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 PeopleDeut 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 24:1Do 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

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 10:13-16 13 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.”