How to Share Your Faith Using "What'd Ya Do This Summer?"
Most teens aren't too excited (to put it politely) when the day for heading back to school arrives and that alarm starts to go off early every morning. Books and lockers, teachers and homework aren't particularly high on the "fun things I want to do today" list. Well . . . all I can say is, sorry, but it's that time of year again. . .
We all have things in our lives we aren't pumped up about. When the Apostle Paul was thrown in jail for sharing the Gospel, he wrote, "And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. . . And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ." (Phil. 1:12, 14) So you see, God can use any place he puts us to further His plan for sharing His Good News - even school!!!
As you walk the halls and hear the buzz and see friends you haven't touched base with for awhile, keep an attitude that's always searching for ways to point people toward Jesus. Jesus told us to "go into all the world and make disciples" (Mt. 28:19), and as much as you wish it wasn't so, school is or soon will be part of your world once again!
When kids ask the inevitable "What'd ya do this summer?" how about making a conscious decision to share about something that has to do with God in your world? If God is the center of your life, then don't you think He should get a mention when you answer that question? Maybe one of the following suggestions will trigger some ideas for you:
- Did you travel somewhere and experience the beauty of God's creation in a fresh, new way? Experiencing the natural beauty that surrounds us can draw us closer to God and stir a thankfulness in our hearts to the designer and creator of the beautiful sunset or the glorious mountain view.
- If you visited extended family - grandparents, cousins - maybe you can use it as an opening to talk about God. If it was fun and you had a fantastic time, talk about how great it is that God has given you the support of a strong family network. If your family puts the fun into dysfunctional and you experienced a ‘Griswold-type family reunion disaster', use it as an opening to describe how your relationship with God carries you through the tough stuff of life.
- Maybe you went to camp this summer with your youth group. Camp can often be a "mountain top" experience that triggers a deeper walk with God and a long term commitment to making Him the center of your life. While those changes may seem highly personal to you, they can be conveyed to others with a simple but thoughtful statement like, "I had an AMAZING time at camp this summer and it really helped me get my head on straight about some things. It was sooooooooooo AWESOME!!" If they're the least bit intrigued, it'll give them an opening to ask more or give you an opening to explain more.
- If your youth group went on a mission trip, briefly recap the highlights. Where'd you go? What'd you do? Share WHY your group went where they did and how the experience changed you and changed a little corner of God's world.
- Hopefully your youth leader planned at least onefun event over the summer you can pull out to talk about. Share about it and invite your unchurched friends to join you for your next meeting. As you begin to head into the new school year, kids' schedules are being shuffled, new routines are being established and new friendships are being made in new classes. Keep your ears open and make the effort to look for ways to invite kids to join the fun at your youth meetings. And brush up on your G.O.S.P.E.L Journey! The Bible tells us, "And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it, and always with the utmost courtesy." (1 Peter 3:15)
Face it - the new school year is fast approaching and no amount of throwing things across the room when that alarm goes off will change that! But hopefully now you can look at school another way. Just like Paul used his prison cell to bring glory to God, you can be used wherever God puts you to share about Him.
