Young floundering christian in need of older wiser christian advise?

Question

i'm a christian teenager (15 and pentecostal). i've been a christian my whole life ,raised in church, but lately its all been a routine. i go to church, i come home from church. blah, blah, blah. i want to go deeper with my relationship with god, but for some reason it's not working out. my youth pastor says that in order to start that hunger and need for more of god, i need to spend time with him everyday. i try, but reading the bible is just really boring and i can't figure out how it applys to me. i've tried the little teenage devotional books, they don't work either. praying is something i put off all day until i'm drifting off to sleep at night. i hate it. it's like a want to be a stronger christian, but i just don't want to put in the time and effort it takes to continue a relationship. any older christians with advice? thanks!!

Answer 1

an easier to understand version ( New Internation is good) AUDIO is pretty nice. Get the one with sound effects . It make listening more enjoyable

Join some Christian groups at church for outings, get involved with things that you enjoy

Answer 2

I understand. Going to church seems so empty and that's because it kind of is. The church in Acts was accused of turning the world upside down. Modern Christians are accused of spending too much money on their own buildings and disrupting traffic patterns on Sunday morning.

The bible is all you need.

The best advice is to realize that each book is written intended to be read as a whole. The bible is not a random collection of sayings and wisdom nuggets. If you just pick up the bible and read half of chapter 7 in the book of Romans - you'll have no idea what it has to do with anything. But if you start at chapter one, verse one and follow the train of thought from the beginning, things starting making more sense. The bible was written to be understood by Christians. The complicated things become more clear as you read more.

Second to that, realize that some books were written to a certain group. Matthew, for example, is really confusing if you try to apply Christ's teachings to Christianity because Christ was giving the Law to Jews. He was preaching a gospel of works, of all things, and that is definitely not THE Gospel that he died and rose again for.

You won't agree with everything this man has to say (I don't) but Michael Pearl (Nogreaterjoy.com) has a ton of verse-by-verse teaching, some of it free on his website. He will challenge you, for sure, to study your bible because he says some far out stuff and then usually procedes to make a pretty good biblical case for it.

Also go to sermonaudio.com (or maybe sermonindex.com) for free teaching. The sermons will run the range of theology, so you'll have a lot of studying to do to tell which ones are correct if you pick things at random.

My favorite sermon of all time, changed my life - is Ten Shekels and Shirt by Paris Reidhead. Try to find it.

Another source of good teaching, particularly as it relates to the gospel, is livingwaters.com.

Answer 3

Which "brand" of pentecostal are you? I love Apostolic Pentecostal churches more than any I've tried. As boring as it may sound, maybe talk to some of the old-timers about what God has done for them...make it a real conversation, not just a quick question...they love to talk even more than many of us in this forum! You could also see about helping teach in one of the younger kids SS classes; that's when the Bible started coming alive for me and studying actually became interesting. I've learned the more active I became in church, the more I enjoyed it. You may just be bored because it's really all you've ever known. Hope I helped and you get more helpful advice from others!

Answer 4

We all deal with highs and lows in our walk with Christ. A year ago I was at one of my lowest points in regards to my relationship with Him. I couldn't pray, I didn't want to go to church, I didn't get anything out of it when I did go, and nothing seemed to help the situation. I had been negligent about reading my Bible for some time, so I started reading it again everyday. At first, even it didn't speak to me as it had in the past. I would read 2 or 3 chapters and get nothing out of it. Then, about 3 months ago, things changed. I started having scripture come to my mind when I needed it, and I started enjoying my spirituality again. Don't give up on God, keep the faith, and keep searching. I think sometimes we go through the valleys, just so we will apreciate the mountaintop experiences all the more. BTW, you are not alone. In First Kings 19, Elijah was feeling much the way that you are now, but God told him that he wasn't alone. If Elijah could have felt as though God was not taking care of him, with all of the wonders he saw, it's no wonder that we have down times ourselves. I'll be praying for you.

Answer 5

you've identified the problem and you know the answer. its great that you want to have a deeper relationship but getting deeper is up to you.
an attitude change is in order.

in prayertime you might start talking to God as a friend. not with the attitude that He is another parent of yours.

you also might think about listening to more of the sort of ministry music that actually ministers to God.. and you'll discover that God ministring music actually lifts you up more than the music that's designed to minister to you.

you might consider internet ministry preacher/teacher organizations. sometimes additional gospel messages of your like precious faith coming from a different vessel than how you hear it at your church is what might be needed.

if you find Bible reading to be boring then start reading from a different version. like amplified, new living, the message, good news, God's word..

studylight dot org has those mentioned + lots (42?) more.

and listen to your youth pastor. he's telling you the right things. do you join activities? go out witnessing? join prayer groups and see God answer?

i pray that God stirs the flame on your candle.

Answer 6

You may come from a Christian environment, but it is impossible you have been a Christian your whole life. WHY? Up until the time you can understand what sin is and can understand Jesus' sacrifice you cannot truly repent and accept Him as your Savior.
I too was brought up in the church. I knew all the Bible stories and all the 'stuff' but i had never asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me from my sins. It requires a heart change which cannot be accomplished with our efforts - no matter how noble or fervent those efforts may be.

Answer 7

Honey, what you have here is faith without works.

I am surprised that your youth pastor has not noticed or seen this.

Your passion for God comes from reading and praying on his word and his will and his way, and then going out and acting upon what you have been blessed with from God.

Faith without works is dead. Read it, pray about it, act upon it. When you get active in your life with God, the passion for God and his way becomes very obvious to you and all around you.

So, keep reading, keep praying, but get active. Do what you have learned and prayed upon. If you cannot do it in the church or situation you are in, find a way, yahoo answers, other message and posting boards. Share the knowledge and wisdom that God has blessed you with.

Answer 8

- Most of us have been complacent at one time or another concerning the thing of God, so this feeling you're having is not unique to just you.

- As we get older we have a better understanding about responsibility, also we understand that in life you gotta do what you gotta do whether it's boring or not.

- The Bible certainly applies to you. It is our instruction manual on how to live.

- If you truly believe in God, think how you would feel if God didn't put for the effort & time & patience it takes to deal with all of us.

- Many people only consider God when going through tuff times, and in many cases He helps us anyway.

- We should all try to remember that God is the ultimate parent. We need to spend as much time with Him or more as we to with our earthly parents.

Here's a couple scripture's to keep in mind;

JAMES 2:26

26 For as the body without the spirit 1 is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


2 TIMOTHY 2:15

15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


JOHN 14:15

15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Answer 9

Become a teacher of the word. Ask to help teach a class. You will find that you want to be prepared for your class so you will spend more time in the word. You will want to learn the word so you will get materials to help you understand the word. I would suggest two books. "How to read the bible for all its worth" and "How to read the bible book by book".

Answer 10

its not a 15 minuet time u set aside to read the bible and pray ... its a constant walk with God in every moment of ur life and letting ur light shine in the darkness of this world with ur every step and so disrupting the evil in this world by working the works of God ... dont deny the power of who u are in Christ .. ur a lethal weapon and a strong spiritual warrior for God and righteousness, and dont let Satan tempt u off of that path ...he will try because u are a threat to him ...