Why bring your Bible?

This question is probably on many of your minds. How do I know this? Because I wondered the same thing when I was a teenager. I felt inconvenienced when I had to carry something. Still to this day, I hate carrying things! When my wife and I go shopping, half of the time I won't buy anything because I do not want to drag it around with me the whole time we are in the mall. So why do we need to bring our Bibles with us to church? The Pastor or Youth Pastor is going to get up and read it anyhow so what is the use!

Here are some excuses that I have heard:
1. I have it all memorized (yeah right!)
2. I forgot it in my car :)
3. I forgot it at home
4. I can barely come to church much less bring my Bible
5. My Bible is on my cell phone and I look up scriptures in between text messaging
6. Show me a scripture that says I have to bring a Bible
7. It is too heavy to carry

Hmmm...do any of these sound familiar? Let's look at some reasons that I believe are answers to this never ending teenage question:

1. Helps you check out the source
We all know that it is always good to listen intently to the sermon or preaching, but as you do, even as the preacher is speaking, check out the source - the scripture verse - find out where exactly it was written. Not really to verify if the speaker is right, but simply to note where it is, so you could keep the verse handy for your own sake when church and you are out in the world. So that when trouble arises (and you don’t know when it will) you can be assured in knowing where to find God’s promises to comfort yourself and to comfort others. When you find the scripture verse, then you also remember what your preacher told you about the verse. Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2. Helps you follow along
How many times have you day dreamed in church? Now that you have answered with a low number, go ahead and tell the truth! We all are apt to daydreaming if we do not purposely try to stay focused on what the preacher is saying. What can help this? Opening your Bible and following along. When I sit there staring at the preacher or walls or whatever and am just listening to him read...I begin to think about everything else BUT what he is reading. Why do you think they make you have text books in school...so you can SEE what the teacher is reading and follow along!

3. Helps you get familiar with the Word of God
Take note of the book, chapter, and verse. Then quickly thumb through your Bible to see exactly where it is. After you find it, get back to listening. When you do this, you actually get familiar with the Word of God. When you get familiar with it, you will know exactly where to find the right verse at the right time. At first, it might not be easy to find the verses as fast, but it takes practice, familiarization, and constant turning of pages. And the best time to practice that is during church. I have seen many teens and adults who cannot find books in the Bible because they A. do not bring their Bible or B. do not follow along and try.

4. Helps make it YOUR Bible
We need to begin to take ownership of our Bible. Carry your Bible to church. Make it YOUR personal Bible. Practice opening it, thumbing to the scripture verses. Even write small notes on it, as you listen to the speaker. You will find the value of this when the time comes, when the preacher is not around, when it is only you and God. II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

My prayer, when writing this, was not to make myself feel better or the pastor to feel better seeing all of the teens carrying their Bibles to church BUT to help you in your spiritual walk! I do not just like a list of rules and regulations... I like to be told why. I hope this helps you to understand the question of why do I need to bring my Bible to church!

Will You Deny Christ?

Will you deny Christ? Most of us would answer that question with a big "NO WAY!"

There was a man in the Bible who would have definitely told you that there is no way that he would deny Christ. Just a few days later that is the exact thing that he did but he did not deny Christ just once. He denied Christ three times. Here we have the passage of Peter denying Christ: Matthew 26:69-75  Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  70  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  71  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.  72  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.  74  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  75  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

For most of us that would say "No, I would not deny Christ in a million years!" Sadly, our actions are speaking louder than our words. We deny Christ on a daily basis...we deny him in the locker room, on the football field, in the classroom, at the lunch table, in the hallways, at our friend's house, etc... We would never say it but we do with the way we act, the way we treat others, and the way we live our lives. When someone asks you on Monday what you did Sunday and your answer is "I just hung out;" you have denied Christ. When you stand there and listen to that dirty joke with all the guys instead of walking away; you have denied Christ. When you are making fun of that person that is less fortunate than you just to make others laugh and make yourself feel better; you have denied Christ. There are many other examples that I could give but I think you are getting the point. It is about time for us "Christians" to stop hiding in the dark and trying to "fit in" with the world. No, I am not saying for you to go out and preach at everyone and tell them how they are such horrible sinners. I am saying that we need to take a stand for Christ. We have camouflaged ourselves too long with the world. It is a sad thing for you to be friends with someone for months and years and them not even know that you go to church and that you are a Christian! Will you deny Christ in your everyday life or will you make an effort to be different in the coming weeks? Will you say, "I want to make a stand for Christ and I do not care if anyone says anything about me... I want to live my life for Christ!" We are here for you and will do whatever we can to help you with your Christian walk!

Yielded's Got Talent

Each and everyone of you have a talent or many talents. What are you doing with those talents? Are you hiding them to where no one can see them or maybe you are using them for the wrong reasons. Maybe it is to get people to notice you or for your own glory. It does not matter what your excuse is because we are to all be using our talent(s) to bring honor and glory to the Lord! We need to remember where our talents have come from and how the Lord has blessed us with the things we are good at! You may say well my talent is not anything special...whatever your talent is...God can use it! God can use you as a spiritual leader on the basketball court, volleyball court, football field, soccer field, in the recital hall, in youth group, etc...wherever! Many have been used by God to others be saved just by the way they acted on whatever field they were on or in the whatever class they were in. God is looking for some teens to step up and use their talents for Him! The question is will you? In I Timothy 4:12 we see that Paul is writing to Timothy tell him, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Even as a teenager, you can be an example in the way you speak, live, love, and treat others. Each teenager in Yielded's Student Ministry has talent and we each need to use those talents to bring glory to God and help win others for Christ.

Pray this week that God will use your talent(s) in a great way to help others come to Him!

How Do You Talk to Him?

Is God just a Santa Clause to you or is He really real in your life? I say "Santa Clause" because sometimes the only times that we come to God is just because we want something. We bow to our knees and begin reading off our list of wants. Now don't get me wrong, God loves to hear what we want and need as it says in 1Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. However, sometimes that is the only reason we come to God.

We learned a few weeks ago in Sunday School that there are different types of prayers and we should be praying to God using all of these types. They are found in I Timothy 2:1, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Here are the four different types: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. First of all, "supplications” indicates requests for benefits or needs. Number two, “Prayers” refers to prayers in general, although it can be more focused when additional words accompany it. Most often found in petitions, it may also emphasize bringing the object of the prayer before God for His general blessing and care. The third word, “intercessions,” is the same thing as an appeals. It emphasizes urgent and bold access. Intercession pictures someone who asks a king for a favorable response on behalf of others- here we see that it is on behalf of “all.”  The last term, “giving of thanks,” reminds us to not only make requests but to add thankfulness alongside.

Prayer is essential in our lives. God wants to hear from us on a daily basis. Have you talked to Him today?