Navigating Anxiety and Anointing in Today's Youth

Summary

In today's message, we explored the tension between anxiety and anointing, particularly in the context of the younger generation. We began by examining the life of Jesus during his teenage years, as described in Luke 2:41-52. This passage offers a glimpse into how Jesus navigated his formative years, growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. Despite the challenges and expectations surrounding him, Jesus prioritized his spiritual growth and identity in God, setting an example for us to follow.

We live in a time where anxiety is rampant, especially among youth and young adults. The pervasive influence of screens and social media has contributed significantly to this mental health crisis, leading to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. As a church, we are called to resist the spirit of the age, which often manifests in materialism, individualism, and moral relativism. Instead, we must embrace the anointing God has placed on this generation, empowering them to fulfill their divine purpose.

The story of Jesus staying behind in the temple at age 12 highlights the importance of spiritual formation during adolescence. Jesus' hunger for learning and his emotional intelligence set him apart, demonstrating that spiritual maturity is not necessarily tied to physical age. This passage challenges us to nurture the spiritual growth of our youth, helping them to discern their God-given identity and resist the temptations of the world.

We also discussed practical steps to address the mental health epidemic, such as delaying the introduction of smartphones and social media, fostering environments for free play and responsibility, and prioritizing scripture over screens. These measures aim to create a community where young people can grow in wisdom and stature, grounded in their identity in Christ.

Ultimately, our role as a church is to guide the next generation in discovering their God-given identity and purpose. By modeling resilience and sharing our own stories of faith, we can help them navigate the challenges they face and step into their calling as an anointed generation.

Key Takeaways:

- Anointing vs. Anxiety: The younger generation is caught between anxiety and anointing. While screens and social media contribute to mental health issues, God calls us to embrace our anointing, which means being set apart for a divine purpose. We must resist the spirit of the age and focus on spiritual growth. [01:04]

- Jesus' Example: Jesus' teenage years, as described in Luke 2, show us the importance of spiritual formation. Despite societal pressures, Jesus prioritized his relationship with God, growing in wisdom and stature. This serves as a model for young people today to seek their identity in Christ. [09:46]

- Identity Confusion: The rise in identity confusion, particularly around gender and sexuality, highlights the need for a strong foundation in God's truth. Our identity and value are given by God, not earned or discovered through experimentation. [17:58]

- Practical Steps: To combat the mental health crisis, we must delay the introduction of smartphones and social media, encourage free play, and prioritize scripture over screens. These steps help create a community where young people can grow in their God-given identity. [30:53]

- Role of the Church: The church's responsibility is to guide the next generation in discovering their identity and purpose in Christ. By sharing our stories and modeling resilience, we can help them navigate life's challenges and step into their calling as an anointed generation. [35:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:04] - Anointed vs. Anxious Generation
- [02:39] - The Battle of Screens
- [04:37] - Jesus' Formative Years
- [08:03] - The Loss of Childhood Play
- [09:46] - Jesus' Emotional Intelligence
- [11:42] - Parental Anxiety
- [13:19] - Jesus' First Words
- [14:48] - Mary Treasures Jesus' Calling
- [16:26] - Jesus' Growth in Wisdom
- [17:58] - Identity Confusion in Gen Z
- [20:03] - Gender and Sexuality Challenges
- [22:35] - LGBTQ+ Identification Trends
- [25:14] - The Shift in Cultural Values
- [27:17] - The Role of Godly Mentors
- [30:53] - Practical Steps for Mental Health
- [33:23] - Daily Habits for Spiritual Growth
- [35:53] - Prioritizing God's Presence

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:41-52

Observation Questions:
1. What were the circumstances that led Jesus to stay behind in the temple at age 12, and how did his parents react when they realized he was missing? [04:37]
2. How does the passage describe Jesus' interaction with the teachers in the temple, and what was the reaction of those who heard him? [09:46]
3. What does the passage say about Jesus' growth during his teenage years, and how is this significant for understanding his development? [17:58]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' decision to stay in the temple reflect his priorities and understanding of his identity and mission? [13:19]
2. In what ways does the passage illustrate the tension between honoring earthly responsibilities and pursuing a divine calling? [13:19]
3. How does the description of Jesus growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man serve as a model for spiritual and personal development? [17:58]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the influence of screens and social media in your life. How can you prioritize spiritual growth over digital distractions this week? [30:53]
2. Consider the role of anxiety in your life. What steps can you take to embrace your God-given identity and purpose, resisting the spirit of the age? [01:04]
3. How can you support the younger generation in discovering their identity in Christ? What practical actions can you take to mentor or guide them? [27:17]
4. Jesus demonstrated emotional intelligence and a hunger for learning at a young age. How can you cultivate these qualities in your own life or in the lives of those you influence? [09:46]
5. The sermon suggests delaying the introduction of smartphones and social media for young people. How can you implement or support this practice in your community or family? [30:53]
6. Reflect on your own spiritual formation. What daily habits can you establish to grow in wisdom and favor with God and others? [33:23]
7. How can you model resilience and share your faith journey with others to help them navigate their challenges and discover their calling? [25:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Anointing Over Anxiety
In today's world, the younger generation faces a significant struggle between anxiety and anointing. The pervasive influence of screens and social media has contributed to a mental health crisis, leading to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. However, God calls us to embrace our anointing, which means being set apart for a divine purpose. This requires resisting the spirit of the age, which often manifests in materialism, individualism, and moral relativism. Instead, we are encouraged to focus on spiritual growth and the unique calling God has placed on each of us. [01:04]

Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to resist the anxiety-inducing influences of screens and social media, and instead focus on the anointing and purpose God has for your life?

