By Glenn Bowman, Minister at 3rd & Kilgore Church of Christ
While youth ministry may look MUCH different today that it did in the first century, we want teenagers to grow into mature Christians just as they did then. Let’s look at some passages from Scripture about youths and this time of life!
First, Jesus showed a great deal of spiritual maturity when just 12 years old (Luke 2:41-51). He interacted with adults in a manner that showed his wisdom and his desire to learn more (v. 46-52). In responding to his parents in verse 49, He asked them, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” While we shouldn’t expect our youth to be as amazing as Jesus, especially at 12 years old, it’s not unreasonable to expect them to be about our Father’s business at a young age (Matthew 19:13-15).
Next, when we look at young people, we may see them for their current age (or even younger), but God sees the potential in them and His plans for them. He told Jeremiah when he was just a youth, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you. I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5, cf. v. 6, 7). We should be raising and equipping youth with the expectation that they also will do great things for God!
Furthermore, we know that many sins are often associated with young people and even the Bible supports this idea. Timothy is charged to “flee youthful passions” (2 Timothy 2:22a). Even in their youth, people are warned that they will face judgment if they do whatever they want (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Apparently, there will come a time as people get older when they don’t have pleasure in those things, so they should remember God when they’re still young and abstain from these sins (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Despite these temptations, which may feel worse from peer pressure, God gives promises for all people that we can withstand any temptation that He allows to come our way (1 Corinthians 10:13). In fact, youths can not only overcome, but “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12b). Clearly, we can even look up to godly youths as an example of how we should live our own lives!
In addition, much of the advice that God gives youths applies to us also. In Psalm 119:9, the psalmist writes, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.” Sometimes, young people are even more honest with the biblical text and what it commands. However, all of us who canunderstand God’s word should hear and obey it at face value (Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:7-19; Nehemiah 8:1, 2).
What are you doing to help the young people that you know or where you worship? Prayerfully consider this, see them as potential leaders of the church, and encourage them in that direction. Jesus went out of His way to help young people and express His love for them (Mark 5:21-43; Matthew 15:21-28; 17:14-18; 18:1-14; 19:13-15). Let us not look down on anyone because of their youth (1 Timothy 4:12a), but help them to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
