Equipping Our Children

 

   It's been mentioned before, but the sad reality is that 66% percent of American young people who were regular church attendees leave the church between the ages of 18 and 22.  66%!!! That number brings me to tears! As a mother that can seem like I am facing a hopeless task as I seek to raise my children to have a relationship with Jesus that is vibrant and living.  Is it a foregone conclusion that our children will most likely leave the faith? How can parents and churches shift the current trend and produce young people who are bearing light in this dark world?  The good news is that we can raise godly children in a sinful world with confidence. God's Word is the manual and His promises never fail.  We will look at some practical ways that families and churches can lead our children to a strong, personal faith in Jesus. 

    Some of us don't have children currently.  Perhaps you are single, dating, just married, barren, or a grandparent.  Does this statistic even matter to you?  It should!  Why should this issue be the concern of all of us? Simply because Jesus said so.  He asked the question, "Who are my mother and brothers?" in Mark 3:33.  He answered his own question by saying that it is anyone who does the will of His Father.  We are all members of the body of Christ, and as such, we should all be concerned about the growth and discipleship of each member, young or old.  It should matter to you that children who at one time profess Jesus are leaving the church in droves.  How can all of us work together to change this trend?

1. Pray

    The power of prayer is real.  God hears our prayers.  We must realize that it is God's Spirit that needs to draw our children to Himself.  This is His job and we are only vessels for His use.  I have been convicted to spend more time in prayer.  Holding up one another to the Father is a privilege.  The children in our church face this sinful culture on so many fronts. The prayers of the church are needed to protect them from the Evil One's darts.  We must be united in covering our children in prayer continually. 

2.  Give Our Children A Biblical Worldview

    When our children understand that the Bible is more than just a storybook, they are more likely to rely and lean on the truths they are taught.  As the attacks from the world and our culture begin to creep in to their young minds, the ones that are confident in their understanding of who they are in Jesus and His work for them will stand strong.  Understanding that they are made in the image of Christ and that His Word and promises are unchanging gives them an anchor to cling to when everything around them is constantly uncertain.  The ones who are not confident in applying God's Word to the situations they face will grasp at the temptations around them as they seek to find grounding.  We must offer them the security in God's Word that they want and need. This involves intentional teaching of these truths at the youngest ages. 

3. Demonstrate the Proper Priorities

    Children and teenagers are always imitating something.  We must model godly priorities in our families and in our churches.  It begins with prioritizing God's Word and prayer at home and at church. Next, prioritizing the family, both within the family itself as well as the church provides security for our young people. Our children need to see that we are the family of God and that each person and family are important and cared for.  The building of strong marriages and families is not accidental.  It is intentional.  The family of God must work together to strengthen and equip our families for this purpose. As families demonstrate their commitment to the directives of God through obedience, our children see and follow.  A consistent commitment to the body of Christ above all other commitments is an example that they desperately need to see.  There is absolutely nothing of greater importance than time spent in the Word and with the body of Christ as we encourage and strengthen one another. 

 These simple tasks are very lacking in our families and churches today.  Let's change that.  Let's be the church that works together to strengthen every member (of ALL ages) in their daily walk with Jesus.  Demonstrate love.  Demonstrate faith. Most of all, demonstrate lives totally committed to our Saviour.  Walk in the Word, and let's teach our young people to walk in it also! 

💓Heather Sparks💓