• give up his own will for God’s will.
• live a life of spiritual sacrifice for Christ’s glory.
• strive to consistently obey our Lord.

Our goal as parents should be the same. Let’s look at how we can accomplish this.

Love + relationship + time = parenting a teen

A few months back I received a letter from a young man named Eric. He wrote, “Problems with drugs, alcohol and premarital sex happen among teens — even among Christian youth — when they aren’t happy with themselves. They’re desperately searching for self-worth. All along, the answer is right in front of them: Jesus.”

Eric is right. Young people are hungry for something to commit their lives to. They yearn for parents and youth workers who will help them find purpose in life. You have the answer.

But affecting the life of a modern teen doesn’t mean you have to suddenly become superhuman or a rock star or even a pyrotechnics expert. (Merely entertaining teens is out of the question.) Instead, just step into their world, show you care and be a role model.

That’s what Jesus did, and He was the ultimate discipler. Those who followed Christ ended up being served by Him. (Imagine that — the Creator serving His creation!) His disciples also got a big dose of encouragement, mixed with well-deserved correction from time to time. Jesus stretched His disciples as they struggled to receive the truth and obey God’s will.

Want to have a greater influence on your teen? Follow Christ’s example and reach out.

— Michael Ross

Michael Ross, a former youth pastor, is a popular youth speaker and editor of Breakaway Magazine, a publication for teen guys by Focus on the Family.