=1 Parable of Introduction

The edge of the deep angry gorge is less than a foot in front of my two feet. My gray hair, hand tremors and aches that remind me daily that my time is running out. My mind quickly flashes much of my life in searching for moments I could claim as moments I had made big advances for humanity and my Savior Jesus Christ. None seem to stand out. The aching within me grabs me at this moment with more force than I can remember.

As though I was standing before the very throne of God, my heart pleads my case to be given a God-honoring task that I could apply my 71 years of experience. Almost as a heavenly answer, I hear a shout from the other side of the gorge that produces an echoing cry, I will never be able to forget. The cry from across the ever widening gorge is distinct. “HELP ME! NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME! HELP ME! NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME!”

In a way almost scary, I realize that my own heart has been afraid to shout the very same words about myself. Somehow I sense that God is at work. As I retrieve my binoculars from their carrying case, my mind's eye imagines a bridge being built across the gorge. Adjusting the focus on my binoculars, I see the person crying for help across the deep chasm. Burned into my eyes and memory, I see a teenager waving his arms at me as though he was waving for attention from a deserted island, at a rescue plane flying over him. Though both my hands were tightly gripping my field glasses, they felt more like they were straining at the controls of a rescue plane flying overhead. I sense that God is up to something; something that involves me.

=2 Golden Seniors

We'll learn: Why our maturing season of life is called Golden and how to keep it that way.

For the tasks ahead of us, this workshop addresses – we silver-top seniors are the best equipped and likely the only ones to step-up-to-the-plate of service for our Savior. Many of Satan's lies force us to unhappily sit on the bench and assume we're too old or out of style to pick up a bat or glove.

The emptiness of our daily routine is filled with extra naps that robs us of quality night time rest.

Gold is precious and never gets old, it never rusts, and oddly enough, is vital in keeping computer stuff working, whether handheld phones or satellites deep in space.

We see a few glimpses of Godly principles and promises and how they become far more precious than yellow gold metal.

Name your most valued or funniest hand-me-down you've RECEIVED. Give reasons.

Check out two powerful 'hand-me-down' verses: 2Timothy 2:2 and Psalm 71:18.

Discuss why they are different, but both needed. How do they apply to you?

Learning or Living

Never in the existence of Planet Earth, have we had more data, on-line libraries of sounds, sights, search tools, and studies. The access to all of it is 24/7 and almost free and too often distracting, wasteful, and increasingly just plain evil. It's all packaged with so much flair and fashion, we easily become addicted to it, even before our little ones begin kindergarten. It's no wonder most of our silver-top generation are fearful of it. Take a moment to discuss the fruitless efforts of technology to police itself. On a scale of 10, do you think technology will ever provide our young families with responsible God-honoring on-line resources?

This makes our silver-top senior generation the only reliable compassionate source for handing down life principles – both physical and spiritual. At home can you think of some Bible characters that did a good job, or bad job of passing on those life principles?

The Big Lie

Satan keeps whispering in our ear that we have no business trying to mentor (teach, often one-to-one) teens unless we have become a walking Bible encyclopedia of all Bible questions a person would ever think of asking us. If you are a Born-Again Bible Believing Christian, you already have knowledge of most all the basics needed to begin mentoring most every teenager. But far more valuable, is your EXPERIENCE in LIVING out those truths in your own life. That can't be gleaned from computers.

Soft speaking from a heart full of compassionate basic truths, for the one hearing you can break down most of the largest of mountains. And maybe even point a broken teenage heart to the Savior.

The efforts are easily more precious than fine gold... Try it. Little steps first... right?

=3 Hurting Teenagers

We'll Learn: Begin learning about teen growing years from our own past.

We've been there...done that; growing through teen growing years.

How are your own long-ago (family life) teen growing years different from today? We're not playing 'the Blame Game' here, but to see that just in family life alone, there is much for us mentoring seniors to take into consideration.

As a boy, I fondly remember the quiet times I spent fishing with dad. He certainly didn't have all the answers to life, but I give him an A for listening to me. Make a list of four people or groups that should be listening to today's teens. Grade each one of them.

As best as you can, describe an on-line social network. Describe what it is that causes youth to spend 6 and 7 hours A DAY in it (including half the night).

To help cut through some of our own traditional cobwebs, describe what you might imagine a heaven-managed social network would be like. How would it serve today's teenagers?

