2 Timothy 3

I have decided to learn from my mistakes and type these posts in Word then cut and paste them into the blog. I almost lost yesterday's post also. I guess you live and learn.

III Godlessness in the last days and the cure
A. vs 1-5 People will be wicked in the last days
B. vs 6-9 God will expose the folly of the wicked
C. vs 10-17 A Godly life is a persecuted life

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Timothy 3:12

Yesterday's post about teenagers falling away from the faith has been rattling around in my brain since then. As someone who cares deeply about teenagers and has this "falling away" happen time and time again, it causes we to really think about what I can do as a Youth Pastor to help.
I think this verse gives some insight. I can not recall ever preaching (or really even hearing) a sermon on "suffering for Jesus". Usually suffering is spoken of as something to be avoided or as something bad that Jesus rescues you from. Rarely is it taught that suffering is a normal part of the Christian experience. Even more rarely is it taught that Christians should suffer. That we believe what is true with such conviction we are willing to go through anything rather than compromise it. When teenagers get outside the protective bubble of their parents, they have to begin to make their own decisions and suffer the consequences. If we've always taught them that God will deliver from ever suffering or that Christians never have to experience suffering, the real world becomes quite a shock. Any time we teach our children something that will not hold up in the fires of real life, we do them a grave disservice. Suffering is not only normal and to be expected, but it is a good thing when we suffer in the cause of Christ. It brings our Father glory and earns us a crown to cast at the feet of Jesus.