How do I know if I need help?

Do you feel like you do not fit in anywhere? Do you believe that nobody cares if you are alive or not? Are you being abused by somebody, either physically or emotionally. Are you filled with anger and do not know what to do about it? Are your friends trying to get you to do things that you may not want to do, things that may be dangerous or illegal? Do you use drugs or alcohol and wish you could stop? Do you think that you do not have friends, or maybe some that only get you into trouble? Is your life troubled and you think that it can not get any better? These are just a few of the problems that teens struggle with everyday. Do you wish there was somewhere you could find help but just do not know where to turn to?

Why do I need God?

First of all God loves everybody, even people that have sinned. He wants to help everybody. That is why He sent His son Jesus to us. The only way to get to Heaven is by knowing God. If you do not know Him, then you get to go to the other place, Hell.

Who are God and Jesus?

God created the world, the universe, and everything in it. I know that you may not believe this at first, a lot of people do not. Jesus was God's son that he sent to earth to take away your sins so that you can have everlasting life. He gave up his life so that we may live. Do you know of anybody else that would do this for you? Probably not. As you get to know more about God and his son Jesus, you will come to believe in them, everything they have done, and all the things they can do for you.

The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know what will become of you after you die.

Why would God want to help me?

There are a lot of people out there that want to help when you have problems. The only thing you have to do is ask for the help before you can receive any. There are lots of reasons why people do not ask for help. Maybe you are too shy, embarrassed, or even afraid to ask for help, but you are not alone. You must ask yourself "Will my problems get better, worse or go away if I do not ask for help?"

God's love is revealed in the Bible "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death.

Why is there so much evil in the world?

God gave us free will. If we did not have this, we would be like slaves, slaves to God. That is not what He wants. He wants us to accept Him on our own. He does not want to force us to beleive in Him. Unfortunately this this allows some people to do things that God does not like.

How do I get saved?

The Bible says that in order to be saved, you must be "Born Again." This means that you must be born of the spirit. This requires several things. First you must confess your sins to God. Second, you must be willing to rerpent your sins. This means that you must be willing to stop sinning and live the way God wants you to. Third, you must believe in Jesus. You must say that you believe God sent him to us to take away our sins, that he died on the cross for us, and that he was resurrected on the third day. Lastly you must attend church, study the Bible, and live according to what the Bible says. We do not expect you to read the whole Bible in one day and memorize every word of it. That is why you go to church and Bible Study.

How do I find God?

One of the best places to find God is your local church. You may be afraid of trying something new that you know very little about. A lot of people are like that. You may think to yourself:

• "What if I wear the wrong clothes?"
• "What if people stare at me?"
• "What do I do or how do I act when I get in church?"
• "What if I do not know anybody?"
• "What if I do something wrong?"
• "What if I do not fit in?"

These are just a few of the things that people are afraid of when they first go to church. Not every church is right for everybody. You may have to try several churches before you find one that is right for you. Ask your friends, your peers, your neighbors, your relatives, anybody that you know goes to a church. A true Christian would be glad to help you.

What is sin?

In the Bible, in the book of Matthew, it says "for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." These are just some of the things that God defines as being sinful. The Bible tells us that everybody has sinned in Romans 3:23. "for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." If somebody tells you that they have never sinned, then they are lying, and that is a sin."

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" Romans 6:23.

Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.

How do I know if God will forgive me for my sins?

The first step in obtaining God's forgiveness is found in the book of Psalms, chapter 32, verse 5. Acknowledge your sins to God. In other words, you must tell God the sins you have committed. Unless you do this, there will be no forgiveness. Maybe you think that you have done so much evil that no one could forgive you. The Bible tells us that no matter how much you have sinned in your life, that you can be saved. In the book of 1 Timothy, chapter 1, verses 15 and 16 the Bible tells us: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. This tells us that even the worst of sinners can be saved if they repent and accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 55, verse 7, we find that God pardons abundantly. That is to say, God forgives quite a lot. There are millions of people out there who have confessed their sins to God and they have all been forgiven by God. If he can forgive all those people, he can surely forgive you. One more thing, in the book of Proverbs, chapter 28, verse 13, we are told that Those who confess sins, find mercy.

