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Youth and Young Related
Didn’t Start on Time, Eccles. 12:1
A
man came rushing up to a ferry, breathless after running at a terrific pace,
but he got there just as the gateman shut the door in his face.
A bystander remarked, “You didn’t run fast enough.”
The disappointed man answered, “I ran fast enough, but I didn’t start on time.”
To accomplish the most for God in a lifetime, you
must start in early—“in the days of your youth” (Eccles. 12:1, NIV) ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
We conducted a
three-phase experiment at Rockford College, and used over 100 college graduates
who were preparing for youth ministry.
In the first phase:
We took a young volunteer from the room and blindfolded him. We simply told him
that when he returned, he could do anything he wished. He remained outside the
room while we instructed each audience member to think of a simple task for the
volunteer to do. When the volunteer returned, they were to shout their
individual instructions at him from where they sat. Prior to this, we privately
instructed another person to shout a very specific task at the blindfolded
volunteer as though it were a matter of life and death. This person was to attempt
to persuade the blindfolded volunteer to climb the steps at the back of the
auditorium and embrace an instructor who was standing at the door; he had to
shout this vital message from where he sat in the audience. The volunteer was
oblivious to all instructions and previous arrangements. The volunteer
represented our young people, the audience represented the world of voices
screaming for their attention, and the person with the vital message
represented those of us who bring the message of the Gospel to youth. The
blindfolded student was led back into the room. The lecture room exploded in a
din of shouting. Each person tried to get the volunteer to follow his or her
unique instructions. In the midst of the crowd, the voice of the person with
the vital message was lost; no single message stood out. The blindfolded
student stood paralyzed by confusion and indecision. He moved randomly and
without purpose as he sought to discern a clear and unmistakable voice in the
crowd.
The second phase: We
told the audience about the person attempting to get the volunteer to
accomplish the vital task. At this point we chose another person from the
audience to add a new dimension. This person's goal was to, at all costs, keep
the volunteer from doing the vital task. While the rest of the audience was to
remain in their seats, these two people were allowed to stand next to the
volunteer and shout their opposing messages. They could get as close as they
wished; however, they were not allowed to touch the volunteer. As the
blindfolded volunteer was led back into the room, the shouting began again.
This time, becaue the two messengers were standing so close, the volunteer
could hear both messages; but because the messages were opposed to each other,
he vacillated. He followed one for a bit, then was convinced by the other to go
the opposite direction. In order for young people to hear our message we must
get close to them. Even then, there are others with opposing messages who also
are close enough to make their messages clear. Sometimes they are peers,
relatives...The main lesson: only the close voices could be heard. Even though
the volunteer took no decisive action, at least he heard the message.
The third phase: The
response to the third phase was startling. In this phase everything remained
the same except the one with the vital message was allowed to touch the
volunteer. He could not pull, push or in any way force the volunteer to do his
bidding; but he could touch him, and in that way encourage him to follow. The
blindfolded volunteer was led into the room. When he appeared, the silence
erupted into an earsplitting roar. The two messengers stood close, shouting
their opposing words. Then, the one with the vital message put his arm gently
around the volunteer's shoulder and leaned very close to speak directly into
his ear. Almost without hesitation, the volunteer began to yield to his
instruction. Occasionally he paused to listen as the opposition frantically
tried to convince him to turn around. But then, by the gentle guidance of
touch, the one with the vital message led him on. A moment of frightening
realism occurred spontaneously as the one with the vital message drew close to
the goal. All those in the audience, who up to this point had been shouting
their own individual instruction, suddenly joined in unison to keep the
volunteer from taking those final steps. Goose bumps appeared all over my body
as students began to chant together, "Don't go!" "Don't
go!" "Don't go!" So many times I've seen the forces that pull our
youth in different directions join together to dissuade them from a serious
commitment to Christ. The chant grew to a pulsing crescendo, "Don't
go!" "Don't go!" But the guiding arm of the one with the vital
message never left the volunteer's shoulder. At the top of the stairs in the
back of the lectrure hall, the one with the vital message leaned one last time
to whisper in the ear of the volunteer. There was a moment of hesitation, then
the volunteer threw his arms around the instructor and the auditorium erupted
in cheers and applause.
