Bobby Bosler: So what we wanted to do here, what’s been in my heart for this session here is quite a little bit different, I would say, than what we’ve done in the past. We’ve done several of these panel discussions, and really we just want to get an opportunity to have a discussion. In past years, we’ve more discussed among ourselves up here.

But this time here tonight, one of the things I’m really burdened about is I want to hear from you. The whole point of this youth summit this year is that you can rise above in the Spirit’s power, whatever it might be, whether it’s temptation or disrespect to parents or just the downward pull of sin. And you all just went to a bunch of workshop sessions.

Was that helpful? Okay, on things like, like we said, distraction and comparison and your feelings. And really, there are so many things.

And as I was meditating about the Youth Summit and all of the different sessions and workshops and so on, it occurred to me, I probably don’t even really know all of the things that you all are facing. I preached on weights this morning and just things that they may not be sin, but they really hold you back. And you’ve heard our thoughts over the last little bit.

But I recognize you all might have a pretty solid perspective yourselves on some of the things that hold your generation back. And so what I really want you to do, and probably what I’ll do here is I’ll maybe just get a quick set of thoughts from those up here. By the way, there’s microphones on either side of me that you all can pass around as we discuss.

So there’s one there and one there. And then what I’m going to want is at any point at any time, anyone from the four teams can make their way towards the center aisle and form a line towards the microphone. And if you just want to share briefly, please, briefly, from your perspective, and this doesn’t have to just be you.

This could just be observation. But what you feel in your generation is something that is holding your generation back. So I know this might be a little risky.

I suppose uh. But at the same time I really do want to hear from you all. And so I want you to be thinking.

And uh while you’re thinking uh were there any observations across the board here. Some of us have already said some of the things that we think. Some of us probably are getting ready to say some of the things that we think perhaps here in just a little bit.

But it’s not just a negative thing. But any other thoughts here maybe that didn’t fit into a message we’ve preached thus far.

Panelist: I get asked all the time because of being in youth ministry 40 years, what’s the difference between 40 years ago and now? It’s a great question. And I will say this.

The sin issues are the same. It’s the manifestation of them. So, like, for instance, morality has always been an issue of battle.

In the 90s, I preached a lot on guy-girl relationships. I don’t preach on that as much now because although that’s there, There’s a much bigger issue in the moral purity arena in the technology. So technology has, how do I say this, has brought the same sin issues we’ve always faced, but now they become much more prevalent, and they kind of manifest themselves sometimes a little differently.

So that’s just my observation.

Bobby Bosler: Okay, great. Something else here?

Panelist: Just with all the things that could be said, I think that this generation is immersed in secular humanism without even trying. Just everywhere they look, they do not see Bible Christianity until they walk into their church. And so the culture definitely is not Judeo-Christian anymore.

We could talk about postmodern, neo-pagan, well, it’s past that. It’s just purely secular. So it’s not their fault, but it’s hard for them to look at life simply because of the secularism that grips the whole culture.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, good. Any other thoughts here?

We don’t need many more, but yeah.

Panelist: Actually, I said it in my session, but I said it because with Ed Loney said it, I heard him say that this generation, people will say this is much worse generation, but they’re not much worse generation. You guys aren’t, you know, thoughts of criticism. But it’s honestly the tools of Satan are much more prevalent.

I think that’s one of the biggest things is that we’re dealing with a generation that you don’t even know what it is to not have technology like what it is now. And the little kids, I’ve got little kids in the home, and they don’t even know what it means to not have screens and all these things in life. And so I feel like that’s something there.

And also I feel like something that we’re dealing with more and more as generations go along is parenting gets less and less and a little more permissive, and the world pushes harder to do that. And so I think one of the things holding back the generation is really godly parents and a godly home. And that can be overcome, obviously, but that’s a huge, I think, burden.

It’s so much a hold back that we have to ask God to get past.

Bobby Bosler: Okay, any other thoughts briefly then? Okay, so if anybody has something that they’d like to say here or an observation, anytime. Come on down, come on around here to the front, and we’ll go ahead and form a line behind them.

And if at any point while they’re talking throughout this time, you’re welcome to get up and make your way around. If something they say kind of stirs your thinking, then go on ahead and we’ll go from there.

Audience member: I guess the thought process of until or unless God calls me, I’m going to go into my own career and into my own path. So that’s first, like, I don’t feel called, so I’m going to do my own path. Instead of, I don’t necessarily have a calling yet, but I’ll follow God’s path until I’m called to a different career, to not go into the ministry.

Bobby Bosler: Sure. No, that’s a good one. That’s a good one.

Anything else? Any observations on that? So in other words, their default is that they’re going to do what they want to do, right?

Instead of defaulting with, Lord, I’m here. I’m all yours. I want to serve you first and foremost.