How can I keep from sinning?

First of all everybody does get tempted from time to time. In 1 Corinthians 1:13 it states, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." If you are tempted, you should find someone you trust, a pastor, someone from church, a good friend. Then talk to them about what is happening. Pray to God about your problem and ask for help. Find passages in the Bible and read them. Mos of all, you should get away from what is tempting you.

What do I do when I am tempted to sin again?

If you realize that you have sinned again, it is not the end of the world. You must stop what you are doing and pray to God. Tell Him that you have sinned, what the sin was, and ask Him to forgive you. If you did something that hurt somebody in any way, either physically or emotionally, you must go to them, tell them you are sorry, and ask for their forgiveness.

What happens if I do not accept God?

What happens if I die and have not been saved yet?

Do not let anyone try to convince you that when you die it is all over! Some people like to think that there is no Heaven and no Hell. They are wrong, plain and simple. It says in the Bible (Gods word)in Hebrews 9:27, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face JUDGEMENT." And in Revelation 20:15 it states "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE."

It is your choice whether you reign in Heaven or burn in Hell. But don't be mistaken, this choice can not be put off until later, it might be too late by then. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day might bring forth." Proverbs 27:1

Around the world, three people die every second, 180 every minute. Since you started reading this - over 500 people have left this world and gone into eternity! A stroke.....a heart attack.....a car accident.....EVERYONE WILL DIE, YOU WILL DIE, it's a fact, today... tomorrow...a week... a month...a year...5 years...10years...20 years... 50 years...remember "...man is destined to DIE once."

What do I need to do to be saved?

If you are reading this, and you know that you need Jesus, why not pray right now and ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and give you peace in your life right now. It is not very hard to do. Say a prayer like this, and if you mean it from your heart, your sins will be forgiven, and you will get your free gift, the free gift of salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I now realize that I am a sinner, and I truly believe with my whole heart that I can not be saved without you. I know that you died on the cross, and shed your blood to pay for my sins, and for that I thank you. I come to you now Jesus, with an open heart, and ask that you save me. I invite you, Holy Spirit, into my life to dwell inside me, changing my heart, mind, and lifestyle to make me more like you. I accept you as my Personal Lord and Savior and ask that you help me walk in your ways all the days of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

What must I do after I am saved?

What is prayer and how do I pray?

Prayer is simply talking to God. You do not have to use a lot of fancy words. Just tell God what is on your mind.

What do I pray for?

If you need help with something, ask for it. If you know somebody that is sick or needs help in any way, pray for them.

What if somebody hurts me in some way

If somebody does something to you, your first thought might be to do something to get back at them. After all, that is what most people do. No it is not. God says in Romans 12:17 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. In Romans 12:19 it states Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written "it is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." That means that you must let God deal with the problem. First you must forgive the person for what they did to you. Next you must pray for them. If possible, get some of your friends to pray for them also. If you really feel good, tell the person that what they did hurt you, that you forgave them for it, and that you prayed for them. In Proverbs 10:23, it states "A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct." In Proverbs 24:19-20 it states "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out."

Some situations require you to tell others. Such as being threatened with serious harm, or being sexually abused by someone. In cases like these toy must tell your parents, a guardian, the police, your pastor, or some other adult.

How many times must I forgive somebody?

In Matthew 18:21 it states, Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answers Peter by saying I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. In other words, you should forgive everybody everytime they do something to you, no matter how many times they do it.

How do I tell others about God?

Letting others know about your new life in Christ--by word and by action--can be one of the most satisfying and exciting experiences you have ever had. The apostle Peter encourages us to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15). (See "HOW TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST," .)