God calls us to share the “Christmas Spirit” all year long.  So why does the “Christmas Spirit” fail so quickly after the presents are opened?

Did you ever wonder why we give presents to people to celebrate Jesus’ birthday? I mean, for my birthday, I get presents. For your birthday, you get presents. So why do we receive gifts on Jesus’ birthday?

Years ago, I started having a birthday party for Jesus with my youth group. We brought in a cake with “Happy Birthday Jesus” written on it and everyone brought a gift to give Jesus.

The gifts were the best part. Everyone brought a wrapped box in for the party. We took turns placing our boxes under the tree. As we placed them, we told what we had brought for Jesus. Some might bring their love, devotion, praise, time, etc. Others might bring their bad habits (cussing, smoking, bullying, etc.) or something they need to let go of (ex-boyfriend, bitterness, feeling inadequate, etc.).

When all of the gifts were under the tree, we would pray and ask God to bless our gifts. We would thank God for His gift and we would thank Jesus for willingly coming to earth and giving up His riches and comfort for us.

After our prayer, we would all share one thing we counted as a blessing in our life. Then we played Christmas music and ate cake. Everyone had fun and seemed to carry the “Christmas Spirit” with them longer into the New Year.

Romans 4:4-5 ~ Now when  man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Faith brings us peace. We rejoice in the glory of God who brings us hope.

Romans 5:1-2 ~ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

To understand faith, we need to hear messages filled with the Word of Christ. We need to fellowship with other Christians.

Romans 10:17 ~ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

We need to hold firmly onto our faith. Even when we we start to have doubts, we need to cling to our faith.

Romans 14:22-23 ~ So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

As we have faith, we need to be on guard, stand firm in our faith, be courageous and love each other.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ~ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.

If we believe without proof our faith is stronger. To believe in God when we can’t see God takes faith. The same is true of air, gravity and love. We can’t see any of them but we believe they are there.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ~ We live by faith, not by sight.

We need to shield ourselves in faith to battle evil. The victory goes to the faithful believers.

Ephesians 6:16 ~ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Believe that your heart’s desires are also God’s desire’s for you. When you are full of faith and believe without seeing, your desires become pure and we are able to see the path we are meant for.

Hebrews 11:1 ~ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We can only see God if we believe he exists. When we earnestly seek God, he will reward us.

Hebrews 11:6 ~ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seeks him.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:

Hebrew 11

1 Corinthians 13:11 ~ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

I’m sure you can find many adjectives to describe “youth” today. Have they changed over the years? Their hair-styles may change and their clothes may change but have they changed? What does the Bible say?

Ecclesiastes 11:9 ~ Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

Maybe you have heard some say today’s youth are disrespectful, irresponsible, rebellious and self-centered. These adjectives fit many of today’s youth but not all. Many young people follow the desires of their heart right into selfish and irresponsible choices. Once the sinful nature is nurtured a little, it’s easy for disrespect and rebellion to sneak in and take over. What’s the Bible say?

2 Timothy 2:22-24 ~ Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Leviticus 19:3 ~ Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

Some say they are energetic, young, immature, naive and carefree. What does the Bible say?

Psalm 22:30-31 ~ Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-for he has done it.

So does God want us to be mild mannered, meek and perfect all the time? I believe God knows we are flawed and he loves us anyway. I believe God knows that we are never going to be perfect. I believe God wants us to do our best and be our best everyday.

John 8:3-11 ~ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Although this post is not about adultery, this Scripture sums up how God wants us to treat each other.

As adults, we need to look beyond the “flaws” of the youth around us and love them anyway. How can we do less and expect God to continue loving our “flawed” self? By our example, we can teach them to do the same.

Does the Denomination really matter that much? Is it worth all of the lost souls for us to be “right” in our Denomination. If we all believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He is the only way to God, then why do we let the small differences stand between us?

Ephesians 4:11-13 ~ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The Bible doesn’t say “Baptist will lead the way or Methodist have all the answers. There is no rating system for denominations. The Bible doesn’t separate denominations into categories or standing with God.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 ~ My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ”. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

God wants us to all live in Harmony with each other. He wants us to spread His message of love by demonstrating love towards each other. How can we be effective witnesses for God if we are fighting with each other over silly things like carpet colors or how we should express our praise? As long as we keep Christ as our focus, it doesn’t matter what denomination we call ourselves.

Romans 12:16 ~ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Psalm 133:1 ~ How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Let’s begin today. Who do you know that attends a church of a different denomination? Maybe they are Nazarene, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran or Brethren? Can you be friends in Christ and stay focused on the thing you have in common; Jesus Christ? Can you put aside your differences and serve as One Body for Christ? It’s what we’ve all been called to do.

