Young Violence

We are all shocked by the violence in our world today.  A young man enters a school building and begins shooting kindergarten children and teachers.  A young man plants a bomb at the finish line of a world class marathon.  A young man enters a movie theatre and begins randomly shooting those watching the movie.


In the 20th century we were shocked by the gangsters of the depression, atheist despots like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and serial killers who roamed our cities.  In the 21st century, we are being shocked, but does it seem to anyone that the perpetrators are getting younger and younger?  Are the victims getting younger and younger too?


I have a theory that needs some testing.  Could it be that our entertainment is driving our troubles.  The movies and music that interest kids today increasingly have kids killing kids.  Consider The Hunger Games.  Did not one of our most horrific school shootings follow that movie by just a few months?  A movie about young adults killing helpless middle school kids preceded a young adult killing children.  How many new programs directed toward millennials' and our youth have youth killing youth?


It is true that for centuries we have had youth killing youth in wars.  The average age of a Vietnam soldier was 19.  In World War II many youthful Germans and Japanese were killed by 18 and 19 year old boys in the allied forces.  But is war different?  They are under layers of military law and can be convicted of murder for indiscriminate killing, though that conviction happens rarely as far as I can tell.  Even war is messy and creates ethical and psychological questions about the health of those who are involved in the defense of their country or people.  We spend millions to treat PTSD and reduce the rate of suicide in our veterans, and they need even more support than ever.  And the most important point, no body goes to war for entertainment.  This little post is about what entertains us, not what we have to do.


So, here is the final thought.  I don't have all the answers or statistics.  However, it seems to me that the tension and thrill of violence we find entertaining one month becomes our reality the next.  Is there a link?

10 Works of the Holy Spirit

1.  The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus. John 15:26 and John 16:14
2.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of what is wrong and what is right.  John 16:8-11
3.  The Holy Spirit regenerates us to life.  John 3:5 and 20:22
4.  The Holy Spirit lives in believers.  1 Corinthians 3:16
5.  The Holy Spirit seals believers.  Ephesians 1:13-14 and 4;30
6.  The Holy Spirit guides believers.  Romans 8
7.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to share our faith.  Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:45-49
8.  The Holy Spirit enables us to understand Scripture.  2 Timothy 3:16
9.  The Holy Spirit gives and will give life to our bodies.  Romans 8:11
10.  The Holy Spirit prompts us to worship.  John 4:24


The Holy Spirit does many things.  This is a list of ten of the things that he is busy doing today.

10 Works of the Spirit

There is so much more information in the notes of the sermon from Sunday.  I am posting the notes here.  This outline is from the AD series and this sermon is by George Wood with a few additions from me.  To listen to this sermon click on the LSC media page.


Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

For most of my upbringing as a kid in Missouri who carried the title Christian, the Holy Spirit was just a line in the liturgy.

“We believe in the Holy Spirit.”
For many who believe that the work of the Holy Spirit changed after the first century, the Holy Spirit is a purposeless theological mystery.


But the Holy Spirit is not just a mystery or idea.  The Holy Spirit is a person who is  and has been working practically and purposefully.
-From the beginning, Scripture says, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2).
-In the Old Testament, we frequently read about the actions of the Holy Spirit. He would come upon people, such as judges, kings, and prophets.
-In the New Testament, the Spirit of God conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:35).
-He descended upon Jesus bodily as a dove at His baptism (Luke 3:22).
-He anointed His preaching ministry (Luke 4:16).
-And the Holy Spirit gave Jesus supernatural power to perform signs and wonders (Matthew 12:28).