Today, changes are occurring at a rapid pace in our society, and some changes are staring at us in the face. Why are Christians depending on others to do God's work? There is a need out there, and it is with our youth. We are in a generation that has left our youth in a precarious position-broken homes from divorce, stepfathers and stepmothers raising children, single parents, grandparents raising their grandchildren, foster homes, children living out of suitcases, and children raising children. Where are the leaders, and where are the Christians? Mentoring Youth in Action is dedicated to filling the void that has been imposed upon our youth. Author Mark Stiles has developed a unique, easily taught curriculum for youth, with one-of-a-kind illustrations. This seven-session course is a balanced presentation of content and application designed to assist youth in understanding how God can help them to cope with the challenges facing each of them. It is important not to overload students with content, but instead show them the relevance of further study of God's word, as well as how to apply what they've learned to their own lives.
Mentoring Youth in Action
Seven Lessons to Increase the Significance of Christianity in Our YouthBy Mark StilesiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Mark Stiles
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4620-6232-4 Contents
Introduction..............................................................................xiLesson 1..................................................................................1Personal Testimony........................................................................1Summary of Lesson 1.......................................................................7Purpose Of A Personal Testimony...........................................................7Lesson 2..................................................................................8Introducing Scripture.....................................................................8Summary of Lesson 2.......................................................................19Key Points................................................................................19Key Verses................................................................................19Teaser: For the next lesson, we will be talking about a light switch!.....................20Lesson 3..................................................................................21Faith Overview............................................................................21Summary of Lesson 3.......................................................................28Key Verses on Faith.......................................................................28Lesson 4..................................................................................29The Courage of Faith......................................................................29Consequences of David's Sins..............................................................33Summary of Lesson 4.......................................................................34Key Verses................................................................................35Lesson 5..................................................................................36Thoughts..................................................................................36Key Verses on Thoughts....................................................................39Lesson 6..................................................................................48The Influence of Christianity.............................................................48Summary of Lesson 6.......................................................................54Key Verses................................................................................54Lesson 7..................................................................................55Stressing the Importance of School........................................................55Summary for Lesson 7......................................................................59Key Verses................................................................................59Helpful Hints.............................................................................64NOTES.....................................................................................65Lesson 1..................................................................................65Lesson 2..................................................................................65Lesson 3..................................................................................67Lesson 4..................................................................................67Lesson 5..................................................................................67Lesson 6..................................................................................68
Chapter One
Lesson 1 Personal Testimony
Tip: Laughter puts us all at ease. Start each class with a Christian joke or a clean joke.
Breaking the Ice with Your Group
Personal testimonies have touched the hearts of believers and nonbelievers alike. Many believers have rededicated their lives and many non-believers have been moved to make a decision about their eternity as a result of a personal testimony from someone else's witness. Thank God there are Christians that readily stand up and share their personal testimonies. How many times have you not responded to God's nudging when you knew it was time to share yours? Whether in church, to a friend, family member, or even a coworker, you know at one time or another that you failed to disclose your identification with Christ. In my devotional, Walk Thru the Bible, I create a scenario that is all too familiar. This could be a normal conversation between two friends.
"I never knew you were ..."
"You never asked."
"I would have never guessed."
Isn't it awkward when the "secret" you have been hiding is that you belong to Christ? Do your friends and family know that you are a Christian? If someone says, "I would have never guessed;" you need to reevaluate your standing with Christ. You need to be a walking billboard so people would not have to guess that you are a Christian. If God has touched your life, and salvation was freely given to you, be prepared to give an account of your transformation.
Young adults yearn for leadership and a positive role model. They also identify with people who have overcome obstacles and admit when they were wrong. This is why I think it's important to start the first class with a personal testimony. It doesn't have to be your own testimony; it could be that of a local pastor, youth pastor, or layperson. The point here is to show that change can occur through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I did not give my own personal testimony on the first day, but after several classes, I started revealing it bit by bit. On the first day, we listened to a recording of Pastor Johnny Hunt's testimony, "From the Pool Room to the Pulpit." A lot of youth can relate to his story of how God transformed him from a high school dropout, alcohol abuser, and pool room manager into a minister. Johnny's father had abandoned the family, which forced his mother to work several jobs and left Johnny and his brother alone, unsupervised, and often on the wrong side of the law. Today, Johnny is a pastor at Woodstock First Baptist Church in Georgia, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. You can get his CD, From the Pool Room to the Pulpit, online at www.wfbc.org.
