Youth of Today

This is something that everyone seems to always what to know. What can i do to understand the youth of today. when it says youth this is children's ministry all the way to high school .

In truth the bible tells us exactly what it is we are suppose to do as the church. How it is we as a church are suppose to grow them to be disciples of Christ.

When you look at the numbers as to why this is important it shows us that in recent studies as of 2020 70% of teenagers that graduate high school will never step another foot through the church’s is doors.

The question becomes why?

i have a couple of reasons that they say they do not come back.

First,

Everyone is a hypocrite

the church preaches about how we are to love everyone and support everyone. how they are suppose to come as they are. when in truth they do judge us when we do.

Second,

We let traditions over ride the Bible.

The church spends more time trying to force traditions of how we are suppose to act in church rather than let us learn about the bible in the manner that is comfortable for us to understand.

Finally,

There in no support

We are taught that we are suppose to come to everything that the church puts on because it is important to support the church. but the church never comes to the things we do for us to feel supported.

these are just the top three reason there are many more. The bible gives us three steps that if we follow we as a church can change this mentally and help our youth of today become disciples of Christ.

Step one

Help the youth learn

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

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

this passage tells us we are called to help them learn so they are successful meaning we do not yell at them or belittle them we are called to teach them.

This is where that golden rule comes in to treat everyone they way you want to be treated.

Think about it as an adult you would never let anyone yell and you or belittle you to teach you something.

It is the same with the youth of today. When we want them to learn something it takes love and compassion. it takes peace. if you do not believe me then read more of your bible. You never see Christ put someone down.

We also have to remember that our traditions show never override what the bible says.

While we teach them the way we should go we have to remember that everyone learns differently, it is not alway the traditional way.

Christ was not traditional he was biblical if you want proof look at the lady that was suppose to be stone what did christ do?

He knelt down and started drawing in the dirt. it does not really matter what he drew what matters is is that not a little kid thing to do?

Step two

Set the Standard

1 Timothy 4:12 LEB

12 Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

This is a verse we talk about a lot but it is one that is important as the church to understand. It is the second half of the verse we see what it tells us to do.

We are called to be Examples we have to lead by example. We have to actively show them Gods love even when we as the worldly side of us say they deserve to be yelled at and disciple We never see that out of Christ. We see him teach them God’s Word, Love, belief in them.

Step Three

Be More Forgiving

Colossians 3:13 CSB

13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

We as a church can alway use this reminder that we are called to be more forgiving. When a youth messes us the reaction that we give could be the one thing that could prevent them or enable them to stay at the church.

I know a lot of us are saying to our selves that i am forgiving but let me ask you something that really puts a gut check on me when thought about. What would others say about you. Would they see you as forgiving or would they see you as someone that holds grudges.

We are called to forgive all Christ forgave you and gives you the opportunity to hit the rest button daily whenever we mess up.

We are called to do the exact same thing. it starts with us as the church to be the example to shape the younger ones.

It starts with us in our personal lives .

We are have to know what kind of forgiveness we are called to give. The question become to do you Jesus if you don’t now is the time to come and find out. that there is a love out there that none of us can explain there is a love that tells us it is okay to not be okay.