1 John – Week 4

1 John – Week 4

How would the average adult describe a teenager? In most cases the description is usually negative and if you ask teens what they think adults would describe them as it is usually negative. In fact, for the last 20 years, Nick Rasse has been asking his high school class this question and these are the top responses.

1. Stupid
2. Lazy
3. disrespectful
4. don’t care about anything

We all know words hurt and if we constantly hear negative things, it produces negative results. For example, If we say 5 nice things about someone and only 1 negative thing about that person, what will they remember? Let’s say they are told they are nice, funny, kind, and helpful, but they are a lousy dresser they will most likely walk away from that conversation dwelling on the one negative comment.

What is the person going to remember? Not the nice compliments, but the one negative one.

People especially kids, will live up to the expectations put in front of them. If we call them stupid and lazy, why would they live up to higher expectations?

Are teens more disrespectful today?

Children today are tyrants.  They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers.

Socrates 420BC

Here is my point, kids have always been seen like this, every generation complains about kids. So, when adults ask me – Are teens more disrespectful today – I ask them in return with this question –

Are adults more disrespectful today? 

Yes- we are living in trying times – which is why it is all the more important to be very intentional with how we speak with one another today.

1 John – Week 4 Teaching Text

Philippians 2:1-8

2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶ Though he was God,^[a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges^[b];
    he took the humble position of a slave^[c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,^[d]
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

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