Young People Can Be Useful in the Kingdom

Introduction

I want to think these guys right here. Not Tim, nothing personal, but these guys right here. These guys are what make it possible for us to reach our goal. Because they came when they could have done something else. And they were attentive and they were well behaved, and they drank deeply of the great lessons that were taught to them this weekend. And I commend our young people for the priority they put on that and the good work they did. Because folks, we weren’t just putting on a show this weekend. We were instructing young minds in important issues. And only their receptiveness helps us reach that goal. So I want to commend them tonight as well. You know, sometimes we look at this group that’s assembled up here and we say things, and I’ve said it, and I know others have said it.

We say, This is the church of tomorrow. Ever said that? This is the next generation of God’s people. And you know, certainly there is uh an exact sense in which that is true. They’ll be the next generation to fill these pews and to do God’s work here and in other places. And yet I am fearful sometimes that when we say that, what we do is we create a wrong impression. And that is the idea that they are the servants of God tomorrow. But what about today? And you know, I’ve encountered some young people, fortunately not these, but have worked with some young people who seem to have the idea that that when you’re a teenager, it’s sort of like you’ve been exempted from service to God.

Even if you’re a Christian, it’s like service doesn’t begin to 18 or 21, and that you kind of get discayed up until that time. I’ve encountered some teenagers, for example, who, when they would hear sermons about taking the gospel to the lost, who seem to think that applied to you guys. Not to me. And we talk about greeting visitors and taking care of the sick and doing other work that needs to be done among God’s people and being a diligent student of the Bible and learning the gospel and becoming deeper and deeper in the knowledge of God’s truth, that yes, y’all need to be doing that. When I turn 18, I guess I’ll starve. You all know that the first church I preached for was in Huntsville, Texas.

And in addition to being a prison town, Huntsville was also a college town. Sam Houston State University was in Huntsville. While I was there, I came across a lot of college students who seemed to view college life as sort of a sabbatical from spiritual life. That it’s though the four or six years that you’re in college getting your bachelor’s or master’s degree or whatever, that you gotta kind of take that time off from serving God. And we had a lot of college students who would occasionally put in an appearance at services and then miss a lot of the time. And if ever questioned like about that, they would say something like, You know, I’m in school right now. I’m getting my education. And they felt little sense of responsibility to the local congregation there and to work for the Lord in the city where they were, because, well, after all, they were young.

What was worse? Are some young people who seem to believe that the days of their youth are a time not really to be focused on God and His will, but instead it’s a time to be worldly. You know, you’ve got to go out and live it up a little bit and try some things, and usually what people mean by that is to get off into some sinful things. And as the older folks used to say, what did y’all used to say? Sow your wild oats. And then when you get older and you get buried and you have kids, and it’s time to settle down and deliver on. I’d like to do what I can tonight to utterly repudiate that wrong notion. You know, certainly young people learn and grow, and as they mature in age and in Christ, become more involved and more effective in the kingdom’s work.

But I want to say emphatically this evening, brethren, that being young does not exempt somebody from work and service in the kingdom of God. And I want to say that to all of us tonight. I want to say that to us as a church. Our young people are not simply the church of the future. They are part of the church of today. And the work that we do here in this congregation. And we need to value them, their uniqueness as youth and what they can contribute. And as we carve out our niche in our work as a church, we need to be sure that there is a place, a prominent place given to these folks in the work that we do. And I want to say to us as parents, we need to remember that.

Parents need to teach their children about their responsibilities as Christians and to encourage their involvement and to be involved in creating opportunities for our children to serve in the kingdom of God. But most importantly, tonight, young people, I want to say something to you.

And you need to realize that you are important to the kingdom of God. There is a unique niche that young people fill in the church that no one else can fill. And special work that they can do and a part that they play that nobody else can play. And I want to say to you tonight that God needs you. And when you don’t do your role, there’s something lacking in our work as a congregation. And when you do your part, it makes us more effective as a church of God’s people. We’ve got some great kids here. We just need to be sure as a church we continually involve them in our work as we prepare them for the future. And I’m going to begin tonight by suggesting to you that what I’m talking about isn’t anything new.

That is the idea of young people being important to God and his purposes. In fact, what I want to do is I want to go back like Ralph did this morning and talk to you a little bit about the Old Testament. Because I think if we go back to the Old Testament, we find some pretty impressive examples of some very young people that God used in extremely important ways. I want you to see that the biblical pattern from the very beginning is that youth was not a time to kind of wait it out until you got a little older and then be useful to God. But that even the very young in the Old Testament did incredibly important things in terms of the kingdom. And when I think about that, I can’t help but think about Joseph.

