21:  Reaching out to the world

Paul would rather die immediately and be with Christ in heaven, but knows there’s value to staying on earth to help others.

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.

I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me.

Philippians 1:20-26 NLT

Review “Cornerstones” on page 310 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 2.

If God didn’t have a purpose for us on earth, then we might get whisked up to heaven the second we believed in Christ. God wants us to share the gospel with the world and be his light on earth. There is a reason why the church is called the body of Christ – we are his hands and feet, and he is the heart and soul!

Therefore, you shouldn’t isolate yourself from the world. While you should have an inner core of strong Christian friends, you need to live in the world. Just being seen as a down-to-earth real-life Christian could make you the person that someone feels comfortable going to with questions about faith. But if you’re always hiding from the world, few people will know who you are or that you live for Christ.   

What good is it to hide yourself away? It’s easy to be loving when there’s no one around who will frustrate you. We learn who we are and what our failings are while living with others. Remember, the church excludes no one, even though they may sometimes be absent.

How can you live in the world, but not be of it?

Why do you think some Christians cut themselves off from the world? 

Christ died for us while we were still ungodly.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11 ESV

Read “Cornerstones” on page 10 of your SRT New Testament.

Imagine you had a day start out really badly – maybe you slept in, because you snuck out and stayed out late the night before, missed a test, lied about why you were late to school, and snapped at everyone. When you finally got home and realized you had been a jerk all day, you wonder how God can still love you.

God loved us before we even knew him! He proved how unconditional his love and forgiveness are by taking the “first step.” Christ came for everyone – even the people who hung him on a cross to die. He offers you love and forgiveness, no matter what! No matter what you do, God will always forgive you! In other words, you can start over today. Do not hold back. Accept the unconditional forgiveness of Christ!

How do you picture God’s forgiveness?

Describe a time when you’ve felt God’s love even when you didn’t deserve it.

Write a brief prayer to God, thanking him for his love and forgiveness.

Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

23:  Forgiveness is for Everyone

Love not only your friends, but also your enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

Review “Cornerstones” on page 10 of your SRT New Testament.

It’s pretty easy to love people that you like. It’s a whole lot harder to love someone who you don’t particularly care for. But if God asks us to love our enemies, then he will provide the way to do so.

Maybe there is someone at school who always picks on you, and you’d rather see him/her get expelled from school than see him/her happy. How can you fulfill God’s calling to love that person when all he/she does is make you insane? It’s not going to happen overnight. You have to pray for your own heart to change, and then begin to pray for the well-being of your “enemy.” It may seem impossible at first, but God has a way of changing our hearts. He does it through his Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. Be different from your friends by letting God show you how to love those who are difficult to love. In the end, you will be the one who is truly transformed.

What does it mean to love your enemies? Do you have to like them?

Why is it so important to love people who you don’t like?

Write out a brief prayer asking God to bless someone you don’t like. 

And as they stoned him, Stephen prayed,

 “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

And he fell to his knees, shouting,

“Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Acts 7:59-60 NLT

Set your priorities on spiritual over physical training.

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:7-10 ESV

Read “First Steps” on page 221 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 1.

Do you ever feel like you’re too young to be really strong spiritually? Like you are not yet ready, and that being a spiritual leader should be left to people who are a little older than you are? Sometimes it might seem tempting to put off spiritual growth and focus on what you can see in the physical world. But take heart! God uses the young to do his work and grants them great strength!  

The two people Paul talks about most are two young disciples, Timothy and Titus. Most of the apostles of Jesus were young people when they met Christ and left everything to follow him! You have just as much potential to be strong spiritually as they were! Don’t neglect your spiritual life just because you are young. Go out and rock the world; God can use you to do great things! The question is: are you willing to put spiritual ahead of worldly priorities? 

Do you ever feel like you’re not old enough to be a spiritual leader? Why or why not?

Did any of the verses, reflections, or questions remind you of something going on in your life? If so, what?

25:  Hope Does Not Disappoint Us

Use trials and persecution as an opportunity to tell people why you hope.

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if this is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

1 Peter 3:13-17 NLT

Review “First Steps” on page 221 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 4.

