There are so many people in the world who moan about this and groan about that. I bet there are Christians at your school or college who are “secret Christians.” They couldn’t possibly let people know they were a Christian, they would get the micky taken out of them. There are probably people in your Church who say things like if I had more time, I would go and help the poor. Now I know that you would never use any of these excuses, but there are so many people who think they hear God tell them what to do, and then find some reason not to do it. The ever straight talking Paul, doesn’t mess around when he speaks to Tim in this letter. He shoots from the hip. “Tim live you life with passion, doing what you know is right and do it now.” Two thousand years later, our friends at Nike said the same thing, they said “Just do it.” How right they were, they may not have been coming from the same place as Paul, you and I may not like the way they do business, but they certainly got the message right. If you know that God has told you to do something “Just do it”.

There are so many people in the world who moan about this and groan about that. I bet there are Christians at your school or college who are “secret Christians.” They couldn’t possibly let people know they were a Christian, they would get the micky taken out of them. There are probably people in your Church who say things like if I had more time, I would go and help the poor. Now I know that you would never use any of these excuses, but there are so many people who think they hear God tell them what to do, and then find some reason not to do it. The ever straight talking Paul, doesn’t mess around when he speaks to Tim in this letter. He shoots from the hip. “Tim live you life with passion, doing what you know is right and do it now.” Two thousand years later, our friends at Nike said the same thing, they said “Just do it.” How right they were, they may not have been coming from the same place as Paul, you and I may not like the way they do business, but they certainly got the message right. If you know that God has told you to do something “Just do it”.

“Money is the root of all evil.” How many times you heard people say that? It seems to suggest that the rich are evil, and that anyone with money must have done something evil to get it. Not only that, but no one with money could possibly get to Heaven. Let’s review the truth. Jesus said you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the Cross. It didn’t say you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the cross and by being poor. It didn’t say you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the cross unless you are rich. No this is just another quote from the Bible that the world has twisted. What Paul actually says to Tim in this verse is that, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” That’s straight forward enough. If the time you spend getting money impacts your Relationship with God then of course that’s a bad thing. If you spend forever scheming and plotting and don’t look out for others of course that’s bad. But then if the time you spend on Football, dancing, school, computers, or any other things impacts your relationship with God, then that’s bad too. The love of anything, more the love of Jesus is not good. Next time someone quotes the Bible at you, go and check it out for yourselves. Because misquoting the Bible is certainly the root of some evil.

“Money is the root of all evil.” How many times you heard people say that? It seems to suggest that the rich are evil, and that anyone with money must have done something evil to get it. Not only that, but no one with money could possibly get to Heaven. Let’s review the truth. Jesus said you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the Cross. It didn’t say you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the cross and by being poor. It didn’t say you get to heaven by accepting that he died for you on the cross unless you are rich. No this is just another quote from the Bible that the world has twisted. What Paul actually says to Tim in this verse is that, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” That’s straight forward enough. If the time you spend getting money impacts your Relationship with God then of course that’s a bad thing. If you spend forever scheming and plotting and don’t look out for others of course that’s bad. But then if the time you spend on Football, dancing, school, computers, or any other things impacts your relationship with God, then that’s bad too. The love of anything, more the love of Jesus is not good. Next time someone quotes the Bible at you, go and check it out for yourselves. Because misquoting the Bible is certainly the root of some evil.

Do you have a part time job? Maybe you work in a shop or deliver papers. Maybe you simply look out for jobs to do. When you have been working hard you know that the pay packet is going to turn up at the end of the month. Then you will be able to buy your music, or go out to the party knowing that you have earned the money to do so. What is going to happen when you leave college and go out to work? Are you expecting to get paid or are you going to work for free? Whether we work for someone else or whether we work for ourselves, we expect to get some money to live on. We don’t only expect to get paid; we absolutely need to be paid. What might be party money now will become food money later on when you leave college. So if this is what we expect, why are we surprised that our Church leaders need to earn money to live on as well? It’s not like they are asking for thousands of pounds to buy their next jet. No, most Church leaders simply need to earn a basic wage to feed them and their family. Pauls pretty straight about it when he talks to Tim. He tells us not only to pay these guys but if they are good give them an extra bonus. Do you agree? Of course you do its obvious isn’t it? Now this is where the rubber meets the road. If our churches need to pay our leaders, look after our buildings and spread the great news about Jesus, where are they going to get the money to do that from? Ouch! Yes you got it. It’s down to us to put our hands in our pockets; and not just once but regularly. Sometimes the teaching we get from the Bible isn’t comfortable is it. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