Using serious thought, why do you think that teens are leaving 'the church' (and taking their future leadership with them)?

Do you think teens see the selected use of technology in presentation and administration tasks in churches but never in Bible based messages and missions evangelistic calls?

Social networking programs make connection with half a BILLION others. How would you challenge teens to share God-honoring messages instead of discussing trivial fashion and peer activity?

What would those messages be like? Give examples.

How do you think the present employment situation affects teens? (their own job prospects and that of their parents?)

What thoughts do you have, when you see a teen with orange hair, or a girl with excessive facial jewelry and spooky use of black face cosmetics? If one of these teens told you they had much greater fear of their future, than you could ever have of them, what would you then think?

Be very honest with yourself. Do you believe God has any less power or less control now than when He split the Red Sea for Moses and the nation of fearful backsliders He sacrificed the very best that Heaven had to offer?

Is there just one boy and one girl teen you can diligently pray for each and every day, with more than just a few words?

How would you feel if that teen had been, and still is, watching you, for hope in their troubled soul?

Next, we'll begin the SENT Trio, to learn our marching authority, and associated elements.

=4 Our Marching Orders

We'll learn: This SENT Trio helps us to understand our marching authority, and associated elements.

It was badly broken and must be fixed immediately. The unity of the hand-picked team of disciples was not in any shape to get their plan and launch out in loving leadership spreading the Gospel of salvation and service to the world. In writing to the Jews about Jesus, Matthew caps off his book with the simple marching orders, God has inspired him to put in writing for you and I.

If you built a bolts 'n beams steel bridge across a deep dark chasm, it's easily seen the whole bridge must be a well-built unit with all the parts in their proper place, and of the highest quality. That bridge will be no stronger than its weakest part. What are some other examples where one weak link destroys the unity and power of the whole? Could this principle also be applied to all the principles and activities within our own character and manner of living?

Matthew 28:17 tells us 'that some doubted'. Christ's team of disciples had some bad parts and needed to be fixed immediately with simple powerful authoritatively direct marching orders. Just like a great football coach would hope to do, the 'players', the disciples got it straight and simple enough to be able to write the exact words on their hearts and in their minds.

'All power'. - we easily see this all refers to energy; force to move people or processes in the desired direction. But it also refers to authority. Jesus reminded his team, and us, that He ALONE has the responsibility and approval, from His heavenly Father to command the team of disciples, that includes us too. It's crucial here, to realize that Satan and his demons have only the power that Jesus allows them to have. When Christ says He's in control, that means EVERYTHING!

'Go ye'. - Jesus says, “Don't let some preacher or church committee do the work. YOU GO!” How would you have liked sitting in that team group and look into the eyes of the One with power that mankind can't begin to describe? His eyes reach into your soul saying to “get on your hard hat and tool belt and launch out.”

'Teaching all Nations' – I think it's just wonderful that God gave us the word 'ALL'. It's so clean and simple. There is no room for debate or discussion about where and how much. All is all. Any 8 year old will tell you all is 'nothing left out'. Our outreach to teens and others, extends beyond our own family, church, neighborhood, and nation. In Acts 1:8, the church (that's us) is given its marching orders in an interesting way. The church's outreach was to include 'in Samaria'. You can think of the Samaritans (from the Jewish point of view) as being half-breeds, outcasts, worthless appearing. I can imagine Jews today looking at our teens with orange hair, excessive black makeup, chains hanging all over themselves, and saying, “Boy. Those teens are about like Samaritans – no good, worthless, the rotten apples in our barrel of good church folks.” Name some other groups of souls that may never truly lovingly hear the gospel because of prejudice and unfounded bias.

'Teaching them to observe ALL' – What are we to teach all these nations and teens with orange hair? The answer is simple... what Jesus has taught us. This is the supreme act of spreading the word. If you are a person with enlarged 'bragging bones'... here is your chance. Speaking about Christ and His blessings to us – you just can't possibly exaggerate. Isn't that great... I mean – GREAT!

'I am with you, always' – Is there any part of the word 'always' you don't understand? You need to teach the meaning of this truth to others today... time is running out... GO YE!

=5 Our Perfect 'How-To' Manual

This SENT Trio is helping us to understand our marching authority, our mission plans, and outcome of our efforts in mentoring teenagers in our neighborhood.

