Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

These are the words of the LORD. Thanks be to God for HIS word.

A couple of weeks ago I had the great joy of having lunch with a friend who is also a Pastor. As I almost always do, when the server took our order, I told her that we were about to pray over our meal and asked if there was anything for her that we could pray. She replied, “Just that I will continue to do well.”

After the meal and after paying at the counter, our server asked me what church I went to. I told her that I was serving as the Pastor at Summit Fellowship in Decatur. She then asked, “do you have anything for teenagers?”

That is the opportunity I missed!

I replied to her that we did not but that I was aware of some churches in Decatur that did have such ministries and I recommended them to her. I did at least think to give her a business card and I invited her to contact me if there was anyway in which I could be of help her.

Only after getting home, I realized that I should have told her something that I know very well! That is the fact that the thing her teenager needs most is to be with their mom in a good Bible-believing and Bible teaching church listening to biblical and expository preaching!

As you know, after my many years at First Baptist Atwood, I am committed to reaching and ministering to children and teens and training church members to do so! I am thankful beyond words for churches that are blessed to have – as does First Baptist Atwood – godly, committed, and qualified Bible teachers working with children and teens.

BUT… I (and we) need to remember that the week-by-week, Book-by-Book, verse-by-verse and doctrine-by-doctrine teaching of the Bible is the primary means by which God saves unsaved people and by which HE sanctifies and matures HIS people!

So, I am planning to go there again soon and share this advice with her. I hope that you will take a moment to pray for her and her children.