Romans 14:4 (NIV)
"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
I've been spending a fair bit of time in the Christian Teens chat rooms on the Yahoo server.�, It has been a great ministry for me -- there are a lot of people who go there in search of truth.�, Some think they are only there for a fight.�, There are plenty of folks who come in to cuss, make �, vulgar suggestions, and curse the name of Christ, and all that He stands for.�, This is to be expected, I guess... The thing that really bothers me, though, is all the "Christians" in there who suddenly see an opportunity to tell these people "Smarten up or you're going to Hell!!!"�, But you know what?�, It's not our place to condemn our neighbors, because we don't have that kind of authority.�, Only the Lord can pass judgment on anyone! What WE can do for these guys, folks, is give them a chance...�, Talk to them like real people, because they are!!!�, I think I would be more likely to listen to someone if they were nice to me and acted like they were interested in ME as a person than if they started telling me that everything I do is wrong, and I am evil, and there is no hope for me...
Next time you meet up with someone "ignorant" in the chat rooms or in real life, greet them with a smile, be friendly, and show them the love of Christ...�, And remember, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:17)�, Help these lost souls find that salvation, don't scare them away from it!!!�, Who knows, God just might want to use your kindness to bring hundreds of teens who otherwise would have been lost forever into the arms of Jesus!!!�, God bless you all, and I hope to chat with you sometime!!! Go with God!!!
Extra time in the Word: Romans 14
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Romans+14
Written by C. Lynn, from IL
Nehemiah 4:14-15
"I saw that the people were worried, so I said to them and to their leaders and officials, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and terrifying the Lord is, and fight for your fellow countrymen, your children , your wives, and your homes." Our enemies heard that we had found out what they were plotting, and they realized that God had defeated their plans. Then all of us went back to rebuilding the wall."
Fear is a deadly weapon that Satan uses against us to prevent us from fulfilling God's purpose. And rather than looking to God as our strength, we fall into the trap of thinking up some way that we can handle the situation. But God did not call us to be problem solvers, that's His job. God wants us to fully rely on Him for the situations that daily arrive. Remember how powerful God is no matter what the situation. The problems we see on the outside are only reflections of what is going on in the supernatural. We can in no way remedy a supernatural situation through natural means. We have to rely on God and we have to pray in order to fight against the devil's scheme. So maybe your brother is sick or you never see your dad anymore - remember that you can be the one that fights the war in the heavenly realm, by praying for that person or that need. And trust God to deliver because "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world". God doesn't let down his children. And He's already defeated the enemy for you - you just need to go in and claim the victory.
Extra time in the Word: Nehemiah 4
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Nehemiah+4
Written by Jene� Keener, 16 years old, from Springdale, Arkansas.
Matthew 18:4
�Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.�
Do you ever feel confused in your Spiritual life? Like you're just not sure of what God wants? Or maybe you think God wants you to do something, and you're not sure yet if you want to follow through with it, since it seems that you're "theory" of getting through the situation might be better? I know that I've felt all these things, and sometimes it just seems that our "theory" has GOT to be better than what God has planned! But you know what? His plans really ARE better, whether you want to believe it or not. He's the one that knows our future! I would just ask you to challenge yourself by humbling yourself, getting before God, and really seeking His will in the situation that you are in, or something that you might be having trouble with. Even if you don't know where to start, and find that you are so confused, just pray and tell Him exactly how you feel! He knows anyway, so why not take His hand and turn to Him rather than to take the matter into your own hands? He WANTS us to humble ourselves before Him! Would you do that?
�Father, I just ask that your Holy Spirit would convict your children. Let them know what you want in their life, and just begin to reveal your will to them. Lord, it may take sacrificing something, or it may just take "stepping up" and being bold, but whatever it may be, just let them humble themselves before You, and I pray that you would just take their hand and walk with them. In Jesus� name I pray....Amen.�
Extra time in the Word: Matthew 18
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Matthew+18
This was written by Kristen, IN
Hebrews 5:12
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk not solid food."
Some people go to church every Sunday and sit through the sermon doodling on the bulletin. They think they are mature Christians because they go to church. Don't get me wrong, church can help your growth in the Lord, but you have to pay attention and learn something. You can't be "grown up" in your salvation unless you have a personal relationship with God, study His Word, and live His Word. Some elderly people might go to church and think that they are very MATURE when they are really baby Christians at heart. Those people should already be teachers and not need to be taught. They have had plenty of time to work on their walk with God.
Extra time in the Word: Hebrews 5
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Hebrews+5
This Bible Study was written by Katie.
Romans 15:7
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Okay, we all admit that one time or another, we've put the label "weird" on people. I know I have. Like this girl who comes to youth group. She's a year older than me, comes from a bad home situation, and has frizzy brown hair and hisses at you if you even say her name. I'm sure you all can relate to this. Then there's the guy who has his eyebrow pierced, and has this long gotee that looks just plain silly. Well, ya know what? God made them in His image, just like He created you and me. We're all different. Just think how boring this world would be if we all had brown hair, brown eyes, we were all 5'6", and our favorite color was brown, therefore, everyone wore brown school clothes, brown office clothes, brown jeans, you get the picture. So next time you are about to whisper to your friend about how weird that new girl is, just remember that we are all different, just the way God made us. And that God loves you and that person exactly the same. He loves you!
Extra time in the Word: Romans 15
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Romans+15
Hebrews 11:1
"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."
