| Our pastor did a series on Revelation, and I had | | | | is good to start with an affirmation of what they |
| quite a revelation about teenagers, and how to | | | | do right. It cannot be ALL rotten, and starting |
| deal with them. In Revelation, each letter to the | | | | with something good can help teen hear what you |
| churches is a rather "difficult" message for them | | | | have to say. |
| to receive. And each one follows a recipe for | | | | Provide correction, but also explain why they |
| instruction. | | | | should change and also tell them how they can |
| - Encouragement | | | | change. "Because I said so" does not go as far |
| - Correction | | | | with teenagers as it does with young children. |
| - Motivation Each letter contains an | | | | Yes, behavior needs to change, but when you |
| encouragement; a listing of something the church | | | | explain the details to them it can help them |
| was doing right, no matter how small. It included a | | | | reason through the situation like an adult. They |
| correction, or instruction on what they should do | | | | may not reason like an adult now, but hearing |
| differently. It also gave some motivation - the big | | | | your reasoning may help them when they grow |
| WHY they should correct their behavior. | | | | up. As adults, they will be better able to think |
| God's advice is always good and best, and his | | | | through different situations, because they will |
| example here is just great! When you have to | | | | have heard your motivational reasons and they |
| give your teens a difficult and tough message, it | | | | can apply it to situations as they arise. |