I might not know what that looks like yet. Oh, that’s a big deal. That’s really good.

Panelist: Just the willingness to be all in for Jesus and to go to the mission field. I remember back in my day in high school, so many more people surrendered to the mission field on a regular basis than I think I see ever these days. I think that needs to change.

I’m not just wondering like we’re going to go, but like I’m willing to go anywhere at any time. So.

Bobby Bosler: In fact, I want to say this in this room. I think we probably have a very high of percentage of young people that genuinely are surrendered to the Lord. Am I right?

Am I right? And so maybe you even hear that and you think, well, that’s kind of strange. You know, I don’t even think like that.

That’s encouraging because you all do want to be totally surrendered to God. That’s a wonderful observation. Thank you, Caleb.

Yeah. Yes.

Panelist: I think when we’re talking about surrender, we often think that I’m going to surrender to something. You’re not surrendering to something. You’re surrendering to someone.

Bobby Bosler: Yes. That’s good.

Panelist: You don’t have to know the details of what’s next. Just know that you’re surrendering to the Lord. And I know when I was a teenager, I struggled even just with the word surrender.

Because in every other aspect of life, surrendering is losing. I mean, you think of it, if somebody is in a boxing match and they throw in the white towel and surrender, they just lost. If somebody is down by 40 at halftime and they don’t want to come out the locker room and they surrender, they lose.

If somebody is at a war and they wave a white flag and they surrender and they lose. And then we come to something like this and they’re saying, surrender, surrender. And I’m like, every other aspect of surrender is losing, but only in the Christian life can you surrender and win.

Surrendering to the Lord is not losing, it’s winning. So always remember that you’re not just surrendering to something. Some of you may be preachers, some of you may be missionaries, Christian school teachers, all these great.

God’s going to lead you to something specific, but just be surrendered to the Lord. The thing will come.

Bobby Bosler: Amen. Good. Great.

Very good.

Audience member: I would say the lack of obedience in believers holds us back. And I relate to that because if my friend at the time, that was even younger than me, which is more encouraging, didn’t obey the Lord to talk to me about the gospel, I don’t think I’d be where I’m at. And if I didn’t obey the Lord, I don’t think I’d be here.

And just us, our generation tends to be comfortable. You know, we just want to have the basics, just read our Bible, go to church and not do anything else. We just want to do whatever we stay comfortable with and not following what God calls us to do.

Bobby Bosler: Hmm.

That’s a big deal because you know what? Following Jesus might not be comfortable. Foxes, how’s that verse go?

Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the son of man hath not anywhere to lay his head. And sometimes when you follow Jesus, he leads you into deprivation.

That’s kind of a hard message. But even what you said at the beginning about a lack of obedience among believers. You know, you are discipling someone whether you’re intentionally discipling someone or not, right?

And you’re setting the example and what you do and how you live in your home or in your family. That’s going to kind of set the norm for your siblings and other folks in your church. It can be a pretty bad influence.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good. Any other thoughts here on this?

Panelist: No, I was going to talk to you.

Okay, good. All right.

Audience member: What’s something that could help us teenagers?

Bobby Bosler: Oh, we’ve got a question. That’s a general question. Something that could help you teenagers.

What do we think? How do we want to hit this one?

Panelist: Get to know God. I know that sounds basic, but you have to know the Lord.

Bobby Bosler: Yes, good. Good.

Panelist: Stay around people who know God.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah. Yeah. That’s why church is important.

You can’t really be a thriving Christian without a church, because church is a community where you’re going to be around people and you’re going to encourage one another to love and good works and to believe God and to serve God.

Okay, good. Yes.

Audience member: Something I noticed around my county and mostly in schools is the extreme violence towards people, mostly stabbings and shootings. It seems that more kids are focused on violence than learning.

Bobby Bosler: Hmm.

Why do we think that is? You don’t have to answer me. I’m just kind of talking out loud here.

Why is your generation so fixated on violence?

Panelist: Well, they’re hurting. You strike out when you’re hurting, and they’re bitter. Plus, they’re really good at video games.

Bobby Bosler: Actually, that was what I was thinking of.

Panelist: Yeah, I was going to say it’s glorified on video games. It’s normalized, and it’s glorified in the movies.

Bobby Bosler: Well, you know, a game that’s coming out here soon, I believe, is Grand Theft Auto VI. Am I right? And just literally glorifying and turning stealing vehicles and so much more filth into actual entertainment.

This is what you do for fun. And when you combine hurting hearts, right, with conditioning yourself that that’s what’s fun, no wonder people will walk up to an old lady on the sidewalk and just knock her over for fun. You know, that’s horrible.

And then you add the desire for attention on social media because they video it sometimes and put it out there for clicks and so on. But, yeah, that’s definitely something. Thank you for sharing that.

Yeah, violence.

