Plumbline Newsletter

Oh, Beloved, do you realize this is where the youth are today? They stand exposed—naked—and for the most part unashamed because they don’t realize the gravity of their situation.

When I refer to “exposed,” you can take it literally, as teens pose and post their naked bodies on the Internet. However, I want to take it beyond physical nakedness to the underlying cause, which I believe is spiritual. And if it’s spiritual, not only can you and I do something about it, but we also have a God-charged responsibility to do so.

Physically and Spiritually Naked

Let’s look at the physical nakedness first. On June 24, USA Today published an article on page 3A: “Survey: 1 in 5 teens ‘sext’ despite risks.” The teens who are sending sexually suggestive nude or partially nude photos into cyberspace, where they will remain forever, are 13 to 18 years old.

As you probably already realize, the article is not a random bit of information; rather, it expresses a major concern being addressed across the media. Although teens are told the dangers of “sexting” and the possible indictments for breaking the law, that doesn’t stop them—they do it anyway! Even as they do many other life-damaging things, without any thought of future consequences.

The question is why? Personally, I believe it’s because we have left them spiritually naked, vulnerable, a prey for the vultures of the culture that want to mold them into their image—without a knowledge and respect of God, of His protective moral absolutes. The Bible calls it the fear of God, the beginning of wisdom and that which causes us to depart from evil. And this is where you and I come in.

The Greatest Need

In 2 Timothy 4:1–2, God charges us “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove [speak in such a way as to bring conviction], rebuke [give a sharp, severe rebuke that tells of the penalty], exhort [come alongside another—caring, helping]…”

And how is this to be done? “With great patience [longsuffering] and instruction”—with doctrine and good sound teaching. We have raised a generation of untaught children and young adults. Biblical illiteracy and a lack of the fear of God are at an all-time high in the history of America. If we don’t want to lose this generation, we must teach them His precepts of life through which, as Psalm 119:104 says, they can “get understanding... [and] hate every false way.”

Young people need to know the “what and why” of God’s precepts. This is where the teaching of the person of God and the Word of God comes in. Exhortations without explanation don’t convince; they only produce frustration.

What You and I Must Do

We urge you to do even more, to partner with us in reaching youth. Internationally, our Inductive Bible Study materials are being taught in public schools by trained Precept students. Yet they cannot be taught in the public schools in the United States because it is forbidden, although homosexuality and Islam can be taught!

Therefore, we must reach youth using other ways. Precept has just the tools to do it and the training if you need it. Now is the time as students begin a new school year and are feeling the pressures of these difficult times. It’s our hour and we must seize it... keep reading and we’ll tell you how.

Partner with Precept to help equip today's youth

Inductive Bible Study is Igniting Young People

Precept training for teens and children lights spiritual fires—but expansion is needed

God is raising an army of teens and even children to establish a vibrant Christian counterculture. The key? They are meeting God personally. And it is happening because Precept is teaching them how to discover His Truth—and Him—for themselves.

Today’s Most Evil Myth

“One of the most evil, destructive myths today is that young people either can’t—or won’t—dig deeply into God’s Word. That we have to ‘keep it shallow’ or we’ll ‘fail’ in youth ministry,” says Ritchie Johnson, director of Precept’s Transform Student Ministries.

Why is this a myth? He says, “Because I’ve seen the amazing power of Inductive Bible Study change lives before my eyes. We are lighting a fire that is spreading.”

Kay Arthur: This Is the Church’s Future

“The Church is seeing our youth defect at heartbreaking rates,” says Kay Arthur. “What’s the future of our faith in America? If youth aren’t prepared, we have no future! And Inductive Bible Study is the key to turning dropouts into champions for Christ.”

The system is proven. The need? Finances. “We can transform students—and transform the Church, the next generation, and America. As funds come in, we can expand and reach more. We’re praying that our givers catch this wonderful—and essential—vision,” says Kay.

Ask Ritchie!

Answers to questions frequently sent to Precept Ministries Ritchie Johnson, director of Transform Student Ministries, along with two of our summer interns...

Q: How do you respond when someone says, “Teens today generally can’t, or won’t, respond to deep Bible study”?

A. Ritchie: First, it’s biblically false. David was a youth. Daniel was a teen when he went to Babylon. Jeremiah was a youth. Timothy was young. Experience is important, but the biblical facts are that young people can learn God’s Word—and God has used them as leaders and catalysts for great movements. Teens are not “kids” to us—they are disciples. Ryan: And as a student and intern, I’ve seen the power of God’s Word in young people! A lot of friends my age are asking “why” questions about God and don’t want Sunday school answers. I gave a 40-Minute Daniel Precept study to a friend, who said, “This rocked my world!” Emily: At the University of Georgia, Precept studies are rippling through dorms. And in my own life: I did not want to come to my first Boot Camp! My parents made me. But inductive study allowed God’s Word to grab my heart! We often underestimate youth and God’s Word.

Q: What is it about the Inductive Bible Study method that works so dramatically with young people?

