Good Doctrine: The Best Thing for a Teenager

There are hundreds of strategies and ploy's to capture the heart and mind of the teenager and cultivate a disciple of Jesus Christ... but there is none that compare to the best strategy of all: teach them the Bible.

Time and time again I see the main distinguishing characteristic of a person who not only claims to be a Christian but also lives it out is that he or she is reading the Bible consistently and intentionally.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." - Joshua 1:8

Even more importantly I see the connection between accurately understanding Scripture with maturity and obedience in life. It is so crucial for us to have the discipline to consistently be in the Bible and to have the tools and know-how to be able to read a particular passage and understand what the author's intended meaning is!

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The inspiration and inerrancy of God's Word is the root of our growth and maturity in Christ. Verse 17 begins with "that" which indicates the purpose or result of what was said in verse 16. The result of the fact that the Bible is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness is this: the Christian will be competent and equipped for every good work. What an amazing promise and hope that we have as God's children!