| make it count |

living with purpose in a digital world

📍ethiopia mission trip | 📆 july 2025

last summer in ethiopia with our fellowship city church mission team, i had the privilege of speaking with teenagers at life center ethiopia about screen time, identity, and the kind of legacy we’re building in a digital world.

to make it tangible, i stretched out a 10-meter (33-foot) rope to represent a human lifespan. we marked off the months spent sleeping, working, commuting, and eating. and then we looked at what was left—the time we actually choose.

that simple exercise became a visual reminder of how much of our life is already spoken for, and how much is still ours to steward. but in a world shaped by endless scrolling, constant notifications, and curated feeds that act as echo chambers, even that remaining time is at risk of being consumed rather than invested—lost to distraction instead of anchored in truth and purpose.

in the recent weeks, i’ve felt the urgency of this message all over again. we are surrounded by noise, division, and digital connection that often leaves us more isolated than ever. and yet, we were created for presence, for purpose, and for people.

how we act and speak online can either draw us closer to—or more deeply separate us from—one another and the heart of the Father. every comment, every scroll, every moment of attention is shaping something.

the question is: what are we building? what fruit are we bearing?

why this talk?

because i’ve seen firsthand how screens and social media can quietly shape our identity, steal our attention, and dilute our purpose. i spend a lot of time on my phone and in front of a screen for work, but i’ve also felt the conviction of how easily i drift—disconnected from people, from presence, and from the moments that actually matter, missing out on meaningful relationships and joyful face-to-face connections.

maybe you’ve felt this too when you check your own screen-time report?

and while i am deeply grateful for devices and social platforms that connect me with lifelong friends and extended family—to celebrate their joys and mourn with them in their lows—i am convinced more than ever that we are not meant to do life alone—or fully digital—in this world.

i’ve also seen how young people—when reminded of their God-given worth—rise with clarity, conviction, and courage. i didn’t lecture or shame—i came to remind them (and myself) that our time is a gift, our identity is secure in Christ, and our digital influence can be used for good—to encourage and lift others to their God-given purpose.

below is the message i shared.

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while pastor joe opened the session, i sat with my phone out, pretending to be absorbed in it. i asked the rest of our fellowship city outreach mission team to do the same—heads down, disengaged, scrolling. it wasn’t until joe called my name several times that i finally looked up. then, i asked the teens, “how does it feel to be ignored? to be less important than a device?”

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opening

today we’re going to talk about being intentional and living with purpose in a digital world. we’re going to learn how to “make it count.”

good afternoon everyone! my name is matt. and despite how it appeared when i was pretending to look at my phone, i am so honored to get to spend time with you today. God has connected us with purpose, and i know He has something for each of you in this message.

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illustration

we’re going to begin with an illustration, so i need a few volunteers.

*takes out orange climbing rope marked at specific intervals, holding onto carabiner at one end*

if someone could go and stand wherever there is a piece of blue tape on the rope—let’s stretch this rope out fully while we do that.

this rope is about 10 meters [33 feet] long and it represents about 70 years of our human lifespan and (God willing) our time here on earth.

i know some of you are a few years older or younger, but for the sake our discussion, let’s assume you are 16 years old, which is about 2.3 meters [ 7 1/2 feet]. not quite a quarter of typical lifespan has already been lived! *1st rope marker*

so what’s left is this incredible gift of 54 years or 648 months of life remaining!

let’s look at how we would typically expect to use this remaining time consumed by the things we have to do in life:

• you will spend 224 months sleeping *2nd rope marker*

• you will spend 98 months in school or working *3rd rope marker*

• you will spend 14 months commuting via car, bus, or walking *4th rope marker*

• you will spend 28 months eating and cooking *5th rope marker*

• you will spend 28 months doing laundry, cleaning, and other chores or errands *6th rope marker*

• and you will spend 21 months in the bathroom and hygiene (hopefully not at one time 😂) *7th rope marker*

so you are left with about 235 months of time left in your life to do the things you want to do—the things that you are created to do & the things that use your God-given gifts

that’s just about 3 meters (2.8 meters to be exact) or just under 1/3 of your life left that is open and free to choose how you will use it *holds up 3 feet of rope*

God has given you time, talents, and influence—how will you use these in the remainder of your available years?

sadly, current statistics show that young people all over the world, including teenagers here in Ethiopia, will use 90% of that time scrolling and using a device!

that’s 210 months (over 17 years!!) of God-given time spent with your face buried in a screen, looking at social media, texting, gaming, and consuming content!

so, after doing the activities life requires like sleeping, eating, and working and spending this time on devices, you are left with only 25 months…750 days… just 2 years!!!

0.3 meters! [1 foot] of rope!! *holds up 1 foot of rope to drive point home*

………long pause………

is this how you want to use your time for your good and God’s glory?

to make your mark? to leave a legacy?

or could you live out a greater purpose here on earth this side of heaven if you chose to use your available time wisely and not be all-consumed by this device for so much of your day? *holds up 3 feet of rope again*

Psalm 90:12 (ESV) beckons: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

📷: megan rossman

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message

in today's world, screens and social media are everywhere. if you don’t have or use a mobile device today, it’s likely just a matter of time before you do. in moderation, screen use can connect, teach and entertain—an amazing resource!

but when it's used excessively and interferes with daily functioning that it becomes problematic. devices can be great tools, but they can also steal our time, distract us from our purpose, and lead us away from God's best.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) says "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity."

📷: megan rossman

God has given you time, talents, and influence—how will you use them? will you scroll endlessly, or will you make each moment count?

today we’re going to talk about four key points about screen time, social media, and devices and how to ‘make it count!’

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1. time is a gift—use it wisely

ጊዜ ስጦታ ነው—በጥበብ ተጠቀሙበት

our opening illustration reminds us how precious our time is. God has given us free will to choose how we use our time. i believe that living with purpose means using our time intentionally for God's glory.

Colossians 3:23 (NIV) – "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

📷: megan rossman

every day is an opportunity to grow, serve, and deepen our faith. screen time is not inherently bad or shameful. but sometimes we need to ask ourselves what we want more of. the exceedingly ‘more’ of life comes from presence.

joy, serving others, celebration with family, time with good friends, a beautiful sunset—they all require presence, not a phone! excessive screen time can distract from meaningful relationships and personal growth.

in fact, we can find ourselves interrupted every 15 seconds with a notification on our phones. and i’m sad to share that these apps are purposely designed to steal your attention and keep drawing you into endless scrolling and checking and scrolling…

so we need to be purposeful in being present and not letting screens steal our attention. remember how my friends and i were not present and focused on you before we started?

remember to focus on things that truly matter—prayer, family, friendships, serving others, and personal growth.

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2. your identity comes from God, not social media

ማንነትህ የሚመነጨው ከእግዚአብሔር እንጂ ከማህበራዊ ሚዲያ አይደለም።

that’s screen time—now let’s talk about social media.

• when you look at facebook or instagram, do you find yourself comparing how you look, what you wear, or how much money you have to others?

• do these ‘influencers’ sometimes make you feel like you’re behind, less than, missing out, or not enough?

• do you post a picture or a story and wonder why only three friends liked it?

• do you ask yourself why you don’t go ‘viral’?

it’s easy to compare yourself to others online—but it’s also dangerous. we see only what others choose to share: the bright and shiny, the polished, the ease, the highlights. we don’t see the pain, hardship, struggle, and loss they are not posting.

so what happens? we begin to compare ourselves—our worth—to this false standard.

my friends, please try to avoid this comparison and see your true identity. your worth is not in likes, followers, or comments—it’s in Christ.

Galatians 6:5 (NLT) – "For we are each responsible for our own conduct…"

this scripture reminds us to focus on our own walk with God, rather than trying to measure ourselves against others. i think sometimes social media can make us believe things about ourselves that are not true. so i want to remind you of something so important:

young men, i am looking at you—

you are not the car you drive, the pretty girls on your arms, the fancy watch on your wrist. you are not behind, delinquent, lazy, or some gaming zombie an online game might try to make you believe—you are a chosen and strong son of almighty God!

young women, i see you—

you are not the clothes you wear, the designer bag on your arm, the exotic vacation destinations you visit. you are not emotional, insecure, fake, or an attention-seeking commodity you might be convinced of on instagram—you are a gifted and adorned daughter of the most high King!

you are not what you post or how you feel because of what others post. you are who you are because of what Jesus did on the cross.

amen.

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3. guard your heart & mind

ስሜትህንና ሐሳብህን ጠብቅ

that’s screen time—now let’s talk about social media.

we’ve talked about screen time, and we’ve talked about how social media can influence our identity & self-worth. social media can also influence our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs about others and the world around us

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) warns “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

📷: megan rossman

so we must be mindful of what we consume online. not everything on social media builds you or lifts others up—choose content that strengthens your faith and encourages Godly living.

maybe what you see online is politically divisive, sad, critical, and seeks to divide or exaggerate a divide that already exists—to make us believe we’re more different and some ‘other’ group is ‘less than’ or even the enemy. from the lens of faith, this couldn’t be further from the truth—we are created to love God and love others!

or maybe pornography or addiction start to seep into our hearts and minds because of the content we consume online? did you know that teens aged 14 to 17 (the same ages as you) who spend more than 7 hours a day on screens are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety?

searching, scrolling, looking, following, and liking on here—seeking for love, happiness, fulfillment, peace, identify—we picked up the wrong thing! *holds up phone*

all of those are found in here, my friends! *holds up bible*

the promise—”seek and you will find” [Matthew 7:7 (NIV)]. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control—it’s who He is! [Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)]

let me tell you from experience—you will not find what you are seeking in here *holds up phone*

you may get a hit of dopamine and feel good for a few minutes, but when you put it down, it all fades.

our hearts and minds are no longer guarded in here like they are in here… *holds up phone and bible in opposite hands*

you were created for more!!

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4. shine for Christ in a digital age

በዲጂታል ዘመን ለክርስቶስ አብርታ

so far we’ve been focused on how screen time and social media affect us—our time, our identity, our hearts & minds. now let’s talk about how we use also these tools to affect others

instead of just consuming content, we can also use social media as a tool for good—to encourage others, share truth, and build meaningful connections

Matthew 5:16 (NIV) – “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

social media is incredibly powerful to share stories that uplift & inspire others!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”

what about when we comment on someone else’s post?

commenting on others’ posts should reflect the heart of the Father.

if your internet comments aren’t loving, joyful, peaceful, long-suffering, kind, good, faithful, gentle or self-controlled...you don’t need to type it out.

what if you have a concern about a friend, classmate, or family member posting online?

don’t put them on blast!

when concern is real, it seeks clarity through care—you go to the person, you reach out directly. when concern causes public commentary & speculation, it’s not actually concern and often gives way to gossip & slander.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) – “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

i want to encourage you to use these tools for good—to shine the God’s light to those around you and the person on the other side of the screen!

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5. practical steps to make it count

let’s recap what we’ve talked about so far…

• life is short and our limited time is a gift—use it wisely and be purposeful in our presence

• our identity comes from God, not social media

• we need to guard our hearts and minds from some of the ‘empty’ and ‘addictive’ things we can find online

• and we have an incredible blessing to use social media to shine God’s light

i want to give you 4 simple practical steps to live with purpose and make it count:

1. set screen time limits & be intentional with your time

   • maybe you only choose to look at your phone for 1 hour in the afternoon?

   • don’t take your phone to bed with you

2. choose real-life relationships over digital ones

   • maybe plan time to go for a walk with a friend instead of texting?

   • when you’re with your family, put your phone away and talk…

3. spend time in God’s Word before spending time online

   • don’t look at your phone when you first wake up

   • open your bible before you open your phone

4. use social media to inspire, not just to consume

   • maybe share an inspiring story about someone helping others?

   • or maybe comment on a friend’s post with kindness & encouragement?

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closing challenge: make it count

as we close and after you leave here, i hope you will remember some of what you heard today

every day, every moment, & every interaction is a chance to honor God! don’t waste it…use it with purpose!

Colossians 3:2 (NIV) – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”

*gives each youth a paracord rope bracelet to remind them to ‘make it count’ when they look at their phone*

whether online or offline, make it count—for your faith, your future, and the people God has placed around you!

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closing prayer

before we break, i would love to pray for each of you…

heavenly Father, thank you for this group of incredible teenagers You brought together today. thank you for opening our hearts and minds to the life of purpose you have for us.

we know that our time is limited and that so many things can steal our attention away from what You have planned for us. we ask You to help us remember who we are in You and guard us from the things You don’t want for us

we thank you for the gift of technology—how it connects us to people near and far and how it allows us spread joy and create Kingdom impact.

Father, your light is so bright and radiates from these young men and young women. remind them that they are loved and their purpose is as big as You

we love you and pray all of this in the name of your son, Jesus.

amen

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breakout sessions

after the main session, we split into separate breakout groups for the boys and girls. in those smaller circles, the conversations went even deeper. we talked honestly about the challenges these teens face with social media and screen time, and we didn’t shy away from the hard subjects—pornography, identity, comparison, pressure, and the quiet addictions that can form in the shadows of our digital lives. and i shared some of my own struggles and lessons learned about how easily screens can pull us away from presence and purpose. we also talked about who they’re becoming, what they aspire to, and the kind of influence they want to carry.

for me, it was a profound privilege to sit with these young men, surrounded by Godly leaders whose years of experience and faithfulness translated into wisdom these boys desperately needed. even now, i think about what an honor it was—and still is—to be a voice of encouragement and truth for young men who may not have a strong fatherly presence in their lives. in those moments, i felt the weight and joy of being a ‘spiritual dad’ to sons who are hungry for guidance, identity, and hope. 💪👊❤️