When discipling teenagers in faith, we often fall into a trap. Unless we’re careful, our efforts at disciple-making can be motivated more by wanting to see kids act right. Or, rather, to see them not act wrong.
Sure, we want teens to live out their faith. We want no separation between what they believe about God and His Kingdom and how they conduct themselves in this world. We want their identity to be tangled up and intertwined with Christ. In Paul’s words, we want young people “hidden in Christ” (Colossians 3:3).
But in our desire to see this, we do the only thing that’s measurable. We do what we feel we can control. We focus on their “bad” actions. In our misguided zeal, we hope we can pester kids enough that our voice ringing in their ears keeps them from doing something they shouldn’t.
Oh, to be sure, we praise their “good” actions. Which is maybe the worst part of all …
A Better Approach To Discipling Teenagers in Faith
Shouldn’t we be concerned about the way young people act? Of course we should. God calls us to imitate his character in this world. Then what’s wrong with focusing on the end product of behavior? Is there a better way?
Yes, a better way exists. But we must come to grips with the fact that the better way is much harder for us to control. In fact, it has very little to do with us at all.
The better way of discipling teenagers in faith involves these steps:
- Consistently unfold to students who Christ is.
- Reveal to them through the Bible Jesus’ message and mission.
- Talk to them all the time about what Jesus did for them. About what He does for them.
- Model for them a life affected and impacted by this truth.
- Trust the Holy Spirit and His work of sanctification.
The better way of discipling teenagers in faith? Do all you can to help teens abide in Christ.
