Big Mistakes Teens Make
1. Sit down if you didn’t brush your teeth this morning
2. Stand up or sit down if you’ve ever cheated on a test
3. Stand up or sit down if you’ve peed in a pool in the last 2 years
4. Stand up or sit down if you like someone here and they don’t know it yet
5. Stand up or sit down if you are still scared of the dark
6. Stand up or sit down if you told your parents you were going somewhere, but you actually
went somewhere else
7. Stand up or sit down if you’ve practiced kissing on something other than a person (I tell a
story about catching my sister kissing a pillow here)
8. Stand up or sit down … (something specific to the crowd (i.e. something only Luthern High
students would know/do) – this show you’ve dove into their culture, add more if you have
’em)
9. Stand up or sit down if you think you’re good looking
10. Stand up or sit down if the person next to you just answered “yes” to the last statement
and you disagree
Intro
I know that there are always an abundance of people who are willing to tell you what you are doing
wrong, and stop doing “that,” and pick out your mistakes and flaws. But this morning I hope you are
hearing my heart and really the heart of God that there is a better way than what you see around
you.
One of the ways that Indians used to kill Buffalo was to cause a stampede and herd them towards a
cliff. By the time the lead buffalo saw where he was headed it was too late, cuz there were a whole
bunch of buffalo meat charging behind him. So they all went over the cliff, their enemy took what he
wanted and left the rest to rot. They were afraid so they ran…and they eventually ran to their
deaths.
This morning I am going to talk about some common mistakes that most teens make, but YOU don’t
have to make them, and YOU can help others avoid them, so that in Jesus, you can live like a
Champion. I stand up here with full expectation upon you to live free and to minister to others. I am
not up here to hear myself or waste my breath. You can and will do this.
Mistake #1
You are not complete unless you are intimately attached to someone else
Colossians 2:10(NKJV) "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and
power."
Talked a lot about this recently so won’t spend much time, but let me remind you that if you are
looking anywhere but to Christ to be fulfilled in life it is idolatry. Everyone deals with loneliness, and
it isn’t wrong or sin to feel loneliness. But if you let it consume you to the point of you not bring
happy or content unless you are romantically involved with someone, you have crossed the line.
Christians who are in love with Jesus and satisfied with Him are still searching for that someone to
share the journey with…and that is ok. Until the search becomes the journey.
Mistake #2
Thinking that what you do right now does not matter
It’s like saying as you are laying the foundation of your new house that you are building, “this part
doesn’t matter, wait until you see what it’s going to look like!”
The deeper the foundation, the deeper you dig, the higher and more elaborate the structure can be
that sits on top of it.
Humble yourselves and the Lord will lift you up
The more you are willing to dig, the more you are willing to allow the Lord to excavate the garbage in
your life, the higher and more glorious can be the building.
How does the Lord do this? Trials that build character, faith and hope. But some pull up short
looking for relief, rather than the Lord; Looking for the short cut, rather than God’s pathway to
change.
In the Kingdom you have to go down before you can go up, you have to serve before you can lead.
It absolutely matters what you do right now, because you are laying the foundation for your entire
life!
Luke 6:46-49(NKJV) "“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is
like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the
flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was
founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the
earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.
And the ruin of that house was great.”"
Click!
Mistake #3
You are not ready to be used by God
Ephesians 5:15-17 (MSG) So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you
get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand
what the Master wants.
More people in this room right now ready to be used than most of those graduating from Bible
college. They think a piece of paper is what is going to qualify them to be used by God.
1 Timothy 4:12(NLT) "Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to
all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."
Click!
Mistake #4
Living blind to the rest of the world (small-town mentality)
Get our of your freakin’ comfort zones. You can choose to focus on simply the circumstances that are
immediately around you, but you fail to become part of God’s Big Picture by doing so.
God has a world plan that is coming to a head. Where are you? Do your problems consist of what
someone said about you, about how you’re not getting along with family members. Then you have
been successfully sidelined by the enemy’s distractions.
some ways you can tell is:
your prayers consist of “give me a sign that you want me to do something…”
your prayers consist of nothing that is not in your immediate sphere of influence (home, school,
team, etc.)
Mt 28:18 Go into all the world… know He he’s talking to? YOU! Philippines 2004
Mistake #5
Impatience
Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV) "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and
it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. "
POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF PEERS
You might not hear a lot about it, but peers have a profoundly positive influence on each other and
play important roles in each other's lives:
Friendship. Among peers you can find friendship and acceptance, and share experiences that
can build lasting bonds.
Positive examples. Peers set plenty of good examples for each other. Having peers who are
committed to doing well in school or to doing their best in a sport can influence you to be
more goal-oriented, too. Peers who are kind and loyal influence you to build these qualities
in yourself. Even peers you've never met can be role models! For example, watching
someone your age compete in the Olympics, give a piano concert, or spearhead a
community project might inspire you to go after a dream of your own.
Feedback and advice. Your friends listen and give you feedback as you try out new ideas,
explore belief, and discuss problems. Peers can help you make decisions, too: what courses
to take; whether to get your hair cut, let it grow, or dye it; how to handle a family argument.
Peers often give each other good advice. Your friends will be quick to tell you when they
think you're making a mistake or doing something risky.
Socializing. Your peer group gives you opportunities to try out new social skills. Getting to
know lots of different people — such as classmates or teammates — gives you a chance to
learn how to expand your circle of friends, build relationships, and work out differences. You
may have peers you agree or disagree with, compete with, or team with, peers you admire,
and peers you don't want to be like.
Encouragement. Peers encourage you to work hard to get the solo in the concert, help you
study, listen and support you when you're upset or troubled, and empathize with you when
they've experienced similar difficulties.
New experiences. Your peers might get you involved in clubs, sports, or religious groups.
Your world would be far less rich without peers to encourage you try sushi for the first time,
listen to a CD you've never heard before, or to offer moral support when you audition for the
school play.
NEGATIVE INFLUENCE FROM PEERS
