Sermon Tone Analysis

What Every Teens Should Understand

Salvation has its responsibilities - this document assumes it;’s reads have accepted Christ

1. Obey God

You were created by God to live for him ().

You’ll only be happy if you do so.

At this stage, you’re probably starting to experience peer pressure to sin in some way Don’t give in.

It’s not worth it.

The things the world has to offer are temporarily gratifying.

But the things that God has to offer are eternally satisfying.

God is not a killjoy.

He has your greatest interests in mind.

The Bible really means it when it says that God is the only true source of satisfaction in this life.

2. Obey your parents

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John Calvin puts it this way:

John Calvin puts it this way:

“ . . .

we are to show them [Your parents] respect, obedience, and thankfulness, and to render to them every service possible.

For it is the Lord’s will that we should act like this to those who have given us life.

And it is of little importance whether they are worthy or unworthy of this honor for, whatever they may be, they have been given to us as father and mother by the Lord, who has willed that we should honor them.”

Ouch.

If you’re like me, Calvin’s quote convicts you.

I know that you probably think your parents are uncool, and they sometimes get on your nerves (believe me, you get on their nerves too).

But God ordained that they — yes, your mother and your father — would be your parents, and he commands that you obey them.

While I may sometimes disagree with my parents, I always regret it when I disobey them.

Obey your mom and pops.

3. Respect and Love Church leaders

Paul then calls the authorities as “God’s servant” and “ministers of God” (v.4,

v.6).

The words in Greek that Paul uses for these two verses is the exact same words that Paul uses when speaking about Christian ministers of the church elsewhere.

Here’s the point: God wants you to respect and obey them.

Paul says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” ().

Paul then calls the authorities as “God’s servant” and “ministers of God” (v.4,

v.6).

The words in Greek that Paul uses for these two verses is the exact same words that Paul uses when speaking about Christian ministers of the church elsewhere.

Here’s the point: God wants you to respect and obey them.

Many volunteer to serve and help you and put up with far more than you will ever know.How about help set up for Sunday school or ask what can I do to assist.

Youth group is not an after school program for entertainment but a time for people of similar age to grow in their walk with the Lord and fellowship together on a social basis.

One of the biggest problems with your generation and mine: a lack of respect for authority.

Whether it’s a police officer or tax collector or pastor or grandparent, you have to understand certain people have authority over you, and you have to obey.

The alternative is a dysfunctional life hopping from church to church and from Job to job as an adult.

4. Faithful to Sunday School /Church

To pick and choose the program you like and not attend the one you don't is not biblical.

God’s plan A is the church, and there’s no plan B. I hope and pray your parents are going to Sunday School.

If they’re not, ask them to start going.

Go to the summer camps.

Invite your friends to youth group.

Get involved right now.

Give your life, time, and energy to God’s program..

5. Develop a devotional life

When I say “devotional life” what I mean are things that you do in private to grow in godliness.

Focus in on Bible reading and prayer (but journaling, worship, scripture memorization, and other disciplines are helpful too).

Read the Gospels over and over again when I was a teenager, and it changed my life.

It is not an exaggeration that one of the best things you can impliment is the regular rhythm of personal devotions.

The value is incalculable.

When I say “devotional life” what I mean are things that you do in private to grow in godliness.

Focus in on Bible reading and prayer (but journaling, worship, scripture memorization, and other disciplines are helpful too).

Read the Gospels over and over again when I was a teenager, and it changed my life.

It is not an exaggeration that one of the best things you can impliment is the regular rhythm of personal devotions.

The value is incalculable.

6.

You probably shouldn’t be dating anyone

With that said, there are some who married their high school sweetheart.

These stories can happen, but they are few and far between, especially nowadays.

For every one couple that starts dating at your age and ends in success (marriage), there are hundreds that end in disaster.

With that said, there are some who married their high school sweetheart.

These stories can happen, but they are few and far between, especially nowadays.

For every one couple that starts dating at your age and ends in success (marriage), there are hundreds that end in disaster.

Tell your parents, tell your youth group leader, pray, and then proceed with great caution.

Tell your parents, tell your youth group leader, pray, and then proceed with great caution.

I didn’t date until I was 26 (and now we’re married!) and I don’t regret it one bit.

Sure, my life at times felt lonely when I was in my late teens and early twenties.

But the slight sting of loneliness is a far lesser pain than permeant heartache from someone of the opposite sex.

Again: you should probably wait before you date.

7 Be a giver not a taker

Do you help the youth leaders?

Do you ever encourage them?

Do you help clean and and serve others?

Do you tithe?

A taker will alway seek their own interest and will never rise to the level of a leader.

8. Re-Think Your Social Media Habits

I’ve written a lot about singleness, which you can find here.

Singleness is a blessing even if it sometimes feels like a curse.

Allow the Lord to shape your character as you look to him in this season.

8. Re-Think Your Social Media Habits

But a growing concern we’re using social media to create our identity.

The validation that you’re looking for, in Christ, you already have.

Have fun on social media.

Tweet what you’re thinking.

Share funny cat videos.

Send silly snap chats.

Give a few life updates on Facebook.

And be sure to follow people that edify you.

But don’t let it consume you.

If you have no adult to make you accountable then why?

BTW - you digital footprint is accessible to all future employers via background checks.

9. Get a job (if you can)

State on application you can not work Sunday’s and Wednesday’s and the employer must comply if hired.

10.

You can make a difference for Jesus right now

You don’t have to wait until you have gray hair to make a difference for Christ.

You don’t have to wait until you have gray hair to make a difference for Christ.

Read the book Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.