Epistles to the Youth Group & the First Epistle

The “Epistles (Letters) to the youth group”

Idea: As the apostles sent letters of encouragement and instruction to the churches, so too can we. We can use this for reaching out, discipling, teaching and encouraging. With many hands this will make light work. 

At the time we launched this we did not have a youth Sunday School, so this took the place of Sunday School to some degree. It offers another chance to disciple the youth. The letters can come from youth leaders, key parents, elders of the church even the pastor. With so many hands it should be light work. Scroll down to the bottom to see the first one we sent out. 

Key rules to follow:

Clearly identifying the scripture when we quote it. Bold print and the reference clearly marked out. 

It does not need to be a hefty tome each week. 

It can reinforce the lesson, but is not required.

It may be a chance to reach out to students that don’t come regularly.

Personal questions that the teens can answer and write back. 

There should be a “cover letter” to all teens and parents on our plan for these letters. 

Ideas

Eph 1:15-19 - Prayer for spiritual insight

Eph 2:11-22 - Unity in Christ

Phillippians 2:12-18 - Light in the dark

Phillippians 3:12-4:1 - Spiritual growth

I Thess 2:17-20 - Paul longs to visit

I Thess 4:13-18 - Encouragement in Christ's coming

I Thess 5:12-28 - Exhortation and Blessing

I Tim 4:11-5:2 Instructions for ministry

I Tim 6:11-18 Fight the good Fight

I Tim 6:20-21 Guard your Godly heritage

II Tim 3 - Hard times coming

https://andrewcomings.com/james-119-20-three-rules-for-christians-on-social-media-and-everywhere-else/

First Epistle

Greetings! 

To the teens of Syracuse Alliance, I, Chris, humbly petition God on your account.

“To those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord - both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 1:2-3). 

As much as we may all wish to be together during this pandemic, Paul longed to see the Thessalonians as well long to see you, the reasons may differ, but the sentiment is the same. “But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we greatly desired and made every effort to return to see you face to face. (I Thessalonians 2:17-18)

I hope that you are all doing well. I can believe that school is difficult switching from remote to in school (for those that don’t homeschool). I’ve included a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope so if you would like to write back, you can. We the youth leaders would like to hear from you! Tell us how you’re doing. Send us your prayer requests. When you write back to one of these letters, it will go to the leader who wrote it. Our Safe Place Policy means that one other leader from your small group will see it as well. You can snail mail or email us back. 

I hope you all get as excited as I do when I get mail that’s not junk, or bills, or ads.

“Peace to the brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 6:23-24). Until we meet again, here, there or in the air as the old preachers like to say, may God bless you richly.