Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

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Teenagers attending the ACE Conference were blessed to have their own conference sessions to attend this year.

"Yep! You are a Leader!" was one session offered for teens to teach them what true Biblical leadership is and how to embody it. Taught by Paul Turner, students learned Biblical leadership through a mix of interactive games, team building exercises and Bible study.

Turner, lead student ministry specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources, told the teens, "Every one of us has an opportunity to influence other people, whether we see it or not."

Turner said Christ's actions allow lives to be transformed, and he encouraged teens to be a part of that transformation process.

"Bring some other people along with you," Turner said.

He used Mark 10:42-45 to demonstrate what true leadership looks like.

"Leadership looks like serving others," he said. "Christ could have put anything in his hands but he put a towel and a wash basin."

James and John wanted a position of prominence, Turner said, which is the opposite of what Christ teaches about leadership.

Turner told the students, as Christ-followers, "you are His; that's where you come from."

"I wish more adults could remember where we come from," he added.

Students were asked to come up with their own definitions of a leader or leadership. Answers included several forms of positive influence, but Turner noted that not all leaders are positive.

"The best leaders are Godly; they don't seek position," he said. "We need to yield positive influence."

Referring to the Bible passage for the lesson, Turner told the teens leadership "isn't about position. Do the lowliest thing society says you can do: Serve."

"Get your eyes off yourself and start serving others," he said.

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