Lesson 18 Losing Our Young People

Child Conditioning Conditioning (words, habits, values, etc.) plays a big part in a person’s life…  What foods you eat or clothes you wear.  What political party you choose.  What sports team you follow.  What education or job you will have.  What you will be religiously.

Losing Our Young People  Many parents are heartbroken over the loss of their children; some parents lose their children to physical illness and death, others to spiritual illness and death (Luke 15:11).  It is estimated that 50% of young people “leave the faith” (in denominations, in the Lord’s church)  Why are young people lost?  What can we do to prevent this?  Is there anything that we can do? 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

 Lack of proper teaching of spiritual values  Deut. 6:6-9;  Judg. 2:10;  Hos. 4;6;  Eph. 6:4;  2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15.  Parents should be more concerned about their child’s spiritual education than their secular education. Losing Our Young People Deut 6:6-9 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 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. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Judges 2:10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Ephe 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. 2 Tim 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 Hypocritical parents / faulty role models  1 Kings 11:4;  Prov. 20:7;  Mt.18:6  Parents should say and do; actions often speak louder than words; “monkey see, monkey do” Losing Our Young People 1 Kg 11:4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. Prov 20:7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. Mt 18:6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 Worldly “friends”  Deut. 13:6;  Psa. 1:1-2;  Prov. 1:10;  Prov. 12:26;  Prov. 22:24-25;  Prov. 24:1;  1 Cor. 15:33)  Parents should guard their children against a worldly environment (Rom. 12:2; Jas. 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15) Losing Our Young People Deut 13:6 “If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night Prov 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Prov 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. Prov 22:24-26 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. Prov 24:1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Is the world doing a better of job of teaching your children than you are? Is the world getting to your children before you do? Losing Our Young People

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Eph 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 We need to bring the little children to Jesus (Mt. 19:13-15; Mk. 10;13-16; Lk. 18:15-17)  But, we need to keep the young people with Jesus! Losing Our Young People Mat 19:13-15 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Mark 10: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. Luke 18:15-17 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”