A Jesus Teen’s Manifesto

For every teen who longs to follow Jesus with all their heart.

created and called

I am a child of the King. My worth comes from knowing that I am loved by the Creator of the universe, who holds the planets in place and sees every sparrow that falls (Matthew 10:29–31). He is in control of everything in my life, big and small, and He watches over me with the gaze of a loving father (Matthew 6:31–32). Nothing can shake me since I am hidden in Him (Colossians 3:1–3).

I am a warrior for the Lord. All my courage and confidence comes from Him (Psalm 27:1–3). Since He is with me, I am not afraid of whatever forces might come against me, however mighty they may be (2 Kings 6:16). My God goes before me, behind me, and beside me, and He will fight for me (Deuteronomy 3:21–22). 

fervent in faith

What I long for more than anything is to be someone who seeks the Lord with all my heart, follows Him with all my faith, and pursues Him with all the zeal He has placed in me (Psalm 27:4). I never want to lose my passion for Him. 

I want to live like I believe everything I claim to be true. I don’t want to just say that my faith matters to me; I want to act like it. My desire is to be a living witness of the truths I testify to with my words (2 Corinthians 3:3).

unafraid of unpopularity

My marching orders come from God, not any man. So I am not afraid to stand alone if that is called for. I choose to follow Jesus even when that means leaving behind the crowd. I am willing to make choices others may not understand and to take the criticism that comes with doing things differently. Others may not validate the path I take, but their approval is not what matters most (Galatians 1:10). I am not called to follow anyone other than Christ (1 Corinthians 3:4–9).

I am not afraid to speak the truth with love and boldness and to confront others when needed (Ephesians 4:15). I want to wisely steward my responsibility to those God has placed in my life. At times this will mean that I must be brave enough to tell the uncomfortable truth.

Though I am still young, I do not let that hold me back. I refuse to waste my youth by waiting until I am older to start serving God. I believe that there is no good reason why He cannot start using me now, and I want to be ready to take part in whatever work He has for me (1 Samuel 17:33, 36–37).

empowered to encourage

By the power of God’s Spirit in me, I believe that I can live a life pleasing to the Lord and exemplary to others. I strive to set an example for those around me, whether they be younger, older, or the same age as I am. I refuse to let anyone look down on me because of my youth (1 Timothy 4:12). Rather than letting others drag me down or hold me back, I choose to be a force that pulls others up and pushes them forward. 

While I show respect to my elders and my leaders, giving them the honor merited by their age and position in my life, I also use discernment to determine if they are worthy of my emulation, for not all who are old are wise, just as not all who are young are foolish (Job 32:7–10). 

I believe in the value of intergenerational relationships. Therefore, in my pursuit of godly friends, I seek out not only peers I can relate to, but also older believers I can look up to and younger ones I can help to guide (1 Timothy 5:1–2).

I seek to be grounded in a community of Christ’s followers where I can encourage others in their faith and be strengthened in my own, where all of us inspire each other to grow, and where I find spiritual fellowship that feeds my soul (Romans 12:9–13). This is my vision for the church, a goal that I believe to be drawn from God’s Word: that we would be a gathering of believers who support and spur each other on to a deeper and more fervent faith, especially in these last days as the end draws nearer (Hebrews 10:24–25).

taught to trust

If I am called to marry, then I will patiently wait and prepare myself for the day when God brings my future spouse to me and puts us together. Until then, I will not be idle or get distracted from the pursuits I am led to devote myself to during this season of singleness (1 Corinthians 7:32–35). 

If I am called to stay single, then I will continue to use my time and energy to serve those God has placed in my life, unhindered by the cares of marriage. I will pour myself into the relationships God has given me and choose to be content with the love I find in those.

Whatever my future might hold, my vision comes from the Lord. I want to follow the path He has laid out for me to the fullest extent of my faith, believing that my trust in Him will steadily grow stronger as I watch Him work. His plans for me are far greater than my own, so I will not let myself be limited by the scope of my sight (Ephesians 3:20–21). For as long as I am in this world, I choose to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:6–7). 

Jesus is the One I look to, for He is the One who calls me His own.

Always and forever, I belong to Him.