Most Important Decisions a Christian Teen Will Face

Your teen makes many important decisions during adolescence, according to Sean Covey, author of ̶0;'The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make.̶1; Your Christian teen can rely on his faith to help shape many of his decisions, such as when to have his first sexual encounter, if he will continue to attend church after he moves out on his own and if he will attend a secular or church-supported college.

  1. Life Path

    • Your teen will choose a life path during her adolescence. That decision has various parts, including whether to attend college, what kind of job she will take and what risks and goals she is willing to take. If she wants to attend college, she needs to apply herself to her studies and choose between a secular or church-supported college that could support her faith during her college years. If her grades are good, she can take advanced placement classes to get a head start on her college education. Good grades will also help her qualify for scholarships and assistance paying for college. If she chooses not to attend college, she needs to acquire skills that allow her to earn a living. She must also decide to learn the skills necessary to live on her own. In 2 Corinthians 6:1-3, Paul says Christians should work as partners with God, doing the best job so no one will find fault with your work.

    Relationships

    • Another important decision your teen must make is who his friends and mate will be and how his relationship with his parents will change. In Proverbs 1:10-19, Solomon writes that his son should carefully choose with whom to hang out, because those with no godly values can entice the godly to sin. Paul takes this a step further in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, warning Christians not to join with unbelievers, a verse often used to caution Christians not to date or marry non-Christians.

    Limits and Moral Foundations

    • As your teen earns more freedom, she will spend time away from your supervision. She must decide whether to live according the limits you have set and what the Bible says she should do. If she allows the godly foundation you have helped her to build to steer her life, she will avoid negative consequences associated with dishonesty, hurting others, illegal actions and harmful habits such as drugs and alcohol. She can vow to treat others as she wants to be treated, according to Jesus̵7; words found in Matthew 7:12.

    Dating and Sex

    • During adolescence, when teen hormones are raging, many teens engage in sex while dating. Your teen will have to decide whether he will delay sex until marriage and if he should shun pornography and other sexual gratification and entertainment. The Bible warns against sexual immorality, but many teens find this a difficult fight. The situation becomes more complex if a pregnancy results.

    Faith and Service

    • Many teens disconnect from the church after they reach age 15, according to a September 2011 study from the Barna Group, a research group that looks at the spiritual and faith practices in America. Your teen must decide whether church is relevant to his life and how his faith will express now and in the future. Your teen could find that active Christian service makes his faith an integral part of his life and benefits his community and the world.

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