2007-04-30 05:03:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So you accepted Christ at a young age and now you feel kind of like Christianity was something for children. You think you've outgrown it and now it's time to find something new. You know, it's just lots of sheep and an old guy in a nightgown, right? Wrong! While Christianity is a religion, it's also a relationship. Keep reading to find out how to keep living with Christ or how to live the Christian way for the first time.
Steps
1. READ! Let's say you get an e-mail from one of your close friends you haven't heard from in a while. What do you do? You read it, of course! God wrote several letters to you, have you read them? Don't take out your *dusty* Bible and read it from cover-to-cover tonight - you'll never be able to. Read other books, like devotionals, that repeatedly talk about and quote the Bible; then you should read chapters of the Bible dealing with the issue in your devotional. Girls: check out Point of Grace's book "Girls of Grace", which talks about God in every aspect of life, from family and friends, to boys. Guys: check out "Revolution Devotional". (all links below)
2. FELLOWSHIP! That word means a lot more than casseroles and fried chicken at church get-togethers. It means conversation. It means praying together. It means talking about what God is doing in your life. It means building up others who feel down. It means NO GOSSIPING!!! If you're a Christian (especially if you go to a public school), you need other Christians to help you out. You need other Christians to give you encouragement and to listen to you. You need advice, too. And you need to give it when you can.
3. LEARN! Once you become more devoted to Christ, things should become different. Like Steven Curtis Chapman says, "What about the difference? What about the change? What about forgiveness? What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing a change?" It's time to show a change in your life relating to the opposite gender and keeping your integrity. Guys, read "Every Young Man's Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation" and girls, read "Every Young Woman's Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World". These books are not my favorite because they pretend that you haven't done anything at all sinful concerning the other gender, yet they're written for older teens who probably have had bad thoughts or whatever. They don't offer help if you've done these things before. If you find other books that talk about this subject in a better light, put them here so others can read them.
4. Of course, the last step is to LIVE!! Be different in the way that you live life. Wear different clothes, listen to different music, behave differently. The only way to truly live in a Christ-honouring fashion is to know Christ. You will never know him completely, but throughout life, by praying and reading your Bible, you can know him more. Once you know Christ more than you did before you can begin to act the way he did, and that's a life worth living like.
Tips
* Build up those around you! The best way to feel better about yourself is to put others before yourself. Remember, true J.O.Y. comes from Jesus, Others, and then Yourself.
* In addition to hanging out with Christian friends, subscribe to a magazine like Brio [1] - for girls, or Breakaway [2] - for guys to help you go even deeper.
* If you start to feel a little apathetic about God in your walk, know that all Christians go through stages of doubt and depression, but with the Lord's help, they can (and do!) escape them. Read this article about feeling too busy for God [3] . Feeling like God is distant is the root of both being too busy and feeling like you're in a standstill in Christ. Just remember that you're not alone, and that exciting things happen with Christ if you just let him work in you.
* Be a F-A-N-A-T-I-C! Make sure everyone knows you're a Christian! Don't be quiet or shy about it. Always make sure you give your Christian opinion in every chance you have. Even if this mean you are made fun of (in this case, be even more of a fanatic). Be the one all think of as "the Christian one." God will be all the more pleased.
Warnings
* Everyone sins. It's a natural part of life. But remember to watch the warning signs before you cross the road. You might not get hit by a car the first time (you might not get pregnant the first time; you might not get grounded the first time, etc), but you are at total risk. If you don't get hurt the first time, the good Lord has different plans. So don't make the same mistake a second time. Try not to screw up at all. Someone looks up to you, so don't blow it!
2007-04-30 05:47:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pray to God everyday, first thing in the morning is optimal, but any time is great. Help others for God, leaving your personal expectations out of it, doing it solely for God, and his glory. Meet up with, and study the bible with, and pray with other Christians, there is strength and power in numbers. Love god with your whole heart, mind and soul, and treat others how you would like to be treated. Know Gods laws and what pleases him. Stay a virgin until marriage. The list goes on but this is a good start.
2007-04-30 05:18:47 · answer #2 · answered by holdontowhatyouhave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get close to Jesus by reading His Word, prayer, worship and fellowship with other like-minded Christian teens. Guard your heart and be not conformed to the world but set yourself apart as a child of God.
2007-04-30 05:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
sigh, oh that's difficult but it's possible. 1) Stay away from bad influence/bad friends/non-believer friends. 2) daily prayer. 3) daily bible reading. I'm a young baptized christians who want to do the will of God. You can ask me any question you want and I'll help you.
2007-04-30 05:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by Jesus loves you 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you opt to strengthen spiritually. it incredibly is frequently complicated whilst and in case you have ideals that conflict with the Spirit. examine the Bible, on a daily basis. keep interior the foreground of your ideas, in any respect circumstances, the two super commandments; finished devotion to God, and love others as you love your self. Or, to be conscious this yet in any different case, constantly do unto others what you may want for them to do unto you. religious advance is promptly linked on your relationships with others and the style you handle them, or perhaps what you think of approximately them. as quickly as you get to this element, then you definately proceed and learn how to love even your enemies, and actually pray for them. .
2017-01-09 04:00:30 · answer #5 · answered by moffitt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Sermon on the Mount--and especially the Golden Rule. Follow that and you'll do fine.
2007-04-30 05:08:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get in a dynamic church that supports its youth. Fall in love with Jesus and only hang around other Jesus lovers. Do activities with your church group. Read the bible and pray every day.
2007-04-30 05:08:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Start by being subject to your parents.. Jim
2007-04-30 05:07:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i find all i need to do is read the bible daily,try not to hang out with the wrong crowd,and serve god with my whole mind,whole soul,and whole heart.
2007-04-30 05:09:56 · answer #9 · answered by ms.redhead 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
concentrate on the most important things like friends, family and getting good grades....church is good too
2007-04-30 05:07:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