Audience member: Also, one thing that makes people avoid God’s calling is distraction. Like Mr. Mueller said when we had the discussion in here about distraction.

Bobby Bosler: These right here, right? I didn’t hear all of all of Mr. Mueller’s message.

But, you know, you need to limit these things or they will limit you. A little pro tip that I have. I have an app on my phone called AppBlock.

I have an iPhone because if you’re cool you have an iPhone except for Dr. Jim. Dr. Jim is very cool and he doesn’t have an iPhone, but his phone’s pretty cool can I take that back?

But I will tell you I have an app on my phone and I have a setting a social open limit that will only let me open up social media 10 times a day and it will cap me out I think it’s either 5 or 10 minutes per open if I use it. And thankfully, I don’t even go through it all the time.

But I’ll tell you, you can open up some of these things and scroll a little bit and you look up and five hours later or whatever, two hours later, even 30 minutes later, you just lost your time. And that is something that I think you’re exactly right. That distraction matter is a big issue.

Bobby Bosler: Somebody else want to say something about that? Maybe how you’ve handled it?

Panelist: You could just not have the apps right.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah yes yes that’s good that’s a great one thank you.

Audience member: Yes well what I’ve seen around me in just battling having surrender and total dependence and even in my own life is this is my life I’m comfortable where I’m at you know I have a good home And I’m living life, living the American dream And I don’t need to step up. I don’t need to rise up and do it. I mean, I really don’t.

I mean, yeah, people can rise up. They can do it.

That’s not for me And I feel like that’s a lot of what people in my generation struggle with and even sometimes myself.

Bobby Bosler: So kind of a small vision for themselves.

Participant: You’re okay.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah, they’re fine. They’re good. Everything’s fine.

Meanwhile the world is going to hell all around them. And we can be so what’s the word again? I don’t want to be the only one talking up here, but we can be so satiated right that we have no hunger or thirst left for God and for his will.

Something everybody struggles with and yet God has so much more.

Panelist: I think a lot of times young people go off personality and kind of base their I’m comfortable I’m an introvert. I don’t talk to people. I’m scared.

Some of the greatest Christians I’ve ever met are not extroverts. They’re introverts, and at heart they would be very comfortable, quiet, at home, not doing anything away from people. They’re the best soul winners I know, the best preachers that I know, the best Christians that I know, because God does it.

When you learn that, comfortability a lot of times is just selfishness based on that, but a lot of times it’s based on, well, he’s outgoing, he can, she can. None of that’s true.

I’m glad my dad and my grandfather followed the Lord and what God did. My grandfather’s story is amazing with all of that. They weren’t the personality and he wasn’t the personality and the speaking ability that a preacher would have, but God called him into it.

So I think just knowing that it’s really God. A young person, if you can get a hold of it in high school, It’s amazing when you know that God’s in it in your life.

Panelist: Okay, I would just simply say the weak things of the world confound the mighty. And Bob’s a great illustration of that. So Bob, why don’t you?

Bob Holmes: It’s not me, that’s for sure.

Panelist: The opportunities you’ve had are phenomenal.

Bob Holmes: Well.

Bob Holmes: You know, what I really believe is what you just said, that when you have your eyes focused on the wonderful Savior, And know also when I see, I’ve seen six million on bleachers, but the truth is, every time I enter a new gym, I say, God, don’t let me see another crowd. Let me see them hanging over a lake of fire, ready to fall in.

Because I believe the Scripture is true about everything, including hell, don’t you?

Amen. And weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth. I mean, all of it.

Furnace of fire. And I see them ready to go into a furnace. And all of a sudden, the Lord gives me the strength for the next assembly and the next assembly and the next one.

But I’ll be honest with you.

Just keep that passion. I’ll be speaking on that in a little bit on having our eyes focused on our wonderful Savior that delivers us from hell. And knowing that when I see the picture of him on the cross, and then I see the kids ending up ready to fall into the fire, It creates that passion all over again for the Savior.

Bobby Bosler: You know, even as we hear some of these, I don’t want this to become a negative time. The point is whatever the law of sin and death, whatever the propensity is, because of the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can rise above. There’s not a thing in this list, in this line.

Even if we don’t get through all of them, you already have the answer, right? Surrendering to God depending on his power and he will enable you to overcome. So what’s next?

Audience member: So something I’ve noticed is that just the stereotype of teenagers that’s pushed by mainstream culture and media is that like as Christian young people, we see that. And sometimes we succumb to it. And other times we just we look at it and think, oh, I can’t break out of that.

I’m always going to be viewed as whatever this generation of young people. So we just give up or we don’t care.

Bobby Bosler: That is really good. In fact, that was one of the core burdens in my heart regarding the Thee Generation Youth Summit, because I feel like we could be so negative about the next generation that we don’t recognize the amazing positives of what God can do in them. Amen.

