Junk Drawer

Every house has one. It’s the catch all for the out of place items. The junk drawer is a collection of, well, junk and so much more. As a child I loved opening the junk drawer to see what I could find. Whether it was a rubber band, batteries, a compass, my favorite pencil, I would always find some treasure that I had forgotten about. Sometimes I would find memories long forgotten, and other times something brand new would be there. The junk drawer contains fun, mystery and usefulness.

Problem with most junk drawers is they are unorganized. You have to first untangle a bunch of random items to find what you are looking for. But when you do it is rewarding to find what you were looking for.

This week we will be looking at a bunch of random aspects of life as we continue our Now and Later dating series in youth group. I called it junk drawer because there are all kinds of treasure to be found as we continue to discover God’s will for our life. Each year we have a question box that the students fill with awesome thoughts and questions. Then there are the topics yet to be discussed that need to be heard.

What worries me is that these good treasures are often relegated to the “junk drawer” of life and forgotten about for too long. The principles we talk about in Youth Group are based on how the Gospel intersects with daily life. They are lessons from the Word of God that guide us to a life that pleases God. My hope is that we continually go back to the Word of God to remember and learn the truth about how we are to live.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV)

As we learn about Jesus Christ and the amazing call He has placed the lives of those who choose to follow Him, we will see that everything we need for life and godly decisions is found in Him. Why do we look to our self, to our society, to the media, to our friends, etc. first? We can go straight to the Creator and see His plans for our life.

When we run to the Cross of Jesus we can have confidence that He will do a mighty work in and through us. We will find blessings beyond description and hope for a future that pleases God.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

You want to know what???

Each year I like to take a few weeks and talk about dating and relationships with my youth group. It has become a favorite topic in youth group. Maybe it’s because teens are all hopped up on hormones and want permission to date. Maybe it’s because they think they are going to get the secret clue to winning that special persons heart. However, I think it’s because we talk about how the Gospel and life collide in a very real and tangible way.

You see, the average teen is asking, “how far can I go without sinning?” Have you ever heard that question? Have you asked that question? In that question you are revealing something about yourself. You show your true desire and are catering to the sinful nature inside. It is that sinful nature we need to put to death. Instead, we teach that you have to ask a new question, a better question. “How pure can I be for Jesus?” or “How can I reflect Jesus in my relationships?” Those are the questions we should be concerned with.

God demands of us to “be holy as I am holy!” That is simply something we cannot do on our own. So He provided a way for us through Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the beautiful story of how God sacrificed His Son for us so that we might live. We have been bought and paid for by Jesus! Now He wants us to love Him. He says in John 14:15 that the evidence of our love for Him is obeying His commandments. He has given us a lot to think about when it comes to relationships.

It begins with this, “who do you say that I (Jesus) am?”  Depending on your answer will determine your direction in relationships. If you say you are a follower of Jesus, that He is your Lord, then you have no choice but to obey His commands. The joy is this, that obeying His commands brings life (John 10:10). Why then do we fight it. Trust Jesus, obey His commands and watch as He begins to make all things new, including your relationships!

Fun and Regrets...dating series for youth group number 2

****In the wake of a horrible tragedy in Boston, an act of senseless violence that brings more questions then answers, I want to encourage us all to pray for the victims and their families. It is moments like these that I am reminded of how sinful this world really is. We are all in desperate need of a Savior, Jesus Christ, to heal our sinful and wounded hearts with His love. May you be a vessel to carry His love and Good News to somebody this week. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)****

I love working with teens! Young, maturing minds that are hungry to know more and grow closer to God. Culture often writes them off as being unruly or immature, but that is only because that is the voiced expectation that has been placed on them. Really they want to be pushed and challenged, yet somehow we fail them and allow the popular norms to permeate their thinking. Many have succumbed to placing a higher value on fun then substance.

Many times the first question I hear when inviting a teen to a youth event is “am I going to have fun?” Or I hear “my son doesn’t want to go to church because it isn’t any fun for him.” Sometimes when I ask a student why they are dating their girlfriend/boyfriend the response is “I don’t know…we are just having fun.”

Everyone likes to have fun, but when fun becomes an ultimate value we begin to idolize it. We will sacrifice substance and values to attain a subjective fleeting value. When fun becomes a motivating factor it leads us to make bad decisions. In dating and relationships, fun can be compelling and exciting but also very destructive.

The fun and excitement of pursuing or being pursued can be intoxicating. Sometimes the fun of it becomes overwhelming and clouds decisions leading to sinful mistakes. For others, the initial excitement begins to wear off and they begin to push the limits to feel the fun and excitement. This leads to an accelerated pace of an already bad situation. What’s next? Teenage pregnancy, STDs, raw emotions, alienation from family, friends and God or at the very least a broken heart.

What happens then? Is a person worthless because they went against God’s plan? No way! One mistake, or many mistakes, does not change the value of you! Yet when someone finds himself or herself in that place they often feel like they deserve to punish themselves by making more mistakes. Others convince themselves that God would never accept them back so they continue in their sin.

