Speaking To College Students

This week I am at Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, speaking to college students. I have the wonderful privilege of speaking on campus during a lecture series established in memory of Perry Sanders, the long time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lafayette, Louisiana, and a friend of mine.

Speaking to a new generation is one of the most challenging and enjoyable opportunities I receive.

Why is this challenging as well as important?

First, we need to reach the next generation for Christ. This generation (called the Millennials) was born between 1980 and 2000. They are the first generation coming of age in the new millennium. Of this large group of young people (age 13-33) only 15% profess faith in Christ. Compare that with the generation of their grandparents and great grandparents where 65% profess faith in Christ. We have a huge job to take a relevant message of Christ to a generation without roots and without hope.

Second, we always have to tailor the message so that the hearers really get it. We have only one message (the gospel of Jesus Christ) but we have to use many methods to help people apart from God hear and accept the message.

To give you an example of why we must tailor the message consider this. The college freshmen I will be speaking to today were six years old when America was attacked twelve years ago today. Were they aware of what was happening? Did they feel the deep emotions the adults of that day felt?

We have to learn their language and the context in which they live. Then we must share the wonderful and unchanging message that brings hope and blessings.

By the way, yesterday went really well. They listened intently to the message. Today I will preach about courage from the story of David and Goliath.

I will remind them that courage is what you do not what you are. If you act courageously (even when you’re afraid), you are courageous. This generation of Christians may need courage like people in America have never seen before.

Please pray as I preach and as they hear.

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6 Responses

  1. Wish I could hear your message today. Thank you for your friendship and spiritual guidance. As a fellow college freshman, it’s always nice when a speaker can gear their message so that all listeners can understand. Praying everything goes well.

  2. Glorious Heavenly Father, how great is your name in all the earth. May the Holy Spirit work through Pastor Bailey and impress upon the young people he speaks to the importance of courage in Christ. May his words be fully pleasing to you and of great importance to those who hear. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

    1. Thank you for your prayer for me and my audience. It went great by the way. They are an impressive group of students, very attentive and seemed genuinely happy to be there.

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