The other night I was engaged in a deep conversation with an un-saved friend. He asked me to define faith. I had previously always defined faith as 'believing without seeing', but I decided to turn to the BIble that night for its definition of faith, and I found the above verse.
I continued reading and the rest of the chapter talks about people of faith throughout the bible. Noah, Abraham, and much more. They all obeyed God's commands firmly believing that God would eventually give what He promised. They completely trusted in His plan for eternity. These men hadn't seen Jesus as a walking, talking human. They also didn't have the four Gospels to turn to that we have that describes Jesus and His teachings. They simply had faith. They believed that God would one day send the world a savior and were willing to die for that belief.
We, the Christian youth of America are the ones that I believe will make a significant difference in this world. I see something very special in our generation, and I feel God is going to use us in a strong way. Don't you want to be strong in the church of Jesus Christ? One who can without fear fight and win in the battle against sin with a shield and foundation of faith? The stronger the faith, the closer to God you will be. The closer to God you are, the stronger the fight in you. The stronger fight you put up, the more blessings received. -not necessarily here on this earth, but in heaven....just like the blessings the prophets of the Old Testament received.
Extra time in the Word: Hebrews+11
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Hebrews+11
Written by: Philip, 17, Lexington, NE
Jeremiah 15:16, 17 (New Century Version)
"Your words came to me, and I listened carefully to them. Your words made me very happy, because I am called by your name, Lord God All-Powerful. I never sat with the crowd as they laughed and had fun. I sat by myself, because you were there, and you filled me with anger at the evil around me.�
Do you ever get that feeling of filthiness that evil is everywhere? This earth is Satan's playground. He uses everyone he can in it to demean the Kingdom of God. Many times we do just what Jeremiah wouldn't. We sit around and laugh with people at evil going on around us. We, as Christians filled with God's Holy Spirit, are not filled with a spirit of weakness, but with a spirit of power, love and self-control. We need to stand for Christ in situations like these. We should follow Jeremiah's example and go off on our own, because we want to be with Christ, and he is not in the midst of the evil around us. Be angry about the evil around you, and then fight against it. We are soldiers in God's army and we have already won the war, so let us not be afraid.
Extra time in the Word: Jeremiah 15
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Jeremiah+15
Nehemiah 8:10
" Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Do you ever think of God as a giant who is waiting for the perfect moment to smash you? I know I have before. I used to think if I messed up one more time, God would surely not love me. But every time I have fumbled it up, He's there to catch me. As this verse tells us, God doesn't want us to be depressed. He wants us to be happy and joyful. The awesome thing about God is that He loves us no matter what. He loves us if we've experimented with alcohol or drugs. He loves us even when we hate Him. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying it is okay to hate God. He forgives us for everything when we come to him. As my mom says, when you say sorry, be ready to make a full 180 degree turn and go in the other direction. Some people claim to be Christians, but they really aren't. In Bible days, the people who praised Baal (or any other god) put the label "Christian" on the God-believers. We should strive to serve God, and let other people see the hope that we have in him. Let them put the label Christian on you.
Extra time in the Word: Nehemiah 8
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Nehemiah+8
Written by Kristen I'm 15, from Missouri
1 John 2:28
�And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him in His coming.�
Have you ever stopped to think, what if Jesus came back to take us to Heaven today?? If Christ came today, would you be prepared? Would you be proud of your actions? Or would you be ashamed and try to hide your music, movies, clothes, magazines and other things that would not be appropriate? I know when I meet Christ, I want to be able to say, "Yes Lord, I'm a sinner, but you saved me and forgave me. I have done my best to live a life for you." I do not want to have to hang my head in shame. It's still not to late, lets throw out our Marilyn Manson music, and our R rated movies, so that when Christ comes for us, we can be unashamed and free! Until then let's keep ourselves and others prepared for His glorious return!
Extra time in the Word: 1 John 2:
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?1+John+2
Written by C. Lynn, from IL
Nehemiah 4:14-15
"I saw that the people were worried, so I said to them and to their leaders and officials, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and terrifying the Lord is, and fight for your fellow countrymen, your children , your wives, and your homes." Our enemies heard that we had found out what they were plotting, and they realized that God had defeated their plans. Then all of us went back to rebuilding the wall."
Fear is a deadly weapon that Satan uses against us to prevent us from fulfilling God's purpose. And rather than looking to God as our strength, we fall into the trap of thinking up some way that we can handle the situation. But God did not call us to be problem solvers, that's His job. God wants us to fully rely on Him for the situations that daily arrive. Remember how powerful God is no matter what the situation. The problems we see on the outside are only reflections of what is going on in the supernatural. We can in no way remedy a supernatural situation through natural means. We have to rely on God and we have to pray in order to fight against the devil's scheme. So maybe your brother is sick or you never see your dad anymore - remember that you can be the one that fights the war in the heavenly realm, by praying for that person or that need. And trust God to deliver because "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world". God doesn't let down his children. And He's already defeated the enemy for you - you just need to go in and claim the victory.
Extra time in the Word: Nehemiah 4
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Nehemiah+4
Philippians 3:7-8
�But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I might gain Christ.�
What are we willing to give up for Christ? Are we willing to lay down our lives for the Creator of all things? Jesus said: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and THEN all these things will be added unto you. When you run after God with all your heart, nothing will matter. They guys or girls at school won't matter, the party on Friday night won't matter, only being in the Presence of the Lord God Almighty will matter. All else is rubbish, as Paul says.
Extra time in the Word: Philippians 3
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Philippians+3