Today we recognize our Student Sunday School classes together with our College and Career Class.
We want to lift up to the Lord prayers for Robbie Williams, Angel Rodriguez, Robin Jordan, Trent and Nicole Campbell, Josh and Ashley Hall who teach and co-teach each of our three classes. We now have 39 students enrolled in these classes. Each one of these Students is important to our church and vital to our ongoing ministry.
Just consider the teenagers who were used by God to build His kingdom.
- Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery in Egypt to be used by God to save the country and his family from famine.
- David was in his teens when he was anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel and when he slew the great Philistine giant Goliath resulting victory to the nation.
- Josiah was the boy king who found the scrolls of the Law of Moses and led his nation to repent and return to God.
- Daniel was a teenager when he was taken into captivity in Babylon with his people. He became the Minister of State in the foreign land and helped to preserve the legacy and integrity of his countrymen.
- Mary was a teenager when she heard the angel Gabriel tell her the news that she would be the mother of a Jesus who would save his people from their sins.
- Timothy was a teenage boy who became a co-laborer with the Apostle Paul and pastor of the church at Ephesus. Scripture tells us that he co-authored the letters of Paul to the churches in Corinth, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica and to the believer known as Philemon.
There is no question that God will use teenagers and young adults to build his kingdom. We give praise this morning for the young people God has given to us.
Young people have energy. They are daring. They are filled with visions of the future and the possibilities of what can and should be. The Bible says:
“Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.”’ (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
We all can remember the days of our youth when it didn’t hurt to get out of bed in the morning. It takes the vitality of youth to believe that anything is possible to them that love God and are called according to His purpose (Mark 10:27).
We old heads tend to be a bit more cynical. God has given our church a good dose of young people to keep us happy, alive and adventurous enough to keep growing and trusting in Him.
Someone has said, “A man is as young as his faith, as old as his doubt, as young as his self-confidence, as old as his fear, as young as his hope, as old as his despair.”
Someone else said, “Years wrinkle the skin, but giving up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
I guess that is close to the old adage; “You’re as old as you feel.”
I am convinced that our young people keep our church thinking, believing and acting young. That’s why I love them so much. Keeping up with them keeps me thinking and believing like they do. Keep your eyes on our young people, they will help keep you enthusiastic. Keep asking God to bless our Student ministry by sending us more students. Every new student God gives to this church is fresh evidence that He is at work among us. Pray for our students today. They give us hope for tomorrow.