Hello, friends,
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it's such a blessing
for you to join us once more
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for another 3ABN Worship Hour.
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And I just want to thank
you so much for being faithful
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to this
ministry, for watching us
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and being a part of
this incredible ministry
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because you are
part of 3ABN family.
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Without you, this
network does not exist.
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Today, we are going to
dive deep into God's Word
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into the writings of
the Spirit of Prophecy.
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And we're going to be
taking on a very important topic
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that the Lord
has laid on my heart,
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one that is
absolutely imperative for us
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to comprehend today.
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And so I don't
want to waste much time.
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I want to have a prayer,
get right into this topic
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because we're going to
need every minute we can get.
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Let us pray together.
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Our Father in heaven, Lord,
we dedicate this time to You.
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This is Your worship our Lord.
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We are gathered all
around the world to worship You,
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because You are worthy, Lord.
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And we thank You
for the opportunity
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that we have once
again to worship You,
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as Your Word says,
in spirit and in truth.
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And, Lord, may that be the truth
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right now, may
that be the reality
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that we uplift praise,
that we give You glory,
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through the rightly dividing
of Your Word that, of course,
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is led by the Holy Spirit.
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So, Lord, we're
asking for the Holy Spirit,
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leading God in my words,
Lord, leading God in my thoughts
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that every word, every action,
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every thought
that is communicated
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is that of Yours.
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And may each
and every one of us,
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including myself, be awakened
to such an hour as this,
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that we may be
aware of the times
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that we are and
the situation at hand.
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We praise You and we thank You,
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Lord, for all that
You have done for us.
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And again, we give this
time to You in Jesus' holy name.
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Amen.
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The title of today's
message is one that I made up.
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It's not a real word.
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But it's one that I
made up for the purpose
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of grasping your attention.
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It's a mysterious title.
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It's one that people
are going to read and go,
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"Oh, I kind of get it
but maybe not, I don't know."
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The title is Youthanasia,
but not the euthanasia
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that you may have heard
of or maybe thinking of.
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This Youthanasia is spelled
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Y-O-U-T-H-A-N-A-S-I-A.
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Of course, this is a
play on words from the concept
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of the real word euthanasia
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which is spelled
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E-U-T-H-A-N-A-S-I-A.
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And there may be someone
watching right now that says,
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"Okay, there's a real
word called euthanasia.
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What in the
world does that mean?"
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I'll give you
the real definition
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that I found
online and here it is,
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euthanasia the real word,
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E-U-T-H-A-N-A-S-I-A, euthanasia.
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This is what it means,
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the act or practice of killing
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or permitting the
death of hopelessly sick
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or injured individuals,
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such as a person
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or domestic animals
in some kind of way.
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It goes on to say, in
a relatively painless way
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for reasons of mercy.
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Euthanasia, it's a,
it's not a positive thing.
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It's one that you hear about,
you might have read about.
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It's a sad
reality that in the world,
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in certain parts of
the world and in the past,
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this practice of euthanasia,
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permitting the
taking away of life,
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for whatever reason,
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was practiced in the
past and in certain parts
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of the world today.
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But, my friends, today,
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I'm not talking about
the real word euthanasia.
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We're not going
to be talking about
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the real killing of people.
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I promise you
that's not the case.
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But as you can see, on the
screen behind me, Y-O-U-T-H.
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We're talking about
our youth today and,
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of course, as a play
on words, Youthanasia.
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I'm going to be talking today
about a very serious dilemma
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that's going on
in the world today,
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in our church around the world.
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And we're going to be
talking about the importance
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of retaining and
keeping our youth in the fold.
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How do we witness?
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How do we win the
hearts of our young people?
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We are actually in a
very serious situation,
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a very serious dilemma
in which there is a mass
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and has been a mass exodus
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of young people
out of the church.
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And, of course, this
is what I would consider
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to be called a
spiritual Youthanasia,
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of course, the
play on the word youth.
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My friends, what
are we going to do?
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How are we going to
reach these young people?
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We're going to talk
about all of this today,
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but first we need
to consider the facts.
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And we need to address
the elephant in the room
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that many of us have
probably played a part
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in this mass
exodus of the young people
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from the church today.
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I usually don't do this.
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But before we dive
right into these details,
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I just want to say one
more quick short prayer.
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As I have introduced this,
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I know your mind is wondering
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what in the world is
he going to talk about.
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You know, we know
that there's not a lot
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of young people
in church, but how,
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where's he going to take this?
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Let us pray one more
time, just a quick short prayer,
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that the Holy Spirit
will open our hearts and minds
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to be receptive to
the Spirit of truth.
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Father in heaven, I
just want to ask one more,
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Lord, not because You
didn't hear the first prayer.
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But because we come to
You once more in earnesty
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or we come earnestly before You.
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And we place ourselves
humbly in Your presence.
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And we ask for the Spirit
of truth to lead and guide us.
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Soften our hearts, Lord,
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and help us to be
open to Your leading
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and guiding right
now, in Jesus' name I pray.
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Amen.
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I would like to start
with a quote from an article
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that was posted back in 1992.
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May seem a little outdated,
but the truth is spot on.
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This is coming from Peter F.
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Drucker, in an article
that he posted entitled,
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The Post-Capitalist World.
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But a piece of this
really caught my attention
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when I found it.
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And I want to share
it with you right now.
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And I think you'll
find that this truth
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is very relevant for today.
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He says in the article,
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"Every few hundred
years in Western history,
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there occurs a
sharp transformation.
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Within a few short
decades, society, its worldview,
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its basic values, its
social and political structure,
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its arts, its key
institutions rearranges itself.
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Fifty years later,
there is a new world.
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And the people born
then cannot even imagine
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the world in which
their grandparents lived
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and into which their
own parents were born.
