What you will need for this session:
Bible.Pen.Paper.Internet
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to
answer everyone. — Colossians 4:5-6
It’s good for us to listen to other people, but there comes a time to speak up. If people realize that you care enough to listen to them, then the more likely they’ll be to ask you questions about yourself and be open to hearing your answers.
Peter wrote in a letter to a group of Christians, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
After you listen to others, when your friends and family start asking you questions about your faith—SHARE! Share what you know to be true about Jesus. Share how your life has been changed. Share the hope, joy, and forgiveness that God has extended toward you.
Tonight reflect on these things. If someone asks you about your faith in Christ, what would you say? How has God changed your life?
Search online for an image that reflects your faith in God. Email a friend in our youth group with the image and an explanation as to how this represents your faith. Post your image on the blog:
http://firstlightyouth.blogspot.com
Along with how this represents you.
Finish your devotional time in prayer.
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1 comment:
Hi all. Pastor Ben wrote, "It’s good for us to listen to other people, but there comes a time to speak up."
This week I received an email from a close relative. The email contained an inaccurate viewpoint about a religion that is not the same as my relative's religion. The email was "forwarded" ad nauseum for who knows how long, which only served to perpetuate the myth and inaccuracies about this certain other religion. The email depicted a very narrow opinion of this other religion, bordering on intolerance and hate, all in the name of "Christianity."
Inspired by the story of Jesus at Jacob's well, and at the urging of Pastor Ben, I took a moment to reply to my relative. I asked my relative to gather as much knowledge and truth as possible before "forwarding" any more such emails. I told my relative, "As your loving (relative), I would like to recommend getting the facts before forwarding emails like this which border on intolerance. The story, as written, is false." I invited my relative to use internet tools such as snopes.com. "As a continuation of my spiritual discipleship, I am learning more about other Christian denominations as well as other religions. I’m currently reading about Judiasm, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam – all peace loving religions. In the near future I will be attending services, as a visitor, at a Jewish temple, a Baha’i temple, a Greek orthodox church, hopefully an inner-city Baptist church, and perhaps even an Islamic temple. Never stop learning!" I signed my reply to this relative with my usual "love and miss you" signature, assuring my relative that my intentions are heart-felt.
I hope and pray that in speaking up, my relative will come to realize that I care, that Jesus cared, and that we all should care, and learn, and love, and be tolerant.
From Wikidictionary.com: Tolerance: the ability to tolerate the beliefs or practices of others.
Peace, friendship and tolerance to you all,
Jamie
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