by Kent E. Heaton Sr.
as originally published in the October 3, 1999 edition of The Trenton BulletinWe enjoyed a fine week last week as many of our young men took opportunity to conduct the services in every part. As we completed a class for young people this year, the young men stepped forward to conduct the services as one of our class projects (20 June). They took a lot of time to prepare to stand before the audience and lead songs, pray, present a talk and conduct the Lord's supper. Last Sunday night was no exception.
Kyle Sanders began the young men off with leading a song. Jordan Hastings lead a fine prayer at the beginning and Kevin Heaton closed the service with a thoughtful prayer. Adam Latner did an excellent job of reading a scripture for us. Bryan Fletcher presented the first talk and even incorporated an overhead transparency for his lesson. Christopher Layfield spoke clearly about the importance of example. Justin Dasher closed the service with an appealing invitation. As the Lord's supper was needing to be served, Everritt Heaton took able lead in that role with a few words and a prayer. Josh Smith lead a real fine prayer for the fruit of the vine.
Other young men (who were not as young as those listed above) were John Frazier and Hank Summers leading some songs for us. As a further note, Wednesday evening Kyle Sanders presented a fine talk as the invitation. All in all, these young men exhibited the ability, strength and courage to stand before "a crowd of people" and conduct themselves in a very positive manner.
The strength of the church in Trenton is found in the families and example of our young people. This is not because they are the church of tomorrow but rather they are the church of today. What young people can accomplish today is bound only by their desire to reach out and desire to learn how to serve God in different ways. The beauty in their service is because of the youth and lack of experience in being able to do what they may have thought they could not do.
It is in the abilities of these young men that we should be reminded as adults the importance of teaching our young people the values of serving God. The actions by these young men are not the whole but a part of what our young people should be involved in. Our young ladies also have a great sphere of influence with their friends and peers. Young men and young women alike can do much for the kingdom of God.
Services such as this instills the importance of the place of God in their lives. It should not be done for public glory but for the help it gives in leading the minds of other Christian in worship to God. What a great responsibility this is and should be recognized as such. From seeds planted today, hearts can be prepared to help our young people learn to share their lives with others.
No one can doubt the impact the world is having upon our young people today. Violence against our youth by other young people is alarming. The constant barrage of sex upon our youth is daily. Peer pressure for drugs and alcohol is prevalent in their lives. A larger trend that is even more disturbing is the lack of interest many young men and women have about the church.
If a child sits through the services slouched over with his head upon the pew in front of him, he gains little if any from the time spent in worship. When the church is not important to the hearts of our young men and women, the hearts become cold. As a child grows in age and fails to grow in a desire to be part of the work of the church, a soul is being lost to the world.
Parents must realize the seed planted today will take root tomorrow. Two principles of sowing and reaping are given in scripture: "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life ... But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (Galatians 6:7,8; 2 Corinthians 9:6)
It is the principle that I want to examine here. What a young man or woman sows in the service of the kingdom today will be reaped later. If little is sown, little will be gathered. If much is sown, much will be gathered. When the kingdom of God is not important to the life of a young man and the matters of this world are more important, the only benefit to be received is the gain of the world. The spiritual blessings of sowing the seed of service today will be the reaping of spiritual blessings tomorrow. The final outcome of the soul will depend on what is being sown today!
One of the first signs of danger in young men and young women is a lack of interest in the kingdom of God. Many times this is no more than a reflection of the parents lives. Parents are the key to creating and fueling the desire for young men and women to love the Lord and be willing to help in any way. This does not mean that everyone must preach or teach or lead singing. What it does mean is that we must lead our children by example in how important God is in every part of our lives.
Young men need to be continually encouraged to challenge their abilities to serve in the kingdom of God. It is from the fields of young men that we find our Elders of the future. As young men grow in age and maturity they can add much to the work of the church in the role of deacons, Bible class teachers, song leaders, preachers, evangelists and helpful servants in the work of the church.
Young women are needed to grow in soberness and godliness to be wives of Elders. They must also be along side those men who choose to serve in the work of the church. Together our young people offer much to build hope in the continuance of the borders of the Kingdom.
The ability of our young men should extend beyond the public service. We need the example of young men living a good example before others in school and everyday life. The same holds true of our young women. The apostle Paul wrote to a young man and gave him a pattern of life that is so valuable for all young people today: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (1 Timothy 4:11,12)
Paul shows the power of the life of young people. Youth is a wonderful time to serve God and he admonishes Timothy to not allow anyone to despise his youth. Timothy, on the other hand, was presenting himself an example in many ways that no one would have cause to have anything to despise him for. His words were pure, his conduct above reproach, his heart filled with love, his life spirit led, his faith able to move mountains and his character pure.
Young people need to read the word of God and give diligence to make it a part of their lives. They can exhort others to do the same and to be examples of encouragement. When it comes time to stand firm in the faith, they will follow the example of other young people in the Bible who stood in the face of prison, death, fiery furnaces and much more and held to the doctrine of God.
Thank you young men for instilling again the ideals of God's wonderful plan of salvation and the example of youth. We look forward helping you grow in your service in the kingdom of God and by your example to encourage other young men to take part in the worship of the Lord. Thank you parents for your encouragement and help in bringing together such an uplifting service.