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We are currently living
through such a transformation."
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As I read through that quote,
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I don't think anyone in
their right mind would deny
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the truthfulness
of that paragraph
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that I just read.
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We are certainly seeing that.
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And we have seen that in history
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that ever so many
years, as generations go by,
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we see a drastic transformation
in life in general,
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but especially the mentality,
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the ideology and the beliefs
of people as time goes by.
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Now, I just had like
a little quick breakdown
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of the multiple
different generations
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from the early 1900s,
all the way up to today.
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And it's quite
interesting when you consider it
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because the majority
of these stand alone,
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while the latter generations
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again stand alone
in and of themselves,
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but separate from the previous
generations before them.
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For instance, if you
consider from 1910 to 1924,
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this is what is known
as The Greatest Generation.
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And then you have 1925 to 1945,
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what is known as
The Silent Generation.
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And then, of
course, from 1946 to 1964,
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The Baby Boomer Generation.
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And then anyone
born from 1965 to 1979,
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this is what is
known as Generation X.
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And then we get
into what is known
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as the modern
generations, the Millennials,
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which is anyone
born from 1980 to 1994.
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The iGen or
Generation Z generation,
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which is anyone
born from 1995 to 2012.
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And then the one that many
people don't have a clue about,
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but is actually
a new generation,
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the newest generation
is anyone born between 2013
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and of course the future 2025
is known as Generation Alpha.
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Now, what's interesting is,
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there is no doubt that anyone
who was born pre-Millennial,
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in other words, from
The Greatest Generation
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all the way through
to this Generation X,
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most of those people would say,
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"Man, who are these Millennials?
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How do we reach
these Millennials?
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It seems like they have a
different mind of their own,
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a different idea of life
and different set of beliefs."
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The same thing
applies to this Generation Z
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as well as this, of
course, a younger generation
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that's going to
be up and coming,
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the Generation Alpha.
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But, my friends,
these are real people,
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these are our
children, these are our youth.
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And even though there
seems to be a drastic divide
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of ideology, a drastic divide
of mentality and understanding
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of the different aspects of life
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and especially pertaining
to religion and spirituality,
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spiritual things
that are important to us,
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there is still a way
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that we can reach
these young people.
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But it also might mean
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that we have to do
some self-examination,
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that we have to address
the elephant in the room
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and that we also
ourselves might have to do
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some reformation of thought
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and idea in order to
reach our young people of today.
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There's one more
quote, it's a lengthy quote,
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but this actually really nails
down the difference in idea
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or perception of
what we call truth.
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Okay?
00:10:01.60\00:10:02.93
And when I say what
we call truth, you know,
00:10:02.96\00:10:04.77
there may be someone
sitting at home right now says,
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.43
"Well, I know what truth is.
00:10:06.47\00:10:07.80
I know exactly what truth is."
00:10:07.84\00:10:09.40
And while
somebody else is saying,
00:10:09.44\00:10:10.77
"Well, I also
know what truth is."
00:10:10.81\00:10:12.14
But you bring
these people together
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and they have a different
conclusion or different idea
00:10:13.61\00:10:15.98
about what truth is.
00:10:16.01\00:10:18.68
But in Dr. Hyveth Williams book,
00:10:18.71\00:10:21.25
Nothing But the
Best on page 156 and 157.
00:10:21.28\00:10:24.95
She describes the
difference between what is known
00:10:24.99\00:10:27.62
as the modernist mentality,
which is yesterday's mentality,
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you know, that The
Greatest Generation
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through to the
Generation X mentality
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of how to come to truth
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or how to
determine what truth is.
00:10:38.53\00:10:41.64
And then she compares
that or actually contrast that
00:10:41.67\00:10:44.71
to the idea of what
is known as postmodernism
00:10:44.74\00:10:48.04
or a postmodernist mentality
of what truth is or how do we,
00:10:48.08\00:10:52.48
how we come to the
conclusion of what truth is.
00:10:52.51\00:10:54.85
And this is
what she says, again,
00:10:54.88\00:10:56.22
this is Dr. Hyveth
Williams in her book,
00:10:56.25\00:10:58.02
Nothing But the
Best, page 156 and 157.
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And she says, "We were trained,
speaking of the modernist,
00:11:00.96\00:11:04.66
we were trained
to discover truth
00:11:04.69\00:11:06.29
based on the five foundational
Protestant principles
00:11:06.33\00:11:09.56
of number one, Sola scriptura,
00:11:09.60\00:11:12.73
which means by Scripture alone.
00:11:12.77\00:11:15.07
Number two, Sola fide,
which means by faith alone.
00:11:15.10\00:11:20.01
Number three, Sola gratia,
which means by grace alone.
00:11:20.04\00:11:25.01
Number four, Sola Christo,
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which means
through Christ alone.
00:11:27.58\00:11:30.39
And number
five, Soli deo Gloria,
00:11:30.42\00:11:33.32
which means glory to God alone."
00:11:33.36\00:11:36.96
But she goes on
to say, "But today,
00:11:36.99\00:11:39.63
the Western world has
seen a significant change
00:11:39.66\00:11:43.23
in this concept of truth,
00:11:43.26\00:11:45.63
for postmodernism
holds to no objective truth.
00:11:45.67\00:11:50.01
Rather, truth is not to
be discovered but created.
00:11:50.04\00:11:54.61
This means that, from
a postmodern perspective,
00:11:54.64\00:11:57.88
whatever you
think is truth is truth.
00:11:57.91\00:12:01.52
It doesn't matter
what an author wrote,
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.35
especially in the
ancient books of the Bible
00:12:03.39\00:12:05.69
or in
Judeo-Christian writings today.
