Next Gen Service: ‘He seeks godly offspring’

Clement Akran

Scriptural focus: Mal 2:15

Malachi 2:15 - New King James Version (NKJV)

15 But did He not make them one,Having a remnant of the Spirit?And why one?He seeks godly offspring.Therefore take heed to your spirit,And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

Part A: Spiritual perspective

Why does God seek Godly off springs?

1. A key part of God’s original design: Gen 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image

...

2. For posterity of His covenant:

• Gen 12:1-9 “... In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”

• Gen 22:16-17 “...and multiplying i will multiply your descendants”

– hence

• Proverbs 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward”

3. For signs and wonders:

How do we partner with God in raising the next generation?

Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord”

1. The word of god: Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Part B

• Emotional well being:

– Dealing with anger, frustrations and defeat

• Sexuality:

– Understanding yourself and managing the changes that comes with your body

– Hormones: It's effects and how to manage it

– Managing emotions in puberty

Emotional well being…

Dealing with anger, frustrations and defeat

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Common responses when angry...

• Rhino

– Shout and scream

– Say things you later regret

– Loose control

– Lash out and accuse

– Blame everyone

– Become explosive or irritable

Hedgehog

Try and ignore your feelings

Become sarcastic

Withdraw behind an impenetrable wall

Become cold and clinical

Feel nervous

Want to run away and hide

Get depressed

Tips for dealing with anger...

• Press the pause button

• Recognise the source of the anger

• Practise apology and forgiveness

Common sources of stress among young people...• Pressure of expectations

• Unresolved parental conflict and divorce

• Illness

• Fear of failure – social and academic

• Pressure from advertising and culture of comparison and competition

• Lack of time with parents

• Insufficient play time

Tips for dealing with anxiety and stress...

• Try to identify the cause of the stress

• Talk about your fears/worries with your spouse/close friend/parents/member of pastoral team

• Put the situation or circumstance into context

• Pray about it

• Take effective action(s)

Role of parents in helping young people cope with stress...1. Avoid perfectionism

2. Create enough space for relaxation

3. Talk to children about their fears

4. Help your children to have a healthy view of success and failure

5. Think about how you praise

6. Ask open questions

7. Keep adult conversations for adults

Sexuality:

– Understanding yourself and managing the changes that comes with your body

– Hormones: It's effects and how to manage it

– Managing emotions in puberty

Puberty

• This is when the sexual organs and reproductive system begin to develop

– For boys it starts at age 12

– For girls it starts between the ages of 10 and 11

• Key age brackets to look out for;

– Early teens (12-15)

– Late teens (16 -18)

Common attitudes towards sex...

• Hedonistic – puts the pursuit of pleasure as the highest value in life, ahead of love and faithfulness, and sex becomes part of the quest for the elusive “feel good factor”

• Individualism – fuels the question, “How am i going to give expression to my sexual desires?” sex becomes self-orientated, divorced from its purpose of forming an enduring and intimate relationship with the

Helping young people see through some common myths about sex1. Sex is mainly about satisfying our own desire

2. A variety of sexual partners provides good experience

3. Protected sex makes sex okay

4. Pornography is harmless fun

5. Living and sleeping together helps couples decide if they are right for each other

6. Sex is unfortunate and embarrassing

Scriptural focus: Mal 2:15

Malachi 2:15 - New King James Version (NKJV)

15 But did He not make them one,Having a remnant of the Spirit?And why one?He seeks godly offspring.Therefore take heed to your spirit,And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

See you at the top!

Clement Akran