That’s really good.

Panelist: Well, you’re pressured to be like the culture, but let me give you a solution. Get your parents’ yearbook out and look at it. And everything you see in there was cool in those days.

And you realize your kids will look at your yearbook and think your cool was really uncool. Okay, so all the transitory coolness will be gone within a few years. So live for what he wants.

Participant: Amen.

Bobby Bosler: Amen. Thank you.

Panelist: You mean those high waters? Yeah, right.

Bobby Bosler: You know, it was baggy pants when I was young, and then it was skinny pants, and we’re back to baggy pants for being cool again. I don’t get it. Anyway.

Audience member: Something that was a big problem for my family and I was a lack of biblical separation from the world.

We’d watch movies and there’ll be some filthy stuff. We’ll just skip that part. Or this music is horrible, but it’s just part of the show.

We’ll just listen through it, whatever. This scene is glorifying a wicked lifestyle, but we’ll just skip that part.

And it wasn’t until my dad put his foot down and was like, we’re not going to have this anymore. My siblings and I, we rebelled hard against that. But now we’re more grateful than ever.

I think a rationalization towards biblical separation is a big issue.

Bobby Bosler: That’s really good. That’s really good. Anyone want to say anything about that?

Did you have something, Ed?

Ed Loney: Well, in Romans chapter 1, Paul said that he was separated unto the gospel of God.

The goal is not, when it comes to biblical separation, it’s not to just be a little bit different from the world. It’s to be completely like Christ. If you keep a little bit of separation from the world, and the world keeps getting worse and worse and worse, you’re still separated from the world, but you’re further away from Christ.

So when we’re talking about separation, it’s not just to not be like the world. It’s to be like Christ. To be separated unto, not just from.

So I think that was a great assessment.

Bob Holmes: By the way, when we do that, when it’s Christ’s light being seen in us, the only way, like I’ve seen a lot of darkness in these schools, and the minute I say Christ is my Savior, they erupt into an applause like somebody hit a touchdown. Because how many believe Christ is the greatest light there is? And the only way to get rid of darkness is turn the light on.

Simple.

But when a light shines, the darkness leaves. And I honestly believe if we all did that, there would be the greatest light, greater than our sun, greater than all the galaxies put together. Let your light shine so darkness can flee.

One school had 40 kids line up. All of them had razor blade cuts ready to cry to me. The last boy had 400 cuts on his one body.

And my message to him was the light of the world can come into your soul and you don’t have to cut anymore.

Bobby Bosler: Amen. Good.

Participant: One of the things. Sorry, go ahead.

Panelist: I was going to say one thing real quickly about the rationalization. You make one rationalization about something, it’s easy to make the next one. And so with this, I know it’s obvious, but as you get older, make one and another one.

That first time you make that decision, it’s really important to get right. Get right with the Lord. Get back, as he says, separated to Christ.

Because those rationalization decisions just come faster and faster like a snowball. And then all of a sudden you’re so far away you don’t even know where you were a year before or two years before. So.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah.

Audience member: One of the things I’ve noticed, at least in my church when I was, I didn’t realize it until now, but growing up, there was a lack of older teenagers that were good examples to me.

And so whether that’s encouraging the 12 and 13, 14, 15-year-olds to simply go to a prayer meeting and go out, hey, come soul winning with me this Saturday. And so I’ve purposed in my heart to be that teenager. I’m 17.

I just graduated. But I want to be that teenager. And the difference I’ve seen in the young men in our church already has been insane.

Audience member: So that’s just what I’ve noticed.

Bobby Bosler: That is wonderful. That is great.

Bobby Bosler: Praise the Lord. Good. Keep it up.

Thank you. Keep doing it. Amen.

Thank you.

Audience member: Something I’ve seen in especially our generation is fear of offending people. Like people could be saying that they’re Christian, praising the Lord, and then somebody will say, oh, well, I don’t believe in God. They’ll just go quiet because they don’t want to offend everybody.

That’s how our, especially this generation, has been raised. You’ve got to be careful. You can’t offend anybody.

You can’t push your beliefs. You just have to be very careful.

Bobby Bosler: So there’s a term for that, right? I was thinking of the fear of man. You know, when we’re afraid of what people think or how they’re going to react to us, we’re not trusting God, right?

And if you’re completely surrendered to the Lord and dependent on his power, God will produce the fruit of his love in your heart and love casts out fear. But you’re right, there is definitely a cultural kind of, just don’t offend people. And there’s a sense in which I think we shouldn’t be jerks.

Some people can say, well, I’m just going to preach the truth and be a jerk about it. That’s the works of the flesh. That’s not the fruit of the Spirit.

And yet, at the same time, we have to be able to speak the truth in love.

Panelist: I was going to say quickly, the gospel offends.