We've just seen our authority for reaching out to teens, in the previous segment. But the next part, at first seems like a toughy. It has to do with the word “CHRISTIAN” and the word “CREATED”.

Most of us know the word, CHRISTIAN means to be Christ-like. The name was used as a title of the disciples in Antioch, in southern Turkey. And we know we were created in God's image.

But most people only think of Jesus as a baby in the manger, or a great teacher in robe and sandals that taught people by telling stories about heavenly truths. He also did lots of miracles. But what do we know about Jesus in between? Did Jesus have trouble getting his homework done? Did he have to take out the garbage or fix a wagon wheel? How do we know what Jesus was like as a teenager, so we can use him as a role model; a hero, to mentor today's teenagers. Does God give us any clues? Absolutely YES! A great deal, in fact. But let's start with an important promise about God's guiding hand.

2Timothy 3:16, 17, promise us God's written word, our Bible is missing nothing that we'll need to mentor (disciple, teach, usually one-to-one) teenagers and EVERY generation we minister to, around us, or over the horizon. Check out both verses, with special emphasis on 'all good works'.

While there are powerful guiding principles for mentoring teens, all throughout scripture, I especially like the chapter that teaches us VOLUMES about Jesus as a teenager and how we can help teenagers to reshape their lives to be 'like Christ'. The second chapter of the the book of Luke has a great deal to teach us about those teenage years. It will take careful quiet study to see all the diamonds of truth there.

We've put together a resource that brings much of this to light for our leading.

This free resource is called JESUS AS TEENAGER and can be accessed at jesusasteen.blogspot.com.

=6 Victory Assured

I love to win! Who doesn't? And to know ahead of time you'll win is almost a dream. As we live and learn of Jesus Christ, His life and love for each of us, we hear the words hope, faith, trust, and others that don't quite have a rock-hard definition to them. It's hard to create a picture of them in your mind.

When God's word gives us a promise with a guarantee with it, it's easier to visualize. The phrase, “...shall doubtless come again,” is something that I can visualize and really rejoice in. This is the kind of Christian walk we need to enjoy as we reach out to teens with God's written promises and assurances. Let's see our example in greater detail, in Psalms 126, starting in verse 5. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Do you see the guarantee there? It's in the word 'shall'; not maybe, could be or anything else. SHALL means it's going to happen, if the proper steps are taken as specified. The promise as stated, is a little vague, because we have to know what we need to sow.

Somewhere I heard an old preacher say that if you need to have some part of scripture explained to you, the Bible is the best thing to do it. Most often we just need to take a closer look at it. That is often done by getting on our knees for a closer study.

In this case, the next verse gives us needed detail. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Our guarantee word is reinforced with 'shall doubtless'. The verse tells us that 'precious seed' (God's Word) is to be sown. We also see the added phrase describing the reason for rejoicing. “Bringing his sheaves with him.” That's a farmer's metaphor for bringing a soulwinner's harvest with him.

When we win at something, we rejoice. I find the 'joy' in verse 5 becomes 'rejoicing' in verse 6. In my thinking, joy (that we'll talk about later) becomes a more outward and contagious 'rejoicing'.

What grabs my attention most, is the 'tears' in verse 5 and the 'weeping' in verse 6.

We shed tears at the passing of a loved one, or hearing of a mistreated child. We easily shed tears watching a movie or book. What are some other things in your life, that prompts tears?

But it's almost like we have no more tears for the lost condition of a soul, young or old. This is especially true with our thoughts of teens and their desperate search for someone to care for them, that they physically cut themselves. They attempt to hide their inner pain with outer pain and odd appearances.

So, the bottom line is that on one side of the teen bridge, we have the marching orders, the Bible directives and assurance of victory. On the other side of the bridge are teens that react with all levels of self destruction and help cries. The simple-to-understand catalyst to bring hope and full joy to the teen, and fulfillment to you and I, is tears. Tears that come from our heart and won't settle for anything less than action; action directed by God and His word.

=7 The Leading From Behind Quartet

No one is willing to be told how or what to do, by someone they know has no knowledge of the challenges, tasks, or abilities of the one being told. And it makes the circumstances doubly ugly, when the leader has no compassion or patience to ask or learn what those challenges, tasks, or abilities are. Wise business leaders continually seek ideas and suggestions from those they lead. This is profoundly true in the home also. When teens see parents listening and leading like this, it cultivates an ongoing harmony that Satan's efforts are no match for. How can this take place?

