For the following weeks, teenagers will visit Discovery University’s Department of Continuing Education for a study that addresses three critical issues of concern to teenagers. The course is presented in three sections. Section one addresses the issue of discipleship—five necessary ingredients of discipleship. Section two focuses on five often asked questions that relate to purpose, worth, provision, control and guidance of a Christian’s life. Section three speaks to the issue of how to pray effectively.

      These subjects are not unique. In fact they are issues with which pastors and teachers deal frequently. Yet, for every generation they are fresh and are subjects with which teens should be made acquainted and about which they must make choices.

      There are five lessons in each section that when applied will help teens be qualified disciples, give them answers to challenging questions and equip them to be effective in their prayer lives.

      Section one examines five requirements that form the basis for being a genuine Christian disciple. These requirements are an uncommon love, a necessary cross, a calculated strategy, an unprecedented sacrifice and an admirable finish. A failure to consider any one of these five can leave any Christ-follower weak and lacking in some area of discipleship.

      The second section addresses five serious questions young people ask about themselves at one time or the other. These questions revolve around one essential issue—“What is my life all about?” In Matthew 6:25 Jesus said, “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Interestingly, in the ancient Greek language it was possible to imply an answer of yes or no to a question by the use of specific word forms. Jesus’ question is one of those instances in which the answer expected is yes. If life is not merely about physical things like food and clothing or just providing for the things which meet physical needs, what is it about? Young people want to know if their lives actually have a purpose, and if so what is it?

      The third section attempts to answer questions concerning effective prayers. If prayer is so important, how does one utilize it and become an individual who can pray effectively? This section gives five steps to becoming a powerful prayer warrior. Teenagers will learn the meaning of abiding in Christ and how it leads to a more effective prayer life. Teens will examine why forgiveness contributes to effectual prayers and how generosity affects one’s prayer life. Teenagers also will explore what it means to be confident in their praying. Finally, to complete this semester’s course teens will learn what fervency means and why it is a primary characteristic of effective prayer.

1. Critical Issues
    Bible Text: 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for . . . instruction.”

  2. Show An Uncommon Love
    Bible Text: 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.”

  3. Bear a Necessary Cross
    Bible Text: Luke 14:27, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

  4. Plan an Unprecedented Strategy
    Bible Text: Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

  5. Offer a Serious Sacrifice
    Bible Text: Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

  6. Make an Admirable Finish
    Bible Text: 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

  7. What Is My Purpose in Life?
    Bible Text: Romans 8:28,  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

  8. What Am I Worth?
    Bible Text: Matthew 6:26, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

  9. Who Provides for Me?
    Bible Text: Matthew 6:30, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you.”

10. What About My Future?
    Bible Text: Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

11. What Is My Responsibility?
    Bible Text: Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

12. Be Honest with God
    Bible Text: Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are . . . honest, . . . think on these things.”

13. Be Forgiving
    Bible Text: Mark 11:25, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

14. Be Generous
    Bible Text: Proverbs 21:13, “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”

15. Be Confident
    Bible Text: 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

16. Be Fervent
    Bible Text: James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

 To order  . . .

Teen Discovery