It is so important that we understand the truth of the Gospel and share it. When we sin God has provided a way through Jesus Christ to find forgiveness and hope. If we come to God and confess our sins He will forgive (1 John 1:9). Not only that but, through Jesus, He will begin a new work in our hearts. Never let past sins define your future. Confess and turn to Jesus and see what kind of future He has planned for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

When we begin to see life through the lens of the Gospel, we will see that God wants us to have a blessed life that is substantial. He wants us to reflect His glory to the world (Matthew 5:16) and when we do this, we will see that following God is…well, fun I guess, without regrets tied to it!

Dangers and Delights: seeking God's will in dating relationships

***overview of lesson for youth group***

Edmond finds himself suddenly in snowy woods, where just moments before he was in a wardrobe. As he begins to gather his senses a sleigh approaches carrying a beautiful queen.  This queen offers to care for Edmond and magically gives him what ever he desires, which is Turkish Delight. She appeals to Edmond’s desire to be recognized and to have his way. She offers to make him a prince and maybe even kingship if he would do as she says and bring his siblings to her. It becomes apparent that the Turkish Delight is enchanted and begins a evil work in Edmond. His desire for more Turkish Delight becomes overwhelming and He is willing to do whatever the evil witch wants. 

This scene from C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” gives us some lessons and truths to consider as we begin our dating and relationship series called “Now and Later: preparing for a lifetime commitment that glorifies God.” Though the fictional magic does not exist, there is a “magic” to all romantic encounters. There is a draw and enticement that is exciting and dangerous. As Edmond selfishly fulfilled his appetite for Turkish Delight he began to die a little inside. His self-centered attitude manifests as he becomes biting toward his sisters and almost cruel at times.

The truth is, when we pursue selfish delights apart from God’s plan it will cost us something. The allure is enticing and enchanting. We seek to fulfill our own selfish desires and that costs us in other areas. We begin to pull away from healthy friendships and relationships. We think we can hide our sins, however they build and ultimately begin to destroy us.

Dangers and Delights is the honest look at how attraction to another person is natural. As we grow older we desire relationships to take different forms. Too often we just follow our natural impulses and find ourselves making mistakes. God has not left us alone to figure this out, but has given us clear principals in the Bible to follow. We will see that as we honor His commands He will give us more then we could have ever imagined.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(Psalm 37:4 ESV) 

When Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10), he promises it in the midst of the truth that the enemy has come to destroy life. Obeying our own selfish desires is to be caught up in a system that leads to destruction and God has called us to so much more. Learning how to date and pursue relationships in a way that first brings glory and honor to Jesus is difficult at first, but get easier. It might be hard on the front end, but it leads to relationship that has God’s blessings on it.

A Priority in my youth ministry...student teachers

Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “It is always easier to do something yourself then try to get someone to do the same thing for you.” I am the type of person that loves to figure out the best, easiest and fastest ways of doing things. In doing so, I often forget the long form steps and jump right to the shortcuts. Well, shortcuts do not teach well. Often times a task can take two or three times the amount of time trying to show someone else how to do it. It is exactly this task that should be the primary focus of pastoral ministry.

“Catch a fish for somebody and they have a meal, teach them how to fish for themselves and they can eat for a lifetime.” This phrase has so much truth in it because you are investing in the life of someone. Paul told Timothy “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). One person can only do so much, but when you teach others to do it too you multiply yourself and your effectiveness.

This week we are going to have a lesson in youth group on priorities taught by one of my students, Jeremy Roth. It can be risky to give a teenager the opportunity to teach youth group, but it can also be the foundation of great growth. Paul instructs in Ephesians that the ministry of a pastor is to train the “flock” to do “the work of the ministry.” Just because it is easier to do it myself, doesn’t mean that is what I am supposed to do.

Over the past few months I have realized that I need to prioritize the involvement of teens in the youth group ministry here at Lakeside Christian Church. We have seen tremendous growth in our group numerically and in spiritual depth and I attribute the majority of this growth the students involvement in “Take 5” and “Testimony” times.

“Take 5” is where we take 5 minutes to share how God is working in us to reach someone with the Gospel, some ministry we did or how God is teaching us. Each week several teens share something God is doing! It is exciting to hear how God is working in the teens lives, but even more so, teens hear from their peers how to live for Jesus everyday!

“Testimony” time has been giving the teens opportunity to share their “God story” with the group. This is a short story of what they were like before they came to Jesus, how they met Jesus and how Jesus has changed their life. This is an un-coached time where I allow the students to share what is on their heart. I’ve learned so much about each teen who has participated and so has the group. When teens start opening up about real life issues in front of their peers amazing things begin to happen.

And now I am beginning to have teens teach their peers the Bible during lesson time. Several of the students have showed a desire to teach and I am excited to let them do it! It is a priority to allow students to learn how to study the Bible and present what they have learned in a way that challenges other students to pursue Jesus through His Word.

It is because someone was willing take a big risk giving me my first opportunity that I am here today! I hope and pray that the students will be open to finding out what gifts God has given them and how they can use it for God’s glory!