What are your words and actions saying about you?

1 Timothy 4:12

"Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith and your pure life."

Yesterday we started looking at what 1 Timothy says is the first example that young people should set (their words and the way they speak). We discussed how Walker Moore says that it seems at times that adults don't give teenagers respect nor take what they have to say seriously and as a result teenagers have developed something called "teenspeak" in order to communicate with each other (and something which some adults don't understand). This is sometimes used by teenagers to empower themselves and to give themselves some type of control.

Today we will take a look at how Jesus, when he was a teenager, empowered Himself and gained the respect of those around him with his words and his actions (which is the second way young people should be an example).

Luke 2:41-47

⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. ⁴³After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

⁴⁹"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

The first amazing thing that we see is that at the age of 12 years old, Jesus sat in the temple and dialoged with the teachers ... some even call them the "lawyers of lawyers." Isn't it unbelievable that Jesus was able to sit down and have an actual conversation with these guys? He knew how to ask questions, listen and process what he heard, and understand what He heard. He was able to talk to other adults in such a way that the adults were amazed and actually listened to what He had to say. Jesus didn't have a t.v. or a computer and He definitely didn't have to create some type of "teenspeak" in order to feel empowered and gain the respect of those around Him. He sat and listened to the adults and had intelligent conversations with them.

Now let's look at Jesus actions after he was found sitting in the temple having a conversation with the teachers...

#2 - Actions

What did Jesus do? He knew he was supposed to be in God's house, doing God's will. But knowing that he was 12 years old, He went back with His parents, and was obedient to them. While He was living with His parents, He grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men. How did He do this? By his actions... He listened to the advise of His parents. Can you imagine Jesus getting into arguing matches with His parents? Yelling? Screaming? Jesus submitted Himself to the people that God had placed in His life.

Walker Moore in his book says that many businesses don't want youth groups coming anywhere near. In fact, hotel employees often call church groups "teenagers from hell" because they run up and down the hallways, slamming doors and screaming. Restaurants hate it when these same youth groups visit, because the "kids" never seem to display adult conduct there either. Can you imagine Jesus running around the dining area yelling at the top of his lungs? Or using His straw to blow spit balls at His best friend? Jesus knew that He was growing up and that God had a plan for His life. Knowing this, he submitted to the Godly people that God had placed in His life and was obedient and acted in such a way that adults respected Him... even at a young age. This is Jesus we are talking about... Jesus being God could have done whatever He wanted... He didn't have to listen to wordly people.. yet He did.