Train Them Up

intro

Prov. 22:6

This is cause and effect but can also be a warning, literally says “his way”

What does it mean to “train up a child”? To teach...

Deut. 6:5-9

“teach diligently”= clear, simple, straightforward

Jesus quotes Deut. in Matt. 22:37 meaning Scripture must pervade every aspect of your life.

Push back: “That’s OT”

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

2 Timothy 3:14–15“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is reminding Timothy of when his training started

The expectation in both OT and NT is that training must be done within the family.

Why, when our Church is so diverse.

Gallup Survey Graphic

According to a Gallup survey, childhood church attendance does make it more likely for a person to attend as an adult. Among those who attended almost every week or more growing up, 38% attend at the same rate today. For those who attended monthly as a child, 23% now attend religious services about weekly.

The most recent Lifeway Research study of teenage church dropouts found 66% of those who attended a U.S. Protestant church regularly for at least a year also stopped attending for at least a year as a young adult.

In fact Ken Ham with Answers in Genesis shared two weeks ago but we’ve known for a decade, 70-88% of youth born in evangelical homes leave the faith after one year in a secular college.

Answer: We have outsourced our discipleship...

Matt. 28:18-20

We for years, possibly decades, have said these 2hr/wk in church is enough to combat all other forms of discipleship.

We believe the Lord could be returning soon but our culture doesn’t and is willingly to spend upwards of 15 years discipling your children according to their view.

They’re not even hiding it anymore.

Using this “15yr” number 2 ways, 1) public education, & 2) a person’s worldview is essentially formed by the age of 13 (Barna)

12+ years of hearing “there is no God”, “you’re just a cosmic accident”, “there is no objective truth”, “do what feels good”, “follow your heart”, and we wonder why our kids have problems.

2hr/wk doesn’t hold a candle to 40hr/wk...

“Well, I don’t think we should force our religion on others”, we Christians are the only ones playing by that rule

And everyone else is using it against us.

Every conflicting view wants Christian to have a private faith. Why? A private faith is an impotent faith.

So what can we do?

We have to take responsibility.

Start personally.

Because You have to model it.

1 Thess. 5:9-24

Maybe you don’t have a child at home, be a mentor.

The church is supplemental discipleship.

This community of believer is here to help (mentorship)

Titus 2:1-8

Use Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Scripture is “God-breathed”; never returns void and accomplishes all its intended to (Is. 55:11)

Invite those around you into your study time, your devotion

Read it with your kids. Answer their questions when they don’t understand.

Be Consistent

1 Corinthians 15:56–58 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Be consistent with what you can. Try different things. Find a rhythm.

Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Are we cultivating these in home? Can it be seen by those around us?

Here’s the Challenge:

Are we training up a child in the way they should go?

Seek the Lord for He is faithful. Alters are open

Pray, “Lord give me understanding of your Word so I can teach it to my kids.”, “God, show me how I can be a mentor to these young people.”, “Father, reveal every opportunity you’ve given to help cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in my grandchild/ niece/nephew.”

Wednesday our Youth leave for camp, will you be ready to help keep that fire going?

Why wait until Wednesday?