Do you have a part time job? Maybe you work in a shop or deliver papers. Maybe you simply look out for jobs to do. When you have been working hard you know that the pay packet is going to turn up at the end of the month. Then you will be able to buy your music, or go out to the party knowing that you have earned the money to do so. What is going to happen when you leave college and go out to work? Are you expecting to get paid or are you going to work for free? Whether we work for someone else or whether we work for ourselves, we expect to get some money to live on. We don’t only expect to get paid; we absolutely need to be paid. What might be party money now will become food money later on when you leave college. So if this is what we expect, why are we surprised that our Church leaders need to earn money to live on as well? It’s not like they are asking for thousands of pounds to buy their next jet. No, most Church leaders simply need to earn a basic wage to feed them and their family. Pauls pretty straight about it when he talks to Tim. He tells us not only to pay these guys but if they are good give them an extra bonus. Do you agree? Of course you do its obvious isn’t it? Now this is where the rubber meets the road. If our churches need to pay our leaders, look after our buildings and spread the great news about Jesus, where are they going to get the money to do that from? Ouch! Yes you got it. It’s down to us to put our hands in our pockets; and not just once but regularly. Sometimes the teaching we get from the Bible isn’t comfortable is it. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

Treat people as you would want to be treated. It’s an old saying but does that mean it is not true? We’ve spoken about the fact that people should not look down on you just because you are young. What does it make us then, if we look at older people and think to ourselves, that they are not worth listening to, because they are past it! Tim’s getting more good advice from Paul, in this passage he says, don’t be impatient with the older guys. I look at some old people and just can’t imagine that they ever did anything I was remotely interested in. Yet these are the same old women that raised families, worked careers and solved many problems along the way. Maybe they have come across some of the problems I am going to come across. I look at some of the frail old men and can’t imagine them strong. Yet these are the same guys that also raised families, and worked on jobs, some of them even went to war to keep us free. Maybe there is wisdom in their heads that we could learn from. Yes, Paul’s right, these old men and women may have been to school and college years ago but that doesn’t mean they stopped learning when they left. Actually what it means is, there is plenty, both you and I, can learn from them, even though you are at school and college now.

Treat people as you would want to be treated. It’s an old saying but does that mean it is not true? We’ve spoken about the fact that people should not look down on you just because you are young. What does it make us then, if we look at older people and think to ourselves, that they are not worth listening to, because they are past it! Tim’s getting more good advice from Paul, in this passage he says, don’t be impatient with the older guys. I look at some old people and just can’t imagine that they ever did anything I was remotely interested in. Yet these are the same old women that raised families, worked careers and solved many problems along the way. Maybe they have come across some of the problems I am going to come across. I look at some of the frail old men and can’t imagine them strong. Yet these are the same guys that also raised families, and worked on jobs, some of them even went to war to keep us free. Maybe there is wisdom in their heads that we could learn from. Yes, Paul’s right, these old men and women may have been to school and college years ago but that doesn’t mean they stopped learning when they left. Actually what it means is, there is plenty, both you and I, can learn from them, even though you are at school and college now.

How old are you? Too young to drive? Too young for this, too young for that. Do you ever feel that the whole world is telling you that you are too young to be any use? When is it going to change? When will people understand that that being young isn’t some type of handicap, which means you can’t be of any use? God understands. God knows that’s being young is actually a major benefit when it comes to doing Gods work. It means you have energy, it means that you have enthusiasm. That’s what Paul is telling Tim in this letter. He’s saying “Hey Tim, don’t worry about being young; don’t worry about the old guys not understanding why you are there.” Paul goes on as well, and tells Timothy that he will mature and get wiser before the very eyes of those around him. That’s just like you. Don’t worry about people that look down on you, just because you are young. You can spread the fantastic news about Jesus, as well as anyone else. Jesus final task, to tell the world about him was meant for you as well as them. Not only that, as you go about doing Gods work of telling the world about Jesus, you will grow is wisdom and maturity before their very eyes.