00:12:05.72\00:12:09.39
Postmodernists tend
to favor the concepts
00:12:09.42\00:12:11.96
of alternative
reality called uchronie
00:12:11.99\00:12:14.63
or counterfactual theory,
00:12:14.66\00:12:16.90
concluding that
perception is everything.
00:12:16.93\00:12:21.10
It means that whatever
you perceive to have happened
00:12:21.14\00:12:24.27
is just as true
00:12:24.31\00:12:25.64
as what actually did take place.
00:12:25.67\00:12:28.11
Thus, their motto is
'Don't impose your values on me.
00:12:28.14\00:12:33.68
Let me determine what
is right or wrong for me.'"
00:12:33.72\00:12:38.49
You know, as I
read through that,
00:12:38.52\00:12:39.85
I'm sure there's many
parents, many grandparents,
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.86
family members, friends at home,
00:12:42.89\00:12:44.66
that as I read
through that have said, yep,
00:12:44.69\00:12:47.03
that exactly
applies to maybe my grandson
00:12:47.06\00:12:50.30
or maybe my son or my daughter
00:12:50.33\00:12:52.10
or whoever it is
you're thinking of right now,
00:12:52.13\00:12:54.17
that's a young person.
00:12:54.20\00:12:55.80
You know, it seems
like there's a divide,
00:12:55.84\00:12:58.37
there's a big gap.
00:12:58.41\00:13:00.21
And we're trying to understand
how do we fill that gap?
00:13:00.24\00:13:03.04
How do I reach my son?
00:13:03.08\00:13:04.41
How do I reach my daughter?
00:13:04.45\00:13:05.81
How do I get them
interested in spiritual things?
00:13:05.85\00:13:09.55
And more specifically,
how do I get them interested
00:13:09.58\00:13:11.85
in the truth of God's Word
00:13:11.89\00:13:13.92
when many of the
young people today have
00:13:13.96\00:13:15.49
a different perspective
or a different perception
00:13:15.52\00:13:18.09
on what truth is?
00:13:18.13\00:13:20.00
Oh, my friends, I'll tell you,
00:13:20.03\00:13:21.63
as much as you may
not want to hear this
00:13:21.66\00:13:23.93
and I even throw myself
into this category as well.
00:13:23.97\00:13:27.24
I don't think that,
that gap is too hard to fill
00:13:27.27\00:13:31.01
or to bridge that gap is
not as difficult as it may seem.
00:13:31.04\00:13:35.48
It may first also begin or
may need to begin with us doing
00:13:35.51\00:13:40.48
some
self-examination of ourselves.
00:13:40.52\00:13:42.78
That, what I'm trying to
communicate is that in order
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.25
to reach our young people today,
00:13:45.29\00:13:47.36
it may mean that we need to
do some reformation of thought,
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.73
an idea in order to
reach them on their level.
00:13:50.76\00:13:54.96
Now, understand, my
friends, I know when I say this,
00:13:55.00\00:13:57.23
there's already
someone that say,
00:13:57.27\00:13:58.60
"Wait a second, what
are you trying to say?"
00:13:58.63\00:14:00.30
We're not
trying to abandon truth
00:14:00.34\00:14:03.57
as we see in God's Word,
certainly not communicating
00:14:03.61\00:14:05.94
that we should
compromise the truth of,
00:14:05.97\00:14:08.14
truths of God's Word in order
00:14:08.18\00:14:09.78
to reach young
people on their level.
00:14:09.81\00:14:11.65
But what I am saying is
that the methods and the tactics
00:14:11.68\00:14:14.78
and the way that
we go about witnessing
00:14:14.82\00:14:16.48
to our young people
today needs to be rethought.
00:14:16.52\00:14:20.06
It needs to be considered
from a different perspective,
00:14:20.09\00:14:22.89
from different angles.
00:14:22.92\00:14:24.26
We need to be very
delicate in how we reach out
00:14:24.29\00:14:27.06
to our young people
today because the truth is,
00:14:27.10\00:14:29.60
the mostly, the only gospel
that they're ever going to see
00:14:29.63\00:14:31.97
or many of them are going to see
00:14:32.00\00:14:33.34
is the gospel that's in you,
00:14:33.37\00:14:34.70
the reality of
Jesus that's in you,
00:14:34.74\00:14:37.07
even if it is there.
00:14:37.11\00:14:38.87
Oftentimes, we have
parents and grandparents
00:14:38.91\00:14:40.84
and many people
in our communities
00:14:40.88\00:14:42.24
and our spiritual communities
00:14:42.28\00:14:43.61
that want to see
the young people change,
00:14:43.65\00:14:45.45
that want to see a revival
in the young people's hearts
00:14:45.48\00:14:47.88
when in reality, we
ourselves need the revival.
00:14:47.92\00:14:51.75
And we wonder why is
it seems so hard for us
00:14:51.79\00:14:54.02
to connect on a personal
level with our young people,
00:14:54.06\00:14:56.83
with our youth,
with our young adults,
00:14:56.86\00:14:58.79
with our teenagers,
with our adolescents?
00:14:58.83\00:15:00.90
Why doesn't it seem
like they're interested
00:15:00.93\00:15:02.96
in spiritual things?
00:15:03.00\00:15:04.33
Many times, it's
because they don't see
00:15:04.37\00:15:05.93
the real Jesus in you.
00:15:05.97\00:15:08.60
Now, I don't want to
get too far ahead of myself,
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.47
because I'm going to
come back to these points
00:15:10.51\00:15:11.84
in a little while.
00:15:11.87\00:15:13.41
But, my friends, I
want to take the time
00:15:13.44\00:15:15.84
to share with you some
truths from God's Word as well
00:15:15.88\00:15:18.21
as the Spirit of
Prophecy on God's attitude
00:15:18.25\00:15:21.52
towards the
importance of giving time
00:15:21.55\00:15:24.75
and giving effort
in the correct way
00:15:24.79\00:15:27.29
to reach out to
our young people.
