Forks of the Road

After about fifteen years on the main road of the journey of life, we come to the forks of the road. It is here that we are in danger of becoming bewildered. Your entire future life will be affected by the decision. Jesus talked of two ways (Matthew 7:13). The first of those roads is the hard way. It is not only rough and uphill, but it presents many obstacles over which it is difficult to climb.

The other road is known as the easy way. This road is filled with folk who are attempting to find tempting and easy shortcuts in many and various ways. The people who select the easy way are the “crowd-followers.”

Essentials on the Journey

Every person starting out on the highway of life should check to be sure he is not starting unprepared. Whether he travels by land, water, or air, the principle of preparation holds true. He should know:

The Vehicle: In this case, it is your physical body. Is it strong enough to make the trip?
The Driver: You. Do you have the good sense to keep your vehicle in good shape? Do you know where you are going?
The Baggage: Do you possess the basic knowledge, skill, training, information, and principles of conduct control to cushion the shocks that will come when the going is hard?

Match Your Wits

Here is an actual assignment. Decide where you want to be twenty-five years hence, and write that across the top of a blank sheet of paper. Now write on this page only the steps that you would follow to get you there.
What other things would you list in planning a life that is not mentioned in the material that you have read?
Interview someone whom you consider a successful person and ascertain what, in your judgment, are the outstanding elements in his/her life.
Make an honest inventory of (a) your finest powers abilities, and characteristics; and (b) your weaknesses that can be mastered. How can you make yourself time-conscious?

I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 21:44:52 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/I-Wish-Someone-Had-Told-Me.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Proverbs 5:7-14

I. I ran across an article by Chuck Lawless about “Ten Conversations I Wish Someone Had with Me as a Teenager.”

A. Hindsight generally reveals that mistakes could have been avoided

B. I constantly get told: “I wish someone had told me just how bad this could get”

C. And the real problem is that few people are willing to talk about problems that affect them - Ecclesiastes 1:11

II. Things to discuss with teenagers

A. You’re not the only one struggling as a teenager

1. Even though a teenager has lived more than a decade of life, so many things are new.

2. There are the obvious things, like sexuality, but there are subtle changes, such as the way you think, the responsibilities you have, the freedoms you are given.

3. The teenager doesn’t like talking about it his problems, so the assumption is that no one else is having the same problems.

4. Temptations are common to man - I Corinthians 10:13

a. Knowing this doesn’t solve the problems, but knowing that you aren’t alone means help is available.

b. Knowing that others have faced it and overcame it means there is hope for you as well

B. Pornography and lust

1. Lust isn’t a new problem - Matthew 5:28

2. Pornography isn’t unique to this age - I Thessalonians 4:3-5

3. What has changed in recent times is how easily pornography is accessible to people of all ages, including children, in private.

4. Almost everyone realizes it is wrong, that is why they hide it, but exactly what is wrong and what damage it causes is difficult for young people to grasp.

5. There are too many ways to access pornography, so a complete blockage is not likely to happen, but parents ought to take proactive action to make it harder to see.

6. It needs to be discussed so that when it slips through, the child knows what needs to be done

a. Young people don’t have a full appreciation of just how strong sexual desire is

C. You’ll remember your sinful choices the rest of your life

1. It is easy to put your foolishness on display on social media. But then those remarks that you thought long forgotten comes back up in a job interview - Ecclesiastes 10:20

2. A young person doesn’t realize that the personal memory of bad choices don’t go away either. The guilt haunts them.

3. Paul still remembered his past - I Timothy 1:12-16

a. Herein is also the way to deal with the guilt - to realize you are no longer the person you used to be

b. But better is not to have the chain of guilt there in the first place

4. Have fun, but remember there is still judgment - Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

D. Plans change

1. Just because you are certain that something is what you want or what you are going to do, it doesn’t always work out that way

2. God might have something else in mind - Proverbs 16:9

3. We don’t know what the future holds - James 4:13-16

4. The world doesn’t come to an end just because something you wanted doesn’t work out

E. You’re going to be challenged

1. Surprise! People who grew up in other families don’t have the same views as you do

2. People are going to tell you are wrong. They are going to try to get you to do sinful things - Proverbs 4:14-17

3. Authority figures, such as teachers, will tell you that your parents are ignorant - I Peter 4:3-4

4. This can be upsetting if you’ve led a sheltered life.

5. Parents, one of your jobs is to prepare your child to reason, to find flaws in bad arguments, to present responses in a calm manner, to know how to find answers to questions.

