Spiritual Growth for Teens

By Lindy Keffer

Spiritual Growth for Kids

The music was loud. The place was jumping. Neither Drew nor Kelli was into the church thing, but they
were having a blast at the concert they were attending with their friend Grace. So when the band's lead
singer got up to talk about Jesus, they were both more interested in listening than they'd ever been
before. He talked about this "God with skin" who came to earth to make the ultimate sacrifice for the
people He loves. Even in the crowded auditorium, both Drew and Kelli felt as though the guy was talking
straight to them. At the end of the concert, they both stood up and prayed a prayer like this:

Dear God, I understand and believe that I have failed to love You by going my own way in life. I've missed
the mark. I have done and thought wrong things. I want to change. My sin has earned death for me. But
You sent your Son, Jesus, to die in my place. I receive this gift by believing that Jesus' death is sufficient to
cancel out my sin. I want to receive Your gift of eternal life and begin a relationship with You. Amen.

One year later, Drew was still attending church with Grace. He noticed that he no longer had the desire
to do some of the things he used to because they seemed unfulfilling. Sure, he still messed up at times,
but he loved knowing that he could always turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. He was sure he'd found
a new lifestyle that would last until the end of his days.

On the other hand, Kelli's faith had pretty much fizzled out. She looked back on the concert experience
as an emotional high that really didn't mean anything. Yeah, God might exist, she thought, but He really
doesn't have anything to do with my everyday life.

What About You?

Since you're reading this, chances are you have prayed a prayer similar to the one Drew and Kelli
prayed. You made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That may have been years or
just a few minutes ago. Now you may be wondering what comes next, what you should be doing and
what your decision really means. And, most important, you want to know how you can end up like Drew
instead of Kelli.

If these questions are on your mind, there are a few things you gotta know. Life as a Christian is a cool
paradox. On one hand, it's so complex that it will take the rest of your life to unravel. On the other hand,
God gives us simple ways to start living the kind of full life He wants us to live. That's where we're going
to start — with the basics:

 Know who you are "in Christ."

 Learn from God's Word, the Bible.

 Keep the communication lines open — pray!

 Get hooked up with other believers.

  Don't let doubt get you down.

In Christ

First things first. Let's talk about the new relationship you have — with the Creator of the universe! The
Bible has a lot to say about where you stand now in relation to God.

God is the Potter. We are the clay (Isaiah 64:8). Like a skilled artist, God has a perfect plan for what He
wants us to be. Right now, we may be lifeless lumps of clay, but He can envision the beautiful, useful
vessels we will become. Of course, it will take a lot of pinching and shaping, pressing, pulling and even
breaking to get us there.

God is the Master. We are His servants (Luke 12:14-21; James 1:1). No matter who or what was running
our lives before we accepted Christ, we have a new master now. God calls the shots. And while the idea
of having a master is definitely not a popular one, it's a huge and exciting mystery of the Christian life.
Why? Because having Jesus as a master actually sets us free (John 8:32-36; Romans 6:17-23).

God is a friend (Exodus 33:11; John 15:13-16). It used to be pretty rare for God to talk to people as a
friend. Because He is perfect, very few men could look stand looking at His holiness. But once Jesus
came to earth as both God and man, things changed. Jesus told His followers that He considered them
His friends, and the same thing applies to us once we decide to follow Him.

God is the Father. We are His children (Matthew 6:32; Luke 11:13; Romans 8:14-16; Hebrews 12: 5-11).
This is a pretty tough concept for a lot of people today, because so many of us have been hurt or
neglected by our earthly fathers. But God is a perfect Father. He provides for us, protects us and cares
for us. He also disciplines us, but He always does it out of love.

Jesus is the Bridegroom. Together we are His Bride (John 3:29; Ephesians 5:25-32; Revelation 21:9).
This is one of the most amazing pictures of intimacy ever. He knows every part of us — even our deepest
secrets — and He loves us anyway. One day He will take us to be with Him. The Bible compares that day
to a great wedding celebration. Hopefully, you can see what an unbelievable relationship you've
embarked on. And there's so much more than that. The Bible often describes our new life as being "in
Christ." Here are just a few more things you'll want to know about that life:

 You have been specially chosen by God (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:11).

 You were once spiritually dead, but now you're alive (Ephesians 2:5).

 You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 Your sins are forgiven (Acts 10:43).

 You don't have to be trapped by sin ever again (Romans 6:6-7).

 You appear blemish-free in God's sight (Colossians 1:22).

 You are meant to have the fullest kind of life (John 10:10).

 You are an overcomer who can never again be separated from God's love (Romans 8:35-39).
 You have God's Holy Spirit living inside you to give you wisdom, guidance, comfort and help
(John 14:16-17; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

 You can count on living forever with God in a new earth (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:1).