00:15:27.32\00:15:29.06
Because what we are
seeing right now among us,
00:15:29.09\00:15:31.69
we have a
catastrophe on our hands,
00:15:31.73\00:15:33.93
a massive exodus of
youth, of young people,
00:15:33.96\00:15:38.37
of teenagers, of young
adults that are pouring out
00:15:38.40\00:15:41.80
of the church like crazy.
00:15:41.84\00:15:43.20
And, my friends, if
Jesus doesn't come back soon,
00:15:43.24\00:15:45.34
the church of tomorrow
is going to be very thin.
00:15:45.37\00:15:48.38
If we do not by the power
and the leading guiding power
00:15:48.41\00:15:51.28
of the Holy Spirit
change our perspective
00:15:51.31\00:15:53.48
on how we reach out
to our young people.
00:15:53.52\00:15:56.72
I would like to start
00:15:56.75\00:15:58.15
with Psalm 144:12 and 15.
00:15:58.19\00:16:03.02
Notice what the Bible
says, Psalm 144:12 and 15.
00:16:03.06\00:16:06.33
Of course, I'm reading from
the New International Version.
00:16:06.36\00:16:09.96
It says, "Then our sons
in their youth will be like
00:16:10.00\00:16:12.57
well-nurtured plants,
00:16:12.60\00:16:14.27
and our daughters will be like
00:16:14.30\00:16:16.20
pillars carved
to adorn a palace.
00:16:16.24\00:16:19.51
Blessed is the
people of whom this is true,
00:16:19.54\00:16:23.24
blessed is the people
whose God is the Lord.
00:16:23.28\00:16:27.72
My friends, is that you?
00:16:27.75\00:16:29.78
Are you that people
that's blessed to be able to say
00:16:29.82\00:16:32.25
that my young daughter or
my young son or my grandson
00:16:32.29\00:16:35.39
or my
granddaughter, my young adult,
00:16:35.42\00:16:37.96
a loved one is in the
church strong as a pillar
00:16:37.99\00:16:41.56
in God's house
today, is that you?
00:16:41.60\00:16:43.73
If that's the case, praise God.
00:16:43.77\00:16:45.27
If it's not, if
you're responding
00:16:45.30\00:16:47.80
to this now and
saying, "No, it's not.
00:16:47.84\00:16:49.50
How do I get that to be
the reality in their life
00:16:49.54\00:16:52.77
and in my life, so that
I can see my young grandson
00:16:52.81\00:16:55.74
or granddaughter or
daughter or son or loved one
00:16:55.78\00:16:59.48
come to the truth
and get to know Christ
00:16:59.51\00:17:01.68
as I know Christ?"
00:17:01.72\00:17:03.25
Well, my friends, there is hope.
00:17:03.28\00:17:05.89
We need to
consider some things first.
00:17:05.92\00:17:07.76
Notice what Jesus said, this
is a passage in Mark Chapter 10.
00:17:07.79\00:17:10.23
We've read many times.
00:17:10.26\00:17:11.59
You've heard it many times,
but let's consider it again.
00:17:11.63\00:17:14.23
Mark 10:13-16.
Notice what the Bible says.
00:17:14.26\00:17:18.83
"Then they brought
little children to Him,
00:17:18.87\00:17:21.27
that He might touch them,
00:17:21.30\00:17:23.37
but the disciples
rebuked those who brought them.
00:17:23.41\00:17:26.37
But when Jesus saw it,
He was greatly displeased
00:17:26.41\00:17:29.68
and said to them,
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.05
'Let the little
children come to Me,
00:17:31.08\00:17:33.35
and do not forbid them,
00:17:33.38\00:17:35.42
for of such is
the kingdom of God.
00:17:35.45\00:17:38.45
Assuredly, I say to you,
00:17:38.49\00:17:39.82
whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God
00:17:39.85\00:17:42.66
as a little child will
by no means enter in it.'
00:17:42.69\00:17:47.10
And He took them up in His arms,
00:17:47.13\00:17:50.00
laid His hands on
them and blessed them.'"
00:17:50.03\00:17:53.57
I love this scene
00:17:53.60\00:17:55.40
because you can just imagine
the love and the compassion
00:17:55.44\00:17:57.77
that these children
were experiencing from Jesus.
00:17:57.81\00:18:00.64
But yet the disciples
thinking that they were doing
00:18:00.68\00:18:02.84
the right thing, go up
to these people and say,
00:18:02.88\00:18:05.85
"Get going, get out of here.
00:18:05.88\00:18:08.05
Jesus isn't ready for you.
00:18:08.08\00:18:09.42
You don't need to be
here, don't waste Jesus' time."
00:18:09.45\00:18:11.69
Then Jesus rebukes His own
leaders, His own disciples.
00:18:11.72\00:18:14.66
He said, "What are you doing?
00:18:14.69\00:18:16.62
Don't forbid these little
children to come unto Me."
00:18:16.66\00:18:19.06
Now, I
understand that this passage
00:18:19.09\00:18:21.56
is referencing little children.
00:18:21.60\00:18:23.16
But, my
friends, make no mistake,
00:18:23.20\00:18:24.73
these little children represent
00:18:24.77\00:18:26.33
each and every one of
us, of all different ages.
00:18:26.37\00:18:29.80
God has children of all
ages, all over this world.
00:18:29.84\00:18:33.98
And we should never forbid
or keep anyone from any age,
00:18:34.01\00:18:38.01
from coming to Christ.
00:18:38.05\00:18:39.51
And that's the major
point that should be taken
00:18:39.55\00:18:41.62
from this passage.
