Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes – What’s Wrong with Youth and Youth Groups (1)
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a radio program about youth and church youth groups.
[These notes are from 50 years ago.]
[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]
All across America, young people are searching! Searching for the ultimate high. Searching for God. Searching for peace. Searching for love. Searching or real meaning to life. Searching for truth. Searching for the way to happiness. Searching for security.
Millions of young people have turned to drugs, sex, reckless living, gangs, and Eastern mysticism. Many have turned to Satanism and the occult. After talking with young people coast to coast, members of our ministry have discovered that none of these roads are leading young people to peace they wanted. What is the answer? There is only one way.
A life of peace must have a root of peace. Humans do not have that root in themselves. We are gone astray. We have turned everyone to our own way. We care only for ourselves and what pleases us. So what if someone gets hurt. Only number one really counts. And don’t forget that young people get their worldviews from parents and other adults. The responsibility for what has happened to youth in America lies squarely on the shoulders of adult America.
Young people, listen to me! You can never reach ‘nirvana.’ You will not reach the ultimate high on drugs. You can do nothing in yourself. Your roots are shallow and cannot attain to the great peace and joy that is laid out for you from above by the Creator of humanity. For other foundation can no one lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.
One of the reasons that young people have turned off Christianity before they try it is because some in churches today don’t believe in God either. We have buildings full every Sunday of ‘Christian atheists.’ What do I mean by that? I mean so-called Christians who act like God doesn’t exist. They worship Him in form but with no power. He doesn’t really mean anything to them at all. That’s hypocrisy. No wonder millions of our young people turn the ‘church’ off.
What I want to tell America’s youth is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is alive! Jesus Christ cares for your souls and desires to set you free from the torment of drugs, the shame of immorality, and the dungeon of despair. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No man, woman, teenager, boy, or girl will ever come to God except they come by Jesus Christ.
When I was younger I tried the way of Eastern religions. I practiced yoga and studied the writings of Buddha, but I couldn’t find any satisfaction. It wasn’t until I met Jesus that my mind, soul, and spirit found rest forever. Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Listen … only Jesus can save and keep. There is no other way but Jesus. The early Christians understood this peace and used to open their letters with, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” Before you can have peace, my friend, you must experience God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Do you really think you’re different from the hundreds of millions of young people that have gone before you? Do you think you can succeed where they have failed? Just ask the tens of millions of young people who have blown their minds on drugs, fast wheels, sex, and suicide. Ask them what they accomplished. Nothing of any eternal value. As Jesus Christ asked, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Which direction are you going? Do you want peace? You’d better meet the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. You want joy? You’d better see the Master of joy, Jesus Christ. Do you want love? You’d better meet Love Himself, Jesus Christ. You want real life? You’d better meet the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.
[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]
Next Time
In the next part of our Teaching Notes series we will look a big problem with church youth ‘groups.’
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from 50 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]
Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
