BREAKING
TEEN REBELLION

Topics: Discipline; Obedience; Occult; Persistence; Teens

Reference: Ephesians 6:1–4

The young teen had become increasingly rebellious, wore dark clothing, and ran with bad kids. Then the mother found a folder in her daughter’s room marked: “Leave this [blankety-blank] alone. This is my life.” With trembling hands the mother opened the folder and found the most disturbing letters she’d ever seen. One note had blood smeared around the edges. The teen, who had grown up in the church, was involved with witchcraft and the occult.

The parents realized their daughter was beyond their ability to control. So they took drastic action. Within twenty-four hours they whisked her away to her aunt. The aunt, a dedicated Christian, insisted the girl go through a program called Bondage Breakers. She took her niece with her to Precept Bible Studies. She homeschooled her. One day this young girl devoted her life to Jesus Christ.

She was gone for three months, but she came back a new creature in Christ. Today she is active in youth group, and she recently gave her testimony. Her mother wrote me, “Bob, encourage people to be obedient to God even if it’s embarrassing, even if it’s drastic. We are thankful we did.”

—Robert Russell, “When Teens Rebel,” Preaching Today Audio, no. 207