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.