Youth, especially teens, are leaving churches in droves, never to return, because the church treats their awkward lifestyle as a leprous contagious disease that should be quarantined away from the group. It's odd those churches haven't given any serious thought about who the church's future leaders will be or where they will acquire their spirituality, and God-pleasing manner of living.

The Leading From Behind Quartet is simply:

Listening, Learning, Loving, and Leading. (Always in that order)

Caution: It's important for the teen to know, up-front, that you know how to keep private things private; that the only one you'll discuss these things with, is God, in your daily prayer for them. Be super careful your actions and friendships are actively, or passively chaperoned. Further cautions are available by searching on-line.

Listening – As silver-top senior mentors, we must be continually tuned to God's will for us, and also how we are to reach out to teens. Also, we need to deeply listen to the youth, when they just want to 'hang-out' with someone... someone they can just bounce their ideas off of. Fully listening without stacking up rules and quick replies, is a powerful skill that should be practiced on your knees first.

Learning – We can gain great rapport with the teen by making it clear we don't know a lot about the teen world, and we depend greatly on their insight to the challenges, their hurts, hopes, and heartaches. Putting them in a teacher role; your teacher, begins building their self-esteem right from the beginning of your mentoring.

Loving – This is much of the motivation for your mentoring according to God's call on your efforts. This can be misunderstood and misdirected. Psalm 126 ends with a promise of harvest, if sown with tears. Discuss some do's and don'ts your valuable experience has already taught you.

Leading – We all have matured in our study of scripture. We remember the parables best. Jesus so often, taught 'in the third person'. That is, rather than delivering His guidelines using pronouns like 'me' and 'you', with bold pointing fingers, He told stories His listeners could understand and visualize so well, they had the opportunity to step into the story and make the truth their own. I once taught almost all of a Sunday's teen class by just asking questions that led the thinking of the teens. Practice this technique with other silver-tops

Laying it on the line.

Youth have been driven away, by impatient, uncaring church leaders who have made wrong, hurtful assumptions about teens. The leaders never ask God the difference between methods and message.

=8 The Pits Process: Pruning or Polishing

We'll learn: In every case, God knows exactly what we need and deeply cares.

Only when our ambition and attitudes have been broken and emptied, can God begin filling us with Himself, so that all of our accolades; our achievements can be attributed to Him. In this earthly life, we are being fashioned for fellowship and unity in Heaven for an eternity. We must all be 'singing the same song' of praise to God, and nothing of ourselves. So the 'Pits Process', in whatever form it takes, must take ourselves out of the spotlight and put God in the spotlight He so richly deserves.

Describe a couple events in your teen years that became a Pits Process for you. What did you learn from them? Were there some lessons you learned from those experiences that you could tactfully share with a teen? Does remembering those events move you to greater compassion for today's teen?

Instant Replay...

Read again the last paragraph above, with more feeling. It's those experiences that make you the golden generation to reach out to today's teens. Can you think of a bible character that might have had a similar Pits Process experience?

The Brokenness and Desperation of Teens – The Pits Process

It's easy for silver-headed folks to look at the choices and living of teens in desperation, as reaping their 'just deserts' from bad hasty decisions. But most often, God is teaching that teenager about the lies and emptiness of man's devices in bringing safety, satisfaction, and stability to the teenage heart. God has to remove anything that would allow the teen later to say, 'Well, I did it my way. Aren't I great?”

I'm sure God didn't like seeing Joseph in the bottom of that pit, his brothers had thrown him into. But that 'Pits Process' was a necessary event between the wonderful dreams God had used to show Joseph his future, and the fulfillment of them as ruler of Egypt. By God's leading, Joseph ruled with a humble spirit, knowing the torment of those around him still going through their 'Pits Process'. Joseph could say to himself, “I've been there, done that.”

=9 Happiness vs Joy

Happiness is what this world strives so hard to get, from any and every one of his inventions. This happiness delivers no more of our joy ('great delight' or 'keen pleasure'), than the fictional pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Our first and foremost principles about anything should always come from our infallible scripture, inspired by the Creator of each of us, Who knows more about our happiness and joy than we could begin to know in a hundred lifetimes.

Verse 11 of John 15 gives us powerful first glimpses about joy.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Let's take it in pieces.