Life Example of a Personal Testimony
My oldest son, Zach, was on the road to destruction. It was his junior year in high school and the problems were mounting. He got a ticket for underage drinking—so he was suspended from the football team, for which I was an assistant coach, for five games. However, this did not slow him down; it was a matter of three weeks before he once again got caught for underage drinking. This time, he was suspended from football for the entire season and possibly his senior season. I could sense I was losing my son. His purpose, ambition, and drive had all faded from this once gifted child. I also suspected that he was delving into other things besides alcohol; which later, he confessed and confided in me. But by the grace of God, and many prayers offered up, he came into my office one night and made a confession to me. He told me just how destructive his lifestyle had become, and some of the things he told me were very hard to accept, but I could tell that he was fed up with living a life of sin. He basically said, "I'm tired of straddling the fence; going to church and acting one way only to enter the world and behave quite differently." His sin was driving him crazy! He told me he wanted to "sell out" to God. He also wanted me to hold him accountable during this transformation. He wanted his friends and community to know that his life had changed and he was ready and not ashamed to identify with Christ.
Soon after Zach's deliverance, he wanted to follow up on his word and speak about his newfound position with Christ. The first thing he did was give his personal testimony to our church's youth group. I can remember how nervous he was and how he studied the scriptures to bring home a message to his peers. Before he left to deliver his testimony, he once again touched my heart and asked if I would pray for his speech. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing in front of my own eyes; my son, being delivered, my son taking action, my son wanting to pray with me, and my son having the strength to speak in front of his peers about his Savior. This was one of those events when you knew without a doubt that God was dealing with Zach. After Zach gave his personal testimony, I received an outpouring of support from youth and parents, who said that Zach's testimony had touched their lives and that I should be very proud of him. However, Zach did not stop there; he spoke at another church, and gave his personal testimony with the same results.
Our youth group has grown spiritually and in number; Zach has been a catalyst for the revival in our youth and his own family. He is not the only one, but I can surely indentify him as part of the revival. Our youth minister has played an important role in Zach's life; I don't know how many nights Zach has stayed late over a this house only to find a person genuinely interested in him. My own walk with the Lord has grown as a result of Zach's transformation. It opened my eyes and challenged me to get closer to God. My walk with the Lord is stronger than it has ever been.
But there's more. My youngest son, Chris, has always looked up to his big brother and has been the easiest child to raise. With this said, he was also a witness to the effects of sin in his brother's life. During Zach's decline, Chris was reaching out; he was hurting for his brother, and behaving in ways that I have never witnessed. Simply put, he was pretty hard to deal with. His attitude and demeanor had taken a turn for the worst. Our family appeared to be crumbling, and failure seemed to be guaranteed, and I had no idea that something so bad at the time could later turn into such a blessing to so many lives. But when God steps in, extraordinary things begin to happen, things outside of your talents or capacity. You just know something greater than you has entered upon the scene, and has transformed a meaningless life into a life that is bearing fruit.
After Zach's transformation and rededication, I could sense a change in Chris. He was going to youth group, he was more attentive in church, and his attitude was gradually changing. He was following his big brother's lead. My wife and I had been praying for Chris's salvation for quite some time. He was fourteen, and we knew the older he got, the harder it would be for him to come to the realization of salvation. However, not only had Chris listened to Zach's personal testimony, he had witnessed, firsthand, the changes that God had made in his brother's life. I was blessed again, and brought to tears once more when, Chris got saved. It happened at a youth conference in Panama City, Florida. Our church had sent over thirty youth to Summer Extreme and Zach and Chris went. My wife got the call late one night from a friend who was there. I noticed my wife start to cry, and then she entered into a praise and worship service. Her friend had just relayed the news that Chris got saved. But what was really exciting and moving about this news was that Zach had accompanied Chris to the altar and prayed with him when Chris accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. As a father, I had always thought that I would be the one leading Chris to the altar, but I can honestly say that it was more gratifying to know that it was Zach. It was only seven or eight months ago that Zach was in no shape to witness, much less lead his brother to the altar or be a part in Chris's salvation experience.
I have said it on the front cover of this book, and understand the meaning of John 4:36-38, "One person may be given the responsibility by God to sow the seed, another to water it, and yet another may reap the harvest." A lot of Christians are not patient with their witnessing efforts; they are only concerned with reaping the harvest. As you grow spiritually, I am convinced that God will use you to experience all three stages at different times in your life. Not all three stages at the same time, but one stage for this particular person and another stage for a different person. Make yourself available for all three stages, and let God choose which one is right for you.
Summary of Lesson 1
Purpose of a Personal Testimony
• Scripture commands that we should be prepared to give a personal testimony. The First Letter of Peter 3:15 states, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
• It requires no special setting in which it must be shared and can be called on whenever and wherever you are.
• While many deny, ignore, and even reject the scriptures, it is very difficult for them to deny what you say happened in your life. Your story can give listeners cause to stop and think.
