Youth CAN Handle the Truth
I suppose I have spoken at about 40 DiscipleNows, untold numbers of youth rallies, and various other youth events—big conferences, small FCA gatherings, and lots in between. This weekend I was reminded of something I often say—young people can handle the truth! I spoke at an amazing church with some of the coolest youth I know. The pastor has taken a small, tradition group and movee it to being in the top .5% in baptisms in the SBC. He hasw shown how to lead a church to transition a church to becoming effective in reaching all kinds of people. He has a black deacon with a white wife and they both love Jesus! He sees people saved and baptized virtually every week. They have moved to a joyful, passionate, worship community about to relocate so they can reach even more people. There is a cost to leading a church to reach lost people. But it is worth it. My son and our band was with me. Josh stayed longer than the rest, he so loved the place. He told me he had never been in a more joyful congregation.
But about the youth and truth…Friday night I challenged students from the Word from the life of Daniel, another youth. Saturday morning I taught about how to share Jesus. We went into the community and saw that God works in places other than a church building. One of the guys in our band, Tyler, led a man to Jesus!
That night I decided to do something I haven’t done in a while. Rather than preach a message (which is vital, and which I love), I asked the youth to give me questions about God and life during lunch. That night the time of corporate worship led by Jeff Capps and the band was simply amazing. I took those questions, and that night I answered them – for over an hour. The youth listened intently. And then I gave an invitation—after a q and a! And several youth met Jesus that night! The church baptized 12 Sunday night, many from the weekend, some from other recent events. God is amazing.
Young people can handle truth. Can we who are older handle giving it to them?
I want students to know truth has no fear. You can ask God questions. The more honest you are with God, the more real He will be to you. One of the reasons I am in theological education is because truth matters, and one does not have to choose passion or education. You can choose both!
Every week now I will try to do a brief (I am an author so brief is hard) blog on something that will hopefully encourage or challenge students. I love you all. I see God touching your generation. I want to be a part of what He is doing. Join the Movement!
By the way, I just released a book less than two weeks ago—Join the Movement. It is selling like crazy and I am getting wonderful testimonies already. I will post some soon. The book I finished today is called Youth in the Bible, and it the account of many youth used by God in Scripture. Be hopeful. God is raising up a new generation.