1. Lesson 13: Losing Our Young People
The Family & the Home
Lesson 13: Losing Our Young People

2. Losing Our Young People
Many parents are heartbroken over the loss of their children; some parents lose their children to physical illness and death, others to spiritual illness and death (Lk. 15:11ff)
It is estimated that 50% of young people “leave the faith” (in denominations, in the Lord’s church)
Why are young people lost? What can we do to prevent this?

3. Losing Our Young People
Evil influences (Prov. 4:24; Eph. 5:11; Thess. 5:22) – parents should guard their children against evil influences (music, movies, magazines, Internet, drugs, alcohol, fornication, education, entertainment, etc.)

4. Losing Our Young People
Church problems (Gal. 5:15) – parents should look for and promote a healthy local church environment (stand for truth, Bible-based, balanced preaching, no fussing and fighting, running down brethren, worldly brethren, etc.) 4

5. Losing Our Young People
Lukewarm spirituality (Rev. 3:1, 15-16) – parents should be fully committed to the Lord; not have one foot barely in the church (lack of attendance, tardy, will not get involved in the local work, etc.)
Personal choice (Prov. 1:8, 30; Ezek. 18:5, 10; Lk. 15:11ff) – parents can do their best but often the child refuses the good and departs later in life

6. Losing Our Young People (Summary)
We are losing our parents
We are losing our culture
We are losing our local churches
We are losing our young people

7. What Can Parents Do?
We need to give our children proper spiritual values (faith, honesty, work, worship, etc.)
We need to prioritize what is most important (God, Bible, church services, etc.)
We need to keep our children from evil influences (friends, technology, etc.)
We need to get our children to be their own follower of Christ (active, faithful Christian)

8. What Can A Young Person Do?
A young person can…
Learn from good teaching and training (Prov. 22:5; )
Learn from the worst and determine to be different (Ezek. 18:14)
Return after losing his way (Lk. 15:11ff)
Choose the right course (Psa. 119:9-16)

9. Review Questions
1. What kind of losses are parents experiencing? 2. What four factors leading to loss are discussed in this lesson? 3. What can and should parents do to keep from losing their children? 4. What can a young person do to keep from losing his soul?