Youth Need to Wait on the Lord

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In a previous post we noted how so many of today’s young people seem to be anxious, depressed, tired, and overwhelmed. As Bible teachers we have the privilege of helping them get to know God as the One who is caring enough, great enough, and wise enough to handle all that pertains to them.
Weary Youth Need to Wait on the Lord
But, simply knowing about Him and believing all that to be true isn’t enough. They must also learn to wait on the Lord (Isa. 40:30-31), to put their hope and trust in Him, even when life doesn’t seem to be going the way they wish it would.

Why Youth Need to Learn to Not Only Know the Lord but also to Wait on the Lord

While knowing the fullness of who God is holds great importance for teens to rise above the fray of life, it will only take them so far on their faith journey. What happens when this God who cares about them and is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20), doesn’t seem to be answering their prayers? What happens when the change in their lives doesn’t occur right away or when their troubles fail to disappear?

Most teens have only known a life where problems get solved in movies or on TV within a half hour to perhaps a couple hours. They’re accustomed to touching a screen or speaking into a device for instant answers. They zap their food so it’s ready in seconds or minutes.

Life in Christ doesn’t generally work that way for God looks at the big picture. He wants to grow and mature them which is a process that takes time. So, while God is able, He may not respond in the way and with the speed with which today’s youth have grown accustomed. Hence, we see the importance of teaching them to wait on the Lord.

What Waiting on the Lord Looks Like

The NIV translates the original word as hope which essentially requires waiting, looking for, and expecting God to work. That’s faith in a God who is able to not only know what to do, is capable of doing it, but also has the wisdom to do it in the best time and way.

Encourage teens to …

  • keep praying and not give up while accepting that God is sovereign and may not answer as they expect
  • look forward to a day when God will right all the wrongs while accepting that this might not be that day
  • continue to lean into His love and grace depending on Him and believing that He knows what is best for them even if they don’t see it
  • be still long enough to absorb the strength and peace God wants to give them rather than fretting and fussing
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Youth Need to Know the Lord

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How would you describe teenagers today? While age level characteristics typical of their developmental stage still apply, so many teens experience a higher than usual level of stress, anxiety, and depression. They’re overwhelmed and tired.
Weary Youth Need to Know the Lord
Isaiah 40:28-31 shows us that there’s hope for weary young people. As their Bible teachers, we can help them find peace, hope, rest, and strength by pointing them to the right Source. Youth need to know the Lord and they also need to learn to wait on Him.

Youth Need to Know the Lord Who is Described in Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40:28-31)

The above verses describe the kind of God teens need to know to not only face life today but to rise above.

  1. Teens may feel overwhelmed by life so present to them a God who is great enough to handle their problems and the woes of life.

“The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.”

Also Read:

  1. Our youth may be tired of getting let down by people who are supposed to be there for them … parents, teachers, other leaders, and yes, even the church. Help them understand and believe that God will consistently be there for them.

“He will not grow tired or weary”

  1. Teenagers may be unable to make sense of life as they know it and feel a lot of uncertainty about the future. Help them grasp the depth of God’s ability to understand what they are going through and give them the needed wisdom.

“his understanding no one can fathom”

Also Read:

This is a God who truly cares about them and welcomes them to cast their troubles on Him (Ps. 55:22; Matt. 11:28-30; 1 Pet. 5:7). This is a God who is able to “give strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isa. 40:29) so they can …

  • soar on wings like eagles. – to rise above even when the problems don’t disappear
  • run and not grow weary. – to deal with the more strenuous, stressful times of life
  • walk and not be faint. – to cope with the day in and day out daily routines without giving up
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Methods for Teens

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Bible Teaching Methods for TeensStudents of all ages need to be actively engaged in the learning process. When we speak of active methodology, we aren’t merely referring to physical activity but also mental. The younger the students, more physically active types of methods should be used. The older the students, more mentally active types of methods should be used. Where does that leave teenagers?

Teens have gotten to where the activity should be more mental with some physical. As students move into their teenage years, they still need some physically active methodology but not near so much of it as they did when younger.

Methodology Good to Use with Teens:

Physically active methods are still important, but need to be appropriate for teenagers. You may find teens complaining when you ask them to get up and move, but once they start, they’re usually good with it. Do not let their initial reactions keep you from incorporating these types of methods. They still need to be physically active in the learning process.

Since they are capable of going to higher levels of thinking, teens are at a point where they can learn with mentally active methodology.

Also think about using more group-oriented activities at this age level as peer becomes increasingly more important.

While you can incorporate some lecture into the lesson, you most certainly should keep it short and break it up with other activities.

You will find this article with a list of some of the methods that fit the above criteria for teens as a handout included in the Reaching All Age Levels Resource which includes other articles for all the age groups and PowerPoint slides to use as a group teacher training session.

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3 Tips for Teaching Teens (Youth)

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Tips for Bible Teaching
(Click to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)

When thinking about tips for teaching youth, I would have to use the same three tips given for all other ages. Reaching teens especially demonstrates how truly ministering to students requires teachers go beyond mere methodology and biblical content.

1) Have the right focus.

Relationships are critical at all ages, but are particularly important at this time in life. Teens need to know that they are truly loved, each individually for who they are. They need to feel affirmed, as though they matter, that they are truly being heard, not just being told what to do or what they need to know. Consequently, Bible teachers of teenage students need to focus on building relationships. For more read: The Focus of Youth Ministry

2) Be prepared for challenges.

Young people want their needs met and will often do just about anything for that to happen. Bible teachers of teens must work hard at identifying those needs and providing a palpable, godly alternative to how those needs are met. When that happens, Bible learning becomes relevant to them, something that will get their attention. For more read: Young People Need Relevance (Follow the links in the ‘Related Posts’ for how they also need realness, relationship, reasons, and renewal.)

3) Foster an environment conducive to learning.

As already mentioned, youth need to sense that they are accepted not only by you but by their peer as well. Build a positive, community-based atmosphere, full of both grace and truth, where they don’t feel beat up when they fail. For more read: A Place Youth Want to Be and A Place Youth Don’t Want to Be

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