A. Ritchie: Scripture has innate power to explain the answers young people need (Heb. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:16). Rather than give them standard apologetics, we’ve found that one-on-one contact with God through the Scriptures is intellectually satisfying and spiritually transformational to young people. We give them tools to filter everything—everything—they hear and see in the culture using the Scriptures. They aren’t passive recipients of information, but active explorers of spiritual Truth. Ryan: In fact, we’ve seen a lot of students use the Scriptures—because they’ve learned them inductively—to bring people to Christ. They don’t need to debate. The Scriptures, when learned, speak to situations and give answers. Emily: God really gets you when you go straight to Him... when you’re learning from His Word yourself. Teaching is good, but there’s no substitute for God’s Word—it’s as real as it gets, and that’s what many teens are looking for.

Visit the Transform Student Ministries web site

Inductive Bible Study Changes Lives

"I first learned about Precept Ministries International when I met Tom Hays [Director of Spanish Ministries for PMI] in 1993. I had no idea what was going to change in my life after attending a Precept Training workshop in Colombia.

"My life dramatically changed through this training of Inductive Bible Study. It not only transformed my life, but also my family's. The Lord opened up doors for me and my family to minister with Precept Ministries International to help lead and train people here in South America. This ministry has now become one of the most rewarding things in my life. We are passionate about teaching others to study God's Word.

"My son, Andres Eduardo, and Catalina, his fiancee, helped organize our summer Youth Boot Camps. They led fellow students in three-day Boot Camps at Bogota, Colombia, during July. They also led other teens through the 40-Minute Bible study, How to Make Choices You Won't Regret. They had a total of 150 teens from three different churches in the area. Precept Ministries' Boot Camps, similar to this one, have been taking place all over South America since 2006 when leaders from Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador received training to host Boot Camps in their own countries.

Luis Eduardo Pinzón—Regional Supervisor for South America

Learn more about Precept around the world

Tips On Leading Bible Study

Precept Ministries is dedicated in helping equip you to study Truth for yourself. It’s also our desire to help you with leading great Bible Study discussions. Our prayer is that your students are passionate about studying God’s Word and applying it to their lives. Thank you for your love for God’s Word and your obedience to disciple others.

THIS MONTH'S VIDEO:

Training Workshops

Are you ready to mine the treasure of the Bible for yourself? Do you desire to disciple others toward biblical maturity? If either of these describes you, Precept Ministries’ Training Workshops are a great place to start. Precept offers workshops to help you develop study skills to deepen your understanding and build your own Biblical knowledge.  For those who want to disciple, Precept offers biblical workshops to equip you to lead others in discovering the Truth of God’s Word for themselves.

• Find Worshops In Your Area
• Workshops At Precept - Chattanooga, TN

Bible Encouragement from David Arthur

ARE YOU RADICAL?

This summer I once again saw the future of Christianity in America. I stood before students at our teen Boot Camp and taught on the Sermon on the Mount. These are young men and women who are committed to knowing God through an intense week of inductive Bible study. But when I look at the appalling rates of churched youth who walk away from the church in adulthood, I feel heartsick because in many cases it is so preventable.

They live in a day when Christianity is presented as a mere sprinkling of religious sugar just to make life taste better... yet the Word of God counters with something entirely different.

Something radical.

Something not found in today’s self-help books, whether from a secular or religious bookstore. Something that won’t tickle their young ears but will satisfy their soul. Something that is difficult—no, impossible—but for which God supplies the power and the joy.

Jesus outlined this radical life in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7).

Let me share just a tiny bit of what I found and what I taught to the youth.

First, radical Christianity is Christianity. Just before He gave the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus “began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ ” (Matt. 4:17) and was “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (4:23). It was in that context that He gave the Sermon on the Mount—a call to a radical lifestyle and identification with a radical Kingdom that was, no doubt, shocking to those who heard it. This was the “Gospel.” Literally, the Good News. And there isn’t any better news to deliver, no “Plan B.” This was Jesus’ core message on how to live as a member of God’s Kingdom—a Kingdom that is indeed good and that you should desire.

Second, radical—that is, real—Christianity requires repentance. When Jesus preaches “Repent” in Matthew 4:17, we see what He means in Matthew 5–7 as He outlines true spirituality. It’s not something you add to your life; it replaces your life. It’s not something to fulfill your self-directed desires; it requires that you give up your selfdirection— that you turn from sin and self-sufficiency.

He told those in the crowd to give up their definition of being “blessed” and accept His (5:3– 12). To give up their definition of righteousness and accept His (5:17–7:27).

Third, it involves a radical change of identity. Jesus lays out a standard that is impossible except for knowing your identity in Him and His life in you (see 2 Cor. 5:14–17). He doesn’t say “Give light,” but rather, “You are the light” (Matt. 5:14a). When you are in Christ, with Christ in you, then you have the power to be who you are as His new creature.

In Him, you can stand.

May God bless you for standing strong. And may He bless you for your prayers and support for Precept, as God uses you to help others—including our young people—encounter His radical and eternal Kingdom..