If you’d be turning in your Bibles this evening to Genesis chapter 37. I just can’t think about a young person who was an example of great faith and strength and made significant contributions to the kingdom of God. I can’t think of somebody like that without thinking about Joseph. Joseph, to me, is such a remarkable character. Remarkable for a lot of reasons. Remarkable, number one, because he came from some lousy circumstances. I mean, we talk about dysfunctional families today. Listen, families today don’t have anything on Joseph’s family. Joseph was raised with a mom and dad who liked to play favorites. And there was no doubt in Joseph’s family that to his father, Isaac, he or Jacob, he was the favorite son. And as a result of that, the other brothers just absolutely hated him.

In Genesis chapter 37 and verse 4, it says, and his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers. And so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. There was no peace in the house of Jacob. They hated each other. And folks, I’m not talking about the petty fussing that goes on in every family. I mean, these fellows really hated Joseph. In fact, later in the same chapter, many of you will know the story. How he was sent by his father to check up on his brothers. And when he came to them, they actually plotted to kill him. They were serious about it. And it was only because the older brother Reuben intervened that his life was spared, but it was spared only to be sold to Midianite trailers.

He was traitors. He was sold to Midianite traders, taken to Egypt, sold to the Egyptian soldier Potiphar, to become a slave in his house. Can you imagine? What kinds of things must have gone through Joseph’s mind during all this time? Dysfunctional family life, brothers who hate you so much they want to kill you, they sell you into slavery, you’re ripped from your family for all you know, never to see any of them again, now serving as a slave in some distant land. And there Joseph found his faith tested. In Genesis chapter 39. The wife of Potiphar took notice of him, made sexual advances toward him, and when he rebuffed her, she became enraged, accused him of attempting to rape her, and had him thrown into prison.

When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, in the latter part of verse 9, Joseph says, How then could I do this great evil? Listen to this. And sin against God. I’m so struck by that. I’m so struck that he didn’t say, What has God done for me lately? Where was God when I needed him? Why should I stand up and be faithful and be counted among God’s children after what after where he’s left me? Who would know if I had an affair with Potiphar’s wife? Who would care in Egypt? But he was faithful to the Lord even when no one knew. Except him and God. But what I want you to appreciate tonight is that God used this faithful teenager. It may have taken some time for God to bring all the parts together, but it came together.

And he used Joseph not just to do great things in Egypt, but ultimately all the tragedies he suffered, coupled with his faith in God and his advancement in Egypt, ultimately enabled him to deliver his entire family, even those irritating brothers, from a terrible famine that struck that part of the world. And don’t underestimate the significance of that. Because in preserving the family of Jacob, Joseph was preserving the promise to Abraham that in his seed all families of the earth would be blessed. I tell you, he made a significant contribution. But you know the point is, Genesis chapter 37 and verse 2 tells us that Joseph was 17 years old when all of that started, when he was sold into slavery in Egypt. You know how old that is?

That’s about how old Wayne is. And that’s about how old where’s Tiffany? See, they wondered why I was asking their ages this morning. It’s about how old Wayne is. It’s about how old Tiffany. It’s about how old Rachel is. When he was sold into slavery. And all of this took place before he turned 30. Very young man. Made very significant contributions to God and to his purposes. But he’s not the only one. You know, when we really start looking at the Old Testament, there are a lot of stories like that. If you turn to 1 Samuel chapter 17, I think about David. Of course, there are a lot of great stories from the life of David, but I’ve selected this one particularly because it comes from the days of his youth.

There’s a long story to be told here, and I only want to tell it briefly this evening. But in 1 Samuel chapter 17, the armies of the Philistines are drawn up in battle against Saul and the armies of Israel. The only thing is the Philistines have an ace up their sleeve. His name was Goliath. And he was giant. A huge man. And what Goliath did is Goliath came out onto the battlefield and he hollered across to the Israelites and he says, I have a solution for this little conflict we’re having. I propose that you pick your most valiant warrior and you send him out, and he and I will have a one on one conflict, and whoever wins, that’ll decide the battle. If I win, you’ll be our slaves.