Bobby Bosler: Right.

Panelist: But our lives shouldn’t. So the gospel is going to offend. You can preach the truth of the gospel.

It’s going to offend some. The Bible says that. But the way we live shouldn’t.

I remember the first time I was in a working environment outside of high school, and it was in a roofing company. And, man, that was an experience as a 17-year-old. And I, you know, they tried to, there was one time they tried to get me to watch something in the break room.

And by God’s grace, I just, I slammed my lunchbox shut, stuck at the fridge and walked out the door. And, you know, that strength of standing up for truth did not hurt me. It gave me opportunity with every single one of the guys.

They asked me one time, why don’t you swear? And that gave me a chance to give the gospel. My lifestyle, what I stand up for truth didn’t offend them, it actually helped them.

And I lived with love towards them, but I didn’t back down from the fact that the gospel was what it was at.

Panelist: There is, what he’s saying is built right into our culture right now. The whole left part of our culture, the cancel culture. I mean, the pressure is great, and you really are seen as offending someone, and you’re actually causing them pain if you bring anything up.

And you can know I need to be a good example and talk, But there’s a real fear because in many situations, there is a concerted effort to silence those that, and it’s going to get more and more obvious. And you young people, you have a great opportunity, though, to stand for the Lord. And that’s why you can’t just be okay.

You’ve really got to walk with God. But he’s right on that. That is a big problem.

And it’s holding back. I’m telling you, that’s why a lot of churches aren’t soul winning right now. They’re scared about getting people upset with them.

But the Apostle Paul had the same problem, and they reached the world with Christ, with the message of Christ. So I appreciate you saying that. That’s good.

Audience member: I actually have two. One of them is within today’s society, the inflation that we are dealing with, teenagers and I know myself, it was so hard for me to give up my future because I was focused on money. Because I saw the way my parents were struggling and I saw all these different things that it was like money was is the root of all evil.

But we all I saw it as I need to make money. I need to become wealthy. And I it took so long for me to surrender that wealth to God just because I it’s hard to trust something that you don’t see right in front of you.

And then the second is when it comes to, especially people that are in public schools, the influence, even when it comes to relationships and stuff like that, it’s hard to surrender your future wife or your future husband to God and say, God, this is, I want you to give me who you have for me.

Bobby Bosler: That’s really good. Yeah. You know, somebody earlier mentioned the American dream, and it seems like surrendering to Christ is not a secure thing.

It feels that way, like you’re giving up something that you could have, you know, and yet, what are you gaining and what are you losing? You might get the nice house and the nice car and the steady income, but what do you actually lose? You lose fulfilling your destiny.

You lose the opportunity to be the light that God has called you to be, even from the standpoint of the spouse and that whole thing. You could miss out on the person that God created you for.

You know, the tantalizing possibility of achieving it for yourself is what is such a strong temptation. Any thoughts?

Panelist: This matter of materialism and security, this matter of materialism and security, I’ve been seeing it in the last couple of years. It’s keeping most young people from good churches from giving their lives completely to Christ. And even Bible college grads from actually getting out into the work, looking for security.

I think you think about it, young people. If 50% of the young people in our churches would go all in for Christ and do exactly what God wants, I’m sure God would call most of them to serve him. Think of what would happen in America today.

But I hate to tell you it’s 1% to 2%.

Panelist: And that’s got to be changed. Materialism like you said will not meet your needs. And by the way I’d much rather have God as my security amen than my bank account.

Those bank accounts could be gone in literally a day. Our our economy is so fragile right now. You don’t need to trust that.

You need to be in good terms with the God who owns everything.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good.

Panelist: God’s into investment He just wants it to be an eternal investment. So you put your means, you’re either going to put your means here, then when you die you leave it all, or you put it over there. I don’t know about you, I’m really into investment, I just want it to last forever.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good.

Bob Holmes: And when you seek first the kingdom, right? And I’ve got to share this, just a minute, maybe it will take me.

It’s amazing to walk by faith and not by sight, because it’s like you see one scene after the other. God, you did that, and there was no explanation.

Back in the time when most people had filmed the volleyball game, it was like jumpy, And I was praying for a way to get a nice, steady, yeah, Three cameras. And then my furnace in New Hampshire, I used to live in New Hampshire, and so don’t laugh when I parked the car, but anyway.

But I lived up there, and literally, the furnace had a crack down the side of it. They condemned it. They said, you can’t use this furnace.

I said, what do I have to do? We have another one for 10 grand. But I thought, Lord knows exactly what we need every moment.

And then all of a sudden, I get a call from someone in Texas. Have you ever been to Carrollton, Texas? I said, let me check my calendar, see where I’m going next.

He said, are you anywhere near there? I looked at my calendar. I was there the next meeting, that very town.

And I walked in the gym, and I was praying for a way.