00:18:41.65\00:18:42.98
In fact, in the
Desire of Ages, page 517.
00:18:43.02\00:18:46.35
Okay, this gets to the point.
00:18:46.39\00:18:47.96
So pay close
attention to this quote here,
00:18:47.99\00:18:50.13
Desire of Ages, page 517.
00:18:50.16\00:18:52.26
Notice what it says
referencing this passage
00:18:52.29\00:18:54.23
that we just read.
00:18:54.26\00:18:55.60
It says, "When
Jesus told the disciples,
00:18:55.63\00:18:58.00
not to forbid the
children to come to Him,
00:18:58.03\00:19:00.67
He was speaking to
His followers in all ages,
00:19:00.70\00:19:04.91
to officers of the
church, to ministers, helpers,
00:19:04.94\00:19:09.44
and all Christians.
00:19:09.48\00:19:11.81
Jesus is drawing the
children and He bids us,
00:19:11.85\00:19:15.42
suffer them to
come, as if He would say,
00:19:15.45\00:19:20.49
'They will come, if you, notice,
00:19:20.52\00:19:23.86
do not hinder them.'"
00:19:23.89\00:19:26.76
My friends, have you hindered
00:19:26.80\00:19:30.07
a young person from
coming to the faith?
00:19:30.10\00:19:32.57
Maybe so, maybe not.
00:19:32.60\00:19:34.47
This isn't an hour in
which we're pointing fingers.
00:19:34.50\00:19:36.67
We're simply taking
some self inventory.
00:19:36.71\00:19:39.21
Well, I need to
take some self inventory,
00:19:39.24\00:19:41.71
because Jesus regards
the youth coming to Him
00:19:41.74\00:19:45.61
as ultimately important.
00:19:45.65\00:19:47.12
He loves His young people.
00:19:47.15\00:19:48.95
He wants to see His young people
00:19:48.98\00:19:50.55
come in communion and
in harmony with His will
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.56
that He might
transform their life,
00:19:53.59\00:19:55.36
that He might
lead them and show them
00:19:55.39\00:19:57.36
on to the correct way of life.
00:19:57.39\00:20:00.40
And right here it
says they will come
00:20:00.43\00:20:02.06
if you do not hinder them.
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.00
And I'm just going
to put it out there,
00:20:04.03\00:20:06.17
I can tell you
with absolute certainty
00:20:06.20\00:20:08.50
that some of us
have hindered the youth,
00:20:08.54\00:20:12.67
the young people,
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.04
many young people
from coming to Christ,
00:20:14.08\00:20:16.98
as He wills and as He plans.
00:20:17.01\00:20:21.48
Notice what she says
in Reflecting Christ,
00:20:21.52\00:20:25.19
page 373, powerful quote.
00:20:25.22\00:20:29.42
She says, "Those who love God
00:20:29.46\00:20:32.73
should feel deeply interested
in the children and youth.
00:20:32.76\00:20:38.30
To them, God can reveal
His truth and salvation.
00:20:38.33\00:20:42.10
Jesus calls the little
ones that believe on Him,
00:20:42.14\00:20:45.41
the lambs of His flock.
00:20:45.44\00:20:47.84
He has a special love for
and interest in the children.
00:20:47.88\00:20:53.62
The most precious offering
00:20:53.65\00:20:55.48
that the
children can give to Jesus
00:20:55.52\00:20:57.75
is the freshness
of their childhood."
00:20:57.79\00:21:02.19
But as I've mentioned before,
my friends, we're in a dilemma.
00:21:02.22\00:21:05.73
There are more and more
young people pouring out
00:21:05.76\00:21:08.30
of the church, like
sand through an hourglass
00:21:08.33\00:21:11.00
or sand through fingers,
00:21:11.03\00:21:12.63
pouring out of the
church in a mass exodus like
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.94
no other time before.
00:21:14.97\00:21:16.50
And we are finding it more
and more difficult to connect
00:21:16.54\00:21:19.11
with these younger generations.
00:21:19.14\00:21:20.48
We're talking about Millennials,
00:21:20.51\00:21:21.84
we're talking about Gen Zers,
00:21:21.88\00:21:23.21
we're talking about this new
and upcoming generation Alpha.
00:21:23.24\00:21:27.18
I don't think any
adult is going to...
00:21:27.22\00:21:30.39
I don't think they're
not going to admit the fact
00:21:30.42\00:21:31.75
that it's true
that it's hard sometimes
00:21:31.79\00:21:33.56
to connect with young people.
00:21:33.59\00:21:34.92
It's hard to get them
interested in spiritual things.
00:21:34.96\00:21:36.89
And I think, as I
said before, much of this,
00:21:36.93\00:21:39.36
maybe not all,
00:21:39.39\00:21:40.73
but much of this has to do with
our communication with them,
00:21:40.76\00:21:43.73
our methods, our tactics,
00:21:43.77\00:21:45.43
our approach and
sharing with them
00:21:45.47\00:21:48.04
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:21:48.07\00:21:51.01
Notice what is said
in Education, page 271.
00:21:51.04\00:21:55.01
Again, we're just
establishing some clear truths
00:21:55.04\00:21:57.38
and principles that
are absolutely important
00:21:57.41\00:21:59.81
for this topic,
for the understanding
00:21:59.85\00:22:01.85
of how important it is to
witness to the youth today,
00:22:01.88\00:22:05.25
to give attention in special
interest in our youth today,
00:22:05.29\00:22:08.62
because we certainly
don't want this Youthanasia
00:22:08.66\00:22:11.19
to be a reality or to continue
to be a reality in our church.
