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TITLE: Losing Young People
TEXT: 2 Timothy 3:14-15
PROPOSITION: Young people are leaving the faith.
QUESTION: Why?
KEY WORD: Faults
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. I asked the question on email list – filled 12 pages (small print) with comments

2. As I read them again I began to see four catagories imerge

Generational Gap

1. Sociologists have noted differences between generations

2. Currently there are 4 identifiable segments

   1. Builders – born before 1946

      1. 65% claim to be Christians

      2. Generous

      3. Like routine in worship, prefer the old ways

   2. Boomers – born 1946-1964

      1. 35% claim to be Christians

      2. Give to causes – not institutions

      3. Tend to be more self-centered in thinking

   3. Busters – born 1965-1976

      1. 15% claim to be Christians

      2. More focus on material possessions

   4. Bridgers – 1977 – today

      1. 4 % claim to be Christians

      2. They tend to be “anchorless”

      3. Lack trust of organizations, institutions

      4. Latchkey kids who raised themselves

3. PROBLEM – Boomer preachers are not reaching Bridger children

It is the church's fault

1. Sunday School becomes – play time

2. Not required to learn – just expose them to the story

3. Too much emphasis on entertainment

   1. Little emphasis on faithfulness, worship

   2. Little stress on service, helping others

4. Perhaps left because they were never really converted (1 John 2:19)

   1. Baptized – Yes; Converted – No

   2. Luke 22:31-32

It is the fault of parents (home)

1. Parents not doing the training, teaching

2. Wrong priorities set by parents

   1. Grades – sports – get into good college – HIGH

   2. Choice of play ball or youth retreat

3. Too much material things given to them – not earning, working

It is the teens fault

1. Came because parents made them

2. Never really interested in spiritual matters

3. Early faith was in parents – who had faith in God

4. Never developed a personal faith to get them through life

Final Note:

1. Most who wrote to me said – Most, if not all will come back at some point

2. Later – after college – married – children – realize the need for God in their life

3. Often – the returning are battered, bruised

   1. Depressed, divorced, alcoholic on drugs

   2. Confused, beaten by the world, in financial stress

Conclusion:

1. IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE – WE CANNOT BE WHO WE ARE.

2. WE WILL END UP BEING WHO WE THINK WE ARE.

3. Plenty of “blame” to go around

   1. Generational problem

   2. Fault of the church

   3. Fault of parents

   4. Fault of the teen

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