Sunday School Lesson 27 -The Glory Of The Youth

MEMORY VERSE: “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.”- Proverbs 20:29

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (KJV)

1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

INTRODUCTION: Youthful stage is the period of human life between childhood and full adulthood. It is the state of being young. This is the period of human life in which everyone can exercise strength to the fullness of their capacity. The way you live your life as a youth will determine what will become of you at old age. In Ecclesiastes 12:1, the Bible says “Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say “I have no pleasure in them.”

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. CHARACTERISTICS AND BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF A GLORIOUS YOUTH
2. MAXIMISING YOUR YOUTHFUL STRENGTH

1. CHARACTERISTICS AND BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF A GLORIOUS YOUTH

Glorious youths are not common people because they use their strength to achieve great results in their time. The word STRENGTH goes beyond physical power and emotional toughness. It is the totality of raw potentials given by God to fulfill specific purpose or to perform an assignment on earth (Jeremiah 1:5). This strength brings out the GLORY in a youth (1 Samuel 16:18). Your potentials and your strengths in life. If you want to soar higher in life, you must identify your potential and build your strength on it. Glorious youths are people who are willing to learn and act on what they have been taught (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

They have big dreams which they pursue relentlessly until they are fulfilled (Genesis 42:9). They are zealous and use their zeal creatively for the peace and progress of their nation (1 Samuel 17:32). They are people of great reputation (Genesis 39:9). Glorious youths are very creative and innovative in their chosen career (2Chronicles 2:14).

Youths in the Bible days did exploits and records of their works are noted for us to emulate today. Some of them include: Joseph (Genesis 41:38-46), David (1Samuel 17:19-37), Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-18) Mary, (Luke 1:27-28) Timothy, (2Timothy 1:2-5) and Jesus (Luke 2:42-52). These are examples of young people who did not wait until they were all grown up to serve God. They were not the future. They were the presents. They made a huge impact in the world in their youth.

By the standard of the Bible, Christian youths are spiritually endowed to take the lead and subdue nations for Christ anywhere they find themselves in the world. Youths are to be in the fore front of revolutions (both physical and spiritual) in the time and age. Youths are to take control of every sector of leadership and economy of the world. Christian youths need to behave like children of Issachar, who understood the time and season.

2. MAXIMISING YOUR YOUTHFUL STRENGTH

The major prerequisite to serve God effectively in your youthful age is to give your life to Christ with no reservation. There are many areas of strength that every youth must harness and maximize for Kingdom profitability. Here are some of them:

1. Speech: Talk in a way that honours God (Ephesians 4:25-29). Stop telling lies: only use words that are true because God is truthful (Colossians 4:6). Use words that are gentle (Proverbs 15:1). Gentleness means to remain calm and kind, even when you are angry. Do not shout or use harsh words. Use word that are pure. No cursing or use of dirty words. Use words that are loving. Do not hurt people with your words nor talk about them behind their back. Use your words to encourage, teach, comfort, give good advice and build them up in the way of the lord (Ephesians 4:29).
2. Life: Imitate Christ with your action (1John 2:6). Read your Bible everyday so that you can learn what Christ is like. You cannot act like Christ if you do not know what he is like. Obey God’s word whenever you read the Bible. Also, in every situation of Life, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”, and then do it.
3. Love: Do everything with love. Being a Christian is all about love. Jesus said the greatest commandment is love (Matthew 22:37-40; 1Corinthians 14:1; 1Corinthians 16:14). Let Love be your highest goal. If you want to serve God in your youth, then, do everything with love. Make your life all about love (John 3:16).
4. Faith: Have unwavering confidence in God. Faith is confidence in God, that he is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do (Hebrews 11:1). The best and perhaps the only way to set an example of unwavering faith is in the face of trials. Trials are faith tests. When the storms of Life hit. Do not doubt God. Do not get angry with him (Romans 8:28).
5. Purity: Strive for total sexual purity. God’s will for our sexuality is to keep all sexual activities in marriage-visual, mental, emotional, and physical. This applies to single people and married people (1Thessalonians 4:35; Romans 12:1-2).

CONCLUSION: God wants you to serve him in your youth by duly committing yourself to him (Proverbs 3:5-8). Do not wait for adulthood. Rather, begin right. The best way to start serving God is by setting an example for others to follow. Be an exemplary Christian. Set an example of a fully-devoted Christian, and God will use you in a mighty way.