Why are we losing our young people?

How does that happen? Like this……

Not Uncommon For Young People Lose interest in spiritual matters Pull away – become “distant” Start missing some – then quit attending Date, engaged & marry non-Christian Involved in alcohol or drugs Ultimately Lose Them To The World!

According to a poll by the Barna Group, teenagers rank as the most spiritually active demographic in America. That may or may not be surprising to you Teenagers are more likely than their parents to attend church, but less likely to pray or read their Bibles. This is not surprising considering that one third of teens said their biggest reason for attending church is spending time with friends. When asked, only 45% of church-going teens said that making a spiritual connection with God at church was very important to them. The Christian statistics for college students and twenty-somethings is not pretty. We need to figure out what happens (or doesn’t happen) in the church between age 13 and 29 that results in a lack of interest in young adults. 60% of twenty-somethings say that they were involved in church as a teenager but no longer are. Only 20% of kids maintain the same level of spiritual activity during their twenties that they did during their teenage years.

Why? Knowing why may help prevent losing more!

Suggests – more than one reason why depart Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Suggests – more than one reason why depart

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends

I. Bad Influence – of their Friends Power of friendship May or may not see it Where it could lead The Warnings Tell Us A. Warnings 1. Prov. 1:10-19 2. Prov. 12:26 3. Prov. 22:24-25 4. 1 Cor. 15:33 Proverbs 1:10-19King James Version (KJV) 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Proverbs 12:26King James Version (KJV) 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. Proverbs 22:24-25King James Version (KJV) 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 1 Corinthians 15:33King James Version (KJV) 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

I. Bad Influence – of their Friends A. Warnings B. How It Happens 1. Gradually drift (Heb. 2:1) 2. Desensitized to sin (Psa. 1:1) 3. Pressure mounts when outnumbered (Exo. 23:2, 33; Rom. 12:2) 4. Easily become like them (Prov.23:20-21) Hebrews 2:1King James Version (KJV) 2 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Psalm 1:1King James Version (KJV) 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Exodus 23:2King James Version (KJV) 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Exodus 23:33King James Version (KJV) 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. Romans 12:2King James Version (KJV) 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Proverbs 23:20-21King James Version (KJV) 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends II. Poor Example – of their Parents

II. Poor Example – of their Parents A. Young People Learn From What They See 1. General principle (Matt. 5:13-16;1 Tim.4:12) 2. Become like parents (Prov. 20:7; Ez. 16:44) 3. Actions speak louder than words. Matthew 5:13-16King James Version (KJV) 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 1 Timothy 4:12King James Version (KJV) 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Proverbs 20:7King James Version (KJV) 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. Ezekiel 16:44King James Version (KJV) 44 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.

II. Poor Example – of their Parents Just Like You Trained Them! A. Young People Learn From What They See B. Young People Often See Parents Who: 1. Didn’t go to Bible Class 2. Didn’t go on Sunday night 3. Didn’t go on Wednesday night 4. Miss a lot when don’t feel good 5. Miss a lot for work 6. Emphasis on material over spiritual 7. Emphasis on school over spiritual 8. Toyed with worldliness Don’t Be Surprised When They Turn Out Just Like You Trained Them!

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends II. Poor Example – of their Parents III. Weak Image – of the Church

They form an image of the church and Christianity. III. Weak Image – of the Church From the time a child is old enough to pay attention to what goes on at church—10 years old? They form an image of the church and Christianity. Over the next 10 years….. What image is formed?

III. Weak Image – of the Church A. Strong & Impressive Image Is Powerful 1. Learn the Bible – understand it. 2. See it in action in others around them. 3. See conviction & strength. 4. Know that sin is not tolerated. 5. See people who love and respect one another

III. Weak Image – of the Church A. Strong / Impressive Image Is Powerful B. Weak Image Too Many Young People See 1. Preaching weak or hard to follow 2. Teaching in classes – unprepared / “no clue” 3. See hypocrisy in the members 4. Hear grumbling about one another What Kind Of Image Would This Give?

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends II. Poor Example – of their Parents III. Weak Image – of the Church IV. Lax Standards – at Home

IV. Lax Standards – at Home Training young people requires high standards 1. Eph. 6:1-4 2. Prov. 22:6 3. Deut. 4:9-10 Ephesians 6:1-4King James Version (KJV) 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6King James Version (KJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Deuteronomy 4:9-10King James Version (KJV) 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

IV. Lax Standards – at Home A. Training young people requires high standards B. Common Lax Standards 1. Little corrective discipline in younger years (Prov. 22:15; 19:18) 2. Careless in watching:Wear, music, movies, TV, websites, who with, where go) 3. Not make sure have Bible lessons prepared 4. Little communication to bond, teach (Prov. 29:15) Proverbs 22:15King James Version (KJV) 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 19:18King James Version (KJV) 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. Proverbs 29:15King James Version (KJV) 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends II. Poor Example – of their Parents III. Weak Image – of the Church IV. Lax Standards – at Home V. Little Time – as a Family

V. Little Time – as a Family A. Can’t Fulfill Responsibility Without Time 1. Takes time to be an example 2. Takes time to teach them 3. Takes time to help through problems 4. Takes time to understand them 5. Takes time to communicate 6. Takes time to build a relationship that last

V. Little Time – as a Family A. Can’t Fulfill Responsibility Without Time B. Redeeming Time (Eph. 5:15-16) 1. Make wise use to time 2. Sad when grow up – have no time for parents Ephesians 5:15-16King James Version (KJV) 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

V. Little Time – as a Family A. Can’t Fulfill Responsibility Without Time B. Redeeming time (Eph. 5:15-16) C. Often Too Busy 1. To eat together 2. To talk about each other’s day 3. Go somewhere as a family 4. Help a teenager through some problems

Why Are We Losing Our Young People I. Bad Influence – of their Friends II. Poor Example – of their Parents III. Weak Image – of the Church IV. Lax Standards – at Home V. Little Time – as a Family