"These things have I spoken unto you", tells me this is where the roots of joy are. Our joy-roots are in the teachings of Jesus Christ. But more than that, these truths have a delivery address written on each and every one – it's the 'unto you'. Jesus Christ came to this Earth via a smelly stable to deliver joy-roots truths to me and to you, and to that teen that God has placed in your mission field. They're written down with with countless examples of others that claim Heaven's joy by serving the Master's will with these truths.

These joy-roots truths become the tools; the rules, in our burden and labors as we faithfully carry God's message, with tears, to hurting youth. These truths are like seeds that when planted in the hearts of those that hear them and those that plant them, blossom into deep-rooted plants that endure storms in every life.

The 'remain in you' says that this joy will REMAIN in me. It doesn't go away tomorrow, or when I'm faced with a challenge.

In your mind's eye, imagine you are a rain drop. You find nothing you can achieve within yourself. You see hurting teenagers all clawing to reach their pot of gold, when you know it is only an illusion; a mirage of Satan's devices.

Now imagine your own delight; your own joy, as you realize you are an important part of the rainbow that brings confort and calm amid life's storms. As a rain drop, imagine your inner joy as your realize you are a part of one of God's many promises for mankind.

Step into that vision; you are part of a beautiful almost undescribable promise, as you are faithful to God's leading in the life of others. That's joy. Joy that remains, and blossoms.

But God's word has saved the best for last. It's the 'our joy might be full'.

=10 Full Joy

We'll learn: In this SOAR Trio, we'll see some glimpses of God's blessings for teens (and us), that defy our vocabulary to fully explain.

John 15:11 and 1Peter 1:8 usher us into the SOAR Trio of our Teen Bridge trios. We might call this our 'Over-The-Top' trio. Our vocabulary and minds are stretched to their very limits in trying to describe each part of this 'Over-The-Top' trio. What other things, come to your mind that are almost indescribable? How can we then learn what they tell us?

This 'Over-The-Top' SOAR Trio is sorely needed to be passed on to our teenage generation with their appetites for challenge and achievement. But even deeper, is for teens to see God's provision and ability toward them, we'll see in a moment. Sadly, most every faith-based youth training group teaches almost nothing about these 'Over-The-Top' principles and promises. Fancy technology presents infographics and demographics about youth and their needs. But scriptural bedrock foundational principles are skipped over, leaving the young listener hungry and alienated.

Full Joy is that level of character and living that makes us most Christian; most 'Christ-like'. Jesus tells us, in John 15:11, that we're given the same joy that Jesus has and it comes through scripture, and its proper use. Excitedly, we see this joy will remain in us and ends the verse with the expected result. This stated result - 'joy might be FULL' adds an almost mysterious dimension to this joy. 1Peter 1:8 labels this full joy as 'joy unspeakable'. Jude 24 gives another aspect of this joy that could only come from God and His deep abiding 'parent-passion' for each of us.

Our Full Joy definition touches on just one of the many facets of 'unspeakable' Full Joy.

Full Joy is to savor our expanding joy as we consistently

 give sacrificially in service and substance in God's will.

 
Our meager definition tells us that Full Joy is best known through experiencing God's bountiful blessing as we give sacrificially.

• The boy must have experienced full joy as he gave his 5 loaves and 2 fish to Jesus to feed the hungry 5000+ multitude, and then see 12 baskets-full left over. 
• The widow must have experienced full joy as she filled barrels with God's abundance from her having sacrificially given the remaining food to Elijah that she was preparing for she and her son before they starve. 
• How about the Jews giving sacrificially to build the tabernacle and the city of Jerusalem? 
•  Though wracked with unspeakable pain, Our Lord must have felt full joy as He completed His mission, for His heavenly Father, in shedding His blood on Calvary.

What other (present-day) examples of giving sacrificially likely repaid the giver with full joy?

It should be understood giving sacrificially is not some kind of painful investment program where I give a little expecting to get back a whole lot more. It's our willingly cheerfully giving sacrificially, because that's what Jesus did. Full Joy is also experienced, in the knowledge of the other two 'Over-The-Top' principles of God's great grace to us as we trust and serve Him.

=11 Making Teens To Manage

Whether it's old time erector sets, paper dolls, or robot construction, man's feeble attempts to build a man are truly laughable. Man really only learns how much more complex and wonderful our God-designed body made in His image, is.

