WEEK 4 - EVANGELISM, LOCAL AND REGIONAL
All around us in this nation and right where each of us lives, there are people who need Jesus. They need the peace and hope that Jesus alone can bring. During our prayer times this week, let’s allow the Spirit to bring people to our minds who need Jesus and need us to share His love and gospel with them. Jesus, bring new courage and fresh power upon us to fulfill Your mission.
DAY TWENTY-SEVEN // REACHING AND DISCIPLING TEENS BY DAN BOAL
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up - Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Have you ever had a conversation that changed the direction of your day, week, month—or life? Like going to the store and trying on new clothes to see what you like, teenagers are constantly trying out new thoughts, activities, behaviors, and philosophies of thinking. These activities are critical to identity formation. As they find concepts and behavior they like, they will eventually adopt them as their own and discard the concepts and actions that don’t resonate with the core of who they believe themselves to be. Think back on your own life and identify seasons where you “tried on” different behaviors simply because someone suggested you should. Are you embarrassed, ashamed, and confused? Or grateful, excited, and happy?
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 emphasizes the older generation’s powerful responsibility to be the initiators of that one conversation with the next generation that will change their life. It’s not a teen’s responsibility to ask about Jesus and what it is like to follow Him. It is an adult’s responsibility to inform them EVERY MOMENT POSSIBLE how good and wonderful it is to follow after Jesus and invite them to try it for themselves. You just might be the person who has the one conversation that changes their life forever.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Jesus, is there a younger person in my life I can talk with about following You?
2. Jesus, give me the words to say and courage to share the many stories of Your faithfulness in my life in a way that resonates with this young person.
3. Jesus, allow the generation of believers in my church to be found faithful in Your eyes to pass on the faith from one generation to the next.