F. Date only faithful Christians

1. More often a non-Christian will pull a Christian down than a Christian will pull a non-Christian to the Lord - I Corinthians 15:33

2. Don’t assume other people have the same values as you do

3. Don’t be afraid to pull the plug on a bad date

a. When something goes bad, the best thing to do is leave - II Timothy 2:22

b. Flee fornication - I Corinthians 6:18

4. Recognize the signs of seduction, such as being told exactly what you like hearing - Proverbs 5:3-4

G. Watch out for pride

1. Youth is a time when you are capable of so much more. You have strength, you have broadening knowledge, you have a big future ahead of you. But it is easy to forget that you are not better than other people.

2. Teenagers are notorious for thinking their parents are outdated and out of touch.

3. But pride keeps you from seeing dangers - Proverbs 11:2

H. Even young people die

1. It sounds morbid, but it is true. Life is not guaranteed to continue to old age - Hebrews 9:27

2. But being prepared to face God at any time needs to be discussed. Their questions about the seriousness of the hereafter needs to be addressed.

III. But teaching is only good enough if it is applied

A. Many times when I’ve taught a class at the college, some student will claim, “My teacher never discussed that in the previous course.”

1. The few times I checked, it was discussed. The student wasn’t paying attention.

B. Too often we don’t realize just how important the lesson was until we need it - Proverbs 1:23-33

C. Teens have to also learn that they also have a responsibility to listen and apply what they were taught - Proverbs 3:1-2

IV. Things aren’t hopeless if you make mistakes

A. Sure, you’ll make life harder on yourself, but even in hardships there is growth and improvement - Hebrews 12:11-14

1. Don’t let your mistakes put you out of joint

B. Don’t give up - Proverbs 24:16

C. God forgives, even when we don’t think we deserve it - Isaiah 55:6-9

V. The best time to change is now - II Corinthians 6:1-2

Advice to Young Men

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 19:10:05 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Advice-to-Young-Men.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Titus 2:6-8

I. In the Seattle Weekly, August 21, 2002, Philip Dawdy wrote an article titled “What Little Boys Are Made Of”

A. The thrust of the article is that school systems are biased against the way boys generally behave. 85% of the students in the “emotionally and behaviorally disturbed” program are boys.

1. It is not that boys are four times more disturbed than girls, but rather a mismatch of expectations. “Schools are more favorable to girls' behavior, which is not rowdy,” according to Gene Edgar, a professor of special education at the University of Washington.

2. "Boys may be prone to more overt acting-out behaviors," says Ted Feinberg, assistant executive director of the National Association for School Psychologists. (Not paying attention in class, impulsiveness, and shouting are a few typical boy behaviors he cites.) "Girls are less so. That's most troublesome for schools."

B. Some scientists believe they found the key. During adolescence the brain goes through a massive stage of rewiring, preparing a person for adult life.

1. Where a small child goes through a similar phase to develop the five senses and to gain muscle control, the teen is developing pathways for memory, decision making, impulse control, and emotional control.

2. The peak changes coincides with physical growth – at 11 for the average girl and 14 for the average boy.

3. The problem comes in that the transitional stages which can last several years past the growth of the body – late teens for girls and mid-twenties for boys.

C. This does not excuse bad behavior, but explains the common experience of being scattered brained, emotional roller-coasters, and reckless behavior

1. Rather than allowing free-reign, teens need practice bringing the wild impulses under control.

2. It is the practice done during the developmental years which will last through adulthood.

II. Youth is a time for fun - Ecclesiastes 11:9

A. But notice the warning that you are still responsible for the things that you do - Ecclesiastes 11:10

B. Life is meant to be enjoyed - Ecclesiastes 11:7-8; 8:15

1. But it doesn’t mean that all of life will be fun.

2. There are going to be lots of difficult times and a lot of sorrow

3. Youth can ignore much of this for a time because parents shield them, but it can’t be always ignored and those sad times have a purpose.

C. There is a proper time for fun and for serious things - Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

III. Misuse of fun

A. Pure laughter and silliness is useless - Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

1. Ever meet a person who makes a joke out of everything? A first it is a blast, but after a while it gets tiring. Then it becomes an irritation - Ecclesiastes 7:6

2. That was the complaint God had against Israel - Isaiah 22:12-13

a. It was a time to be sad, but instead people were having fun

b. They were using their fun as a distraction. They didn’t want sadness.

c. But do you think all their partying stopped the evil times from coming?

3. Sorrow has a place in life - Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

B. Fun that causes harm to another

1. Ever did something that you thought would be funny, but the person on the receiving end didn’t think the same?

2. Laughter sometimes ends up causing sorrow - Proverbs 14:13

3. Some people grow up taking all their “fun” at the expense of others - James 5:4-6

C. Focusing on fun and ignoring the danger

1. Ever been playing a video game and suddenly Mom is between you and screen saying “I do believe the house could burn down around you and you wouldn’t notice!”