If you win, we’ll be your slaves. Well, I think that’s hardly fair. Israel lacked a giant the size of Goliath. But that’s what he would do. He’d come out every day. And he would taunt the armies of Israel. A reaction of the armies could be anticipated. Chapter 17 and verse 11 says, When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Not a man among them had the courage, or more importantly, the faith, to go and face off with Goliath. Then David comes on the scene. He was too young to be involved in the battle with his older brothers, but his father Jesse was worried about them, and he sent David to go and to check up on the brothers.

And so David comes, and he’s there in the camp one day, and he hears the taunt of the Philistine. Why don’t one of you guys come out and fight? And David’s response is one of outrage. Look at the latter part of verse 26. He says, For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God? David took it as an insult. How dare he make such a ridicule of God’s army? And David willingly took up the challenge. He said, I’ll go fight. Not believing in his personal strength or in his skill as a soldier, because he didn’t have any. But look where his faith was. Verse 37, he says to Saul, and David said, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, he will deliver me from the Philistine.

When he draws up against the Philistine in verse 45, Goliath was insulted that they sent this kid against him. Verse 45 says, Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whose armies you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hand, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you, and I will give your dead body to the armies of the Philistines this day, to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

And with faith he went out and faced the giant. And I imagine even these little guys know who won. But you know, what I want you to remember about David is that he didn’t face Goliath as a seasoned veteran of war. He was a kid. In fact, that was the thing. When he said, I’ll go, I’ll fight him. That was the thing that bothered everybody. Verse 33. Then Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth. Verse 42. When the Philistine looked and saw David, you disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy with a handsome appearance. And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog that you have come against me with sticks?

What is this? You’ve sent a child to do a man’s job. But that is the point, isn’t it? That even though he was a youth, God used him to defeat the enemy and to demonstrate that indeed Israel had nothing to fear from giants like Goliath. Why? Because there is a God in Israel who taught them that. Who reminded the armies of Saul of that? Some kid. But he’s not the only impressive example. As we make our way through the Old Testament, if you’ll turn to Second Chronicles chapter 34, I would tell you I’m equally impressed with a young man we don’t study as much. But who has an impressive story. His name was Josiah. Josiah was one of the kings of the southern nation of Judah, who came to reign after the nation divided.

And like Joseph, Josiah didn’t come from the best of family circumstances. In fact, his father Manasseh had been one of the most wicked kings that the southern nation of Judah ever had. Perhaps, perhaps the one king to rival wicked Ahab in the north. In fact, he was so wicked that he is actually noted historically for having engaged in child sacrifice and brought that vile practice to the southern nation. Well, Manasseh did it at a at a point later in his life, regret his evil course and repent somewhat of that. But upon his death, his son Ammon became king, and rather than continuing in his father’s penitent ways, he became wicked just like his father, and in a short time was assassinated. And upon his death, Josiah enters the picture, his son, and he takes his place on his father’s throne.

But what is impressive about him is that in spite of his rather corrupt family history, being the grandson of wicked Manasseh and the son of wicked Ammon. I don’t know how that fit those three chairs, but you can kind of work that out for yourself. But in spite of all that, Josiah turns out to be one of the most impressive kings Judah ever had. Early on, we’re told that in his reign he sought the Lord. He led a powerful religious reform movement in Judah that ultimately purged the nation completely of their idol worship, which his father and grandfather had endorsed. He was involved in reviving the worship of Jehovah and repairing the house of the Lord and teaching the people to follow the law. Look at verse 33 of chapter 34, a little snapshot of this.

It says, And Josiah removed all of the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and he made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God throughout his lifetime. They did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers. And I tell you, when you think that just a short time before, Israel was sacrificing their children to pagan gods to read how that throughout the land and throughout his days they had turned and served the Lord. That’s a significant turnaround. Now that’s impressive. But it’s awe inspiring when you go back and look at verse 1 of chapter 34. Because verse 1 says Josiah was eight years old when he became king. You know who’s eight years old? Kyle told me he’s almost eight years old.

You’re almost ready to be king, buddy. And Dylan is almost eight years old. That’s where he started. Eight years later, when he was 16, he began seeking the Lord. Again, about the age of some of these guys who are sitting up here. And by the age of 20, he was up to his arms in religious reform in Israel. He turned the nation around before he was barely out of his teens. How about that? Boy, that’s a young person God used. And I tell you, I can’t preach this sermon, even though we’ve talked about Daniel recently. I can’t preach a sermon without at least saying something about Daniel’s impressive story. Daniel isn’t too far removed if you’d be looking to Daniel chapter 1. Is it too far removed from the time of Josiah?