00:22:11.23\00:22:14.96
Education, page 271 says,
00:22:15.00\00:22:16.97
"With such an army
of workers as our youth,
00:22:17.00\00:22:20.14
rightly trained, might furnish,
00:22:20.17\00:22:24.14
how soon the
message of a crucified,
00:22:24.17\00:22:26.91
risen and soon coming
Savior might be carried
00:22:26.94\00:22:31.18
to the whole world."
00:22:31.21\00:22:33.08
My friends, are you
reading this with me?
00:22:33.11\00:22:34.78
Are you seeing how important
it is for us to reach out
00:22:34.82\00:22:38.99
to in the appropriate way
00:22:39.02\00:22:40.49
and lead and guide our children,
00:22:40.52\00:22:42.32
our youth, our young people,
00:22:42.36\00:22:43.83
our teenagers, our young adults
00:22:43.86\00:22:45.36
and to graft them into the work
in the mission of the church
00:22:45.39\00:22:48.10
so that they are in the faith?
00:22:48.13\00:22:49.93
Are you seeing
how important this is?
00:22:49.96\00:22:52.47
In fact, that
one I just read there
00:22:52.50\00:22:54.10
from Education page 271 says
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.27
that Jesus would
come even quicker
00:22:56.30\00:22:58.27
if we would get
our youth involved.
00:22:58.31\00:22:59.71
And I can hear some of
you probably saying right now
00:22:59.74\00:23:01.51
to this television
screen, "That's right, Ryan,
00:23:01.54\00:23:03.61
we want to get them involved.
00:23:03.65\00:23:04.98
That's our goal.
00:23:05.01\00:23:06.35
We want to graft them right
into the mission of the church,
00:23:06.38\00:23:07.78
and we want to give them jobs,
00:23:07.82\00:23:09.15
and we want to put them
out there as young people
00:23:09.18\00:23:11.15
bringing people to Jesus."
00:23:11.19\00:23:12.59
But yet even
some of us, many of us
00:23:12.62\00:23:14.79
who are seeing these very words,
00:23:14.82\00:23:16.46
often are the ones
who as she said earlier,
00:23:16.49\00:23:18.36
are hindering them
from coming to Christ.
00:23:18.39\00:23:20.56
We got to do some rethinking,
00:23:20.60\00:23:22.80
some renovating and some
overhauling of our thoughts
00:23:22.83\00:23:27.54
and our ideas so that we
might be able to reach them
00:23:27.57\00:23:30.24
on their level more effectively.
00:23:30.27\00:23:33.04
Gospel Workers, page
279, this is powerful,
00:23:33.07\00:23:37.05
notice what it says.
00:23:37.08\00:23:38.58
It says, "Make the youth
00:23:38.61\00:23:40.62
feel that they are
expected to do something.
00:23:40.65\00:23:43.99
The Lord chooses them
because they are strong."
00:23:44.02\00:23:47.79
Are you hearing this?
00:23:47.82\00:23:49.26
And oftentimes we look
at our youth and we say,
00:23:49.29\00:23:51.03
"Oh, they're just too young.
00:23:51.06\00:23:53.03
These little
weaklings, you know,
00:23:53.06\00:23:54.96
they're still on
the little bitty,
00:23:55.00\00:23:56.40
you know, little
small little milk particles,
00:23:56.43\00:23:58.73
you know,
they're way down there.
00:23:58.77\00:24:00.10
They're young."
00:24:00.14\00:24:01.47
But yet the Bible
says they, excuse me,
00:24:01.50\00:24:02.84
in the Spirit of
Prophecy says they are strong.
00:24:02.87\00:24:04.67
Do we believe
that they are strong?
00:24:04.71\00:24:07.01
Do we believe that our
young people are capable
00:24:07.04\00:24:09.54
of being mighty powerful
youth for the Lord today?
00:24:09.58\00:24:13.25
That's why she says here
that they, we need to feel,
00:24:13.28\00:24:15.78
that we need to make
them expected to do something.
00:24:15.82\00:24:20.39
Gospel Workers, page 211,
00:24:20.42\00:24:22.82
these are
powerful words, my friends.
00:24:22.86\00:24:24.19
Gospel Workers, page 211.
00:24:24.23\00:24:25.79
It says, "Youthful talent,
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.16
well organized and well trained,
00:24:28.20\00:24:30.37
is needed in our churches."
00:24:30.40\00:24:32.67
I could go on and on and on.
00:24:32.70\00:24:34.24
I found so many
different quotes,
00:24:34.27\00:24:35.97
so many different
Bible verses that illuminate
00:24:36.00\00:24:38.44
and they bring about the truth
and the fact that God cares.
00:24:38.47\00:24:42.18
He's interested.
00:24:42.21\00:24:43.61
He's deeply
interested in the youth
00:24:43.65\00:24:46.18
and the young people so
that He might gather them up
00:24:46.21\00:24:49.08
as a strong and
mighty army to go out
00:24:49.12\00:24:51.29
and play their part
in co-laboring with God
00:24:51.32\00:24:53.89
in finishing this work,
00:24:53.92\00:24:55.42
this final work
before Jesus comes back.
00:24:55.46\00:24:58.39
I read all of these to
show you that God is interested,
00:24:58.43\00:25:01.66
He's invested in seeing
the young people come to Him.
00:25:01.70\00:25:06.70
But as I said, the data,
00:25:06.74\00:25:10.21
as a statistics show
that there is a mass exodus
00:25:10.24\00:25:13.94
of young people
that has been happening
00:25:13.98\00:25:17.11
and that is
continuing to happen as I speak.
00:25:17.15\00:25:20.75
I did some research
00:25:20.78\00:25:22.32
and I want to share some
of these statistics with you
00:25:22.35\00:25:24.19
so that you can
see the seriousness
00:25:24.22\00:25:26.45
and the reality of the situation
00:25:26.49\00:25:28.82
we're dealing with, my friends.
