Whenever your children become teenagers, they will enter a unique and critical stage. You will no longer be able to keep the careful and continuous supervision that you gave to them as children. However, it is extremely important that parents continue their godly training (teaching and discipline) during the teenage years. The Epistle of 2 Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son Timothy Wider the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Timothy became one of the most outstanding young men who ever lived on this earth. Timothy was a soul-winner, a pastor’, a missionary, a faithful friend to Paul, and a young man who lived for Jesus from his infancy to his death. There is no father or mother who would not be pleased if his son or daughter grew up, lived, and died the same way that Timothy did. There are ten steps to raising godly teenagers that are listed in the book of 2 Timothy.
1. Godly Young People Need the Example of Godly Parents and Grandparents (2 Timothy 1:5-6)
- The heritage of the parents are passed to their children. (Exodus 20:5-6; Proverbs 17:6)
- God does offer encouragement to dedicated mate of a mixed marriage. (I Corinthians 7:14) In fact, Timothy was a third generation Christian on his mother’s side. However, Acts 16:1 declares that his father was unsaved Greek. Timothy’s Christianity came from his mother and grandmother’s commitment to Christ.
2. Tell Your Teenager that you Love them and Show Affection even if it is not Reciprocated (2 Timothy 1:2)
- Many parents will pray for a child badly. They will rejoice with pregnancy. They will be thrilled at the birth. They will spend hours playing with the child as an infant. They will encourage that child in every activity. They rejoice with his first step. They have cameras and take pictures frequently. They will take them to school the first day and anxiously wait for them to get home. They are anxious to hear about ever detail at school… But then, something tragic starts happening. As that child grows older, they praise that child less and criticize them more. They no longer show the love and the interest they did as a child. That is a great tragedy, for your teenagers need your love and praise as much as your small children.
3. Surround your Teenagers with Prayers “Night and Day” (2 Timothy 1:3)
4. Spend Quality Time with your Teenagers
- Let your’ teenagers know that you “greatly desire” to be with them. (2 Timothy 1:4) Make sacrifices to be at their activities. Stay up late to talk to them. Keep the communication open at all times about their friends, their activities, their dating life, their grades, etc.
- Make your time spent with your teenager to be filled with fun and joy. (2 Timothy 1:4)
5. Take Time to Write Letters to your Teenager
6. Surround your Teenager with Great Men and Women of God (2 Timothy 2:2)
- All teenagers tend to have heroes or role models. You cannot change that fact. It is imperative, however, that you see that their role models are godly. This is the reason it is important they be in a dynamic, fundamental church. That is the reason they should be exposed to dynamic Christian examples in music, in sports, etc.
7. Challenge your Teenagers to “Stand Alone” for God (2 Timothy 1:8; 2:3-4; 4:3-5)
- Teenagers love a challenge. The greatest challenge of this day is not to experiment with sex, drugs, alcohol, etc., but the greatest challenge of this generation is to maintain moral purity and godliness.
- Teach your teenagers to expect persecution if they live righteously (2 Timothy 3:10-14).
- Teenagers cannot be “too busy” for the Lord. Teenagers like to be busy and the more activities you can have at the church that are good for them, the better”.
- The number one problem of teenagers is selfishness. There is no greater way to combat selfishness than by soul-winning. (Luke 9:24)
8. Teach your Children to be a Witness for Jesus and See that They are Actively Involved in Soul-Winning (2 Timothy 2:2 and 4:5)
9. Continue to Teach them “The Word of God” Daily (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
- Teach them that the Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16) They are going to encounter people who will contradict that statement but show them this truth in the Bible.
- Continue to teach as teenagers what you taught them as children. (2 Timothy 3:15) Many parents drop the family altar and Bible teaching when children become teenagers, but that is a great error.
- Teach them that “all the Bible” is applicable and profitable to them (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When your child becomes old enough to date, it is very important that clear rules be taught and enforced. These rules should be taught to children while they are still young and throughout teenage years. Notice every rule has a scriptural basis…
10. Make them Constantly Conscious that they are Accountable to God for their Deeds
- (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
- Some day they shall stand before God and give an account for every word (Matthew 12:36-37), for every deed (good or bad) (2 Corinthians 5:10), and for every thought (Romans 2:16). Teach them that God will also punish their sin (2 Timothy 4:14). The best form of punishment for teenagers is to take away the very thing that he is enjoying. Make sure that the punishment for his wrong is greater than any pleasure he derived from doing that sin, thus he will be taught to keep the rules.