Just a little bit after him. Daniel was among one of the noble families in the kingdom of Judah. And when Nebuchadnezzar came down pursuing the Egyptians after the battle of Carchimish, coming down and subduing the nations in and around on his way to Egypt, after he had subdued all of them and had to return home to take his throne, he had his armies come back through all of these nations he had taken over. And he said, You take hostages from all of these nations to be sure they remain faithful to us. Well, we learned in Daniel chapter 1 that Daniel was one of the youths that was taken from Judah and brought back to Babylon. And there he was going to be raised in the court of the king and trained in diplomatic affairs for the purpose of serving in the king’s court.

Question. Do you think he might have faced a few temptations? Here’s a young man taken from his homeland. Taken to the capital of the world at that time, the most impressive city on earth at that time. And he’s not just going to be brought there, but he’s going to be brought right into the center of political power, raised in the court of the king, given his food, trained by his servants. Do you think he faced some temptation? Truth is he had problems right away. Even the food that he was provided was a problem because to eat it would defile him. And I suppose it would have been easy, being in Daniel’s shoes, to make some excuses about that. I’m a long way from home. Nobody’s going to know.

We’re in Babylon now. We need to, we need to fit our new surroundings, and I suppose he might even have reasoned what’s God done for me lately. Daniel 1 in verse 8 says that Daniel made in made up his mind. He purposed in his heart the old King James says. That he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank. He took a stand as a nobody in the court of the greatest empire on earth at that time. Daniel went on to do some really significant things during his life. But what I want you to notice with me is that scholars estimate that he may have been as young as twelve. No older than about twenty when all of this came into his life.

And what a difference he made as a young man who took a stand in the court of the Babylonian king and took a stand for Ross. Impressive stories, aren’t they? But every one of them, folks, every one of them involved the lives of young men who aren’t that much older, if any older, than the young people who make up this congregation who are part of our family. What I’m trying to tell you is that throughout Bible history, God has always used the young to do critical, important work in his kingdom. And we need to be careful that in our time, in our generation, we don’t underestimate the contribution that can be made by our young. Before we close tonight, I want to suggest to you a few things, a few important ways that I think God desires to use our young people today.

1. God Wants to Use You to Be an Example

Young people, I want you to pay special attention. But I want all of us to take note of it as well. As parents, as brothers and sisters in Christ, as a congregation of God’s people, of some of the ways that God can use our youth to make significant contributions to his work today. Got your pencils and paper ready? Jot these things down. Here’s what I want you to remember. Number one, God wants to use you to be an example to other people. If you’ll turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 12, I’m impressed that that is exactly what Paul told this young preacher. In 1 Timothy 4 and verse 12, he says, let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Paul says to the young man Timothy, you need to be an example to other people. And someone says, You’ve got that all turned around. We’re always preaching about how older folks, and especially parents, need to be an example to the young. And yes, the track runs that way. But what Paul is also saying is that there is an important way that young people can be an example to others and even to the old. In fact, young people, what I want you to be impressed with is that is that your godly behavior can especially impact older people. Can I give you an example of that? I was studying with a lady last Monday. And she was telling me, she said, my daughter called me from Atlanta. Put my four-year-old grandson on the phone.

And you know what he did? He recited all the books of the Bible. And she says, I’m listening on the other line and my jaws just falling down. Listening this four-year-old rattle off these Bible books. And after telling us those stories, she looked at us and said, You know what? I’ve got to get busy and learn these books. Here’s a four-year old inspiring his grandma to learn the books of the Bible. There’s just something special about seeing young people doing the right thing that says to the rest of us, we better get our act together. And we better do that too. And so he gives you a list, young people. He says you need to be an example in speech. And so be careful that your language is always exemplary.

2. God Wants You to Stand Up for What’s Right

He says you need to be an example in conduct. And so be careful that you always act in a way that will that will please your God. Be an example in love. So be careful how you treat other people. Be an example of faith. Absolutely to know that when he says it, it’s right, and doing it will be the right thing for you. Be an example of purity. Refrain from those things that threaten to corrupt your life and the temptations that try to pull you away from God. God wants to use you to be a positive example for other people. But let me say to you, secondly tonight, jot this one down, that God wants to use you to stand up for what’s right. You know, there is a lot of wickedness that goes on in our world around us.