I heard a man say, I don’t preach on hell.

On TV, a very popular preacher, and I said, Lord, is there a way I could preach on the love of God and the judgment of God? Because how many believe both are true? And I was praying for a way to do that, And little did I ever dream that a strange call would come to me out of nowhere.

Are you near Carrollton? I’m there the next meeting. And when I walked in the gym, there were three cameras ready to film the whole thing.

And I said, our movie guy, movie star canceled. Can we film what you’re doing. I said, go for it.

And he filmed it. And then he handed me the footage and said, it’s all yours.

And I thought, God answered my first prayer. At night, I was preaching on the judgment of God and the love of God. And the movie producer said, this wasn’t the feel good gospel.

This was the truth.

Can we air this on TV? I said, no arguments there. And then he handed me a check for 10,000 that paid the furnace.

All three answers to prayer. I said, are you an angel? He said, no.

No, he didn’t say anything. And then he disappeared into thin… I’m kidding.

But God, it’s fun to live by faith. I mean, it’s fun and it’s rewarding to see how God provides.

Bobby Bosler: That’s great. Thank you, Grace. Oh, yeah.

Panelist: Well, I want to just chime in just quickly. I’ve been back and forth on what I believe the Lord was going to have me preach tonight.

So I’ll preach them all right now. No, I’m just kidding. And in Luke 16, Jesus is giving the parable of the unjust steward and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

And in the same conversation as death and hell and eternity, money is in that conversation. And I don’t think that’s a coincidence because oftentimes it’s the things of this world that takes our mind off of the things of heaven. It takes our mind off of eternity.

Now, I just want to say that the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil and not just money. OK, I know some businessmen who are Christians and they’re multimillionaires. I know sometimes we think that because you’re going to serve God, you have to drive an old car, live in a beat up house.

That’s not accurate. OK, I don’t believe that’s accurate. Abraham was very rich in silver, cattle and in gold.

OK, the rich man did not go to hell because he was rich, went to hell because he rejected Christ. So I’m saying I’m saying all that to say this in Luke 16. Jesus said you cannot serve God and mammon or money money when it’s in his rightful place.

It makes for an excellent servant. But in the wrong place, it makes for a terrible master. Don’t live your life as a slave to money.

Let money be a slave, be a slave for you. Let it serve you. So it’s nothing wrong with having the nice things.

Just guard yourself from letting things have you to where you’re saying if I do anything to get this house, anything to get this car. Anything. You’ve got to watch that, okay?

There’s nothing wrong with having the things, but don’t let the things have you. Is that clear? That’s good.

Bobby Bosler: Okay, all right. That’s great.

Thank you.

Audience member: So one of the biggest things I’ve noticed in teenagers is religion without the love of God.

For those of us who are, like, raised in church, raised in Christian homes, we, from a very, very young age, we’re taught, you know, how to act, what to do, how to serve, how to work, you know, and then usually we’re out soul winning, we’re serving in church, we’ve got responsibilities, things to do for the Lord.

And then we grow up, we become adults and then we fizzle out because we never truly loved God.

Bobby Bosler: That’s a big deal. That is a big deal. Love for God and love for others.

I think those were kind of the two greatest commandments, weren’t they? You know, and one of the things I’ve been preaching to my church here recently, when you are walking in the spirit, that’s when the fruit of the spirit happens. And the first fruit of the Spirit is what?

Love. It’s love. And God can produce in us His very love.

And I’m convinced that Christianity, without walking in the Spirit, will result in a loveless form of godliness that denies the power thereof, that may see people as targets, but they don’t see them as souls, like truly people that God loves. And you are exactly right. That’s a big lack in some circles and in many hearts.

Any thoughts here on this?

Panelist: I was just [unclear], when you said this, a lot of times, obviously, we’ve all preached even this week about serving your church and going after it, but sometimes we can serve and not love Jesus. And let’s be careful not to be Martha before we are Mary. And obviously, there’s a great need for people serving.

I think Martha was doing it from the sincerity of her heart. But Mary was just at the feet of Jesus, and she was worshiping him and loving him. So I feel like there’s both there.

But let’s, you know, I think young people, sometimes before we get right, and I did this in high school, I did have things in my heart that were blocking the channel, and I jumped in. I said this yesterday when I was preaching. I never doubted my call to the Lord.

I never doubted my call to preach and going to full-time ministry, but I had things in my heart that were blocking my love for Jesus. So, man, I was doing a lot of stuff that didn’t mean anything for Jesus. At the end of the day, it’s going to be burned up, sadly, in eternity.

It’s not going to be able to give crowns to Jesus for those things that I did. But when I got right with God and my love for Jesus was centered, it was centered on him and all in for him, then all that service became something that was for him. And so, man, I was cumbered about.