• Witnessing is a tool that can be used when sharing with a single person or a very large group or anything in between. It is a short, non-preachy, verbal summary of Christ's power.
Teaser: In the next session, we will be discussing the number one selling book of all time! Let your students guess what it is.
Chapter Two
Lesson 2
Introducing Scripture
Tip: Accept an authority for your life.
While watching a movie on TV, my youngest son would often ask, "Is this a true story, Dad?" He loved true stories. He wanted something he could take stock in, something he could trust. This is why it is so important that your child or children see that you identify with Christ inside the home as well as outside. Your life needs to be a true story to them; they desire a true story in a world full of drama. In other words, your walk and talk need to be congruent. Furthermore, it's important to show the authenticity of the Bible; you have to provide legitimate examples that can be corroborated through research and sound doctrine. The world is full of competing belief systems, some spiritual in nature, some philosophical, some simply self-serving, if not nihilistic, so the ability to position Christianity in the minds of our youth is always going to be a challenge.
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and it is one of the most quoted books. It has lasting exposure to the masses from generation to generation for over fifteen hundred years. It can be found in nightstands of millions of hotels. Our judicial system uses it to swear witnesses to "tell the truth and nothing but the truth." It has led revivals, and it has led countless souls to Christ, including death row inmates and those waiting to be paroled. Whatever need you have, the answer can be found in scripture. With this said, somehow it remains misunderstood, underapplied, and underutilized.
The good news is that the potential of the Bible is still alive and well. However, it is our responsibility to become students of the Word; not to stop at believing in what it says, but to digest it, consume it—in layman's terms, to study it.
Make sure, before you go any further, that you introduce your students to God. They need to know who God is before they are taught the things they must or must not do as believers. Spiritual growth is a process and growth cannot be forced. If you immediately begin teaching believers the "do's and don'ts" of the Christian life, you will lead them to legalism.
God's Nature
1. God has always existed. "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth ... from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." (Psalms 90:2).
2. "God is Spirit ..." (John 4:24).
3. God is all-powerful—He created earth from nothing. "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3).
4. God is all-knowing. "Great is our Lord ... His understanding has no limit." (Psalms 147:5).
5. God is everywhere at the same time. It is good to know He is with you and with others across the world. On the other hand, it may be frightening to know that God is present everywhere. If you do wrong, there is no place to hide. "Am I only a God nearby?" declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
6. God is holy and righteous—God demands the death penalty for sin (Romans 6:23).
7. God is loving—God makes a way for sinners to escape the punishment they deserve (Romans 6:23).
Strategically Studying the Word
Don't think for one second you can learn the scripture by just showing up on Sunday morning to hear a thirty-minute sermon and walking away with a life-changing understanding of the Word. In Living by the Book, coauthors Howard and William Hendricks asked a group of businessmen this question: "If you didn't know any more about your business or profession than you know about Christianity after the same number of years of exposure, what would happen?"
One guy blurted out, "They'd fire me." This guy was right. How can God use you more when you don't even know His nature? I have used this scenario before: imagine if I took an algebra class for thirty years. Would I not be an expert in algebra? Would I not be an honor student in algebra? Why is it that I have attended church for over thirty years, but I am not an expert on the Bible? Maybe it's because I was never taught how to strategically study it. Each Sunday's sermon is on a different topic. I find that it usually doesn't lead to a fuller understanding of the best-selling book.
Thus, it is each of our responsibility to study the scriptures for ourselves—not just from a topical point of view, but from beginning to end, getting the whole message, not just the ones we want to hear. Until we as Christians understand the importance of studying God's word, applying God's word, and sharing God's word, we will be mediocre students in God's classroom. Find a method, and use a method to study both the Old and the New Testaments. One resource that I would highly recommend is the book Stanger on the Road to Emmaus. It is a clear and simple explanation of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations.
How long have you been attending church—ten years, twenty years, thirty years, longer? Tell me, do your years of experience equate to your knowledge of the Bible? Some people who have attended church for thirty or even forty years can't quote ten verses out of the Bible or name the books of the Bible, but they believe in it. How does one integrate the message of the Holy Trinity when he or she doesn't understand or even read the instruction manual? Or, for that matter, how does someone pass an algebra test without studying or understanding its foundations?
God doesn't just dump the knowledge of the Bible into your head when you are saved. He expects you to enroll in His course of study. And the subject at hand for the rest of your Christian journey is the Bible. Day after day, He expects you to have perfect attendance in His classroom. Are you an A student, B,C, D, or are you failing His class? Are you wondering why He is so distant? Are you wondering why you don't know His will for your life? I can tell you why—you have too many absences, tardies, and detentions in God's classroom and your grade reflects it.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Mentoring Youth in Actionby Mark Stiles Copyright © 2011 by Mark Stiles. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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