Events that God sends our way have meaning. When we look back on events in our lives through God’s perspective, we can see they really did have meaning. We then wonder why we worried and why we were so hard on ourselves. We can also identify what clues and signposts God was posting in our path. But in the end, remember that God will specifically use each event to inform us of his will.

Events by themselves don’t have meaning; we must invest them with meaning. Sometimes we’re good at this and sometimes we’re not. But prayer can help us discern God’s intention. Think about it; if we can get some clues about where we’re headed, we’re usually pretty happy. Even when the meaning eludes us, we should accept God’s intention for our lives and honestly do our best.

Life challenges our spirit, and we should also consider how God designed our experiences to amaze and dazzle us with the depth of his love and caring.

Next time something happens that you don’t expect, try to figure out the message that God is sending your way. Maybe God is giving you a challenge so you can help someone else. Maybe God is preparing you for something really big. Either way, the choice is yours as to who you will trust…yourself or God. Think about it.    

How has a trial in your life been a witnessing opportunity?

Have you ever lost hope in a big way? Explain.

Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus
so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

2 Corinthians 4:10 NLT

Jesus went to the synagogue regularly and taught there.

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

Luke 4:14-16 ESV

Review “Off and Running” on pages 158-159 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 3.

Christ never meant for us to live our faith by ourselves. That’s why he gave us family – the family we live with, and our church family as well. There really is a connection between them. Your parents might have to nag you sometimes to go to church, or it might be the other way around, but remember there will be a lot of “unseen” growth through attending church together. Church is also a great place to find people to stay accountable with in your abstinence decision.

Maybe your life at home isn’t so great. Or maybe it is. Everyone has a different story. In both families and churches, everyone’s gifts and talents should help to balance each other out and make for a stronger group as a whole. So the church community should be a good way to build up your family and help you learn how to help each other! But remember not to go to church selfishly. Go to church to praise and worship God and to tell him how thankful you are that he is guiding your life. Are you thankful? Then tell him you are. 

Describe how you make going to church with your family a high priority on your schedule. Why is this important?

Did any of the verses, reflections, or questions remind you of something going on in your life? If so, what?

What thoughts do you have about what you have studied so far?

Children should obey their parents, and parents should nurture their children.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV

Review “Off and Running” on pages 158-159 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 4.

Do you pray for your friends? What about your family? Praying for the people you care about (and even those you don’t) is important because God listens to prayer! It might not be in the timing or in the way that you expect, but God will listen to your prayers.

I don’t know what your relationship is like with your parents; every single relationship is different. Hopefully you have a relationship based on trust. No matter how close or distant you are from your parents, keep each other in prayer! Even if you don’t understand why you have the family you do, remember that God has a reason for putting you all together.

Remember God never said, “Honor your father and mother if they are perfect.” He expects you to honor them because you can trust a perfect God to make things, “go well with you.” That is a promise you can count on, even when you are experiencing a major problem in your family. God is paying attention and will bless you if you trust him by honoring your parents. 

How often do you pray for your family?

Do you “honor” your parents?

Write out a brief prayer for your family, especially for your parents.  

“Honor your father and your mother,

That your days may be long in the land

The Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:12 ESV

Encourage and build each other up.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 NLT

Read “Off and Running” on page 264 of your SRT New Testament and focus on Point 1.

A Student’s Story:

“I didn’t use to think that what I listened to, or what words I said mattered much. I listened to music where just about every other word was filthy, and I didn’t think it affected me. I was just listening for the music, you know? The words didn’t matter.

But then I found myself starting to mentally think and speak out the same things I had been listening to in my music. Eventually all of this started to slip into what I said out loud, and it got really negative. I would tear people down and say some things that I was not proud of.

Then I realized that these words that I thought were so innocent really didn’t make me feel good about who I was becoming. I was saying things out loud that I couldn’t believe were coming out of my mouth. When I finally realized that maybe I should clean up my language, it was hard…it was so ingrained in me, you know?”              

Have you ever heard swear words used positively?

How do you feel when someone encourages you?

How can you build up one of your friends today?

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV