Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Col 3:9-10 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
We are currently going through the 10 Commandments in Sunday School. The commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness” is a great study. As I was preparing my lesson for our teens, I began to think about lies that we as YP’s tell. I am not referring to habitual dishonesty, I mean those which we sometimes tell ourselves first and upon believing, share with others. They say if you tell yourself something enough you will start to believe it. Many times in ministry this is something that couldn’t be further from the truth—but at the time, actually feels like the truth itself!
Whether intentional or not, here are a few lies that YPs tell:
1. I’m Not Making a Difference
Especially in this “covid era”, it is very easy to get discouraged. When you are used to results and/or numbers and now those are not as strong, if you are not careful, your flesh will tell you that you are NOT making a difference. However, if you will think soberly and spiritually, that’s a lie. You are making a difference. Every day as you serve your teens in your church or ministry, you are making a difference. Sometimes we don’t see results. For a long time. Or maybe ever. Then, we get frustrated not seeing instant fruit. Don’t believe that lie. You may be sowing, you may be watering, you may be reaping… but as long as you are pouring yourself and the Word of God into those teens, you are making a difference.
2. I’m Going to be at the Same Church Forever.
Here’s the reality—statistics show that the church you are serving at isn’t going to be the only church you serve at your whole life. However, we want to believe we are locked in for the long haul and that loyalty is good. Sometimes we even use this thought to encourage teens who may have experienced some turnover at YP. We must be careful not to make promises we cannot keep. Here’s an idea: Promote surrender to the will of God above your loyalty. The will of God is what brought you there, and Lord willing, only the will of God will take you away. Go ahead and serve like you’re going to be there for the rest of your life. If and when God calls you away, a) your surrender will be celebrated and loyalty not questioned, and b) you’ll have given your all while there.
3. I Can Live my Life One Way and Teach the Other.
We stand strong in teaching and preaching the scriptures. As YPs we must practice what we preach. Teens sniff out inconsistency and hypocrisy quickly. We must live the lessons we are teaching. There is always the temptation to believe the lie that we can teach one way and live another… We can’t. Disciples are products of their masters (and thankfully, God’s Spirit). Don’t fool yourself into believing the lie that you can live a double life. It always catches up with you. Be honest with yourself and with your teens. Love them, lead them and learn from them.
William Davis | Youth Pastor
Clays Mill Baptist Church | Lexington, KY
