IF I WERE A TEENAGER AGAIN

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

Introduction
A.  Several years ago I was a teenager.
     1.  Made mistakes but avoided some.
     2.  Avoided them because of help from Bible teachers and parents.
B.  Aim of this lesson is to help you avoid choosing the wrong road.
C.  Therefore, we want to discuss how I would live
     1.  If I Were A Teenager Again
     2.  Here are some of the things I would do.

I.  I WOULD FORM GOOD HABITS.   
A.  Jesus was a man of good habits.
     1.  He went to the synagogue every sabbath.
     2.  He read from the OT Bible while there (Luke 4:16).
B.  “Habit” - defined as “an action or characteristic that is often repeated."
     1.  Example: Pioneers began a faint blazed trail.
     2.  Their trail later became a super highway.
C.  Habits may be good or evil.
     1.  They reflect the kind of life we're living.
     2.  Evil habits are easier formed than good.
     3.  Matthew 7:13-14.

II.  I WOULD LEARN TO GET ALONG.
A.  Jesus did!
     1.  As He grew older and wiser
     2.  He grew in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
B.  Natural to want to be accepted, popular, and noticed.
C.  How do we accomplish this?
     1.  NOT by disrupting classes and harming others.
     2.  By integrity, respect, skills, and “Golden Rule.”
     3.  By being interested in others.
     4.  Example: Will Rogers said, “I never saw a man that I didn’t like.”
D.  Remember Solomon's law: “If you want a friend, show yourself friendly" (Prov. 18:24).

III.  I WOULD SEEK GOOD HEALTH.
A.  Parents have told you to eat right for good health.
     1.  Should form the habit of eating vegetables,
     2.  Drinking milk, and taking vitamins.
B.  Want to go further - study three things called “T. A. D.”
     1.  Tobacco - habit hard to break - better if never touch it (ask a user.)
          a.  Example: Average man expects 25,000 days (70 years).
          b.  If a smoker, subtract 5,000 days (14 years).
     2.  Alcohol - destroys in many ways.  Some facts:
          a.  More than 50% alcoholics from alcoholic parents.
          b.  More than 50% juvenile delinquents from alcoholic homes.
          c.  More than 50% fatal accidents from alcohol.
          d.  About 2,000 licenses revoked daily in United States because of alcohol.
          e.  One out of 10 drivers alcoholics.
     3.  Drugs - another destroyer.
          a.  You have heard much about this in school.
          b.  However, need to be reminded often.
          c.  Good rules:
               (1)  Never take anything stronger than aspirin, unless given by a doctor;
               (2)  Consider anyone that offers you a drug your worst enemy; and
               (3)  Imagine what and how an addict feels - avoid it.

IV.  I WOULD BE MORE SPIRITUAL MINDED.
A.  What does the church mean to you?
B.  Worship and spiritual activities most important things you can ever do.
C.  What kind of habits have you formed in worship?
     1.  Do you talk, sleep, pass notes?
     2.  What kind of person are you in Bible class?
D.  This is WHAT happens when you misbehave in a class or worship:
     1.  You turn God against you because of sin!
     2.  You hurt your teacher or preacher.
     3.  You harm your fellow teenagers.
     4.  You break your parent's hearts.
E.  Young people ARE capable of real sincere worship to God (cf. John 4:24).
     1.  Examples: Students at Christian colleges,
     2.  Youth camps, etc.

CONCLUSION
A.  Please consider yourself at a fork in the road.
     1.  Two signs - one for each road -
          a.  One marked “happiness.”
          b.  The other marked “misery."
     2.  The good road represents forming good habits for God.
     3.  The road to misery represents forming bad habits.
B.  Now you must choose a road.
     1.  Please choose the good one (cf. Deut. 30:19).
     2.  Prayer.

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