BIBLE NEWS: Teens revere The Bible

A lot is said these days about the decline respect for church and religious traditions, but a new study suggests that The Bible remains a revered book to teens.

In "Teens State of the Bible," the Christian research powerhouse revealed staggering statistics about God's Word in light of trends proclaiming the decline of Christianity:  

• Eighty-nine percent consider the Bible sacred or holy.

• Forty-one percent believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know about living a meaningful life.

• Forty-four percent believe it has too little influence on American society.

• Thirty-eight percent believe "inspired" is the best word to describe the Bible.  

BONUS COMIC: Sunrise and Shine

Are you a "Fake" Christian?

Have you ever stopped to think about how real your faith is? It is almost a cliche for youth speakers to challenge teens to "get real", but a new study suggests that for most teenagers Christianity is more about feeling good than knowing God.

Many teenagers thought that God simply wanted them to feel good and do good -- what the study's researchers called "moralistic therapeutic deism."
Some critics told Dean that most teenagers can't talk coherently about any deep subject, but Dean says abundant research shows that's not true.
"They have a lot to say," Dean says. "They can talk about money, sex and their family relationships with nuance. Most people who work with teenagers know that they are not naturally inarticulate."

As we study the book of John this year, don't be afraid to come to practice with any questions you may have. It is a great primer for the Faith, and a good chance to realize that Jesus is who he said he was.

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Teens of Character

It is a common thing in every generation for teens to get a bad rap. Adults tend to only talk about the bad eggs among teenagers, and teenagers tend to focus on the problems they see around them. But just as in every age group, there are also many, many worthy of honor. Plugged-in Online has up a compilation of some recent stories about teens who showed strong character and upright hearts.

You won't find many teens more selfless than Terry Miller, a 15-year-old boy who came to the rescue when a propane-fueled explosion set a neighbor's mobile home ablaze. A badly burned, panic-stricken woman stumbled into the yard, pleading for someone to help her children. Terry raced inside not once but three times to find and retrieve her 4-year-old daughter and 9-month-old son. Blinded by intense smoke and heat, he succeeded by homing in on the children's cries.

It is worth remembering by both adults and kids that teens can be heroes in big and small ways. This is why we study scripture and store it up in our hearts.