Sunday night I preached for our student event at Elevation.  Before I became a pastor, I traveled and preached to thousands of students all over the country every year.  I’ve retired as a youth speaker, but I can’t seem to stay away from the students at Elevation.  They fire me up. 

I didn’t have to tell a single joke to get their attention.  Or make a single pop culture reference to earn credibility.  I just stood up, shucked the corn, and watched as hundreds of students filled the aisle for an old fashioned altar call as the night drew to a close. 
It’s very refreshing to see such a large group of students honor their senior pastor by giving careful and respectful attention to the Word of God. 

I’m finding that these days, every time I get up in front of the students at Elevation to address them specifically, I seem to deliver the same message in various packaging:
God has a divine destiny designed for you…don’t miss it.

It’s amazing to watch the students light up as they collide with the concept of their high calling in Christ! 
Senior pastors, youth pastors, parents, teachers:
Spend as much time as possible teaching the kids you influence to fall in love with the future God has planned for them.  If you do this, saying no to drugs and staying sexual pure will take care of itself.
I know of nothing that motivates students to live God honoring lives than to speak to their potential, and to cast a compelling vision that they wouldn’t dream of abandoning for the passing pleasures of sin.

We’ve got big plans for our students this Fall.  I leaked a little about it last night.
And if you don’t know, you’d better ask somebody: 
Awakening is an event that is going to shake the foundation of our city.

Elevation students: your pastor loves you and believes in you more than you’ll ever know. 
Come out of your winepress and take a bold stand for the glory of God!