Man, I was going after it, but it didn’t mean anything. So we obviously want you to serve in the church and go after that, but there’s a one needful thing you need to love. Love Jesus, get at his feet, and worship him.

Bobby Bosler: Thank you.

Audience member: Something that I’ve seen with a lot of friends of mine maybe, we can say that the deeper problem was in gratitude, but it is the apathy towards the gospel you know a wrong view towards Christianity, and even with second generation Christians you’re just you know that’s what we always done, and whatever I didn’t want to do anything else besides being a what is it called? Pew warmer.

So, I don’t know, like, okay, you’re a Christian, and people are going to hell, and you just don’t care about it, you know? And I just kind of got frustrated about this, because I just don’t know what to do, or what to say, or, you know, just this apathy for the gospel.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good. How do you start a wildfire?

Audience member: With one fire.

Bobby Bosler: Just one little flame, right? And I think if you will live, if we will be on fire for the Lord, it will catch. Some won’t understand.

Some will call you weird, and that’s okay. But, you know, we can’t always, always focus on what others, you know, and their coolness. But we need to be on fire ourselves, and that will spread.

Bobby Bosler: Any other thoughts here on that? I’m realizing we might not get through the line here, so maybe we need to go a little quicker.

Panelist: Walk in the Spirit.

Audience member: If the Lord were to call me to preach what steps do you think I should take leading past the call?

Panelist: Come to Baptist college.

Bobby Bosler: There you go yeah hey good answer there you go.

Panelist: C. H. Spurgeon said whatever call a man may pretend to Have if he has not been called to holiness he has certainly not been called to preach.

Audience member: That’s good I think a lot of times it just seems like more and more churches the youth department is more about entertainment than necessarily training for what God has for you. It just seems like you know it’s just all about messing around and yes, you can have fun, but it just seems like there’s way too much of that, way too much messing around.

Bobby Bosler: That’s really good, and you’re exactly right. Yes?

Panelist: We need a few James Stewart’s, get some signboards on, and go to some stadiums with the gospel on the front and the back and give the gospel.

Bobby Bosler: And if you don’t know what that means, find the book I Must Tell and read it. You should read I Must Tell. Who’s read I Must Tell?

Anybody? You should get it and read it.

Do we have any, Zach? I don’t know where Zach is. Okay, so here’s a good question.

Why is that? Why is entertainment taking over our youth culture and our youth groups?

Panelist: Sure, a lack of faith. I think a lack of vision. Sometimes even, and again, I’m not pinning anything on necessarily in youth leaders, but the youth leaders.

I guess I am pinning it on youth leaders. Youth leaders don’t have a vision for the young people and what can be done. Somebody said earlier, kind of the cultural, we have just kind of culturally accepted teens will be X, right?

And so if teenagers can’t really make a difference for Christ, well then what else are we going to do? Youth group turns into a glorified babysitting service and the whole point is just growing it. And how do you grow it?

Just give them a good time. And we believe in giving folks a good time at the Thee Generation Youth Summit, but it is fun with a purpose. And when you have no purpose, all you have is fun.

Panelist: I think far too often we tell your generation that you are the church of tomorrow.

If you’ve been saved, you’ve been baptized. You’re not the church of tomorrow, the church of today.

Bobby Bosler: Yes.

Panelist: You will have and know that you have a great youth ministry when the youth in your youth group are ministering.

When the youth ministry, it goes from just being a ministry that is to you to a ministry that is for you. So when that happens, it’s not that the fun is eliminated, but it’s prioritized. And the priority comes to us making disciples and getting people who are involved in the work of the Lord.

And I went to Bible college. I graduated from Bible college. And obviously there’s a Bible college that is here.

But as youth pastors and youth ministers, we have to remember that we’re not our goal is not to babysit these kids until they can go to Bible college to learn the Bible. If that’s been our goal, then what have we been doing the last four or five years? Coloring pages like what have we been doing?

So we have a responsibility to properly disciple and train these young people to be in the work of the Lord now and not just later. And we know later is not promised. So let’s get busy to serving the Lord now.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good. That’s really good. Great observation.

Yeah. We’re going to have to go quicker through some of these to finish up. Go ahead.

Audience member: I think very similar to what he said. Teenagers are being taught nowadays that they’re given freedom without a lot of responsibility. And they’re given this almost pass to goof off.

Basically, you’re a teen. You’re still a child. So you can act like a child.

But with the freedom that we’re given as we’re getting a car and starting a part time job.

Audience member: So I think that that’s a big thing we’re not taught responsibility as much as we should be. Um and we’re not learning how to— we’re not young adults we’re still teens.

Panelist: That’s something I know I don’t really like the term teen because it’s like what is a teen? You’re a child or you’re an adult.

Participant: Yeah you’re either growing or you’re not.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good.

