1. Lesson 13: Losing Our Young People
The Family & the Home
Lesson 13: Losing Our Young People

2. 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

3. 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 (Lk. 15:11ff)
It is estimated that 70% of young people “leave the faith” (in denominations, in the Lord’s church) (Christianity Today, May, 14, 2014)
Why are young people lost? What can we do to prevent this?

4. Losing Our Young People
Lack of proper teaching of spiritual values (Deut. 6:6-9; Judg. 2:10; Hos. 4:6; Eph. 6:4; Tim. 1:5; 3:15) – parents should be more concerned about their child’s spiritual education than their secular/social education
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”

5. Losing Our Young People
Worldly friends (Deut. 13:6; 1 Sam. 13:3; Psa. 1:1-3; Prov. 1:10; 12:26; 22:24-25; 24:1; Cor. 15:33) – parents should guard their children against a worldly environment (Rom. 12:2; Jas. 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15)
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?

6. Losing Our Young People
Material affluence (Amos 6:1-6; Mt. 6:33; Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Tim. 6:9-10) – parents should emphasize the spiritual over the material (the Lord first over money, jobs, houses, cars, things, sports, etc.)

7. Bring the Little Children
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!

8. Review Questions
1. What part does conditioning play in a person’s life? 2. What kind of losses are parents experiencing? 3. What four factors leading to loss are discussed in this lesson? 4. What is Jesus attitude toward the little children?