Welcome to The Turnaround!

Week Two Focus:  God is Love! 

As We Learn of His Love, Pray That Believers Will Have a Heart to Reach the Children, and the Children Will Learn of Him!

Introduction

We live in a world that constantly tells us to consume. From advertisements to social media, children today are bombarded with messages that say they need more and more toys, more followers, more entertainment, more of everything. The culture around us encourages a mindset of taking, wanting, and accumulating. But when God created humanity, He didn’t create us to be consumers first. He created us to contribute.

Isaiah 43:7 reminds us that we were made by God and for His glory. From the very beginning, He gave Adam a role to work, to cultivate the garden, and to take care of what was entrusted to him (Genesis 2:15). God’s design for us has always been to give, serve, and build, not just to take. However, this truth is in direct conflict with the messages of our modern world. The question is: will we follow God’s design or the world’s distractions?

Insight

At its core, consumption is about taking in. It’s not wrong to enjoy good things God provides for us and blesses us. But when consuming becomes our primary goal, it leads to selfishness. The more we focus on ourselves, the less we focus on others and on God’s greater purpose.

On the other hand, contributing is selfless. It’s about giving, creating, serving, and using our God-given gifts for His glory. Jesus Himself modeled this perfectly. He came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). He spent His life pouring into others, healing the sick, teaching the lost, and ultimately giving His life for us. His purpose was not to consume but to contribute.

Imagine what would happen if the next generation fell in love with contributing. What if, instead of chasing after what they could get, they longed to use their gifts for God’s kingdom? What if they found joy in serving rather than in taking? This is what we should pray for, not just for children, but for all of us.

Turnaround Questions

Do you find more joy in what you receive or in what you give?

How has God gifted me, and how can I use those gifts to glorify Him?

In what ways am I encouraging the next generation to be contributors rather than just consumers?

How can I model a life of contribution to the children in my life?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You created us for Your glory, not for our own gain. Help us teach this next generation the beauty of contributing rather than just consuming. Open their eyes to see that true fulfillment is found in serving You and others. Stir their hearts to use their gifts, talents, and time for Your kingdom. Raise up children who are givers, creators, and workers for Your glory. Let them be known not for what they take, but for how they give. May we, as the body of Christ, model this lifestyle for them every day. 

In Jesus name, Amen.

Let’s commit to praying for and raising a generation of contributors, children who use their lives for God’s glory, rather than their own gain.