OLD PATHS FOR A NEW GENERATION JUDGES 2:10-11

The rising of a new generation has always presented numerous problems in so far as keeping alive God’s true religion in the hearts of men. Our lesson text is proof of that. Throughout history man has found it hard to remain faithful to God over a long period of time. Can God’s people be faithful to Him from generation to generation? Is the Bible the book for today? Yes Today, let’s talk about 2 things we can do to make sure the next generation knows the Lord and His word.

The Instruction Of Parents God has always placed great emphasis on parental instruction, both in the Old and New Testament Deuteronomy 6:6-7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. We need to teach our children like Timothy was taught. II Timothy 3:15 That from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Do you care about your child’s salvation? Are you teaching them God’s Word? Does God, Christ, or the church come up in your daily conversations with them? orPositive When a person reaches 18 he would have been alive for over 157,680 hours. How have you used this time? Negative As parents we need to make the same decision Joshua made. Joshua 24:15 And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Fathers must take the lead.

We Need Faithful Teachers God wanted faithful teachers in the Old Testament. Leviticus 10:11 “And you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by Moses." Today, God wants and expects faithful teachers. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; II Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

All teachers have a great responsibility. James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. They must make sure the Bible is being taught in its “Old truths” should never be retired or compromised How many times do you see or hear a commercial on the TV or the radio? They are played over and over again so you will remember the name of the advertized product. The same is true with the Bible We need to keep on re- peating the same old truths Why ? PuritySimplicityEntiretyTruth

There may be some who have never heard. Those who have heard may be in danger of forget- ting what they heard unless they hear it over and over again. II Peter 1:12-13 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you. We need to keep on teaching: The Holy SpiritGodChrist That the Bible is God’s Divine Revelation to man; The Importance of the Church True Spiritual Worship

The plan of Salvation Heaven and Hell The issues that face us today We need to teach our young people and those in the world to know what the Bible says about HomosexualityFornicationAdultery I Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us that those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Issues that face the Church The women’s role in the church I Corinthians 14:34-35 and I Timothy 2:11-12 tells us that women are to remain silent in the church and not to have authority over a man. The use of instrumental music in the worship. Sometimes it is hard to maintain the purity of God’s cause.

We need to be like Paul. Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” A generation of careless teachers who fail to study and faithfully teach God’s Word will produce A generation who know not the Lord An Unfaithful Church It will only takes one untaught generation to destroy the church. WE NEED FAITHFUL TEACHERS! II Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

In Jeremiah 6:16, the Lord told the people Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, `We will not walk in it.' Today we need to desire “the old paths.” THE BIBLE IS THE BOOK FOR THIS GENERATION! We need to teach the Bible, period. God has not changed Christ has not changed The Word will never change We should remember that an untaught generation is proof of the failure of the previous generation. LET US NOT FAIL THE NEXT GENERATION!

Given by David Hamlin on am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