Here are some great questions from jr. highers...
Why are temptations so hard to ignore?
Why is God so big?
Do my friends even care about me?
Why do people act different at school than they do at home or church?
How would you answer them? And I don't mean just the "textbook answer" but a real life answer. You know the difference, don't you. The first is the answer you would use if this were an assignment for a youth ministry class. The second is the one you give to the student sitting across from you, the student who doesn't need a quick fix.
I'd love to hear some of your thoughts. I'll post my thoughts/answers later, but I wanted to put these questions out there to hear what other wisdom there is out there.
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The second one I would ask to have re-phrased. Just thinking about putting the question into better words would likely help the youth a lot.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, there are two sets of answers I would give, but one is the short version and the other is the long version.
Short answers:
1) Because we were made to enjoy or just feel certain things, and temptation to do wrong is the desire for those things in a way or degree that violates God's will for us (I'd rephrase this for youth).
2) Again, I'd have the question rephrased.
3) That's hard to say. How well do you know them? Do you care about them?
4) They are trying to "fit in." Insecurity is involved. With time and maturity they may overcome this. Courage is needed.