Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Timothy 4

Highlight Verse:

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In our student ministry, we are teaching our middle and high school students how to be leaders.

This verse is on the wall in the room where we meet.

We don’t know for sure how old Timothy was when this was written. He was at least in his twenties.

But Paul started working with him when he was much younger, probably in his teens.

Other leaders in the Bible started quite young.

David was in his teens when he slayed Goliath. Some of the Psalms are thought to come from that era of his life as well.

Mary was certainly a teenager when she became the mother of Jesus.

Samuel first heard from God as a very young apprentice.

Joseph’s legacy of integrity began as a youth.

I could go on and on.

The bottom line is, youth should be encouraged to lead from where they are that they may grow to even greater levels of ministry later.

Sure, they may make more mistakes when they’re young, but they can work through them honestly and reach far more people than their older counterparts (like me).

I started teaching and leading when I was 16. Yes, I made many mistakes.

I also had many victories during that time up until now.

I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world.

If you are young, are you doing what you can to reach out with the love of God to those around you?
If you are old like me, are you encouraging those younger than you to reach out while continuing to reach out yourself?