1. Feeling nervous: worried or afraid, especially about something that is going to happen or might happen

2. Eager: wanting very much, or in a desperate or nervous way, to do or receive something.

Being worried about something uses energy God wants us to use elsewhere. He knows we naturally worry, it’s in our nature to fear the unknown but God wants us to trust Him so completely that we don’t stress and worry about the little things.

Philippians 4:6-7 ~ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Why doesn’t God want us to worry?

Proverbs 12:25 ~ An anxious heart weighs a man’s heart down, but a kind word cheers him up.

God doesn’t want us to get depressed and worry causes depression. He tells us to cast our worries on Him. He warns us to be alert and watchful that we don’t fall prey to worry.

1 Peter 5:7-8 ~ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Is there ever a good time to be anxious? I think it’s o.k. to be excited about somethings. It crosses a line when your anxiety becomes consuming. Being anxious (excited) about Jesus returning is great!  Being anxious (excited) about sharing God with everyone we know and even those we don’t know is great.

Isaiah 26:3-4 ~ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

So if you must be anxious, be anxious, excited, about Jesus and serving the Lord. When you feel the nervous anxiety coming on, replace it with the excited anxiety of serving God.

Exodus 4:11-12 ~ The Lord said to him, “who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Isaiah 44:2 ~ This is what the Lord says-he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

* Because God gave us our talents, He will help us carry through. When we use our talents to the glory of God, our talents are stronger. God’s message is stronger. We are able to do more for Him and the building of His Kingdom.

ASK YOURSELF:

1. Why is it so hard to talk to others about God?

2. How can you use your talents to help you be a witness for God?

Isaiah 6:8 ~ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Exodus 28:3 ~ Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such  matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.

Exodus 31:2-5 ~ “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and Knowledge in all kinds of crafts – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.”

* When God calls us to do something, He will give us the talents we need to do great things in His Name. We don’t have to trust in our own ability or strength.

ASK YOURSELF:

1. What are you really good at?

2. How can you use those talents to serve others?

Deuteronomy 8:18 ~ But remember the Lord, your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

1 Chronicles 22:15-16 ~ “You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron-craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work and the Lord be with you.”

* Wealth is something most people believe will make them happy. As Christians, we know that real wealth, comes from God’s blessings and not money or possessions.

ASK YOURSELF:

1. Where are you storing your treasures?

2. How can you use your talents to store more treasures in heaven (by bringing more people to knowing God)?

MORE SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:

Romans 1:6 ~ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:29 ~ for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Romans 12:6-8 ~ We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:1 ~ Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ~ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ~ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…All these these are the work of one and the same Spirit and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.

1 Peter 4:10 ~ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Why is it that so many people take advantage of their families and abuse their families? Is it because we are certain family will always be there for us? Does that make it right? How do we change this pattern?

The first thing we need to do is re-educate our youth about God’s plan for family.

In today’s society, it seems “normal” to back talk your parents and disrespect them. After all, we didn’t ask to be born so our parents should take what we dish out, right? T.V., movies and even books glorify the “abuse” of our parents. With the media making our parents look like idiots, our youth begin believing they are superior. Add that to the “I deserve it” mentality and how do we re-educate? The media is hard to compete with.

Our only ammunition is truth. Our faith in the Bible is a powerful weapon against any and all world views. Our strength is God’s Word. So what does the Bible say about family?

Ephesians 5:1-2 ~ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Proverbs 11:29 ~ He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only the wind and the fool will be servant to the wise.

Colossians 3:12-17 ~ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentelness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one anther with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

*How do we get teens to put these things into action? First we must get them to believe this is the right way to live and to take these scriptures to heart. Because teens have a mind of their own and they are constantly being fed the world view, it may not be easy to tell them, but we can show them. If we demonstrate the “Family Rules” to the teens that come into our group, we can be a strong witness for God and that could make all the difference.

FAMILY RULES:

Ephesians 6:1-4 ~ “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:18-21 ~ Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged.

Colossians 3:23- 24 ~ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 4:2-3 ~ Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

1 Timothy 5:8 ~ If anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Peter 3:8-9 ~ Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

* Let’s take back our family values and our Godly view of the world. Let’s teach the youth that we come into contact with respect, love, compassion and gratitude. Let’s encourage the youth in our groups to share that respect, love, compassion and gratitude with their families and friends.

MORE SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:

Proverbs 24:3-4

Matthew 10:36-39

Matthew 12:25

1 Corinthians 1:10

Ephesians 4:31-32

1 Timothy 5:1-4

What you will need:

6 inexpensive products like a box of tissue, a thing of nail polish, new sponge, hand lotion, can of vegetables, etc.; A record of all the prices for the items purchased; a table

Scripture References:

Romans 12:1, 6-8;

Everyone’s Bargain Place

Make sure all of your inexpensive items have the price removed. Display the items on your table.

Tell each youth member they have $20 to spend. They must choose the products (and the number of each product they choose) they think they can buy with their $20. They can purchase as many of each product as they want without going over their $20.