Day 2: Jesus' Model of Spiritual Formation
The teenage years of Jesus, as described in Luke 2, provide a profound example of spiritual formation. Despite societal pressures and expectations, Jesus prioritized his relationship with God, growing in wisdom and stature. This serves as a model for young people today to seek their identity in Christ rather than in the fleeting values of the world. Jesus' hunger for learning and his emotional intelligence set him apart, demonstrating that spiritual maturity is not necessarily tied to physical age. This passage challenges us to nurture the spiritual growth of our youth, helping them to discern their God-given identity and resist the temptations of the world. [09:46]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

Reflection: How can you prioritize your spiritual growth today, following Jesus' example of seeking wisdom and favor with God and man?

Day 3: Grounding Identity in God's Truth
The rise in identity confusion, particularly around gender and sexuality, highlights the need for a strong foundation in God's truth. Our identity and value are given by God, not earned or discovered through experimentation. In a world where identity is often seen as fluid and self-determined, it is crucial to remember that our true identity is rooted in being children of God. This understanding provides stability and purpose, allowing us to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and peace. [17:58]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself today of your identity as a child of God, especially when faced with societal pressures to conform to other identities?

Day 4: Practical Steps for Mental Health
To combat the mental health crisis, practical steps such as delaying the introduction of smartphones and social media, encouraging free play, and prioritizing scripture over screens are essential. These measures aim to create a community where young people can grow in wisdom and stature, grounded in their identity in Christ. By fostering environments that promote healthy development and spiritual growth, we can help the next generation navigate the challenges they face and step into their calling as an anointed generation. [30:53]

Proverbs 4:20-22 (ESV): "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh."

Reflection: What is one practical change you can make today to reduce screen time and increase your engagement with scripture and spiritual growth activities?

Day 5: The Church's Role in Guiding the Next Generation
The church has a vital responsibility to guide the next generation in discovering their identity and purpose in Christ. By sharing our stories and modeling resilience, we can help them navigate life's challenges and step into their calling as an anointed generation. This involves creating supportive communities where young people feel valued and understood, and where they can explore their faith and develop a strong foundation in God's truth. As a church, we are called to empower the younger generation to fulfill their divine purpose and embrace their God-given identity. [35:53]

Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community to support and guide the younger generation in their spiritual journey today?

Quotes

"Anointed means to be chosen. Consecrated or set apart for a special purpose, often with a sense of divine favor and blessing. Someone who is anointed by God is spiritually empowered or specially equipped to fulfill a purpose or calling." [00:00:54] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"There is this hunger for God in this generation, a desire for prayer, a desire for the presence of God, going back to the simplicity and the heart of worship. And yet there's something else that's forming us, that's vying for our attention, that's even vying for our worship." [00:02:15] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Theologian and author Francis Schaeffer said this. He says, The Christian must resist the spirit of the world in the form it takes in his own generation. That's our task. And we don't get to pick what the spirit of the world is in each generation." [00:03:22] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Or take the spirit of moral relativism, the idea that ethical standards are subjective and to be determined more by culture or by experience. The church is called to counter this with the teachings of the inherent worth of every had to resist this by upholding the moral standards of Scripture that are never changing." [00:04:38] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Now, the reality is that your physical age is not always correlated to your spiritual age. And we can have people that are much younger than us that are teaching us spiritually." [00:11:01] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And you can just begin to pick up the tension that Jesus feels between honoring his earthly parents and staying true to the calling that his heavenly father has put on his life." [00:13:39] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And this is so important. I don't want you to miss this because if I don't know who I am called to be, then I won't know what temptations are worth resisting. And so what the enemy wants to do is to create confusion, particularly in the area of my identity." [00:18:30] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And so what we need to do is we need to teach and model with our lives that the way of Jesus, listen to this, the way of Jesus isn't just true when everything is working out in my life." [00:26:10] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. And this is so important, especially for this age range that we're talking about, because we have to counter the lie that I have to discover my own sense of identity and value. God says, no, no, no, your identity and value are given to you by me. They're not earned." [00:27:17] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"If I don't develop a pathway for myself and for my kids to grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man, then the world will gladly provide that pathway for them. In other words, if I don't disciple my children, the world gladly will." [00:30:07] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Church, the way God has designed it is for us as moms and dads and aunts and uncles and youth leaders and prayer counselors and babysitters that our responsibility is to speak blessings over this next generation, to fan and to flame the gifts that they have been given by God, to help them process the hard things that they experience, at school, the hard things that they see on screens, that they need a real person, an embodied person to process that with them." [00:30:23] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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