First, I would like to share the Scripture that inspired me this week. 1 Timothy 4:12–16 reads:

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given to you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things; immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

This passage reminds me of Lyle Griner’s words “Students are either leading or they are leaving!” Lyle is the founder of Peer Ministry, one of our longest-lasting ministries. Peer Ministry is a student leader program that provides students tools to minister to their friends and family.

Since the start of the summer, our high school students have been meeting weekly for a Bible study. This all began when one of our alumni, Cole, returned with stories about how his faith had grown while he was away at college. He was not someone I would have expected to experience such a spiritual awakening after stepping away from the church he grew up in. Over the course of the school year, he came back three or four times, and each time we met to talk. He shared how meaningful it had been to be part of small groups and to dig into God’s Word. These were opportunities he never had, or never fully took advantage of, while he was in high school.

Seeing this growth, we wanted to continue encouraging it and offered Cole the opportunity to lead a Bible study for our high school students over the summer. This was something we had been hoping to start for years, and the timing was perfect. Cole led an eight-week study on living a faith-based life, and the students loved it so much that we decided to continue the study into the school year.

One of our goals was to give students the opportunity to lead and to learn the skills that come with guiding a biblical discussion. Each week, one student takes home the curriculum that the discussion is based on. They review it and decide how they want that week’s conversation to unfold. Some use the curriculum simply as a starting point and allow the discussion to grow from there, while others follow it more closely. Regardless of their approach, this process gives students ownership of their faith.

We saw the Holy Spirit at work in a powerful way during a 3 to 4 week stretch when the discussion topics closely reflected what each student leader needed personally at that time. As they prepared, they were not only guiding others but also working through what was happening in their own lives.

Our hope is to teach students that age does not determine their ability to lead, and that they are not defined by how old they are. In their own ways, these students are already living out Paul’s words to Timothy, setting an example for others through their faith and their lives.

I look forward to more faith-growing opportunities with these students and I would love to encourage you to engage our students with spiritual conversations. You may be surprised at how smart these students are. You may even learn a thing or two!

God Loves You and So Do I,

Tyler Weller