![]() The Book of Proverbs is one of the Bible’s most treasured books. Even if your child can’t immediately see what good can come out of a bad event, remind your kid that God is faithful and always keeps His promises ( Psalm 145:13). In times of hopelessness, point your child to God’s promise that He will bring good out of every bad situation for those who love and trust Him ( Romans 8:28). Last, your child may be troubled by the latest headlines or the state of our fallen world generally. This means that if your child sows seeds of faith in times of sorrow then, at God’s appointed time, your child will reap a harvest for his or her steadfast faith ( Galatians 6:9). During those times, Scripture tells us to “sow with tears” so that we may “reap with joy” ( Psalm 126:5). Tell your child that faith is tested most during the tough times. Comfort your child with the knowledge that the Almighty Father ultimately “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” ( Psalm 147:3). You should also explain that disappointment is a part of life. Your teen may suffer the heartache of a friend’s betrayal, a romantic breakup, or the death of a loved one.Īs a parent, you should console your heartbroken child and build up their confidence. Teens also endure heartbreak that can strike down their self-esteem and, potentially, their faith. For example, to help your child choose the right company, the Psalms counsel your kid to avoid spending time with liars and hypocrites ( Psalm 26:4). In drafting these beautiful songs, the psalmist imparted practical knowledge to build up the reader’s confidence and keep straight his or her path. When we motivate our teens to cover their feet with the Gospel of Peace, we encourage them to let Scripture be a lamp for their steps and a light on their path so that they might walk in peace ( Psalm 119:105). Teenagers can also cover their feet with the Gospel of Peace ( Ephesians 6:15). One of the best ways to ensure good standing with God is to encourage your teenager to follow the Golden Rule to “do to others what you would have them do to you” ( Matthew 7:12). Righteousness refers to our good standing with God which became available to us through the blood of the Lamb. A solid understanding of the Word will teach your child how to grapple with any argument that seeks to undermine his or her faith ( Ephesians 6:14).Īnother piece of God’s armor is the Breastplate of Righteousness ( Ephesians 6:14). Explain to your teen that today’s trends are fleeting, and the approval of man fickle, but God’s Word is unchangeable and eternal. Your child can “suit up” for spiritual battle with such things as the Belt of Truth that is God’s Word. Social media also pushes our teens to have unrealistic (and sometimes harmful) standards of perfection.Ĭhapter 6 of Ephesians equips your teen for the spiritual battle they’ll face in our secular world by teaching them how to “put on” the full armor of God ( Ephesians 6:11). Such blunt language may appeal to teenagers who are used to having the internet at their fingertips and, thus, the information is given to them as quickly as possible.ĭespite our teens’ beginnings as God’s masterpiece, they’ll encounter peer pressure from supposed “friends” who’ll push them to stray from the straight and narrow. This is also revealed immediately after Jesus’s death on the Cross when the centurion cried out, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” ( Mark 15:37-39). This is first revealed through the outspoken Apostle Peter, who declared to Jesus: “You are the Messiah” ( Mark 8:29). Last, the main point of Mark’s Gospel is to concisely reveal Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and the Son of God. ![]() Also, the idea that Jesus served others may inspire teens to volunteer their time to serve others as well. The idea that our Lord and Savior suffered greatly in His life may inspire teens to keep the faith during their own time of tribulation. This explanation may prove useful to your teen if he or she is unfamiliar with Old Testament customs.įurther, Mark presents Jesus as a servant who suffers for the sake of many ( Mark 10:45). ![]() ![]() Scholars believe that Mark wrote for a Gentile audience because he explains Jewish customs to his readers. This “action-based” narrative makes the Gospel of Mark appealing to teens. Instead, Mark’s Gospel begins with the vivid scene of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. Mark doesn’t begin with a tedious genealogy showing Jesus’s link to King David. Mark’s prose is simple and straightforward, highlighting Jesus’s actions more than His teachings. To use terminology your teen would understand, Mark begins with Jesus’s ministry and then moves along at a fast clip so that Jesus’s story could be easily retold and, in a sense, “go viral.” However, Mark stands out as “teen-friendly” because it’s the shortest Gospel and written for the broadest audience. Any of the four Gospels would be a worthy read for your teen.
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