How old are you? Too young to drive? Too young for this, too young for that. Do you ever feel that the whole world is telling you that you are too young to be any use? When is it going to change? When will people understand that that being young isn’t some type of handicap, which means you can’t be of any use? God understands. God knows that’s being young is actually a major benefit when it comes to doing Gods work. It means you have energy, it means that you have enthusiasm. That’s what Paul is telling Tim in this letter. He’s saying “Hey Tim, don’t worry about being young; don’t worry about the old guys not understanding why you are there.” Paul goes on as well, and tells Timothy that he will mature and get wiser before the very eyes of those around him. That’s just like you. Don’t worry about people that look down on you, just because you are young. You can spread the fantastic news about Jesus, as well as anyone else. Jesus final task, to tell the world about him was meant for you as well as them. Not only that, as you go about doing Gods work of telling the world about Jesus, you will grow is wisdom and maturity before their very eyes.

So how is your youth leader doing? Is he or she the kind of person that never stuffs up? Do they seem to have it all sorted out? Or maybe you think they are the opposite and they just wind you up. Maybe they are forever on your case, telling you to be quiet and having a go at the simplest of things, just because you’re having a laugh. Seems to me, that if you think that your youth leader is either of those things, then you may have missed judged them. Being a leader is not easy. Whether it’s the leader of a Church, school, college, family or youth group, leadership is hard, and it’s not meant to be. Paul lists the qualities required from a leader in 1 Timothy 3 and they are not easy to reach qualities. Your youth leader probably doesn’t get a tick in every box, but then again do you? If you think your youth leader is so Holy that they must have Jesus mobile number, then the truth is, they are probably struggling with something that you don’t know about. If you think your youth leader is the pits, then they are probably better than you realise, but how would you know that, if you don’t look beyond the leader telling you to be quiet. Maybe this week you should take some time to encourage your youth leader. A card, an email, a text, a high five, can all go a long way to encouraging your youth leader to tick a few more boxes in Pauls list of what a leader should be.

So how is your youth leader doing? Is he or she the kind of person that never stuffs up? Do they seem to have it all sorted out? Or maybe you think they are the opposite and they just wind you up. Maybe they are forever on your case, telling you to be quiet and having a go at the simplest of things, just because you’re having a laugh. Seems to me, that if you think that your youth leader is either of those things, then you may have missed judged them. Being a leader is not easy. Whether it’s the leader of a Church, school, college, family or youth group, leadership is hard, and it’s not meant to be. Paul lists the qualities required from a leader in 1 Timothy 3 and they are not easy to reach qualities. Your youth leader probably doesn’t get a tick in every box, but then again do you? If you think your youth leader is so Holy that they must have Jesus mobile number, then the truth is, they are probably struggling with something that you don’t know about. If you think your youth leader is the pits, then they are probably better than you realise, but how would you know that, if you don’t look beyond the leader telling you to be quiet. Maybe this week you should take some time to encourage your youth leader. A card, an email, a text, a high five, can all go a long way to encouraging your youth leader to tick a few more boxes in Pauls list of what a leader should be.

What’s on your mind? Are exams looming. Do your friends seem to be moody with you all the time? Do you not have any friends? There are so many things that we can worry about. It’s doesn’t change any when you get older either. There was an old song with the line “don’t worry, be happy” in it. It always seemed a bit sickly and unreal to me, until tonight. I’ve just spent a great hour or so, with a mate just chilling here at my place. My mate said the coolest thing ever. He said that he had just decided to stop worrying about stuff and leave it to God. How cools that, he has just decided to get on with life and rely on God. Not only that, God has started responding and things have started changing for the better. Brilliant, how great is that? But this isn’t by accident, because my mate also lives his life like Paul is suggesting here in 1 Timothy. He prays about everything, and I mean everything. He prays just like Paul says. He Prays every way he knows how, for everyone he knows. He prays walking down the street, he prays on his bed, he prays before he meets someone for coffee. My mate even prays silently when he’s talking to me sometimes, I can see it in his eyes. So when he says that he has decided not to worry, it’s not some airy fairy, unreal, Pollyanna type attitude. He has decided not to worry, because he knows that he prays to a great big God, who can answer his prayers and put right the things he is worried about. Now that’s a worry free prayer filled life. That’s living life to the full.

