Letting Your Light Shine
By Tori Harris
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Christians have a big job to do. We are to go out and teach others the gospel so that they can be saved too. This is not something that only preachers, elders, or other adult members are supposed to do. This is something that every single member of the body of Christ is commanded to do, including teenage girls. When faced with something like this, it can seem overwhelming and scary. But God would not have commanded us to do something if it was impossible. There are many things you can do to become an evangelist.
Study. This is necessary if you are going to teach someone the Scriptures. If you do not study the Bible yourself, how can you teach someone? As Christians, we need to always be prepared to defend our faith, and we can only do that if we study. Get into a routine of regularly studying your Bible. Set aside a certain time each day to devote to this. It will help your own faith grow, as well help you teach others.
Learn how to conduct a Bible study. Ask one of your parents, or another member to show you how to have a Bible study, and how to use materials such as Back to the Bible or Searching for Truth. If you and a friend both want to learn how to do this, role play with each other, and take turns being the teacher and the student.
Talk to your friends. Invite them to come to church services with you. If your congregation has any kind of youth devotionals or other events, tell your friends about it and ask them to come. Ask them if they would be interested in having a Bible study with you.
It can be easy to underestimate yourself, thinking that you are “just a teenager.” But in 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Just because we aren’t adults does not mean that we cannot do great things for God!