Church Of Christ - Youth Group

We are looking at Matthew 5:38-48 today. This passage is a tough one to live out as it says we are not to get revenge. Please click the link and read the entire text as I’ve only quoted a few verses below.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Imagine someone takes something you have. Maybe someone hits you and you want to get revenge. Maybe there is someone you really hate, and you wouldn’t want to do anything for this person. God talks about these things in Matthew 5:38-48. In these verses, He begins by talking about someone doing something bad to you. You are to turn the other cheek. God says in Matthew 5:40, “If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” If someone slaps you in the face, the best response is to endure it. That, in itself, may put the enemy to shame.

He wants us to find ways of showing love for abuse. God also tells us that we are to show love for our neighbors, instead of hating them. Help your enemies and don’t expect something in return. God wants us to not take revenge on someone who has done something to us. He wants us to love our enemies, just as God loves us.

Points To Ponder: Why would God want us to pray for people who persecute us? Why does God allow good to happen to the evil and unrighteous? What does God expect of us, as believers in Christ Jesus, concerning our enemies?

Prayer Possibilities: Pray for your enemies, that God may forgive them. Pray to God to thank Him for giving you His Word to help you forgive your enemy. Pray to God to help you fight off the temptation of getting revenge on your enemy.

God has a perfect plan even though we can’t always understand it. Take a look at Psalm 116:1-2, 15 today.

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Have you ever had someone close to you die? If so, did you doubt God’s decision to bringing him/her home so soon? During times like these, we need to trust God and remember that He knows best.

My best friend and Sister died when I was 13 years old. It happened so fast. One minute she was there, the next she was gone. It hurt so much; I had spent so much time with her even when she was in High School. My first instinct was to be angry. I couldn’t figure out why God wanted my sister right then and there. I was sure this was all a mistake.

When I realized I was the one who had made the mistake, I turned to God for guidance. Even though it hurt for a long time, God helped me to get through it one day at a time. I knew that Tammy was in heaven and I would see her again one day. Verse 15 tells us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

It has been 17 years now and I still miss Tammy. I think about her often. When I start to feel sad again, I remember the words of Psalm 116:2, “Because he (God) turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

Points To Ponder: When in times of trouble, what do you find to be comforting? When faced with these things, what can you pray for? What are some things you can do for others when they are in times like these?

Prayer Possibilities: Thank God for the gift of life. Thank God for the gift of salvation. Pray that God would give you the wisdom to understand and accept His will.

Today we are looking at a very short verse - II Peter 1:19. It’s little, but it’s great!

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Do you remember when you were a little child, and you were afraid of the dark? What would you do so you could get to sleep? I used to have a nightlight, and every night before I went to bed, I had to have my nightlight on. When I did, it was easier to face the dark.

Now, picture your room as the world, and the darkness as sin. Sin does make the world a very dark place to be. Now picture the nightlight as Jesus Christ, and Jesus in us, His believers. Jesus is our light in this dark world. We, too, are to be, as Peter says in his book, “lights shining out in a dark place.”

Whenever we speak the truth, or act like Christians, we want to let our true light shine. Why? Because there are many scared people out in our dark world.

So, let your light shine always into the dark, and show how much you love the REAL light. Maybe that’s why God put Christians on earth and doesn’t take us to Heaven as soon as we accept Him - so that the world won’t be scared of the dark because it sees us as the light.

Points To Ponder: How would it make you feel if you were lost in a dark place? What would your life be like in this world without Jesus? How can you, as a Christian, let your light shine?

Prayer Possibilities: You might want to pray for a family member, friend, or acquaintance still in the darkness of sin. Thank God that He made you part of the light. Ask God to help you let your light shine.

Here’s an interesting thought for the day. Read Matthew 6:24-34 as we start things up. I’ll only quote a few verses below, so make sure you click the link for more of God’s Wonderful Word!

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

A baby must know that no matter what, his parents are going to love him and take care of him. When he cries, it is inconceivable why he feels he needs to. He knows that in a matter of seconds his mother will come to feed him or just hold him. For a moment he loses sight of the love he knows he is receiving and doesn’t put full trust in his parents.

For the same unknown reason, God’s children don’t put their trust in Him. In Matthew 6:24-34, God tells us to, “Seek first his kingdom…and all these things will be added to you.” We will know that God will always be there for us. Just as babies cry, we worry and lose sight of God’s promises and love for us. How often we forget that God feeds the sparrows and dresses the lilies, and we are of much greater value to God. Why should we feel that He won’t provide for all our needs?

God sees the big picture and knows exactly what we need. He only wants what is best for us. So, the next time we ask why babies must cry, we need to ask ourselves why we “cry” when God’s love is always with us.

Points To Ponder: Why is worrying a part of a normal day? How did God provide for the Israelites when Moses led them through the desert? Why would the Israelites have been much better off putting their trust in God?

Prayer Possibilities: Ask God to help us realize that He, a God who loves us, will provide for all of our needs. Thank Him that He is the only one in control of our lives. Pray that the Holy Spirit works in others so they can have this comfort in their lives as well.

We often think of celebrities and sports hero’s as worthy of our attention, but God is so much more. Take a read through Psalm 96 this morning and see how David felt about God. Please click the link and read the entire passage, as I’ve only quoted a few verses below.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.”

Is there someone that you idolize for their accomplishments, such as an athlete, a singer, or a movie star? Do you and your friends talk about how wonderful this person is? Most teenagers probably do. God wants us to talk about Him and praise Him in the same way. He wants to be our SUPERSTAR!

Psalm 96 talks about God’s creation and how we should sing to the Lord with thanks and praise. In verse 4, the psalmist says, “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.” God wants us to be jubilant for everything that He has created and accomplished. He wants us to worship only Him and no other gods. God tells us that the heavens rejoice, the earth is glad, and the sea resounds, and they will sing before the Lord when He comes to judge the earth.

God should be our favorite superstar in life. He wants us to declare His glory, proclaim His salvation, and sing and rejoice in Him. He has created this world and everything in it; therefore, we should worship Him with gladness. Although you may have a favorite athlete, singer, or movie star, God should always be your number one superstar.

Points To Puzzle Over: What are some things that God, your superstar, has done for you? What do you think is God’s biggest accomplishment as a superstar? What things in life do you think you should praise God for?

Prayer Possibilities: Ask God to give you strength to worship Him, instead of idolizing earthly people. Thank God for all His accomplishments that He has made in life, such as creating this world and giving His Son to die for us. Ask God to help others to sing to Him with thanks and praise.