00:25:28.86\00:25:30.96
Now, I did a lot of
research trying to find a newer,
00:25:30.99\00:25:35.20
updated version
of these statistics
00:25:35.23\00:25:37.03
for maybe 2020 or 2021.
00:25:37.07\00:25:39.23
I was unable to find that,
but I was still able to find
00:25:39.27\00:25:41.57
some more recent
statistics, that still would be
00:25:41.60\00:25:45.44
and would be
applicable for our time today.
00:25:45.47\00:25:48.21
Of course, you can find this,
these statistics on your own.
00:25:48.24\00:25:51.75
This is coming from the
General Conference Secretariat
00:25:51.78\00:25:54.62
and more
specifically, the official,
00:25:54.65\00:25:56.85
the Office of the Archives,
Statistics and Research.
00:25:56.89\00:25:59.75
If you go to that website
of the Office of the Archives,
00:25:59.79\00:26:04.63
Statistics and
Research, you will see there
00:26:04.66\00:26:06.56
that there is an
article, there was a work
00:26:06.59\00:26:08.96
that is compiled of
statistics and data.
00:26:09.00\00:26:11.80
And it's actually
called Data on Youth Retention,
00:26:11.83\00:26:14.70
Non-retention and
Connectedness to the Church.
00:26:14.74\00:26:17.44
So I'll say that one more time.
00:26:17.47\00:26:19.01
If you look
this up for yourself,
00:26:19.04\00:26:20.54
the title of this
information, this data research
00:26:20.58\00:26:23.21
is called Data
on Youth Retention,
00:26:23.24\00:26:25.65
Non-retention and
Connectedness to the Church.
00:26:25.68\00:26:29.32
Now, the
statistics were startling.
00:26:29.35\00:26:31.65
I'm just going to tell you.
00:26:31.69\00:26:33.22
At one point, I was
surprised and another point
00:26:33.25\00:26:35.29
I wasn't because of
what we are seeing happening
00:26:35.32\00:26:37.76
because of the
difficulty it seems
00:26:37.79\00:26:39.13
to get our young people
involved in spiritual things.
00:26:39.16\00:26:41.93
But nonetheless,
this is the data.
00:26:41.96\00:26:43.83
Okay. There's a
lot that I could share.
00:26:43.87\00:26:45.33
But for the sake of
time, I'm going to give you
00:26:45.37\00:26:47.50
a simple juiced version.
00:26:47.54\00:26:48.87
So listen up very carefully.
00:26:48.90\00:26:50.27
Of, with inside this
study that was done all the data
00:26:50.31\00:26:53.64
that was
collected, in this study,
00:26:53.68\00:26:56.58
it talks about how we
basically for every 10 people
00:26:56.61\00:27:01.25
that we win to the church, okay,
00:27:01.28\00:27:03.22
so notice this
for every 10 people
00:27:03.25\00:27:06.25
that we win into the
church in membership,
00:27:06.29\00:27:09.56
four people are walking out.
00:27:09.59\00:27:12.09
Now, that may not sound too bad,
00:27:12.13\00:27:14.43
because you go okay,
ten and four, okay, well,
00:27:14.46\00:27:17.03
that we still, we were
still retaining the majority.
00:27:17.07\00:27:20.27
But if you look at the research,
00:27:20.30\00:27:21.80
literally 40% of
the overall membership
00:27:21.84\00:27:25.91
that we went into the church
is walking out the back door.
00:27:25.94\00:27:28.61
Now, the question
is what percentage
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.78
of the 40% are youth.
00:27:31.81\00:27:35.62
And they do openly
admit in the study.
00:27:35.65\00:27:37.95
It says, we do
not know for certain
00:27:37.99\00:27:39.42
because we do
not currently collect
00:27:39.45\00:27:40.79
and report age data
in statistical reports.
00:27:40.82\00:27:43.56
However, if you keep reading
down the report, they say this.
00:27:43.59\00:27:47.13
But surveys reveal
that young people make up
00:27:47.16\00:27:50.53
a very large portion of the 40%,
00:27:50.57\00:27:55.70
though it varies
around the world.
00:27:55.74\00:27:57.21
So they're
admitting that of the 40%,
00:27:57.24\00:27:59.44
in other words, if
we're winning ten people
00:27:59.47\00:28:01.64
and four people are
going out the back door,
00:28:01.68\00:28:03.65
that 40% that
has left the church
00:28:03.68\00:28:06.01
or is leaving the
church is a large portion
00:28:06.05\00:28:08.68
of that is made
up of young people.
00:28:08.72\00:28:10.42
They don't have
specific numbers,
00:28:10.45\00:28:12.05
but the data and the
research and the surveys
00:28:12.09\00:28:14.19
that they have
done is showing that
00:28:14.22\00:28:16.09
the vast majority of
this is young people.
00:28:16.12\00:28:19.13
Now, here's what's interesting,
00:28:19.16\00:28:21.06
because if you look at
the total age distribution
00:28:21.10\00:28:24.30
of the worldwide church,
00:28:24.33\00:28:26.03
okay, and we're talking
about total age distribution
00:28:26.07\00:28:29.10
of the worldwide
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:28:29.14\00:28:30.91
So, all of the different
divisions considered in this.
00:28:30.94\00:28:35.64
Let me read you
the statistics on this.
00:28:35.68\00:28:37.41
So ages 15 and under, 5.5%
00:28:37.45\00:28:42.65
of our worldwide
church is age 15 and under.
00:28:42.68\00:28:45.55
This is a worldwide, keep that.
00:28:45.59\00:28:46.92
You're going to hear me say
that a lot because I'm going
00:28:46.96\00:28:48.29
to remind you that.