2. Though she was exaggerating, still it is a point. There are people who focus on fun and ignore any potential danger - Amos 6:3-6

3. People try using pleasure to put off problems and dangers

4. It is probably the most common reason I hear people give for using drugs and alcohol.

a. It disconnects them from reality so they don’t have to deal with it right then - Proverbs 23:29-30, 33-35

b. But it doesn’t solve a single problem. Instead it makes the problems worse - Proverbs 23:32

5. It is also what leads to sexual experimentation.

a. The focus is on the fun with no thought as to the dangers - Proverbs 7:21-27

D. Then there are those who use sin for fun

1. Gang members who get a kick out of breaking the law - Proverbs 1:10-16

2. I know people who think that the way you have a blast at a party is to get stoned out of your gourd - I Peter 4:3-4

3. Even the telling of dirty jokes - Ephesians 5:3-5

IV. What Titus was asked to teach young men - Titus 2:6-8

A. Be sober-minded

1. The word means being sober, of sound mind or of a healthy mind, moderate, and self-controlled

2. The exact opposite is demonstrated by the demon possessed man - Mark 5:2-5

a. When Jesus healed him, he became sober-minded - Mark 5:15

3. Youth is a time of struggle with impulse control

a. It is far too easy to give in and do the first thing that comes to mind.

b. This is the time when young men need to train themselves, hard as it may be for a while, to think ahead and to avoid extremes

4. Dangers lurk, so we must be on guard - I Peter 5:8

5. So prepare your minds and watch - I Peter 1:13

B. Showing yourselves as an example of good works

1. Temptations are everywhere and as a young person you don’t have a lot of experience yet in dealing with them - Titus 2:11-12

2. Some might say “boys will be boys, let them have time to sow their wild oats.” By this they say that people are going to sin, so why resist.

3. But do you remember Solomon’s warning that we will still be judged?

4. Rather than giving into the impulse to sin, now is the time to establish good habits - I Timothy 4:12; Ecclesiastes 12:1

C. Showing integrity in teaching

1. It literally means uncorrupted doctrine or teaching

2. Youth is a time of ideals, but it is so easy to get side tracked into false ideas - Ephesians 4:14

a. Why do you think most of the Muslim suicide bombers are young men?

b. Because the reasoning and restraint parts of the brain are undeveloped, young men are easily persuaded to do reckless things that older men would say “You’ve got to be kidding!”

3. Rather than taking up ideas just because they are different from your parents or other old fuddy-duddy people, use older people to make up for what you are still developing.

D. Being reverent

1. This means dignity, being honorable, or noble. It is a person who commands respect by the way they behave.

2. Unfortunately we have a lot of young people who seem to go out of their way to get the opposite.

3. Once again, instead of taking the easy way of following impulses and demanding everyone accept you as you are, God is telling young men to train themselves to act in such ways that cause others to sit up, take notice and say “I’m impressed!”

4. Be the knight in shining armor. Be the hero and not the hoodlum.

5. If you can develop the ability now, think of the doors of opportunity that will open for you when you are an adult.

E. Being incorruptible

1. This word means something that cannot be destroyed - Romans 2:7

2. Don’t let Satan taint your soul with the corruption of sin

3. All of life is ahead of you, aim for something great, something of lasting value - I Corinthians 9:24-27

4. II Corinthians 5:9

Not Too Young

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 20:47:13 +0000

Author Unknown

Recent research has revealed what teenagers truly desire from the adults in their lives. The Search Institute study found that teens want parents and other older influencers to do the following:

Look at us.
Spend time talking with us.
Listen.
Be dependable.
Show appreciation for what we do.
Relax.
Show that you’re interested.
Laugh with us (and at yourself).
Ask us to help you.
Challenge us.

I believe the apostle Paul did many of those things as he built into the life of a young man named Timothy. And, as number 10 on the list states, he truly did challenge him, writing, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (I Timothy 4:12). What’s impressive is that Timothy was dealing with the difficult challenge of tackling false teaching in the church at Ephesus, along with some bitter persecution. Yet Paul told him to boldly live out his faith — to be an example. And Timothy needed to look no further than the great example provided by Paul himself.

“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:9).

“But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium [and] at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!” (II Timothy 3:10-11).

If we want those who are younger to walk confidently in their faith, we must provide for them a living model. We need to show them the “living God, who is the Savior of all people” and “keep a close watch on how [we] live” (I Timothy 4:10,16). As they witness Jesus alive in us, it will help them take their own bold faith steps.