After the teens have chosen their items and the number of each item, reveal the price of each item. The teen who comes closest to $20 without going over wins.

Once the stories are read, ask the follow-up questions below.

Follow-Up Questions:

1. What does it mean to be a good Steward?

2. What are the consequences of being a good Steward with money?

3. Read Romans 12:1, 6-8. Besides money, what else should we be good Stewards of?

4. Why is Stewardship important to God?

5. How is Stewardship an act of worship?

Close with prayer: (example)

Father, thank you for being patient with us in our lives. Help us to remember You when we are dealing with our Stewardship. Keep Your will strong inside of us as we go into this world. Let us be a shining example of You. In Jesus precious Name we pray, Amen.

* If you have a small group, say a line of prayer for each of them by name. Even if it is just “Thank you, Jesus for bringing Toni to our group” or “Be with Sam as he goes to the Orthodontist Tuesday”.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them , for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:6-8

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

As youth leaders, we are called to help our teens understand that there really isn’t a right and wrong way to talk to Jesus; the important thing to remember is we need to talk to Jesus daily. We need to be praying for them as we teach them to pray.

Let’s pray that our young sons will grow like strong plants and that our daughters will be as lovely as columns in the corner of a palace. Psalm 144:12

I pray that God will greatly bless you with kindness, peace, and love. Jude 1:2

So, how do we pray? It’s simple, really. How do you talk with your friends? God is in on every conversation and He knows your language, slang, phrasing, etc. So it makes sense that He would want you to talk to Him the same way. After all, Jesus wants to be your friend so talk to Him as you talk to your friends.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:5-7

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, fir to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15

As we teach our teens to pray, we need to remember praise. Every time we pray, we need to thank God for all He has done, will do or is doing. We need to praise Him daily for our salvation and blessings.

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; o you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. Psalm 65:1-2

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:25

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things. Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His Word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His Will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:20-22

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His Name. Hebrew 13:15

What you will need:

Pens or Pencils; Paper; Bibles

Scripture References:

Romans 5:1-5; 2Corinthians 4:18

A Little Better All The Time

As your youth group comes in, have them sit in a circle. If you have round tables available to you, these might be helpful. If you have a large youth group, break them into groups of 8 to 10 players per circle.

Give each participant a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. At the top of the paper, have the participants secretly (no one else can see) write a sentence about someone in high school. They should give their characters names (not real names) and their sentence should be about something lousy that happened to that person during the day. Examples would be “Billy lost his car keys”, “Susan failed her History Test”, “Mitch hurt his arm in gym today” etc.

Once they finish writing their sentences, have them pass their paper one place to their right. That person reads the sentence and writes another one to further the story. Once they finish their sentence, they fold the paper under the first sentence so only the second sentence shows. Now pass it to the next person on the right.

The third person reads only the second sentence then adds a third sentence. They then fold the paper so the second sentence is hidden and pass the paper to the fourth person. This continues until the paper reaches the original writer.

When the original writer receives their story back, they unfold the story and take turns reading their story out loud to the group. Hopefully some of them will have happy endings. Once the stories are read, ask the follow-up questions below.

Follow-Up Questions:

1. What does the old saying “When it rains it pours” mean?

2. What makes a bad day better?

3. Have you ever given up hope just before things get better? (encourage them to share their experiences)

4. Where does hope come from?

5. Can hope change our lives? (encourage them to answer more than yes or no)

Read the Scriptures again.

Close with prayer: (example)

Father, thank you for being with us through the tough times in our lives. Help us, Father, to remember You when we are faced with hardships. Keep Your hope strong inside of us as we go into this world. Let us be a shining example of You. In Jesus precious Name we pray, Amen.

* If you have a small group, say a line of prayer for each of them by name. Even if it is just “Thank you, Jesus for bringing Toni to our group” or “Be with Sam as he goes to the Orthodontist Tuesday”.

Showing your teens you care is easier than you may think. Send your teen a note/email/text saying you were thinking about them. Bring them a card to church and give it to them. If you can, set up “post office” in the teen classroom or another convenient place at church. This way they can receive notes and cards anytime.  They can check it each time they are at church to see if they had mail.

Plan a “Your night out”. Let your teens decide on a place to eat or meal for you to fix.  Spend this time listening to them tell you about their day, their concerns, their dreams, etc. This works best one-on-one but can also be beneficial with a small group. If using it in group settings, let the teens decide how much they want to share and allow them not to share if they are uncomfortable. If it is one-on-one, you can get more personal. It may be a good idea to have a female youth worker do this with your girl teens and a male youth worker do this with your boy teens. You know your teens best so you decide how best to approach them.

There are four important lessons to teach teens and MANY different Bible studies, lesson plans and other material to help you with this important task. These four things are Love, Respect, Self-Image and Service.

