A few years back, I started writing short ideas for youth sermons. I have wanted to be a youth pastor for a long time and decided to put some stuff on paper. At the time it was rough drafts and raw ideas. I'm going to take some time to read and edit them and post them here. It may be what someone needs to hear. Any constructive criticism is welcome.

-

Recently, I have been guilty of talking too much (WAY different than the “normal” me), and have kind of turned others away from me. I don’t like it and have caught myself more than once. I realized something while reading Dangerous Wonder by Michael Yaconelli: I don’t listen enough anymore. I want people to know about ME. After I’m done, if there’s time, I’ll listen to them. I realized I’m pretty selfish. I don’t like it. Jesus wasn’t like me. He had everything and gave it up for a life of sacrifice and discomfort, one He knew would end in death. Why do I care that people know what new video game I got? Why do I care people know about my time spent serving in my church (which is a good thing) when all I do is talk? Why can’t I listen?

We always want to learn more and know new information, but when was the last time you stopped and listened to someone talk about something real? When was the last time you helped someone by just being there FOR them? Life is about more than getting that dream job, the right girl, the right clothes, the right connections. Life is about more than knowledge. You can know everything there is to know about something and still be ignorant about the entire subject. You may be someone’s lifelong friend and know everything that has happened in their life, but if you don’t know how things affected them personally, all you have are answers to trivia questions.

Life is about being Jesus to everyone you see. Sometimes that is stepping out of your way to talk to that weird kid in the corner, sometimes a simple "hello". One we don’t see much is quiet listening, compassion at its finest. When do we take time out of OUR day to hear someone else’s problems? When it’s convenient? What if it’s not for them? What if now is the only time they can talk to you? Will you listen? Will you be there for a broken soul, for someone crying out for an ear? You may not know them, and you may be repulsed by them. But if God tells you to go over and just say hi, that could change their entire world. If you take some time to find out who they are instead of what they are, that could save a life. Jesus didn’t hang out with the people who had it all together. He went to the hurting and broken. He went to the outcast and the vulnerable. There have been many people in my life that have taken time away from things I would have liked to do. It’s hard to spend that time with them, but God keeps telling me to listen. I learn a lot about those people. I know their joys, their struggles, their strengths and weaknesses. It isn’t always pretty. In fact, it usually isn’t. But I learned more about them, myself, and God in that short time than I would have if I continued my daily routine. God didn’t say it would be easy, but He did say the end would be worth it.

Challenge: find someone, a friend, a coworker, a person you see everyday but don't talk to, who is struggling with something, anything, sit down with them, talk WITH them, not at them, and listen. Listen intentionally. Show someone the compassion and love of Jesus. Be quiet and, maybe, God will speak to you through them. And don't be afraid to follow up.