Let younger believers know that they can be an example to all believers. And, as you do, “stay true to what is right for the sake of [your] own salvation and the salvation” of these precious younger ones (I Timothy 4:16).

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading [of Scripture,] to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be [absorbed] in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (I Timothy 4:7-10).

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity (I Timothy 4:12).

Read what Paul wrote to a friend in Titus 2:7 and consider how you can be an example to other believers — particularly younger ones.

Today, how will you encourage some younger believers you know? What example have you been setting for other believers in Jesus?

Young People

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 08 May 2021 21:44:31 +0000

by Hugh Fulford

Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash

As is the case with old people, the Bible has much to say about young people. In some respects, both “young” and “old” are relative terms. Even after I was in my 60s, I would sometimes be told, “You are still a young man.” To me, anyone under 60 is young. Consider some things the Bible tells us about young people.

Joseph was only 17 years old when he was sold by his envious brothers into Egyptian slavery, but in Egypt, he rose to great heights in the government, and later was used by the Lord to save his family from a famine in Canaan (Genesis 37:2). While still a child, Samuel was turned over to Eli, God’s priest, by his mother to be trained for service to the Lord. Samuel grew up to become a judge, a prophet, and a powerful spiritual leader of God’s people. But it all began when he was very young (I Samuel 1:19-28). David was the youngest of Jesse’s son and the least likely to be chosen to succeed Saul as the king of Israel, yet he was the Lord’s choice (I Samuel 16:1-13). When David went out to meet the Philistine giant in battle he was “but a youth” (I Samuel 17:33), yet he slew the giant with a sling and a stone, then ran to the fallen body of Goliath, drew the giant’s own sword from its sheath, and cut off his head (I Samuel 17:45-51).

Mary, who would become the mother of Jesus, was a young virgin. The Bible does not tell us her age, but according to some of the apocryphal works, she may have been as young as 12 to 14 years old when she became espoused to Joseph. She may have not been more than in her mid to upper teens when Jesus was born, being conceived in her, not by Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-28; 2:1-40).

At the age of 12, Jesus was in the Jerusalem temple, “sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.” It is said that “all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Luke 2:41-47). From his youth, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). What a pattern for youth today!

Jesus was still young, about 30, when he began His public ministry (Luke 3:23). Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated His love for people of all ages. He loved young people, especially little children, declaring that “of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:13-14), and saying that older people must be converted and “become as little children” in order to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). On one occasion Jesus raised a little 12-year-old girl from the dead (Luke 8:40-56). He was disappointed when the rich young ruler, who had so much going for him, nevertheless refused to follow Him (Matthew 19:16-22). Christ was only about 33 years old when He went to the cross, dying for the sins of the world.

While still young, Saul of Tarsus came to Jerusalem to study under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3; 26:4). After his conversion to Christ and appointment to the apostleship, he mentored two young men, Timothy and Titus. in the gospel ministry and they became like sons to him (I Timothy 1:2; II Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4). While there are lusts and sins that are especially common to young people (see Psalms 25:7), Paul urged Timothy to flee youthful lusts (II Timothy 2:22), and exhorted him to live in such a way as to “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).

An interesting side note on the ministry of Paul is seen in that on one occasion he preached an extra-long sermon and a young man by the name of Eutychus got sleepy and fell out of the third-story window of the building where the services were being held. Paul rushed down and raised him from the dead (Acts 20:7-11). (If you get sleepy in church, watch where you sit. Preachers today still sometimes preach long sermons, but, unlike Paul, none of them has the power to raise anyone from the dead!)

While there are some negatives that characterize young people such as a lack of experience and wisdom and sometimes a failure to listen and learn from older, wiser people, young people nevertheless have a lot going for them if they will use the years of their youth wisely and listen to older and wiser people. Young people are enthusiastic, energetic, and full of life. They are quick to learn and pick up new things easily (for example, technology). They are not rigid or “set in their ways,” but are open to new ideas. (This trait has both its pros and its cons, and young people need to be careful that they not be led into ways that are contrary to God’s word). For the most part, young people are approachable, friendly, and outgoing. They are honest and will tell you what they think. Their dreams are all ahead of them: education, job, marriage, children of their own, and many other wonderful things. The future of the Lord’s church, the future of our country, and the future of our world lie with today’s young people. Solomon wrote, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them'” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

When I was a high school student at Mars Hill Bible School in Florence, AL, and later a student at Freed-Hardeman College (now University) in Henderson, TN, we often sang the song, “How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?” The stanzas are as follows:

How shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean,
To keep the conscience clean.

‘Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way,
A lamp to lead our way.

Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!
That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age,
And well support our age!