Middle Schoolers can change the world....NOW!

Sometimes, it's obvious to me why middle school students are wild and goofy, and don't take anything seriously. Could it be that no one takes them seriously enough? It seems like all the adults in their lives are telling them everything they are doing wrong, everything they are not doing, exposing their immaturity, and more. But are they being challenged? The most important thing I like to communicate to middle school students is the truth that they don't have to wait until they grow up to make a difference for Christ. They can impact their world for Christ NOW! Take a look at Scripture. David was just a boy (probably middle school age) when he killed Goliath. Mary was just a young teenager when she gave birth to the Savior of the world. There are several other examples of young men and women whom God used at a surprisingly young age.

The other day, I had a conversation with an 8th grade boy named Evan. At our fall retreat, he heard the speaker challenge students to think of a person who might be the hardest to love, and try to show them the love of Christ. Evan shared with me that immediately someone came to mind in his life. I asked him who it was. He said it's a boy at my school who is ""flamboyantly gay". Evan asked, "what do I do?" I loved the conversation. Evan was compelled by Jesus to show Christ to the hardest kid in school to love. See, middle school students are really getting it. They are ready to make a difference in their middle school world. Tell them they can change the world...they might surprise you.