What’s on your mind? Are exams looming. Do your friends seem to be moody with you all the time? Do you not have any friends? There are so many things that we can worry about. It’s doesn’t change any when you get older either. There was an old song with the line “don’t worry, be happy” in it. It always seemed a bit sickly and unreal to me, until tonight. I’ve just spent a great hour or so, with a mate just chilling here at my place. My mate said the coolest thing ever. He said that he had just decided to stop worrying about stuff and leave it to God. How cools that, he has just decided to get on with life and rely on God. Not only that, God has started responding and things have started changing for the better. Brilliant, how great is that? But this isn’t by accident, because my mate also lives his life like Paul is suggesting here in 1 Timothy. He prays about everything, and I mean everything. He prays just like Paul says. He Prays every way he knows how, for everyone he knows. He prays walking down the street, he prays on his bed, he prays before he meets someone for coffee. My mate even prays silently when he’s talking to me sometimes, I can see it in his eyes. So when he says that he has decided not to worry, it’s not some airy fairy, unreal, Pollyanna type attitude. He has decided not to worry, because he knows that he prays to a great big God, who can answer his prayers and put right the things he is worried about. Now that’s a worry free prayer filled life. That’s living life to the full.

Do you have friends that claim to be Christians and yet don’t act that way at college or school? Maybe you know people who grew up with you in your church and yet recently they have said that God is a lie? I bet this never happens to other people, I bet no-one else has friends that walk away from Jesus, I bet no one else has friends that say they are Christians and yet drink too much and sleep around. Well if you really bet that, then I’ll take that bet. Oops, maybe I shouldn’t encourage gambling, but you get the gist of what I am saying. Here we have Paul, the ultimate guy who walked around building churches and telling people about Jesus and yet even he had friends who turned away from God. He says it right at the very end. He says “Jesus came for all of us but not everyone sticks around, even my two mates have given up on God.” Now if it happens to the great Paul, we can be sure it will happen to us. So if it has happened to you, it’s not your fault. You are not responsible for other people’s actions, your responsibility is to pray for them and then leave it to God. Because, when it comes down to it, Jesus came for all of us, but it is up to each person to make their own choice.

Do you have friends that claim to be Christians and yet don’t act that way at college or school? Maybe you know people who grew up with you in your church and yet recently they have said that God is a lie? I bet this never happens to other people, I bet no-one else has friends that walk away from Jesus, I bet no one else has friends that say they are Christians and yet drink too much and sleep around. Well if you really bet that, then I’ll take that bet. Oops, maybe I shouldn’t encourage gambling, but you get the gist of what I am saying. Here we have Paul, the ultimate guy who walked around building churches and telling people about Jesus and yet even he had friends who turned away from God. He says it right at the very end. He says “Jesus came for all of us but not everyone sticks around, even my two mates have given up on God.” Now if it happens to the great Paul, we can be sure it will happen to us. So if it has happened to you, it’s not your fault. You are not responsible for other people’s actions, your responsibility is to pray for them and then leave it to God. Because, when it comes down to it, Jesus came for all of us, but it is up to each person to make their own choice.

Paul is writing to Timothy who is not only a close friend but also a student of Pauls. What does he do, before he gets down to the nitty gritty of his letter? He encourages Timothy. He is straight in there. “Hey Tim, I know it’s hard and I know I put you in a tough place, but you doing a great job and you are there to stay.” So let me start this new book with the same message to you. I know its hard being a young Christian. I know that sometimes you have to make decisions that go against what everyone else is doing. I know that you get ripped into by those around you sometimes. I know that even if it’s not true you feel that everyone is laughing at you. I know all of this, but I also know that you are in the right place. You may not be physically in the right place, but if you are following Jesus then just like Timothy you are doing a great job. Just like our man Tim you should feel the love that Gods sends to you, because God smiles when he sees his children doing what they know is right. One day God will say to you “Well done, my good and faithful servant” but today let me have the privilege of saying, well done, you are Gods good and faithful servant.

Paul is writing to Timothy who is not only a close friend but also a student of Pauls. What does he do, before he gets down to the nitty gritty of his letter? He encourages Timothy. He is straight in there. “Hey Tim, I know it’s hard and I know I put you in a tough place, but you doing a great job and you are there to stay.” So let me start this new book with the same message to you. I know its hard being a young Christian. I know that sometimes you have to make decisions that go against what everyone else is doing. I know that you get ripped into by those around you sometimes. I know that even if it’s not true you feel that everyone is laughing at you. I know all of this, but I also know that you are in the right place. You may not be physically in the right place, but if you are following Jesus then just like Timothy you are doing a great job. Just like our man Tim you should feel the love that Gods sends to you, because God smiles when he sees his children doing what they know is right. One day God will say to you “Well done, my good and faithful servant” but today let me have the privilege of saying, well done, you are Gods good and faithful servant.