Southeast Texas Family Ministry – Talking to Teens

Talking to Teenagers

Today’s Subject – Set an Example for Others

We have been working on talking more with our children about life.

I have always tried to set a good example, but lately I have been working more on also using my words.

This week, our focus is using a Biblical example to set a higher self-image and to raise the bar on what they feel they can accomplish today and throughout their lives.

1^st Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

We started out looking at some real life teens from a range of different backgrounds whose early accomplishments eclipsed those of most adults.

Teens that changed history:

Jerry Siegel & Joe Schuster. Invented the Superman comic book in high school. Worked on it for three years to land a national publisher.
Grand Wizard Theodore. Invented scratching on a record at 12 years old.
Kool Herc. Put together two turn table DJing and early rapping. 17 years old.
Samuel Colt. Invented the Colt Revolver as a teenager. His first order was for 1000 guns to the Texas Rangers for use in the Mexican American War.
Robert Heft. Designed the American flag we use today at 17 years old. Designers were having trouble cramming 50 stars onto the flag. He competed against 1500 adult, professional, designers. Congress selected his design.
Joseph Bombardier. Invented the snowmobile at 15 years old. Became one of the richest men in Canada.

Daily application. How can you apply this Bible passage in your own life?

Set an Example in Speech

Biting your tongue. To my son: This is something you’ve been great at so far. There have been a lot of times older people have said things they should not have and you responded politely or not at all.
Jerry Seinfeld says swearing is lazy. He feels that your message will be more creative and received better if you can find other ways to express your content.
All speech either raises the level in the room or lowers the level in the room. When you talk about someone, are you lifting them up or tearing them down?

Set an Example in Conduct

These examples are customized for my kids – feel free to adjust when you talk with yours!

As an athlete, younger kids will watch you. If you smoke, dip, or drink, the message you are sending is that it is okay to smoke, dip, or drink.
Set an example for your peers in school work. If they see it is important to you to do well, they will try harder themselves. If they are working their minds out in school, they will be in better shape mentally when you need them on the basketball court or baseball diamond.
Son, you can be the one who makes it okay to say no – to smoking, drinking, blowing off schoolwork, drugs, having sex before you’re ready.