Posts Tagged ‘ Youth Group ’

The tough questions.

I wanted our Youth Group to have exercise in the practical application of theology. This is different from the usual ministry work that comes with YG like helping elderly or the infirm, etc. I wanted them to think about how their faith in Christ and obedience to His word should or does influence their thought process.

Because when I was of Youth Group age, my through process was rarely at all rooted in scripture. If it was, generally it was of the twisted variety to support some sin in my life.

So we’ve started asking an ethical or practical question that seeks to get them thinking on how they apply what they’ve confessed with what they believe. Those are often different things if left unexamined.

Wednesday’s question was: A baby will be born with extreme retardation (will be in a vegetative state), is it OK to abort the pregnancy? What if the baby won’t be mentally retarded, but will be undeveloped & likely won’t live more than a few days or weeks after birth? OK to abort?”

We started off having everyone give their personal opinions and then began justifying things through Scripture by looking for specific examples where we can see support or opposition to our ideas from God. I won’t share what the initial or adjusted opinions of the YG kids was, because one of their concerns is “saying the wrong” thing & being judged by more mature Christians – a problem in itself, to be sure.

So for you on a Friday: How would you have answered this question? Do you have any suggestions for future tough questions the YG can tackle?

2010
06/18
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How do you view Revelation?

Our youth group started studying the book of Revelation 3 weeks ago.  We’re going through the book verse by verse and comparing and contrasting four different viewpoints: Futurist, Preterist, Historic Pre-mill & dispensational (it’s wrong, but it’s also what so many Christians believe today).

Initially, everyone was decidedly in the Futurist camp, with those who had viewed the Left Behind series leaning towards a dispensational understanding.  But as we’ve finished up a general overview of the four systems and began looking at the first chapter there seems to be a predominant mix of the Historicist & Preterist view.

The Historicist view looks at the book of Revelation as a commentary on the church age. So in this view each day that passes by in Revelation is equal to a year of time on earth. So various events are reflective of actual church history — the swam of locusts from Revelation 9 was fulfilled with the rising of Islam.  The 1260 day (which is really 1260 years) reign of the beast is equated to the Papacy’s control over Europe. This is pretty well out of favor now but it was the view that most Reformers held including John Calvin, John Knox, & Martin Luther as well as later theologians such as Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.

The Preterist view looks at the book of Revelation and finds that the majority of the prophecy was fulfilled by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  Jesus’ prophecy in Mathew 24 that “this generation” would not all die until his coming in judgment is interpreted literally and locally.  This view requires accepting an earlier dating of the book of Revelation than many scholars allow for, but not so early that it becomes outlandish.

It’s interesting to see what will come out of this study. We’re doing a point / counterpoint style as we read through the book. The group is doing an admirable job arguing for all the positions as we think it through.  They’ve asked a number of times what position I hold with regard to eschatology.  My mind is fairly well made up on the issue, but I won’t spill.  I want them to think on the issue critically rather than going along with what I say.  But… I ask you the same question they’ve asked me.  Revelation. What do you think? How come?

2010
05/12
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Christianity
Tacoma BPC
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