Why the 4:12? The name 4:12 is based upon St. Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 , “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

What do you do as part of the 4:12?  We meet every Sunday after service for Bible class and devotions.  Every month expect to participate in retreats, special events & parties, service projects, mission trips, and more.

What grade levels are involved in the 4:12?  The grade levels involved are 9th-12th. Once a child has completed the summer after their 8th grade year, they officially become part of the 4:12, come to class, and become eligible to go to devotions, retreats, trips, etc., and serve as officers on the 4:12 council. This enables our teens to have 4 years to grow together in the love of Christ, forming bonds that they can carry with them into all aspects of their lives and to mature into the future leader of our congregation here at OSL.

Where do you meet? The 4:12 meets in the youth room every Sunday for Bible study and twice a month for planned events on the OSL campus. The youth room serves as our general meeting space as well as our classroom. We wanted our youth to have a place which they are proud of and take ownership of, where they can come together to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Rom. 14:19) and to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11).

AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, OUR PREACHING IS USELESS AND SO IS YOUR FAITH. ( 1 CORINTHIANS 15:14)

We live in a culture of blurry religious distinctions and do-it-yourself spirituality. Youth, especially, need solid ground that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with religious experiences that cannot be replicated at home, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they hear at home, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.

We are still in the early stages of planning and will have more information in January.  We plan on attending the conference on July 25-28,  at Trinity University, in San Antonio, TX.

Please complete both the Individual Registration Form and the Medical Release/History Form to insure your child has a spot available.
Go to Medical Release/History Form
Go to Individual Registration Form

If you would like to pay now for your child's trip please use the button below. Thank you.

Doubt. We confess to being poor miserable sinners every week but it can be hard to confess to wondering if there’s even a God who exists to listen at all. Doubt crept into the apostles’ hearts but we’re afraid of what it means if we find it in our own. The devil sets a trap to leave you feeling alone, cut off from the christians around you who don’t seem to struggle like you. What if it’s not real?

Jesus isn’t just some guy. He died and then didn’t stay dead. That’s our hope. You can even prove it. God gives us verifiable scripture that can be traced and upheld through history. You just can’t by your own reason or strength believe it. So He speaks to us, doubting hearts and minds that can’t quite help but question.

The same thing is the core of our hope and our worldview: the resurrection. Because it’s real. The gospel proclaimed by the Spirit to our hearts is something God dares us to question with our minds. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, we are above all to be pitied. So test it. There is evidence. This is the defense of the faith that defends you. It’s called “apologetics.” Your hope is rooted in a historic event, not in your own reason and strength.

O Ye of little faith, why did you doubt? It isn’t a challenge. It’s a call to be the one Jesus pulls from sinking waters. Like Peter. This is where you start to find your identity and belonging. You’re not cut off from Christ in this doubt…If you must doubt, doubt boldly.

In the summer of 2023 we’ll tackle a faith that isn’t a fairytale, and we’ll prove it. Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

We want to encourage the youth. Every day, young people deal with very serious issues. Whether it is sex, drugs, peer pressure, whatever, it is important for  adolescents to know that the church is the place they can turn to for help. We want to encourage them to take refuge in Christ and His church. Also, it is important to encourage the youth to know that they are part of the church right now and they do not have to wait until they are adults to serve. We see in 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 that we are a body made up of many different parts. It is crucial for teenagers to realize that they can worship and serve Christ right now.

We want to equip the youth. We firmly believe that adolescents need to be equipped with the tools of a solid faith, a servant's heart, and a working knowledge of the Bible. These are the things that will serve them their entire lives. We develop a solid faith through devotionals, thought-provoking retreats, and regular worship. We develop a sense of being a servant by helping our neighbor and each other. Finally, we develop a working knowledge of the Bible by spending time in the Word. That is the only true way to know what God really says.

We want to establish the youth. We want to establish the youth on the firm foundation given in faith by the Holy Spirit, to know that Christ is the solid rock on which they stand, all other ground is sinking sand. Because of the many snares and temptations that will be thrown at them by the devil, the world, and their own sinful flesh, it is essential that they have a sense of spiritual integrity founded only in Jesus Christ, and grounded in His Word and Sacraments. This foundation comes from knowing the Bible, having spiritual role models, and maintaining an active worship life so as to receive God’s Means of Grace for the strengthening of their faith on a regular basis.