Temptations Facing Today's Youth
Pastor Tan Thai · Jun 2, 2017
This sermon analyzes the characteristics that make youth vulnerable to temptation and identifies three major traps young people face today: misused freedom, the pursuit of wealth and beauty, and sexual immorality. Scripture is used throughout to point young people toward a life of purity and the fear of God.
The sermon opens by identifying four characteristics of youth that make them especially vulnerable to temptation: abundant physical energy and strong bodily desires, passionate self-confidence that borders on arrogance, an inability to wait combined with a desire for immediate gratification, and the pressure of a rapidly changing society that drives young people to blindly follow every trend. The story of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:10-14) is cited as a classic example of youthful arrogance leading to disastrous consequences when good counsel is ignored.
Three major traps are analyzed in detail. First, misused freedom combined with moral relativism leads young people to treat all choices as equally valid, disrespecting the authority of parents, teachers, and Scripture. Galatians 5:13 and 1 Peter 2:16 are quoted to remind the audience that true freedom must be accompanied by love and responsibility. Second, the trap of wealth and physical beauty causes young people to prioritize talent and appearance over character and ethics, with tragic results illustrated by the example of Robin Williams. First Timothy 6:10-11 warns that the love of money is the root of all evil.
Third, sexual temptation is presented as the most dangerous trap, especially in the age of the internet. The preacher contrasts two figures in Genesis: Judah (Genesis 38) as a negative example of someone who failed to control his sexual desire, and Joseph (Genesis 39) as a positive example of someone who refused temptation because of his reverence for God. Proverbs 5, 6, and 7 are quoted extensively to warn against sexual immorality and to encourage faithfulness within marriage. First Corinthians 7:2-4 is cited regarding the mutual responsibilities of husband and wife.
The sermon concludes with practical advice for parents in protecting their children from internet-based temptation, including placing computers in visible areas, using filtering software, limiting screen time, and providing healthy outlets such as sports and supervised youth activities. Above all, the sermon emphasizes teaching children the fear of the Lord as the key to living a pure life, grounded in Psalm 119:9 and 1 Timothy 4:12, where Timothy is held up as a model for young believers.