You can make your own Bible Study with the following Scriptures:

LOVE: Luke 10:27; John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:17-19; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 22:37-40; Psalm 136; 1 Corinthians 13 . These Scripture references, and many others, show us how God loves us and commands us to love others. If we love Jesus, then we should love ourselves and others. If we believe we were created in God’s image, we cannot love God and not love ourselves.

RESPECT: Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 19:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Leviticus 19:3. In these Scriptures, God clearly wants us to respect others and ourselves. When we do this, we show respect to God. Give ways they can show respect. Encourage teens to listen to people when they talk, obey their parents and hold their tongues from sarcastic or rude comments.

SELF-IMAGE: 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Again, if we cannot see ourselves as God sees us, then how can we think well of God for we are made in God’s image.  Helping teens see the beautiful creation God has made them and is still molding them into is very important. Without that positive image, they cannot truly accept the call God has for them. They must see themselves as capable, strong (in Christ), and worthy before they can humble themselves to serve others.

SERVICE: Deuteronomy 11:13; Deuteronomy 13:4; Matthew 6:24; Galatians 5:13-14; 1 Peter 4:11. We are all called to serve God and others as Jesus would serve. Teach teens to look for needs and to serve as they are able. Teach them to see the world as Jesus sees the world. Are there people who are hungry? Can they arrange for a meal to be provided?

* The key to getting them excited is simple: let them help plan, decide and carry out the service.

Be kind to others. Even the people who are not kind to them. They should especially try  to be kind to the people others treat unkindly.

Honesty is one of the most important things your youth group should be known for.  Teach them to refrain from cheating, lying and other dishonesty. Teach them that being known for their honesty is one characteristic they will love having attached to them.

Teach them to guard their words. Being a Christian means avoiding gossip and bad language. Along with not spreading gossip they should not listen to gossip. Tell them not to use bad language and to ask others to refrain from speaking offensively around them. If the people around  them refuse to watch their language, they should leave the conversation.

Show they are different by the way they live a clean and holy life. Encourage your teens to show their faith in little ways. Saying a prayer before eating, showing compassion, keep themselves pure and show a servant’s heart. Encourage them to have patience with others and to be in control of their temper.

Respect teachers and others in authority, realizing that others judge them based on how they act towards these people. Also, turning in their homework in on time is a great way to show respect.

Tell them to get to know other Christians at school. It doesn’t matter if they go to the same church or another church (as long as the beliefs are the same). Find ways to get together, share and encourage each other. Pray with each other, for each other and for their school, other students, teachers, faculty and their community.

Stand for what’s right even if they have to stand alone. It is better than not standing up for what is right. Chances are others will stand with them. Others may be waiting for one person to step forward.
* Check with their school to see if someone can start a before or after school prayer group. You may need to have a faculty member agree to “watch” over the group. Check with your guidance department to see what you need to do to start a prayer group.
* Remind your teens, that although school and religion are suppose to be kept separate, they have the right to pray anytime in school as long as they are not disruptive or forcing other to pray with them.
* There may be opposition (teasing) from other students. Encourage your teens to stand strong in their faith.

1. First, be friendly. Care for other people the way Jesus cares for you. If you see someone needing a friend, be a friend to them.

2. Second, be kind to others. Even the people who are not kind to you and the people others treat unkindly.

3. Third, be honest. Refrain from cheating, lying and other dishonesty.

4. Fourth, guard your mouth. Show that you are a Christian by avoiding gossip and bad language. Don’t listen to gossip and don’t share gossip. Don’t use bad language and ask others to refrain from speaking offensively around you. If they refuse, leave the conversation.

5. Fifth, live a clean and holy life. Show a difference by the way you live. Don’t go with the crowd if they are doing things against your belief. Stand firm on solid ground.

6. Sixth, show respect to teachers and others in authority. Realize that others judge you based on how you act towards these people.

7. Seventh, find other Christians at school. It doesn’t matter if they go to your church or another church (as long as you share the same beliefs). Find ways to get together. Share and encourage each other. Pray with each other, for each other and for your school, other students, teachers, faculty and your community.

8. Eighth, be willing to stand for what’s right. Even if you have to stand alone, it’s better than not standing up for what is right.

* Chances are if you stand up for what is right, others will stand with you. It just takes one person to step forward.
* Check with your school to see if you can start a before or after school prayer group. You may need to have a faculty member agree to “watch” over the group. Check with your guidance department to see what you need to do to start a prayer group.
* Although school and religion are suppose to be kept separate, you have the right to pray anytime in school as long as you are not disruptive or forcing other to pray with you.  If someone asks you to pray with them or for them, you have the right to do so without penalty.
* There may be opposition (teasing) from other students. Try to focus on Jesus and the rest will fall into place.