erts_NEW SIZE.indd 1
4/13/11 7:47 A
The Creator of the universe is actively on a mission! God invites us all to a life of blessing for ourselves and for the whole world. God calls, commands, and commissions us to participates in the restoration of the world and in reconciliation with God. In the Take Action Teen Bible you will meet teens just like you who are putting God’s Word into action. Some acts are large, others are simple, but all are examples of people who heard the call of God and took action. Meet real teens who answered God’s call to
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 2
GO. SERVE. GIVE. HEAL. TEACH.
4/13/11 7:47 A
Along with fifteen inspiring stories, we spark you with 52 actions to take, one for each week of the year.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.� Matthew 25:34-36
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 3
TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE
WORLD!
4/13/11 7:47 A
GOD’S WORD IN ACTION God’s Word commissions us to reach out to those in need. Thomas Nelson is proud to lead a movement to encourage believers to seek out ways to influence the world for Christ through the God’s Word in Action campaign. As a leading Bible publisher, Thomas Nelson is ensuring that we’re living out what God calls us to do by supporting several charitable organizations and causes that are dedicated to impacting the world. At Thomas Nelson we strive to put God’s Word into action by helping others in tangible ways and inspire you to do the same. For ideas on how you can help others, to share your stories of compassion and giving, and to learn more about how you can be part of changing the world, visit SeeGodsWordinAction.com.
TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3,4 “From Genesis to Revelation the Bible shows an active God calling ordinary people to action. Our world is still in need of people who are willing to do something to make a difference. So Reneé and I are thrilled to hear and share these stories of ordinary people doing what they can to Take Action to bring God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. World Vision is proud to cooperate with Thomas Nelson on the God’s Word in Action venture. Share your stories at SeeGodsWordinAction.com. Together we can change the world!” —Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. Additional material for the Take Action Teen Bible is copyright © 2011Thomas Nelson, Inc.
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 4
4/13/11 7:47 A
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 5
4/13/11 7:47 A
TORI, 18 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. 1 Timothy 4:12 Who would have thought that a rivalry between two high schools could impact God’s kingdom? Well, Tori and her youth group did. After they heard from the founders of a charity called The Raining Season— which runs an orphanage in Sierra Leone, West Africa, to save children from living on the streets or being sold into human trafficking—a few of Tori’s fellow students came up with the idea for Operation Thunderstorm. Not only did they rally their school’s clubs and teams to raise money for the orphanage, but they also challenged their rival school to raise more money than they could over the course of two weeks. Last year, Tori helped plan and recruit for the event, which included selling paper raindrops to students for a dollar and collecting donations, raising over $6,000. This year, with the chief organizers having graduated, Tori has stepped up to the plate to lead Operation Thunderstorm. Their goal is to exceed last year’s amount in order to help pay for more teachers at the orphanage’s school. Although heading up Operation Thunderstorm has cost Tori a lot of time and energy, she says it’s totally worth it. “I knew something had to be done to keep these orphans off the streets and out of the human trafficking trade.”
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 6
Together we can
c
4/13/11 7:47 A
n
>> R EAD 1 TI M OTHY 4:12. HAVE YO U EVER FELT B ELITTLED OR DISCO URAGED BY SO M EO N E B ECAUSE O F YO UR AGE?
>> AR E TH ER E ANY AD U LTS I N YO UR LI FE W H O YO U CO U LD SET A N EXAM PLE FOR? H O W?
change the world.
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 7
4/13/11 7:47 A
KELSIE, 20 KENDALL, 17 Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8, 9 When you think of slavery you may think of America in the 1800s or maybe even the Israelites in ancient Egypt. But did you know that today nearly 27 million people are held as slaves all over the world? When Kendall and Kelsie found out about this a few years back, they decided to take action. Kelsie had the idea of organizing a high school battle of the bands to raise money for International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression. The event was called “Rock the Chains,” and featured performances by local middle school and high school bands, as well as a presentation about slavery in the world today. In addition to raising money through ticket sales, they also got corporate sponsors, donations for prizes, and sold t-shirts. Rock the Chains is now in its fourth year, and with Kelsie at college (she continued Rock the Chains on her new campus), Kendall has been heading up the event back home. “All together, over $16,500 has been donated to the International Justice Mission,”
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 8
Together we can
c
4/13/11 7:47 A
n
said Kendall. “In addition, every person in attendance has been educated on the raw, atrocious facts of modern-day slavery and has been encouraged to share their knowledge.” >> HAVE YO U EVER CO NSID ER ED TH E LIVES O F M OD ER N-DAY SLAVES?
>> R EAD ISAIAH 58:6–9. H O W I M PORTANT IS IT TO GOD THAT W E TAKE CAR E O F TH E OPPR ESSED AN D N EEDY? W HAT M IGHT H E B E CALLI N G YO U TO D O TO H ELP?
change the world.
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 9
4/13/11 7:47 A
GRETA, 13 If there is among you a poor man of your brethren . . . you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. Deuteronomy 15:7, 8 Greta, 13, first began giving a few years ago when she noticed a friend in need. “I realized how I’d never really seen someone live in bad conditions, and that she doesn’t have as much.” So Greta collected things she had extras of—clothes, stuffed animals, and games—to have her parents give to her friend. Thus began what became a regular habit of sorting through her stuff to find what she could give away to other kids who could use them. As Greta learned the joy and privilege of giving, she got involved with a local ministry, going on “Walks of Love” every month. The group walks through poverty-stricken neighborhoods in their city, distributing blankets, food, water, diapers, and toys to families in need. Greta says that her desire to give comes from the Lord, “My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ God gave something really important, something He still wanted. He is the ultimate giver, and I want to be like Him.”
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 10
Together we can
c
4/13/11 7:47 A
n
>> R EAD MATTH EW 19:16–26 TH EN MATTH EW 6:19–21. W HAT D O YO U TH I N K O F TH E ID EA O F GIVI N G YO UR STU FF AWAY?
>> PRAYER FU LLY CO NSID ER O N E TH I N G YO U VALU E THAT YO U CO U LD GIVE TO SO M EO N E I N N EED. R EM EMB ER TO ASK YO UR PAR ENTS’ PER M ISSIO N B EFOR E YO U GIVE IT AWAY.
change the world.
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 11
4/13/11 7:47 A
erts_NEW SIZE.indd 12
4/13/11 7:47 A