Timothy (the one in the Bible) was a teacher even though he was young. He probably wasn't a teenager when the Book of 1 Timothy was written - some scholars say he would have been around 30. But you are never to old or too young to serve God. At our church, teenagers can be leaders in Kid's Church. They work alongside adult leaders until they are old enough to lead on their own. There is also a teen music ministry where all the musicians are teenagers. They minister at the kids and youth events at church. Ask your pastor what serving opportunities exist for teens at your church, and if they don't, ask about starting some.
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There are 20 occasions in the New Testament that instruct us to "stand firm." Life is like standing on the deck of a boat - sometimes the water is calm and it's easy to stand. But sometimes the water is rough and you stagger around like a drunk.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Satan will do his best to try to derail your faith. We need to stand firm knowing that God is with us and Christians around the world are experiencing the same tests and trials as us. In the passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul was reminding the church that Jesus had conquered death and that is why they can stand firm. God's grace is like an umbrella. Imagine that troubles are rain. God doesn't stop it raining on Christians - we have troubles, just like everyone else. But the umbrella of God's grace helps us to stand in the midst of troubles and not get soaking wet. We may get a little damp but not completely drenched. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.
I just found out that my dog has a brain tumour and is dying. I feel sad beyond words because I love this dog like one of my children. Grief is a normal part of life and when you're in the middle of it it seems as though it is overwhelming and will never end. But this too will pass. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. God comforts us when we are sad or grieving. Because we have experienced pain or sadness, we are able to help others who are suffering.
In Luke 5:30 the Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, Why do you eat and drink with those tax collectors and other sinners? In verses 31-32 Jesus said to them, Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to invite good people to turn to God. I came to invite sinners. It's important to have Christian friends, but we need to associate with people who don't know Jesus yet as well. That is how they meet him - in us. We should be careful not to judge them - that would make us no different to the Pharisees. We need to see them through God's eyes and remember that he loves them.
In a narcissistic society where everyone thinks the world revolves around them, compassion might be hard to find. According to the Cambridge dictionary, compassion is a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them. There are several instances in the Bible where Jesus had compassion on people - the lost and the sick. This is more than just feeling sorry for someone. Compassion compels us to action. Jesus didn't just feel sorry for people, he did something for them - he fed the 5000, he healed the sick and ultimately he gave his life for us. Next time you feel sorry for someone, have compassion and see if there isn't something that you can do to actually help them.
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