Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 5/5/2009

Question
I have been put in charge of a youth program at my church. I would really like a good responsive reading to go along with the theme of the program: Train them in the way they shall go... Also when should the scripture be delivered?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

If the scripture goes with the sermon, then it should be read right before the message.  If not, it can really go anywhere in the program.

Here are two responsive readings that I have used in the past for Youth Sundays.



Reader:  Praise the Lord!  Both young men and ladies;  old men and children:

ALL: Let them praise the name of the Lord:  for His name alone is great; His glory is above the earth and the heavens.

Reader:  Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

ALL:  Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.

Reader:  And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us:

ALL: And establish the work and raising of our hands as a glorious sacrifice, and may Your blessing fall upon us.

Reader:  That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; and that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished like an adorned palace.

ALL: Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Reader:  May the Lord's blessing fall, may He fill you will wisdom.  May you live out all your days in His grace.

ALL:  May His face shine upon us and give us peace.





From Ecclesiastes 12

Reader: Don't let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator.  Honor Him in your youth before the evil days come - when you'll no longer enjoy living.

All:  It will be too late then to try to remember Him, when the sun and the light and moon and stars are dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among your clouds.

Reader:  For there will come a time when your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will become weak, and your teeth will be too few to do their work, and there will be blindness too.

ALL:  And you will waken at dawn with the first note of the birds; but you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with quavering voice.

Reader:  You will be afraid of heights and of falling- a white haired, withered old man, dragging himself along without desire, standing at death's door, and nearing his everlasting home.

ALL:  Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern; and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Reader: The wise man's words are like goads that spur to action, They nail down important truths.  Students are wise who master what their teachers tell them.

ALL: But my son, be warned: there is no end of opinions ready to be expressed.  Studying them can go on forever, and become very exhausting!!

Reader:  Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the entire duty of man.

ALL:  For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad.