Believing that small groups of men and women (separately of course) holding each other accountable is probably the best way I've ever found to stay strong in the Lord, my group and I have continuously modified a group of questions (always around ten in number) to fit our needs. Since people occasionally ask for them, I've generally made them available on my web site. Here's the latest list my group uses. Feel free to use them, change them, or share them with others, but don't forget to find someone to hold you accountable in the areas you could stumble--it's the only way to stay strong and ultimately to finish strong in your faith. 1. Have you spent a portion of each day in the study of God's Word, in prayer, and are you seeking knowledge and growth through other Christian media? 2. Have you attempted to share your faith with an unbeliever? 3. Has anything unwholesome come out of your mouth, including jokes, negative criticism, foul language, lies or half truths? 4. Have you taken good physical care of your body; including exercise and proper eating and sleeping habits? 5. Have you been completely above reproach with your financial dealings and at work, school, etc? 6. Have you shared enough of your time with your family and friends? 7. Have you had any lustful attitudes, improper thoughts, or been exposed to any material that would not glorify God? 8. Do you harbor any bitterness, anger or resentment in your heart toward anyone or anything? 9. Have you allowed any person or circumstance to rob you of your joy in the Lord? 10. Do you have any other burden to share with the group? "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Just for a moment, imagine yourself in total darkness. Maybe you awoke from a dream but it's like you are still dreaming--there is absolutely no light available and you cannot see even your own hands. You don't know what happened, but you begin to realize you also cannot feel anything outside of yourself. There seems to be nothing above you or below you that you can touch. You swing your fists and kick your feet, but there is nothingness and total darkness encompassing all that you are. This is how it is for a soul that does not know the Lord. They live in darkness, blinded by Satan and the desires of the flesh. So what are we to do? Most Christians take exactly the wrong approach when dealing with darkness. They dive into it and join in with it! In their ignorance, they become just like those lost souls kicking and punching at darkness. They join in with the joking, cursing, and other sinful behaviors. Friends, darkness is never defeated that way! The only way to gain territory from darkness is by introducing light. Diving into blackness is meaningless unless you bring the Light with you and are prepared to introduce it into the darkness. As you do, even the darkest night becomes lighter around you, and those lost souls can clearly see you've got the only answer to what ails them! "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Matthew 4:16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever seen those cute little baby tigers the zoos always put in their advertisements. They are so cute! I think the totally white ones are cool, but the orange and black ones are awesome because they look so much like real baby tigers. Either way, they're kind of like house cats in the way they play with things and paw at everything. It's like you could just take them home and keep them in your room as pets. And such is the case with "little" sins. A lot of people (of all ages) like to toy with little sins. They can be fun when you get right down and think about it. Even the Bible admits that sin can be pleasurable for a while, but then it becomes like one of those little Bengal tigers that was so cute. It starts to grow up and before you know it the things weights 600 pounds, eats raw meat and lives in your bedroom. Oh... and guess what you're made of!? "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." Heb 11:25 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When I was a young teen I got myself in some trouble and even spent one very long day in jail. I admit there are a lot of people who would look at one day as some pretty light time for stealing, but being locked up even for a few minutes can be a life-changing experience. It sure was for me! For years I remember applying for jobs and having to indicate on applications that I had a criminal record. When I went into the military I actually had to get a waiver just to have them consider allowing me to enlist. Until I turned 23 my "sins" were available for anyone in law enforcement to pull up on the screen. It was a terrible feeling. On a spiritual note, for about 25 years I always felt like I had a criminal record with God--that He would never even consider allowing me to "apply" for entrance into His presence. And then I learned that we all--every human on earth--also has a criminal record with God. And along with it, I learned that through Christ, the Father is ever ready to erase it from His memory. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 26:28)  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

How important are you in your school, sports team, or other group? Are you one of those people who are immediately the most valuable player, or are you one who has to struggle for any recognition at all? As sad as it may seem, there are teens who take their own lives each day because they don't feel like they fit in--that they are somehow less important or valuable than those around them. On the other side of the coin, there are teens that always seem to find ways to point out just how valuable they are. Some of them never seem to shut up about how good they are at this or that! Either extreme is wrong from a biblical perspective. We ARE valuable, because God made us and gifted us with talents and abilities to serve Him and others. Because we each are incredibly valuable in our own right, we don't need to be prideful about it. The truth is that many of the people who talk endlessly about their worth are the ones that doubt it the most. Practically everything they do is in an effort to convince themselves. So, no matter what everyone else says about you and no matter what you may think about yourself, you are an incredible work of art! God says so, and that's all that matters! With that settled, spend the time you once spent on that subject investigating what He wants you to do with the life He gave you! "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 10:29-31) the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

A good friend wrote me about a concern he has about his church body. It seems they get real excited about the worship band and other musical events, but he wonders if the applause is for the musicians or for the Lord. Frankly, I believe it's OK to praise God for the talents and abilities of the musicians and for their service to the Body, but my friend is probably correct in his concern. I've been in many churches and believe that most of the applause is not aimed at the Lord (as in a big "Amen!"), but rather toward the musicians who are there to serve the Lord. Honestly, we hold them in much higher esteem than we should, i.e., not for their service to the Lord, but because our culture worships musicians! We have several biblical examples where apostles and prophets of the Lord worked miracles and then were presented with payment. They always refused the payment or the praise and reflected the credit toward God. Many musicians I know do exactly that--reflect the praise toward God. But, as worshippers, we need to be sure to aim it there in the first place! "When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever tried to comfort someone and had them cry those words on your shoulder? Have you ever spoken those words in a tearful slobber? I've done both, because life just isn't fair at times! People are wicked to each other, and frankly, few seem to care! Oftentimes, even those who care don't seem like they've really ever been through the same things you've been through. How could they really understand unless they've been there? We can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus lived through every type of pain possible, and did it all without striking back at His oppressors. He too cried, but not for Himself. He cried for those who would murder Him, and for those who needed comfort. There is nothing man or beast can do to you that Jesus cannot understand. "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread." Isaiah 51:12-14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some of the most on-fire Christians I know are teenagers. The Lord has preserved a large number of young people who call on His name regardless of what everyone else is doing. The Lord always does that, but my question for today is "What IS everyone else doing?" From my vantage point I see three camps. Many young people see no God but themselves. They ignore every message from Him in honor of what they would rather be doing. Another group is lost in church, but the meaning and the Holy Spirit are missing from their congregations. They hate church, and they are left wanting and wondering. The last group is a large and growing group that's begun taking up what many a nation of young people have taken up before--New Age (or should we call it "old age" remixed) religions. This group is probably the most dangerous of the lot, because at least the other two groups know they're not "down with the Lord!" Satan's lies work well on this last group because their hearts have been grabbed by things taught by demons. "They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans. Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So man will be brought low and mankind humbled--do not forgive them." Isaiah 2:6b-9 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate