VENTURA, CA--Teenagers are some of the most religiously active Americans. What does their spiritual experience look like, and what do teens look for in a church? What do they learn in church settings? A new study from The Barna Group explores the spiritual lives and expectations of today’s teenagers.
The most common teen spiritual activity – like that of adults – is prayer. Overall, three-quarters of teenagers (72%) say they pray in a typical week. The next most common activity is attending a worship service at a church – a form of engagement embraced by half (48%) of today’s teenagers. Roughly one-third of teenagers said they attend Sunday school (35%), attend youth group (33%), participate in a small group (32%), and read the Bible (31%).
Compared to American adults, teenagers are more likely to report engagement in corporate forms of worship and spiritual expression – such as attending...
teenagemutantninjakitty, amen to your post. I was the same way when I grew up (I was saved at 13 in 1976), and I was even considered wierd back then. I'm now trying to raise my three teenagers the same way. The world AND the church give me a hard time about it. However, let no man despise your youth, but be an example to the adults, who should know better, and other teens. God bless you
teenagemutantninjakitty wrote: Do these polls really tell anyone anything? Whoopee the teens are praying/going to church! Pass the collection plate, the revival is coming!(I'm being sarcastic) just because a teenager goes to church doesn't mean anything,like the one person said it could just be in pursuit of another churchgoing teen. Who are they praying to? If they're just asking kids if they pray than muslims, hindus and all kinds of cults can say yup, we do...ugh. notice they don't repoll (is that a word?)the same teens after college because they'd find out that some only go to church because of parents. I am a teenager and I suppose just about everything said about "teenagers today" makes me wary. (THIS teenager reads,hence "wary") Most "experts" talk about how we love to rebel and love the opposite gender. (or in this mixed up world the same gender..ugh)some teens are that way and in reference to romance most are. I'm not. I'm too young to be thinking about boys. I suppose this post really doesn't have a purpose except to rant about all the people who think they understand teens and can "speak their language" "cuz we're all like totally like rockin' the bomb. (NO idea what I just said.)thanks whoever reads this for standing my ranting.
Do these polls really tell anyone anything? Whoopee the teens are praying/going to church! Pass the collection plate, the revival is coming!(I'm being sarcastic) just because a teenager goes to church doesn't mean anything,like the one person said it could just be in pursuit of another churchgoing teen. Who are they praying to? If they're just asking kids if they pray than muslims, hindus and all kinds of cults can say yup, we do...ugh. notice they don't repoll (is that a word?)the same teens after college because they'd find out that some only go to church because of parents. I am a teenager and I suppose just about everything said about "teenagers today" makes me wary. (THIS teenager reads,hence "wary") Most "experts" talk about how we love to rebel and love the opposite gender. (or in this mixed up world the same gender..ugh)some teens are that way and in reference to romance most are. I'm not. I'm too young to be thinking about boys. I suppose this post really doesn't have a purpose except to rant about all the people who think they understand teens and can "speak their language" "cuz we're all like totally like rockin' the bomb. (NO idea what I just said.)thanks whoever reads this for standing my ranting. signed, a modestly dressed,nondating,nontypical, strange teenager.
There's no reason why the church needs to tailor itself in order to suit the wants of teenagers. That's the domain of business, and the church is not a business.
Rather, the church should be more concerned about what teenagers need as opposed to what they want. What they need is the pure preaching of the gospel. What they need is the proper administration of the sacraments. Finally, what they need is church discipline, of which many churches, especially those of the Southern Baptist milieu, are woefully bereft.
Your Post "I always prayed when I was a teen. I prayed to pass my exams even though I didn't study. I prayed to make the football team even though I was a lousy player. I prayed for Mary Ellen Fleming to fall madly in love with me even though I had pimples. I went to Catholic Mass with Tommy Giraldi when I was after his sister Maria, I even went to temple with Moe Siegal when his sister Shelley showed an interest in me. Then I prayed when I was 19 and the Army wanted to send me to Vietnam. Teens pray a lot more than you think they do." _______
Yes, you prayed many selfish prayers. Did you ever pray to be filled with the Spirit of God and to glorify Him and to be led by His Spirit? Did you every pray for anyone's salvation—even your own?
Your mentioned prayers show no love for God but that you are selfishly trying to manipulate God without regard for His desire for your life.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
I always prayed when I was a teen. I prayed to pass my exams even though I didn't study. I prayed to make the football team even though I was a lousy player. I prayed for Mary Ellen Fleming to fall madly in love with me even though I had pimples. I went to Catholic Mass with Tommy Giraldi when I was after his sister Maria, I even went to temple with Moe Siegal when his sister Shelley showed an interest in me. Then I prayed when I was 19 and the Army wanted to send me to Vietnam. Teens pray a lot more than you think they do.
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Dr. Alan Cairns | 2/8/2009
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