“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers” . . .
(I Timothy 4:12)

Jesus gave us clear instruction as to the importance of our young people when He said, “And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me . . . Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 18:5, 10).

When His disciples would have sent the young people away, thinking that they were interrupting the important work of the Master, Christ said “Let them come . . . for such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). Teenagers form a precious, most important part of God’s church. They are not only the “church of the future,” but also the church of the present.

When Timothy was just a young adult in the church, Paul wrote him the following counsel: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers” . . . (I Timothy 4:12).

Christ created the church to be a fellowship where people share in a common purpose and help one another grow in faith. The strength, vigor and fresh ideas of the young adults in our church family are needed to accomplish the great commission of Jesus to give the Gospel to all the world.

Christ created the church to be a fellowship where people share in a common purpose and help one another grow in faith. The New Testament describes the church as “. . . his body, the fullness of him who filleth every thing in every way” (Eph. 1:22). God calls us into His body for the purpose of establishing a saving relationship with Him and supportive community with one another.

God calls every member of the church into ministry. The church is “a kingdom of priests” (I Peter 2:9). Our priesthood is to each other within the church and to the world. Each Christian is called to ministry, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and in baptism ordained for ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).

Responsibilities in the Local Church, by the Church Resources Consortium, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church. Copyright © 1997, Revised 2002.