Celebrate Youth

While there is debate as to how the word “youth” is defined in various places in the Bible, we do know this: there is no age limit (minimum or maximum) on growing in knowledge and faith, or on doing good. The Bible is full of examples of faithful young people doing amazing things for God and His people.

Joseph started at age 17 working his way up, with God's help, from a slave to the second most powerful man in the known world (Gen. 37, 39-41). David was a young shepherd when he was anointed to be the next king of Israel (1 Sam. 16) and when he killed Goliath (I Sam. 17). Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were young men, most likely teenagers, when they were taken into captivity in Babylon and refused to defile themselves with the king's food (Daniel 1). In the New Testament, Jesus at age 12 was devoted to spending time in his Father's house and amazed the teachers of the Law in the Temple with His understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-49). For those who would argue that He had the advantage of being divine, consider that in verse 46 He was “both hearing them, and asking questions,” and that in verse 52 of the same chapter, He “advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” that is, He grew as a human being. Finally, consider Timothy, who, while we do no know his age when Paul told him “Let no man despise thy youth” (I Tim. 4:12), knew the Scriptures from the time he was “a babe” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Our young people have many opportunities to grow in knowledge and faith, to serve, to bring others to Christ, and to just be together in 2008. New events for this year include quarterly devotionals hosted by various members of the congregation, monthly visitation meetings, our own book-of-the-month club, and a Friend Day. We will also continue to do service projects such as building cleaning during months which have 5 weekends and passing out fliers for our Gospel Meeting. We plan to participate in East Point's Bible Bowl once again, and plan to have more activities that involve the whole family.

We will host our annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) in July, providing a week of opportunities to learn, meet new people, and serve one another, all while having fun!

Our youth group has a website, www.duluthyouth.org, which currently has little more than the calendar of events, but we anticipate some exciting changes to this as well in 2008, including a message board and articles by our own members as well as others.

Youth is a time of growth, learning, wonder, and energy. Paul told Timothy to “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.” This command was made to Timothy, in order that he might resist becoming discouraged if others put him down because of his youth, but it could also be taken as a command to the other readers of the epistle to not put young people down because of their youth. Likewise, the command was made to Timothy to be an ensample (example) to believers by his words and actions, but it could also be taken as a command to the others to follow Timothy's example, regardless of his comparative youth. Let us celebrate our young people, encouraging them to grow and learn and be the examples Paul spoke of, praying for them as they come into their own both in the world and in God's kingdom, praying for their parents as they strive to guide their children, and learning to follow their example as they demonstrate what a powerful force young people can be in the church and in the world.