How Can I Be a Spiritual Leader to My Teen?

Who is the primary spiritual leader of your teen? Who do they look to as a role model? Youth pastors, mentors, and small group leaders are certainly important for a teen to look to for advice, but the Bible is very clear that spiritual leadership should fall primarily on the shoulders of the parent.

Easy, right? Not quite. The concept of "spiritual leadership" can feel like a hard one to grasp. How often should I pray with my family? What parts of the Bible should I encourage them to read? Should I require my kids to be involved in their youth group? What about mission trips? While these are good questions to consider and pray about, spiritual leadership can't be achieved through any standard formula. It's a lifestyle – a way of talking, thinking and behaving.  

Dave Long, our Vice President of Operations, said it this way, "Quite simply, leadership is modeling what you expect of others.  If you’re a father who values hard work, you’re willing to mow the yard, clean up after dinner, and maintain employment.  If you’re a mother who values communication, you’re willing to listen, engage in conversation, and share information in a mature manner. And if parents act to the contrary, expect contrary results from your children."

When it comes to teens, this is especially true. If you want to encourage your teen to commit time daily to devotions, make it a point to spend 20 minutes in the morning or evening, or whenever your teen is around, reading your Bible in the living room.  If you want them to stop watching inappropriate movies, don't let them see you watching something you shouldn't...even if it seems "harmless" for an adult.

We're all sinful people, so naturally leading by example is no easy task. But even if you don't see results right away, things your teen sees and hears you do consistently will strongly shape the way they view faith. It's a big responsibility, but definitely one worth working at.

By Crosswinds Caribbean Mountain Academy