Making Decisions Based on Facts and Faith

Tonight we discussed what the Bible has to say about Alcohol and Drinking.

One of the biggest dilemmas facing Christian teens today is how to handle the pressure to drink alcohol.

Here are some facts, scripture, and truths about alcohol to help Christian teens to make Godly decisions:

According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, there are 3 million teens suffering from full-blown alcoholism. That number does not even include the millions more that have an unmanageable drinking problem.

Also, teens that begin drinking before age 15 are 4 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until they are 21.

A far greater concern is that alcohol is a major factor in the 3 leading causes of death for people age 15 to 24 - car crashes, murders, and suicides.

The fact that alcohol contributes to the leading causes of death should be of more concern to Christian teens, because it doesn't mean that the teen who is harmed has to be the drinker. For instance, 75 percent of rapes happen when at least one party is under the influence of alcohol.

While all of the physiological effects and statistics about drinking sound scary, many Christian teens adhere to the philosophy, "Well, it won't happen to me." Most of us like to believe that those bad things won't happen to us. It is for this reason that legislators in many countries have created a legal drinking age. Thus, if you are under that drinking age (in the U.S. it is 21), you cannot purchase or drink alcohol legally.

So, what does that mean for Christian teens?

Well, the Bible says that Christians are to follow the law of the land. If you are breaking the law by drinking when you are not of legal age, then you are also not doing right in God's eyes.
(See Romans 13:1-2)

What Else Does the Bible Say About Alcohol?
Ephesians 5:18
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."


Romans 13:13-14
"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."


Proverbs 20:1
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise."


What should we do then, if people around us are telling us something contrary to God’s Word?

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Taking the Walk

What is the WALK?
1 John 2:6
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

Each of us has a journey in life that we must take. We are all on the “walk of life.” Our walk is our life. What is the Bible saying when it refers to “walking as he walked”?

How we “walk” is how we live our life. It is the paths we choose to follow and the actions we choose to take. Have you ever heard the saying…”He talks the talk, but does he walk the walk?” We should think about this regarding ourselves.
Do you claim to be a Christian?
If the answer is yes, then the second question should be “Do I show it in the way I live my life?”
This doesn’t mean that we show it by simply coming to church or youth group every week. This means our day to day actions and choices reflect our love for God and our desire to do His will.

In past lessons, we talked about peer pressure and the lies of the world along with the schemes of the devil…all of these things can affect your walk with God. Many influences can steer us of off the path.

Think about the game “Follow the Leader.“ The rules of the game are to go wherever the leader takes you, and do whatever the leader does…sometimes it’s something you really don’t want to do! Let’s not be like the followers in follow the leader…following whoever is in front of us no matter where they go! Some people will lead you astray. The only one who should be leading you in your life should be JESUS! “Walk as HE Walks!”

Colossians 1:10
“…that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Colossians 2:6
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

1 Thessalonians 2:12
“…walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."

Ephesians 4:1-2

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love…”

Memory Verse:

Psalm 139:14

"I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works, that my soul knows very well."

TRUE BEAUTY

Wednesday night at Youth Group the girls explored the meaning of true beauty. Our world is chock full of lies about what beauty is. So many of us feel ashamed of how we look. But what is true beauty?
God created each one of us the way he wanted us. He doesn't make junk. Some are tall, some short, some thin and some heavier. Each person has a gift and is valuable to the Lord. Our world tries to tell us youth and beauty is what is valuable in society.
The Word tells us a different story.
"Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
We must find our worth in being a child of God and not on anything else.
Attention from guys, looks, talents, material possessions, fame, money, popularity, sucess...these are not what define us as human beings.
Who we are in Christ is where we need to find our worth...for this life is fleeting and apart from Him is no good thing.
"Live, learn, laugh, love, die, dust, gone..."
We are but dust, and our life is but a breath.
Always
Living
In
View of
Eternity

-Heidi