Not Uncommon For Young PeopleNot Uncommon For Young People

• Lose interest in spiritual matters

• Pull away – become “distant”

• Start missing some – then quit attending

• Date, engaged & marry non-Christian

• Involved in alcohol or drugs

Ultimately Lose Them To The World!Ultimately Lose Them To The World!

Proverbs 22:6Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

• A General Principle• Suggests – more than one reason why depart

Why?Why?

Knowing whyKnowing whymay help preventmay help prevent

losing more!losing more!

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

A. A. WarningsWarnings1. Prov. 1:10-191. Prov. 1:10-192. Prov. 12:262. Prov. 12:263. Prov. 22:24-253. Prov. 22:24-254. 1 Cor. 15:334. 1 Cor. 15:33 1.Power of friendship

2.May or may not see it

3.Where it could lead

The WarningsThe WarningsTell UsTell Us

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

A. A. WarningsWarnings

B.B. How It HappensHow It Happens

1. Gradually drift 1. Gradually drift (Heb. 2:1)(Heb. 2:1)

2. Desensitized to sin 2. Desensitized to sin (Psa. 1:1)(Psa. 1:1)

3. Pressure mounts when outnumbered 3. Pressure mounts when outnumbered

(Exo. 23:2, 33; Rom. 12:2)(Exo. 23:2, 33; Rom. 12:2)

4. Easily become like them 4. Easily become like them (Prov. 23:20-21)(Prov. 23:20-21)

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

A. A. Young People Learn From What They SeeYoung People Learn From What They See

1. General principle (Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Tim. 4:12)1. General principle (Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Tim. 4:12)

2. Become like parents (Prov. 20:7; Ez. 16:44)2. Become like parents (Prov. 20:7; Ez. 16:44)

3. Actions speak louder than words.3. Actions speak louder than words.

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

A. A. Young People Learn From What They SeeYoung People Learn From What They See

B.B. Young People Often See Parents Who:Young People Often See Parents Who:1. Didn’t go to Bible Class1. Didn’t go to Bible Class2. Didn’t go on Sunday night2. Didn’t go on Sunday night3. Didn’t go on Wednesday night3. Didn’t go on Wednesday night4. Miss a lot when don’t feel good4. Miss a lot when don’t feel good5. Miss a lot for work5. Miss a lot for work6. Emphasis on material over spiritual6. Emphasis on material over spiritual7. Emphasis on school over spiritual7. Emphasis on school over spiritual8. Toyed with worldliness8. Toyed with worldliness

Don’t Be Surpris

ed

When They Turn Out Just L

ike You Trained Them!

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

From the time a child is old From the time a child is old enough to pay attention to what enough to pay attention to what

goes on at churchgoes on at church

(For example: 10 years old)(For example: 10 years old)

They form an image of the church They form an image of the church and Christianity.and Christianity.

Until they are 20 (10 year period) Until they are 20 (10 year period) What image is formed?What image is formed?

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

A. A. Strong / Impressive Image Is PowerfulStrong / Impressive Image Is Powerful

1. Learn the Bible – understand it.1. Learn the Bible – understand it.

2. See it in action in others around them.2. See it in action in others around them.

3. See conviction & strength.3. See conviction & strength.

4. Know that sin is not tolerated.4. Know that sin is not tolerated.

5. See people who love and respect one another5. See people who love and respect one another

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

A. A. Strong / Impressive Image Is PowerfulStrong / Impressive Image Is Powerful

B.B. Weak Image Too Many Young People SeeWeak Image Too Many Young People See

1. Preaching weak or hard to follow1. Preaching weak or hard to follow

2. Teaching in classes – unprepared / “no clue”2. Teaching in classes – unprepared / “no clue”

3. See hypocrisy in the members3. See hypocrisy in the members

4. Hear grumbling about one another4. Hear grumbling about one another

What Kind Of Image Would This Give?

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

IV. Lax Standards – at HomeIV. Lax Standards – at Home

IV. Lax Standards – at HomeIV. Lax Standards – at Home

A. A. Training young people requires high Training young people requires high

standardsstandards

1. Eph. 6:1-41. Eph. 6:1-4

2. Prov. 22:6 2. Prov. 22:6

3. Deut. 4:9-103. Deut. 4:9-10

IV. Lax Standards – at HomeIV. Lax Standards – at Home

A. A. Training young people requires high Training young people requires high

standardsstandards

B.B. Common Lax StandardsCommon Lax Standards

1. 1. Little corrective discipline in younger years Little corrective discipline in younger years

(Prov. 22:15; 19:18)(Prov. 22:15; 19:18)

2. Careless in watching: (Wear, music, movies, TV, 2. Careless in watching: (Wear, music, movies, TV,

who with, where go)who with, where go)

3. Not make sure have Bible lessons prepared3. Not make sure have Bible lessons prepared

4. Little communication to bond, teach (Prov. 29:15)4. Little communication to bond, teach (Prov. 29:15)

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

IV. Lax Standards – at HomeIV. Lax Standards – at Home

V. Little Time – as a FamilyV. Little Time – as a Family

V. Little Time – as a FamilyV. Little Time – as a Family

A. A. Can’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without TimeCan’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without Time

1. Takes time to be an example1. Takes time to be an example

2. Takes time to teach them2. Takes time to teach them

3. Takes time to help through problems3. Takes time to help through problems

4. Takes time to understand them4. Takes time to understand them

5. Takes time to communicate5. Takes time to communicate

6. Takes time to build a relationship that last6. Takes time to build a relationship that last

V. Little Time – as a FamilyV. Little Time – as a Family

A. A. Can’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without TimeCan’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without Time

B.B. Redeeming timeRedeeming time (Eph. 5:15-16) (Eph. 5:15-16)

1. Make wise use to time1. Make wise use to time

2. Sad when grow up – have no time for parents2. Sad when grow up – have no time for parents

V. Little Time – as a FamilyV. Little Time – as a Family

A. A. Can’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without TimeCan’t Fulfill Some Respon. Without Time

B.B. Redeeming timeRedeeming time (Eph. 5:15-16) (Eph. 5:15-16)

C. C. Often Too BusyOften Too Busy

1. To eat together1. To eat together

2. To talk about each other’s day2. To talk about each other’s day

3. Go somewhere as a family3. Go somewhere as a family

4. Help a teenager through some problems4. Help a teenager through some problems

I. Bad Influence – of their FriendsI. Bad Influence – of their Friends

II. Poor Example – of their ParentsII. Poor Example – of their Parents

III. Weak Image – of the ChurchIII. Weak Image – of the Church

IV. Lax Standards – at HomeIV. Lax Standards – at Home

V. Little Time – as a FamilyV. Little Time – as a Family