The Teen Construction Begins

Once the teen's self-esteem has been emptied, God begins the beautiful character and spirit building process that has no substitutes or shortcuts. The Pruning portion of the Pits Process we discussed earlier, has a partner called Polishing. Polishing through challenges and hard work amid deepening dedication to the goal is how football teams are formed, groups of military soldiers 'get tough', and diamonds gain their luster and hardness too. What are some of the memorable polishing you've experienced in your life? Did this prepare you to better survive our enemy's attacks?

This portion, like all of the 'Soar' trio of our Teen Bridge, almost defies description in human language. God powerfully uses the third person of the Trinity – The Holy Spirit to lead in the teen's inside construction. Look at His qualifications in Ephesians 3:30... “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

“according to the power that worketh in us” - that's the Holy Spirit.

If you work backwards, you'll see an escalating of adjectives, building to the skies. Try it. The Holy Spirit's abilities pertaining to our asking and thinking...all, above all, abundantly above all, and then exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Next you want to see the paired words “exceeding abundantly”. Connected together, they are far more powerful than either could describe. Together they mean, “SUPER – SUPER ABUNDANTLY”. That's what God uses to carry youth through their Pits Process in preparation for their Crown and place of leadership, on this side of Glory and then eternal fellowship with Him and all the saints.

Teens must be reminded often, their own Pits Process experiences are all noticed and controlled by God and are His polishing process to make them shine, inside and outside, for Him. What are some polishing events God used on His beloved Israel? How could reviewing these events with teens, be ongoing reminders of God's love and desire for us to be our best – in Him... and for Him?

What was some of the Polishing that Joseph received in Potiphar's house and in the prison that gave him God-given managing experience toward his incredible position on the throne in Egypt?

Teens want to be leaders having the esteem of others following their instructions. This is really emphasized in the social networking's “Follow Me.” But God wants this all to be based on His will and His way. The painful part is, this takes dedication to goals, and yes, patience.

Invite a teen to help create a poster of the words of Jude 24. Then discuss with them its meaning – especially the EXCEEDING JOY.

=12 Molded to Rule and Reign

We'll learn: God always knows about us and deeply cares, in His preparation of us to shine for Him.

Joseph's life, written for us, began in Genesis 30. His brothers took action to kill him, and his father treated him extra special, causing all sorts of problems. While very few teenagers find themselves in a family situation like this, it does show God's controlling hand in preserving and preparing Joseph to one day become the second most powerful man on the earth, second only to Pharaoh himself.

If we were in Joseph's shoes, we might think heavily about revenge against his brothers. But God had Joseph experience many forms of imprisonment to mold him for his life or death decisions of others, with the whole world (and Heaven) taking notes.

A Throne and Crown made for each of us.

All of the experiences teens have on this earth, are preparation for their eternal future. Many athletes strive every waking moment to win a crown, stand on the topmost step, and hear their nation's anthem played while the judge hangs a gold medal around their neck. That's their ultimate goal.

But there is an odd phrase in scripture, that is not mentioned in any other award program or sports competition text. The odd phrase is 'more than conquerors'. Briefly this tells us that in God's plan for mankind, there is a FOURTH step; one 'above the gold', that man should strive for, that is attainable. The first thing we see about it, is that it is 'through' someone. That someone is Him Who loves us most; Jesus Christ.

That 'fourth step' is spoke of, in Romans 8:37. Some of life's important areas for a teen are covered in verses 35, 38, and 39. All of these surrounding verses make reference to not being separated from Jesus Christ. But does God's word give us any more detail as to how this plays out? Most certainly! Remember, though, this all is within the 'partnership' between every saved person and Jesus Christ.

Now look at a verse in the last book of the Bible; the book of Revelation. Go to chapter 20. Look at verse 6 of chapter 20. The phrase we want to focus in on is 'and shall reign with him a thousand years.' Bible scholars a whole lot smarter than I am, tell us this is referring to all those who've trusted in Jesus Christ, and haven't yielded to Satan. Notice the two words following the word, 'reign'. Because of the partnership in Christ, we'll actually be ruling 'with him' a thousand years.

Reigning with Christ is the ultimate FOURTH step. You not only 'win' the THIRD (gold) step, but you become one of the judges (reign with Him).

It's super important that we continually remind those teens we mentor, that all of this world's stress and strife is preparation for our someday reigning 'with Him' for a thousand years. But it is a must, that we place our life, love, and leading in Him and never yield to Satan's lies and dead ends.

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