Church Bulletin
We live at a time when society is obsessed with youthfulness. Some people spend copious amounts of money attempting to peel back the years. Getting older has its drawbacks but the Bible indicates that the latter years are a blessing in their own way. Job 12:12, “Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding.” It is a sad reality that Christians follow the lead of the world. There is nothing dignified in middle aged pastors wearing skinny jeans. A friend knew a Christian woman who had received that many Botox injections she appeared to be made of plastic.
There is the danger however of going too far the other way and regarding younger people as having little or nothing to contribute to the church. 1 Tim 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Commentators are not agreed as to how old Timothy was exactly; most put him somewhere in his 30’s. He is hardly a youth by today’s standards but in the first century you were still wet behind the ears until around 40. Oddly to us, in the same period most young women were married with several children before they were 20. Mary may have been about 16 when she gave birth to Christ. However old Timothy was, he was perceived to be young for the role of pastor at Ephesus. Paul exhorted him to behave in such a way that he gave no reason for concern.
As a church we should be keen to see our young men grow in the things of God with a view to future leadership and ministry. It is unwise to push them into responsibilities before they are ready. It is also negligent to fail to prepare them for present and future usefulness. Spurgeon is the exception to the rule nevertheless he was ready for ministry at 17. Young men of earnestness and maturity need to learn to pray publically, read the scriptures publically, and explain the truth to their peers. Some may be married in a few years and such abilities will also help them to lead their families.
- Let us pray that God would raise up future leaders in the church
- Let us pray that our young men would grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord
- let us pray for wisdom as to how we might encourage them and develop them
- Let us pray for opportunities for them to serve in the church