In this next post of the series what youth need: to know God is in control. It is important that students know that God is in control in their struggles. God is still working in their lives despite their struggles.
An important concept that students need to know that God is in control of their situations. God is the Lord over their lives despite what is going on. God still works in our lives in our struggles. 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "Yours O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in the heaven and earth is yours. Yours of Lord is the kingdom; you are exalted as Lord over all." Acknowledging that God is control shows that we see and adore his greatness. God is over all our situations.
When students see that God's glory that are able to see that he is still moving in their lives. They are able to adore him in his glory and power. We have to remind students to trust in God's power and working in our lives.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
What Youth Need: To Know Struggles Help them Grow
In this next post of this series on what youth need I will discuss how circumstances or situations help students desperately depend on God. Hard struggles help students know that they need God for everything in life. Struggles also remind students who God really is in their life.
Jesus expands on this topic when he discusses bearing fruit and remaining in the him in John Chapter 15. He emphasizes daily abiding in him and remaining in his Word. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in him, you will bear much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." If students pray throughout their day and remain in Jesus Christ then we will bring them through the struggle that they face. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing in life. Jesus is the only one that can help us grow spiritually and help us through struggle we face.
In this next section, I want to focus on the results of abiding in Jesus Christ. First, Jesus says if we surrender and abide in him then it will be done for us. Second, Jesus emphasizes that abiding in Jesus Christ shows that we are his disciples. Thirdly, Jesus says that abiding in him will give us the ability to love people better. Lastly, abiding in Jesus leads to joy in him and as a product of that Jesus is overjoyed because of our maturity in him.
Abiding in Jesus Christ in struggles shows our true love for non-Christians. It shows our ability to love another despite the circumstances. Jesus says when we do this, then we show that we are his friends.
Lastly, this fruit that they will bear by abiding in Jesus Christ in whatever we face in life will last throughout all of our life. Jesus says in verse 16. you did not choose me but I choose you to bear fruit that will last. God uses these struggles to abide in him that allow us to mature in him later into adulthood. We do not mature into discipleship as baby Christians but we have to be patient with God's working in our lives. Abiding and surrendering to Jesus Christ takes time.
I hope this post encourages you to depend and abide in Christ in whatever situation you may face. God is in control and he is still working. Jesus wants us to abide in him this week and he will conform us to his image.
Jesus expands on this topic when he discusses bearing fruit and remaining in the him in John Chapter 15. He emphasizes daily abiding in him and remaining in his Word. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in him, you will bear much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." If students pray throughout their day and remain in Jesus Christ then we will bring them through the struggle that they face. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing in life. Jesus is the only one that can help us grow spiritually and help us through struggle we face.
In this next section, I want to focus on the results of abiding in Jesus Christ. First, Jesus says if we surrender and abide in him then it will be done for us. Second, Jesus emphasizes that abiding in Jesus Christ shows that we are his disciples. Thirdly, Jesus says that abiding in him will give us the ability to love people better. Lastly, abiding in Jesus leads to joy in him and as a product of that Jesus is overjoyed because of our maturity in him.
Abiding in Jesus Christ in struggles shows our true love for non-Christians. It shows our ability to love another despite the circumstances. Jesus says when we do this, then we show that we are his friends.
Lastly, this fruit that they will bear by abiding in Jesus Christ in whatever we face in life will last throughout all of our life. Jesus says in verse 16. you did not choose me but I choose you to bear fruit that will last. God uses these struggles to abide in him that allow us to mature in him later into adulthood. We do not mature into discipleship as baby Christians but we have to be patient with God's working in our lives. Abiding and surrendering to Jesus Christ takes time.
I hope this post encourages you to depend and abide in Christ in whatever situation you may face. God is in control and he is still working. Jesus wants us to abide in him this week and he will conform us to his image.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
What Youth Need: To Know Struggles Help Them Grow
In the next part of the series what youth need I will discuss how their struggles help them closer to God. God can use students struggles to help them grow closer to God. Students struggles will help them see how much they need to depend on God and conform them to his image.
An important topic to cover with students is to remind them that God uses their struggles to conform them to his image. Romans 8:28-29, says that God works all things in order to conform his to image. God can use any struggle or circumstance to draw us closer to him. Students need to know that God is still working amidst these struggles. In these struggles, God reminds of he is still with us. His presence is always with us, reminding us that he is still with us.
Also God also calls us to surrender these situations to him. Romans 12:1-2. describes how we need to surrender our bodies as living sacrifices on the altar. Once we surrender the hard situation to God, then he will conform us to his image. This is a slow and steady process in which God moves us closer to him. If we abide and surrender our lives to him, then our faith will grow in him.
Lastly, struggles also help us depend on Jesus Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing." God shows us how much we need him in hard circumstances and situations.
An important topic to cover with students is to remind them that God uses their struggles to conform them to his image. Romans 8:28-29, says that God works all things in order to conform his to image. God can use any struggle or circumstance to draw us closer to him. Students need to know that God is still working amidst these struggles. In these struggles, God reminds of he is still with us. His presence is always with us, reminding us that he is still with us.
Also God also calls us to surrender these situations to him. Romans 12:1-2. describes how we need to surrender our bodies as living sacrifices on the altar. Once we surrender the hard situation to God, then he will conform us to his image. This is a slow and steady process in which God moves us closer to him. If we abide and surrender our lives to him, then our faith will grow in him.
Lastly, struggles also help us depend on Jesus Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing." God shows us how much we need him in hard circumstances and situations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)