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                Have you seen the news lately? Teenagers are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. A 15-year-old was charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an Uber driver. Two 17-year-olds were arrested for capital murder in the death of a 14-year-old. Multiple teenagers, some as young as 13, have been arrested for multiple robberies involving handguns. Six teens were arrested in Dallas for firing guns into an apartment complex. Another group of teens was caught on video shooting into a Fort Worth neighborhood. All these incidents occurred right here in our area. Do you think we have a problem? I do.  I think we have a GOD sized problem.

                It’s not a new problem. Let’s look at Judges chapter 2. After Joshua and the elders took over the Promised Land, they lived a good life, following God. When that generation died, however, Judges 2:10-11 tells us that “there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”  When God is removed from the picture, evil enters in.

                It is no different today. Children and teenagers need godly men and women in their lives. Blessed are the children who are being raised by parents that follow Jesus. However, statistics tell us that that blessing is not occurring in the majority of homes. Where can children find that godly leadership? In church. In OUR church. But that means we must be ready to greet them, love them, meet their needs.  Are you ready? Are we ready?

                Being ready for new children, teens and families, means being ready for messy. They might be loud. They might put their feet on the pews. They might not understand how “things are done.” We might need to change the way things have “always been done.” I say that is okay! The only thing that doesn’t need to change is the gospel.

                There was a king in the Old Testament named Hezekiah. He was deathly ill and prayed to God to spare his life. We can read about his story in 2 Kings 20. When God moved and spared his life, King Hezekiah rejoiced. He then proceeded to make some foolish decisions. As a result of his decisions, God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him that although his reign would continue, his descendants would be taken captive and treated poorly.  Then in 2 Kings 20:19, Hezekiah replied, “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”  What a short-sighted response!

                I want to challenge us at Shady Oaks to think beyond where we are right now. Look to the future. Open our hearts and minds to different and messy things. We can make Shady Oaks Baptist Church a place that welcomes children, teens and families in a way that shows God’s love and redemption. Let us not be like the Israelites who simply forgot to tell the next generation about their great God.  Let us not be like King Hezekiah who was more concerned with his own comfort. Rather, let us be challenged to be uncomfortable for the sake of the next generation being set apart for Jesus. Let us sacrifice so that they may know Him. We have the chance to bring the light of Jesus to the darkness of our community and start a fire that spreads throughout the world. Our discomfort and sacrifice are worth it. Let’s do this for the next generation.