And young people in your life, you’re going to see a lot of people at school and kids in the neighborhood and other kids that you run around with. You’re going to see them doing a lot of wrong things, drinking, using filthy language, being disrespectful to their parents, getting prematurely involved in sex, listening to trashy music, watching filthy movies. What Paul would say is that in the middle of a world like that, and with those kinds of people running around you, God’s got a job for you. Philippians chapter 2, look at this passage. Philippians chapter 2 and verse 14. Here’s your job. Paul says, do nothing without or do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you appear as lights in the world.

I know that when you’re a teenager, the last thing you want to do is stick out. But you know what? That is exactly what you committed yourself to do when you signed on to be a Christian. God says that I want you to be a light so that everybody can look at you and see what’s right. He wants you to stand up for what’s right and to have the courage not to go along with the crowd, but not just to do that. Not just to say, I’m not going to do the wrong things they’re doing, but to have the courage to tell them that’s wrong. You know, when you’ve got a friend at school, and he’s rushing into you right before third period, and he’s saying, I didn’t do my homework.

Let me copy yours real quick. Right at that moment, God needs some young people who will stand up and say, No, I won’t do that, like Joseph did, and like Daniel did. And he will say, That’s not right. And I won’t let you do that. And he needs young people when someone’s tempting them to get involved and be sexually irresponsible or to drink and use drugs or whatever, who will not just resist, but who will say, No, it’s not right. We need that in our world today. They don’t just need to hear it from their parents. Teenagers today need a voice out there somewhere, a bright shining light who’s saying you know what? It’s not right. And I won’t do it. And if you think it’s tough to do that at Boone or Edgewater or Colonial, try Babylon or Egypt.

3. He Needs You to Tell Other People About Jesus Christ

He needs you to stand up for what’s right right where you’re at. And there’s something else. He needs you to tell other people about Jesus Christ. You know all those sermons on evangelism? They’re not just for the older folks. They’re for all of us. And God wants you to tell your friends about the gospel.

That is especially important for teenagers. Because the hearts of your friends right now are the most receptive they will ever be. Now, the rest of y’all don’t get mad at me what I’m about to say. But when folks get older, they get hard-headed. And more resistant and more difficult to win for Jesus Christ. Study after study shows the best time to get someone with the gospel and to reach them is when they’re a teenager. And so these people you’re running around with are among the best prospects that we have for the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so God wants to use you. I hope moms and dads with these little three-year-olds and four year olds and five year olds will encourage your kids to bring their friends to Bible class.

I am absolutely determined that we raise a generation for whom soul winning will be second nature. And it begins with their little playmate. Why don’t you invite him to come to class with you? So that immediately in their minds it is ingrained the notion, I need to bring people with me to hear that. And when they become teenagers, you’ve been given something wonderful. Those of you who are Christians. You’ve got an obligation to share that with your friends and to bring them to Jesus Christ. And so God wants you to bring them. And I want to commend these guys because we had 31 guests at our team weekend. And a lot of them were friends. These people brought with them. But you’re not done. We’ve got to go win some of those souls for Jesus Christ.

4. God Needs You to Be Involved in Serving Other People

And God needs you to do that. We don’t just do that after we turn 18. God needs us all doing that all the time. Then let me say to you fourthly, that God needs you to be involved in serving other people. You know, folks, that’s what it’s all about to be a Christian. If you’ll turn back to Mark chapter 10 for just a minute. Especially young people, I want you to turn with me and look at this passage in Mark chapter 10 and verse 42. Jesus said in Mark 10 and verse 42, you know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them, but it is not so among you. But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.

And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Jesus calls us to serve one another. And that doesn’t start when you turn 18. That starts when you sign on to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. And so, young people, like all of us, you need to be looking for the way to serve. Go visit the sick. You know, you ask some of these older people in the congregation, and it’s nice to be visited. But I tell you, there have been a few times I’ve gone with young people. And it’s always touching to watch the way their eyes light up when you’ve taken the time to come and see.

5. God Needs You to Worship Enthusiastically

Get involved in helping with those who have needs. Clean house, smoke grass, take food, however, you can volunteer to help out with someone who’s in need. Send a card. Make a call. Sacrifice 30 minutes of sending instant messages one week. And devoted to doing something for someone else. Because God needs you to serve others. And then, number five, God needs you to worship enthusiastically. In fact, whatever we do for the Lord, we need to do it with enthusiasm. In Romans chapter 12 and verse 11, we’re told that when we serve the Lord, we have to serve him with a fervent spirit, to be on fire for him and enthusiastic about what we do. And I tell you, we need our young people to be enthusiastic about worshiping God.

