“Therefore, beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58)
In recent years, Americans have seen many top names in sports falling from great heights. Perhaps we should not be surprised when heroes, especially those who are placed high on pedestals, fail or disappoint. However, there is confusion and sometimes anger when our heroes fail us. Many sports figures such as Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriquez—to name three—have become poster figures for this disappointment in recent years.
Yet, when we think about the human condition, these outcomes should not surprise us. We often speak about these moments as falling from grace, when in fact, it is our human condition, our brokenness and sinfulness, that creates the need for God’s grace.
On our personal levels, we also should not be surprised to see these needs in our teenagers. Our teens—and ourselves—are equally as broken and in need of this grace. Sometimes, watching other people fall, particularly towering figures, somehow makes us feel better about our own weaknesses and needs.
These are issues (theological ones) that teenagers actually like to discuss. When was the last time we talked about a sports figure, a famous personality or our own brokenness as a point of conversation about God’s grace? What is grace? What does it mean to receive it?
Consider grace…then plan a talk about God’s grace and how we migth extend it to others.
