Why Young People Stay “In Church”

Ate dinner 5 of 7 nights a week as a family.

• Proverbs 15:17; Matthew 6:9, 11
• “The Family Dinner Table” – Connie Adams

Served with their families in a local church.

• Romans 16:1-5; I Corinthians 16:15-18
• Parents and their children personally involved in the work of the local church.
  • Cleaning the building.
  • Participate in workday.
  • Preparing communion.
  • Taking food to a member.
  • Visiting the elderly.

Had one spiritual experience in the home during the week.

• I Thessalonians 5:17; II Timothy 3:14-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalms 145:4
• Prayer should be a daily activity.
• Reading the Bible and discussing it.
• Preparing lessons for Bible classes.
• Engaging our children in spiritual conversations.

Entrusted with responsibility in spiritual service at an early age.

• Luke 2:49; Ecclesiastes 12:1
• Helping to prepare the classroom for a new teaching quarter.
• Putting up numbers for songs/attendance.
• Handling out bulletins.
• Reading scripture.
• Leading prayer.
• Extending the invitation.
• Leading singing.

Had at least one faith-focused adult in their lives other than a parent.

• II Kings 12:2; Hebrews 13:7, 17; I Peter 5:3
• Those that take a sincere interest in them:
  • Preacher
  • Elder
  • Deacons
  • Bible class teachers
  • Parents of other young people
  • Older members

Staying in the Church

• Luke 9:23-26
• Attached instead of detached.
• Involved instead of uninvolved.
• Connected instead of disconnected.
• A spiritual focus instead of a world focus.
• Two-fold responsibility:
  • Proverbs 22:6; cf. Ephesians 6:4 – “Train up a child in the way he should go …”
  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth …”