A Change

Everyone needs to change. Simply put change is diffucult. Below is a speech I am doing for Original Advocaacy for my debate club.

Jonas Weaver



What is the purpose of the teen years? Are they for partying and just relaxing and

slacking off? Or are they the time when teens can become lazy with what they do and

rebel against authority? I believe the teen years should be a time to impact culture, not mar it. Teens can be a great influence in society, but a majority is filled with a lack of willingness. In this speech I will cover three points. First I will cover how can be world changers. Second, I tell you how parents should help and finally, I will show you the biblical basis for this belief.
If teens wish to be world changers their attitude must change. Change is not something that comes easily. If teens wish to break out of the mold that society has set for them then they must be prepared to suffer for it, because they will be ridiculed not thanked. The world tells teens to be complacent but the Bible and God say differently. The question that teens should ask themselves is this. How do I become a world changer?
First teens have to look to God for help and guidance since we are only finite.
Secondly, teens need to look to the Bible which is our manual for being world changers.

There are many examples in the Bible of teens who did important things for God and changed the world. Look at David. He was a mere shepherd who was called to slay a giant and destined to become king. Then there was Timothy, who was like a son to Paul. He was still a teenager when Paul praised him for his faith and took Timothy with him, so that he could be placed as a minister in Ephesus. Finally there was Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was visited by Gabriel and told she would bear a son even though she was a virgin and knew it was physically impossible she said that she was the Lord’s servant. All three of these people were teens when these things happened. Teens now days need willingness and obedience like David, Mary and Timothy. Thirdly we need to read about dead people. Yes, I said dead people and it is so true. If we look at the lives of men and women in the Bible and history who have gone before us, we will find many examples of world changers. For example, the story of David Farragut. David was born in 1801 in Knoxville, Tennessee. By the age of ten he had begun his naval carrier. At eleven he saw his first battle, and by age twelve he was given command of a British ship and told to take it back to America. Well, the British captain didn’t take to kindly to having to take orders from a twelve year old so he decided he would try to rebel by going on deck. You see he was confined to the lower decks once the ship was captured so this act was merely a simplistic attempt at rebellion. Once David found out he told the captain to stay below deck or the next time he would be shot. .

Parents can teach their teens to be world changers. And they must do so. In the Bible it

say that fathers are to train up their sons in the way they should go(Proverbs 22:6). That

applies to all parents, fathers and mothers. Parents need to instruct teens because that is

their duty.

Here is how parents can instruct teens. First, pass on your wisdom to us. Pass on your

understanding of the world and what the world is like. Secondly, teach us to lend a

helping hand. Show us what it means to be a servant leader. Fathers especially since you

are the heads of the house and the spiritual leaders, teach us how to serve others with

willingness. Finally, guide us through hard books. Lead us through very deep theological,

Philosophical books and books on leadership. We need you to stand with us as we study

hard things. This is why parents must be involved. If parents are not involved then teens

are more likely to turn to bad influences such as drugs, alcohol, un-Christian peers and

secular “wisdom”.

I am certain many people have heard the verse, “ Don’t let anyone look down on you

because you are young.” (I Tim. 4: 12). Teens hear this and think, “I like this verse. It is

telling people not look to down on me, because of my age,”. Period. But few ever really read

on in this passage. It goes on to say, “ but set an example for the believers in

speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” I would call this the teenager’s call to

world changing. Paul is speaking to Timothy, who is like a son to him and is still

young. Timothy was a minister at the age of twenty and a strong influence to the elders

of the church in Ephesus because, of being an example in life, love, ffaith, speech and purity. People have every right to look down on us because we are young if we do not set an example. If we set the example of purity then we have every right to say don’t look down on me and think I’m impure just because I am young. We must do this with love and without any boasting. We all have the capacity of being leaders in our culture. We need spiritual growth before we can change the world. We all have the ability to fight the crowd and speak up. We all have the desire to do something worthwhile with our lives. The world tells teens they can goof off, but I believe this is not true.

In conclusion, I believe teens can be world changers if they are willing to to hear and obey God’s call, if they obey their parents and trust their parents decisions, and if they are willing to set an example in life, speech, love, faith, and purity like Timothy, there is no reason for anyone to look down on them because they are young.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
Thank you.


THis is what teens need to do.