Sermon Outline

March 18, 2001

Text:  Philippians 4:6-7

Series: “Transmitting Values” Message #2

Topic:  “Understanding Why Pre-Teens and Teens are Impatient with Their Parents!”

Introduction:  Pre-teens, as well as, teens seem to be over anxious for everything these days.  Sometimes this attitude of over anxiousness leaves parents feeling like we are getting to old to meet the challenge.  Parents feel that we are doing all we can and our young people are continuing to push us to the line.  On most days we feel that we have been pushed over the line.

Teens would ask…                                                                Parents would thing…

Why can’t I have my driver’s license now?                                Has my child demonstrated true responsibility? 

All my friends already have theirs.                                             Where do we get the $ for insurance premiums?

(A pre-teen may ask why can’t I spend the night at my friends?)

Can I drive your car to school?                                     How do I get to work and what do I do after work?

All my friends are driving to school.                                           Will my child be safe and focused?

(A pre-teen may ask why can’t I wear this outfit?)

Can I have my own car?                                                           Where do I get the money for a car?

All my friends have their own cars.                                            Is my child going to college, and who pays?

(A pre-teen may ask why can’t I have a boyfriend?)

There is this perceived accusation, on the part of teenagers that parents have no faith in them.  Parents are struggling with the fact that their child does not demonstrate more mature values in their thinking processes.  There is not really a conflict between the young person and the parent, but the dynamic that’s taking place is creating anxiety on both parts. 

I.                   Never accept Satan’s substitute for God’s best (v. 6)!

The text says, “Be anxious for nothing”.  Our children seem to be anxious for everything.  Every need they have is full of urgency and driven by the fact that their friends already have a head start on them.  God does not intend for you to live a life full of frustration and anxiety.  On the contrary, Satan is the one who wants your life filled with anxiety.  That is why he is always so quick to offer a substitute for God’s best.  He knows his offer will not satisfy.  He also knows that if he can get you hooked on his alternative, many times you will completely miss God’s best.[1] 

A.     “Be anxious for nothing” offers a Greek construction which indicates a prohibition which forbids the continuance of an action already habitually going on.  Some young people have a habit of being anxious for everything.  Everything they ask for and receive is driven by some un-known urgency.  Everything is presented as a need, not a want!  So Christian young person you need to break the habit of asking for everything with such urgency.

B.     “Be anxious for nothing”.  The word “nothing” means literally “not even one thing”!

Many teenage girls across America have compromised their morals in order to be “held”.  They did not need someone just to hold them.  They needed someone to love them unconditionally.  Many will never know that kind of love simply because they cannot or will not break away from substitutes Satan has thrown in their path.

Thousands of men and teenage boys in this country are addicted to pornography.  For most of them, it all began by accepting Satan’s substitute.  Now the relationship they really need is beyond their grasp in most cases.  Day by day their ability to think about women in the way God intended diminishes.

The alcoholics and drug addicts that fill our streets and occupy positions of prominence are another testimony to human unwillingness to wait on God’s best.  For whatever reason they chose to cope with life’s pressures by running.  Yet it never solves life’s problems it just postpones the solution. (Ibid p.69).

The Lord God never wanted you to live a life of frustration and anxiety.  If He did HE never would have inspired the words of Paul:  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”  While Satan wants you to accept a substitute, God wants you to have His best.

C.     The way to get God’s best is to ask Him for it!  “Prayer” as written in this verse of Scripture means talking to God as an act of worship and devotion.  Three things to note about “prayer”:

1.      Prayer is having conversation with God.  Acknowledge that God is the Creator of this world.

2.      When we pray God allows us to be spontaneous with Him.

3.      Prayer gives us entrance into the very presence of God.

The Word of God does not advise young people to bug your parents for an item you want, or a relationship you desire.  Paul’s advise is that young people as well as some of us older ones could put our anxiety into perspective by talking to someone who can do something about it, someone who will not offer us a substitute, but a God who cares about all our needs.  In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. 

Supplication means pleading on behalf of ones personal needs.

Thanksgiving is just a way of worshipping God.

Request means tell God specifically what your need is because God is the only Sovereign who can give you His very best.

II.                God’s best is “His peace” (v. 7)! 

A.     God’s best may not be what you have asked for but parents if we direct our children to depend on God for their needs they will learn to identify God’s perfect will for their lives.  Long after we are no longer around they can still ask God.

B.     Their dependency will not be on parents but on God.

C.     When God blesses our children with His best we will share that best, because God’s best is “His perfect peace, which surpasses all understanding”.

When we teach our children to ask God for their needs He will give them a peace that neither we, nor they will be able to understand.  God’s peace is not a substitute it is the real thing.

Application:  Pre-teens, teens, parents if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior you will learn to accept His solutions for your problems.  There is no need to raise our voice we need only to ask what is God’s answer for me?  The result in seeking God’s will is “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.  Like in the military Paul uses a term of encouragement for us:  The phrase “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” means like any good commander in chief when soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives in the warfare he will post a “guard” to watch over the camp and the soldiers as they sleep. 

Our Commander in Chief is Jesus Christ and His Word says that HE will take His peace and set it in a place to guard our “hearts and minds”.

Humanity can’t stand guard but Divinity can:  Jesus in the Garden called Gethsemane asked Peter and the disciples to “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

Momma can’t stand guard, but “He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleep.”  Whatever the case do not give up.  Peace can be yours if only you will continually take your struggle to God.  Ask Him to lift your burden and flood your heart with the peace He has promised.

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