Observations from 1 Timothy 6

My school picture from 10th grade

Okay, so I'm a bit behind schedule, like 3 days to be exact. However, I was really struck, and convicted, in the first couple verses of chapter 6. I wish I had been challenged and convicted by other believers in my classes when I was in high school in regards to how I treated a few of my teachers. As many of you know, depending on how much I respected a teacher would determine the level of honor I would show them. And here's the deal, some of the teachers I had flat-out didn't do anything to, what I determined, garner my respecting them. Some told me they hoped I wouldn't be like my older brothers, one told me in front of the class that I'd drop out of college before my first semester was complete and would end up back in Dubuque flipping burgers for the rest of my life. I remember a meeting with my guidance counselor about "career choices." I remember her encouraging me to check out 2 year technical colleges as "4 year colleges aren't for everyone."
But notice, I am the one determining who deserves respect. In the midst of that, I am the one who defines what respect and honor is, how (or not) that honor is carried out, with absolutely no outside truth playing in to who I respect/honor and who doesn't receive it.
Keep in mind, I was a believer in high school, letting everyone know I was going to be a youth pastor. So my witness, in those classes and outside, was less than ideal.
According to Paul, I was under the yoke as a slave to those in authority over me (teachers). I know, I guess Paul was before his time in regards to seeing school as slavery. Anyway, I digress. I totally missed the point. I made a mockery of God and drug the idea of Christian through the mud. How was God glorified when I would eat Ms Milliman's lunch while she was teaching up front? How was God's name made greater as a result of me disrespecting those He put over me? How did other non-beleivers in the class see Christianity as a result of watching my behavior? What did my actions say about my being submitted to God? THEY SCREAMED OUT THAT I WASN'T SUBMITTED TO HIM!!! Whether or not they deserved respect in worldly terms is irrevelant. God says they are worthy of all honor, so I was supposed to honor them.
See, my job in the world is to make God's name look great! And the weirdest thing, is that God's name can/will be made even greater by the honor and respect I give to those "not deserving" of respect. How I respond to someone in authority over me who is exercising power over me rather than love, screams out to them that the power of God in me is more powerful than the garbage they are doing to me.
Teens, look at your life. Does the way you treat those in authority over you make the God be seen for His greatness? Do your actions make Christ-followers look good or not? Can anyone speak AGAINST Christ based on you?
What do you think? Shoot me some responses.

Who's Responsible?

So at the last Following study, we started getting into the issue of how to determine growth (numbers, discipleship, fruit, etc) and who is responsible for the growth of the church (pastor or congregation).
In sitting there, I heard lots of "it's both the pastor and the congregation's responsibility." I brought up a concrete example of myself. I spend time building relationships with teenagers. I pray for the teens and their friends. I spend oodles of time studying God's word in order to adequately preach and teach God's word with the goal of teenagers following Christ and then growing and becoming more like Christ. However, in the last few years, our numbers have NOT been increasing. So does that mean I am failing as a youth pastor?
According to 1 Timothy 4:11-16, the pastor is to:
11 Prescribe and teach these things.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, blove, faith and purity, show yourself can example 1of those who believe.
13 Until I come, give attention to the public breading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through aprophetic utterance with bthe laying on of hands by the presbytery.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Some questions to ponder
What am I to do as the youth pastor?
If I am doing these things, is that enough or am I to do other things? What are those things?
What is your responsibility as a member of Catalyst?

I'd love to get your thoughts from Scripture on this.

Isaac T

A New Beginning

So this is an idea to hopefully get you guys to chime in throughout the week as we walk through our studies with The Following. As you know, currently we've been on Christmas hiatus, but will hit the ground running again this Thursday.
My plan is to post a bit AFTER I get done with my own personal studies for the week. After I post a bit, I'd love to have you guys chime in with thoughts, questions, etc. We'll see how this works. I hope it rocks!