1. The #1 Reason Why Young People Stay In Church Psalm 78:1 – 8

2. “Young Adults Aren’t Sticking with Church” “70% of surveyed Protestants stopped attending by age 23” “7 in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 – both evangelical and mainline – who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23” “And 34% of those said they had not returned, even sporadically by age 30. That means about one in four Protestant young people have left the church” LifeWay Research, Nashville, Tennessee USA Today by Cathy Lynn Grossman

3. Why They Left “27% wanted a break from church” 26% found church members judgmental or hypocritical” “25% moved to college” “22% felt disconnected from people at church

4. Why They Stay/Reasons Cited by 30% Who Kept Attending Church 65% it’s vital to my relationship with God 58% it helps guide my decision in everyday life 50% it helps me become a better person 43% I am following a family member’s example

5. National Study Of Youth And Religion 82% Of Children 15 to 17 Reared By Parents Who Attached Great Importance To Religion Remained Religious In Ages 24 – 29. 1% Of Children Ages 15 To 17 Reared By Parents Who Attached Little Importance To Religion Remained Religiousl In Ages 24 – 29.

6. Other Less Impactful Contributing Factors 1.Youth Ministers 2.Preachers 3.Service Projects 4.Religious Schools

7. Cultural Influences Discouraging Parents 1.At Age 12, The Role Of Parents Recedes, And The Influence Of Peers, The Media, Music, And Social Media Take Over. 2.Cultural Messages That Encourage Parents To Turn Their Children Over To “Experts.” In The Case Of Faith Formation, Many Parents Consider That To Be The Responsibility Of Preachers, Sunday Schools, And Youth Programs.

8. Conservative Or Mainline Religiously? 1.66% Of Teens With Conservative Protestant Parents Had A High Or Moderate Levels Of Religiosity As Young Adults. 1.70% Of Teens Reared By Mainline Protestant Parents Had Minimal Or Lower Levels Of Religiosity As Young Adults.

9. Why The Discrepancy? In Interviews, Many Mainline Protestant Parents Said They “Feel Guilty If They Think They Are Doing Anything To Direct Their Children Toward Their Religion As Opposed To Any Other Possibility. There’s A Sense Of Like, ‘Should You Tell Your Child That What I Believe Is Right.’”

10. What Worked For 82% Of These Parents 1.They Talked About Faith At Home (Psalm 78:4; Deuteronomy 6:6 – 7) 2.They Attached Great Importance To Their Beliefs (Psalm 78:5; 1 Corinthians 15:33 – 34) 3.They Were Active In Their Congregations (Psalm 78:6 – 7; Luke 2:41, 51 – 52; 4:16 4.They Practiced What They Preached (Psalm 78:8; James 1:22)

11. What Works For Anyone To Be Saved Hear Him (Romans 10:17) Believe Him (Mark 16:16) Repent Of Sins Against Him (Acts 2:38) Confess Him (Acts 8:37) Be Baptized Into Him (Acts 22:16) Live For Him (Galatians 2:20) To Be Restored Come Back To Him (Matthew 11:28-30) Repent (Acts 8:22) Pray (James 5:16)