You need to be enthusiastic about your Bible classes. Yes, that means getting your lesson. I know that was running through your mind. You need to be prepared when you come in and excited about what you’re studying. And when you’re in there, not to be zombies. So that the teacher just feels like he has to drag something out of you, but eagerly and participating. And when you come in here, we need you involved in this. Not with your face mushed in a book, kind of muttering along with the songs. There’s nothing more beautiful than the voices of children. I told y’all this story, but I’m going to tell you it again because it’s fitting. When I was up at the North Carolina camp last summer, I went with a group of teenagers hiking up the side of the mountain, dumbest thing I’ve ever done.

I absolutely thought I was going to die, and then one of them got injured, and I had to carry a kid about Wayne’s size down the mountain. I will not do that trip next time we go to that camp. But I tell you what, we hiked, we hiked up that waterfall. Of course, the adults were bringing up the back. And as we got up there, you could hear the sound of singing. Because the 40 teenagers that had come with us were at the base of this waterfall looking up this sheer granite cliff. And on their own, they were singing praises to God. And I tell you, who could witness that scene without shedding a tear can’t be touched. It was beautiful. You need to worship your God with enthusiasm because you are his disciples.

6. Diligent Bible Students, Involved in the Work of This Church

And shame on you if you’d have the audacity to misbehave and the irreverence to cut up during a worship service. Man, what we’re doing is way too important to do something so juvenile. We need you into that, worshiping enthusiastically. Two more quick things. And I’ll give you both of them. We need you to be diligent Bible students. God needs you to do that. If you’ll turn to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 14. That young preacher Timothy that we talked about earlier. Such a useful tool in God’s service, I want you to notice where it all started with him. In 2 Timothy 3 and verse 14, Paul says, You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you’ve learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith with it which is in Christ Jesus.

You need to get to know this book. And if you’re a teenager and mom and dad are still happy to tell you to get your lessons, shame on you. It’s time to grow up in Christ and do that work yourself and become a diligent student of God’s word. And finally, lastly, to be involved in the work of this church and everything we do. If you’re a Christian teenager, if you’ll look at our group list, you’re on that list. And if you’re not, it’s a mistake. And there’s a reason you are. Because every one of us, including teenagers, are involved in the group activities that we try to do as a congregation. And we need you to go to those meetings and to be involved in the work that your groups do.

Conclusion

We need you to be involved in greeting visitors that come in, especially visitors that come in your age. There might be a soul there that needs to hear the gospel. And whatever other facet of the work of the church you want to talk about. We need you learning and growing to be involved in every facet of what we do. Not just to prepare you for the future, but because of the good you can do for the kingdom of God right now. Daniel, as a teenager, became God’s man in Babylon. Josiah, as a preaching, led a religious revival that turned a nation from one of the darkest periods of his history. David, as a teenager, took on a giant that not a grown man in the nation would pass.

And reminded Israel that victory lies with God. And Joseph, all by himself, way off in Egypt, stood against the temptations of a wicked woman and did the right thing and delivered the nation and preserved the promise that would bring Jesus. Wow. What a contribution young people can make. And you can too. And folks, as a church, we need to encourage it. As parents, we need to facilitate it. But young people, lastly, it’s you and your decision not to skate through the next few years thinking that later’s when you serve God, but young people who will get serious about serving God right now. Will you do that? We’re counting on you to do great things as a part of our work here for God. Take out your song books, if you would, please, and turn to the number that God has that God has selected?

You got a real promotion with that one, Tim. That Tim has selected as our invitation song. I have no idea where that came from. Youth’s not a time to wait. It’s time to get serious and lay the foundation for service to God. And it may be that there’s someone here tonight that needs to stop waiting. Maybe it’s not a teenager. Maybe anyone in this audience whose life is not right with God. Maybe someone who once was a dedicated servant of Jesus Christ, but you know now that you’ve let him down and you’ve not been diligent. And you need to be an example to our young and an example to all by being more dedicated. Or someone who has never obeyed the gospel. We can’t begin to be useful servants in the kingdom until we’ve decided that’s who we’re going to serve.

Daniel made up his mind. What choice are you going to make tonight? There’s a battle right now for your soul. Who’s going to win? If you leave tonight unprepared to meet your God, Satan has won. If you commit your life to serving Him tonight and obey His will for you, you can give God and more importantly, yourself the victory. Who’s going to win? You’re subject to the invitation. Come right now, while we stand and while we sing.