Ministry to Children and Teens

Last week we considered The Lord’s call to Samuel (1 Samuel 3). Now let us see how God used the elderly priest, Eli, to influence the life of a young lad, Samuel. Eli had failed miserably in the discipline of his own two sons. Nevertheless, The Lord used Eli to significantly impact Samuel’s life:

• 1 Samuel 3:7 tells us that “Samuel did not yet know The Lord”. Although serving in the temple, Samuel did not yet have a saving relationship with The Lord. When The Lord called Samuel for the third time, Eli had the discernment to recognize Samuel’s spiritual need and that The Lord was calling Samuel to be saved (v.8).
• Eli helped Samuel to respond to God’s call (v.9).
  –Eli continued to provide Samuel with Godly counsel. Today we would call this discipleship of a new believer. Eli asked Samuel to give his testimony of what God had done for him (vv.16,17).
• Eli encouraged Samuel to submit to the will of God for his life (v.18). Here we have a pattern for all who seek to minister effectively for The Lord to children and teens:
• Recognize that every child has a spiritual need–the need to be saved.” For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
• Be aware when God, The Holy Spirit is at work in the heart and mind of a child/teen under your care.
• Take that child/teen aside and help them respond to God’s call. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10: 9,13).
• Encourage the child/teen to speak of their salvation.
• Provide follow-up instruction to help the child/teen know the will of God and to submit to The Lord’s will for them.

Dr. Russell Harpur