When the volunteer
revealed how he felt as he went through each phase, it became apparent that if
our mesage is to be heard, we cannot shout it from the cavernous confines of
our church buildings. We must venture out and draw close to those with whom we
wish to communicate. If we really seek a life-changing commitment from our
young people, we also must reach out where they are and in love, gently touch
them and lead them to that commitment. We asked the volunteer why he followed
the one with the vital message, the one who touched him. After a few moments he
said, "Because it felt like he was the only one who really
cared." ── Ken Davis, How To Speak To Youth, pp 19-23.
Youth
Youth
is such a wonderful thing, it’s a shame to waste it on the young.— George
Bernard Shaw
Lying, cheating, and
stealing are becoming an "acceptable norm" among high-school and
college students, says Ralph Wexler, speaking for the Joseph and Edna Josephson
Institute of Ethics. In a recent survey, the Institute reported that 61 percent
of the high-school and 32 percent of the college students polled admitted to
having cheated on an exam during the past year; 33 percent of the high-school
and 16 percent of college students said they'd stolen something in the last
year; and 16 percent of the high-school and 32 percent of the college students
said they'd lied on a resume or job application. ── National and
International Religion Report, quoted in Signs of the Times, June 1993,
Page 6.
Surveys in 1986:
70% of high school grads leave the church, never to return
65% of evangelical teens never read their Bibles
33% believe religion is out of date and out of touch
40% of all teens believe in astrology
30% read astrology column daily
93% know their sign
58% of protestant teens believe students should have access to contraceptives.
25% of high school students contract some form of V.D.
42% of protestant teens say there are many ways to God.
60% question that miracles are possible
28% feel the content of the Bible are not accurate.
According to surveys in 1990:
65% of all H.S. Christian students are sexually active
75% of all H.S. students cheat regularly
30% of all H.S. students have shoplifted in the past 30 days
45-50% of all teen pregnancies are aborted
3.3 million teens are alcoholics
1000 teens try to commit suicide daily
10% of H.S. students have experimented with or are involved in a homosexual
lifestyle.
── Bruce Wilkinson, 7
Laws of the Learner.
Survey results from
youth attending Southern Baptist summer activities: 22% witnessed violence in
their homes. 27% had been involved in a physical attack. 19% had considered
suicide. 20% had engaged in sexual intercourse. Nearly 60% had experimented
with alcohol by age 13. 27% had tried drugs by that same age. 9% had
experienced some kind of sexual violence. ── Scocaster, publication of
Scofield Memorial Church, July 11, 1993.
"THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN"
INTRODUCTION
1. Lessons are often presented on the subject of "Home and Family"... a. Discussing the challenges of marriage and parenting b. Describing the responsibilities of spouses, parents, and children 2. In many cases, little is said concerning those who are single... a. Perhaps because the "nuclear" family is assumed to be the norm b. Yet many are single, and may feel left out [The Bible does have things to say about being single. As we considerwhat is said, perhaps it may be beneficial to begin by answering somequestions...] I. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN
A. WHY WOULD ANYONE BE SINGLE...? 1. Some may be single by circumstance a. Such as women who have never been asked to marry b. Such as men who have not yet found a woman to accept their proposal c. Such as those who are divorced, perhaps through no fault of their own d. Such as those who are widowed, suffering the loss of their spouse e. Such as those too young to marry, or too sick, etc. 2. Some may be single by choice a. Perhaps they prefer the single life on its own merits b. Perhaps they have chosen to remain single for other reasons 1) Jesus said some would be single for the sake of the kingdom - cf. Mt 19:11-12 2) Paul considered his singleness a "gift from God" - cf. 1 Co 7:7-8 3) Some may simply not be drawn toward the opposite sex 3. Sometimes, circumstances make being single the best choice a. As in times of persecution - cf. 1 Co 7:25-28 b. Or in times of war, tragedies, etc. -- With so many possible reasons, we should be careful not topresume why one is single
B. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BEING SINGLE...? 1. Freedom from care a. As in times of distress or persecution - cf. 1 Co 7:26-28,