Audience member: That’s something a big thing I’ve noticed in Christian circles and the culture in general.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah that’s really good. I think yeah I.

Bobby Bosler: I think you just preached the message. So good job. Praise the Lord.

Amen. Keep it up. Thank you.

Audience member: Was our world better without technology that we have today?

Bobby Bosler: Man. Was our world better without the technology that we have today? Wow.

Panelist: In some ways, yes. In some ways, no.

Panelist: Well, you’d have to say no because of Romans chapter 3. We’re all corrupt, but Christians are far more affected, and we do not have what other generations have had because of technology. Therefore, the world is in worse shape because they don’t have the light of the world shining because of technology.

Bobby Bosler: That’s good.

You know, I think it’s an important distinction. Technology isn’t evil. It’s evil hearts.

And those evil hearts have always existed since the fall. And the problem is, and we kind of mentioned this, is we do have access to more things. There are more outlets for the sinfulness of our own heart.

And while there are many modern conveniences, I’m thankful for hot water, for indoor plumbing. That’s all technology. I’m thankful for a vehicle, a truck that can pull your nice trailer, right?

Aren’t you thankful for that? And we are grateful for some of those things. And kind of the point is that it’s supposed to help us be able to focus more on doing what we’re called to do.

But so often it causes us to focus less on what we’re called to do. And I really think, I really believe that spirit filled believers who are listening to the spirit of God and obeying him will be able to navigate a proper use of technology and avoid the pitfalls of them. Because there are ways we can get the gospel out there that involve technology that are really a blessing and they’re unprecedented.

They’re unparalleled in our history. And so it’s not all bad. We’re the bad part, the sinful heart of humans.

Wonderfully insightful question. Good job. Boy, we have time for one more, I think.

And I’m so sorry for the rest of those in the line here. But go ahead.

Audience member: Yeah, one thing I’ve noticed in my own life and some other people is just a lack of urgency, whether to like, oh, I’ll get right with my parents or get right with something later or tomorrow or I’ll surrender to preach tomorrow or I’ll go to Bible college some other time. I’ll get busy and serving Jesus later. Just a lack of urgency, I guess.

Bobby Bosler: Yeah, yeah. We don’t see. Yeah, there are windows of time.

Panelist: Mm hmm. The opportunity is not indefinite. I was just reading a couple days ago teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Redeeming the time because the days are friendly? They’re evil.

Panelist: I was just going to say that this is the time now to get fired up for God, because if you wait longer you go past in your college years if you don’t work a job, whatever, you’re going to lose the flame. This is right now., this is it, when God has given you literally a wide open, I don’t even say a window, a door.

Drive a Mack truck through at full speed. This is it. When you get older, it’s a lot harder.

When you get married, have kids, things like that, this is the moment. Get that flame and make it into a roaring fire and go for it. This is it.

Panelist: Today, if you will hear his voice, it indicates harden not your hearts. It indicates if you don’t hear him today, you will harden your hearts tomorrow.

Bobby Bosler: That’s great. That’s good. Great observation.

Well, any other final concluding thoughts here before we wrap it up? Okay.

Bob Holmes: Just wanted to encourage everyone. Thank God for Brother Jim and faithfulness to hang in there all these years. And I’m praying and begging God something is happening that I believe could give the opportunity, Lord willing, very soon for Brother Jim and the generation to preach to the world.

So I’m just grateful for some things that are beginning to open.

Bobby Bosler: God has some great things in store for us. Yes. Yeah.

Participant: Yeah.

Panelist: I just want to share one thing that for me, when I was a teenager, that was most impactful in my walk with the Lord. When I was a teenager, my youth pastor gave me a book by Oswald Chambers titled My Utmost for His Highest. And I’m not a huge fan of a lot of devotional books, but that one was very helpful for me as a teenager.

And that really set a path for me of reading my Bible on my own on non-church times. And when I was a teenager, probably 16 years old at the time, that was the first time I was not in a church service, and I felt like the Lord was speaking to me. And I think as young people, you need to sense that very early on.

You need to know that God can speak to you when you’re not at the youth conference, When you’re not in the Sunday school class, when you’re not on Wednesday night, God can speak to you in your private time. So I would encourage all of you to make a commitment when you leave here that you’re going to begin a personal time to get into the word of God.

For me, that was what was most life changing for me as a teenager when I sensed that God was speaking to me.

Bobby Bosler: That’s really good. Before we wrap up, if you’re a little disappointed about not getting to share some observation, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to write down bobby@theegeneration.org.

Okay. Unless you’re my son, then you can just tell me later on. But, and why don’t you send your observation into us and maybe we’ll take a future podcast episode and we’ll kind of work our way through it.

So if you were in line and you had something else that you thought, man, this is a really important observation, send me an email and I’ll collect those together and we’ll see what we can do from there.