00:28:48.32\00:28:49.66
22.85%, so almost 23%
00:28:49.69\00:28:53.73
is ages 16 to 25.
00:28:53.76\00:28:56.43
Not bad, okay.
00:28:56.46\00:28:57.97
32% is ages
00:28:58.00\00:29:01.80
26 to 40.
00:29:01.84\00:29:04.07
That's not bad either.
00:29:04.11\00:29:05.47
So ages 26 to 40
00:29:05.51\00:29:08.34
that makes up 32% of
the worldwide membership
00:29:08.38\00:29:11.51
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:29:11.55\00:29:13.31
29.5% are represented
in the 41 to 60 age range,
00:29:13.35\00:29:19.25
okay?
00:29:19.29\00:29:20.62
So for ages 41 to 60,
00:29:20.66\00:29:22.22
we have 29.5% worldwide.
00:29:22.26\00:29:27.13
And then, of
course, over the age of 60.
00:29:27.16\00:29:30.00
So 60 and above, 10% basically.
00:29:30.03\00:29:33.67
So 10.22%
00:29:33.70\00:29:35.64
of the church is
above the age of 60, okay?
00:29:35.67\00:29:38.97
So if you didn't, weren't unable
00:29:39.01\00:29:40.34
to get those statistics you can
always watch this again later
00:29:40.38\00:29:43.08
when it posts on
YouTube or on 3ABN+,
00:29:43.11\00:29:46.01
so go back and you can
watch and get this data.
00:29:46.05\00:29:48.08
Now that's
interesting, that's worldwide.
00:29:48.12\00:29:50.49
But now I'm going to just kind
of when you're looking across
00:29:50.52\00:29:53.05
those major divisions,
00:29:53.09\00:29:54.66
you start to see
a major difference,
00:29:54.69\00:29:59.06
a contrasting view
00:29:59.09\00:30:00.53
of the distribution of
age, within the membership
00:30:00.56\00:30:03.97
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:30:04.00\00:30:05.33
when you start to look
at the individual divisions
00:30:05.37\00:30:08.77
of the church.
00:30:08.80\00:30:10.14
Now, because I
am in North America,
00:30:10.17\00:30:11.64
I'm going to be
looking at the one
00:30:11.67\00:30:13.01
that's probably
worse than all of them.
00:30:13.04\00:30:14.74
And that is the
North American Division.
00:30:14.78\00:30:17.41
Now here's the statistics
00:30:17.45\00:30:19.88
of the age of church members
in the North American Division.
00:30:19.91\00:30:23.45
Now, again, there
are other divisions
00:30:23.49\00:30:24.89
that are very
similar to this one.
00:30:24.92\00:30:26.55
But this is what the North
American Division is, okay?
00:30:26.59\00:30:28.82
Get this, ages 25 and under,
00:30:28.86\00:30:33.56
25 and under represent 4.5%
00:30:33.60\00:30:39.13
of the North
American Division membership.
00:30:39.17\00:30:42.74
Wow!
00:30:42.77\00:30:45.81
Okay, here it is, ages 26 to 40
00:30:45.84\00:30:50.15
represent 13.91%.
00:30:50.18\00:30:53.42
So we're going to say about 14%
00:30:53.45\00:30:55.98
of the North
American Division membership
00:30:56.02\00:30:58.35
is ages 26 to 40.
00:30:58.39\00:31:03.06
Now, once you get north of 40,
00:31:03.09\00:31:05.63
this is where the
numbers become staggering.
00:31:05.66\00:31:08.63
38%
00:31:08.66\00:31:12.03
of the North
American Division membership
00:31:12.07\00:31:15.24
is ages 41 to 60,
00:31:15.27\00:31:18.97
41 to 60, 38%.
00:31:19.01\00:31:23.38
And then, over the age of 60,
00:31:23.41\00:31:26.11
so 60 and over, 43.28%.
00:31:26.15\00:31:31.52
So 43% of our church
membership in North America
00:31:31.55\00:31:36.22
is over the age of
60, or 60 or older.
00:31:36.26\00:31:39.23
Okay, I'm not saying
that's horrible, right,
00:31:39.26\00:31:40.90
in the sense that praise God
00:31:40.93\00:31:42.40
that we have our
elderly people in the church,
00:31:42.43\00:31:44.57
praise God that we're
retaining the ages of 60
00:31:44.60\00:31:47.54
and above and 41
through 60, praise God
00:31:47.57\00:31:50.14
that we're retaining these.
00:31:50.17\00:31:51.51
But if you look at it from
the statistical perspective
00:31:51.54\00:31:54.84
or the numerical
perspective, get this,
00:31:54.88\00:31:57.95
81.5%
00:31:57.98\00:32:02.38
of the North American Division
membership of the church
00:32:02.42\00:32:07.29
is over the age
of 40 or 41 or older.
00:32:07.32\00:32:11.79
In other words,
the vast majority
00:32:11.83\00:32:14.30
of the membership in
the North American Division
00:32:14.33\00:32:16.46
is ages 41 and above.
00:32:16.50\00:32:20.34
That means that only 18.5%
00:32:20.37\00:32:25.77
of the total
statistical membership
00:32:25.81\00:32:28.91
of our church in North America,
00:32:28.94\00:32:31.88
18.5%
00:32:31.91\00:32:35.48
is below the age of 40.
00:32:35.52\00:32:38.19
Have mercy.
00:32:38.22\00:32:42.79
Again, praise God
that we're retaining
00:32:42.82\00:32:45.39
our older generations
that is vastly important.
00:32:45.43\00:32:49.00
But, my friends, they
ask the question, again,
00:32:49.03\00:32:51.43
in this study, this
recent study that was done
00:32:51.47\00:32:54.44
at the General Conference level.
00:32:54.47\00:32:56.07
"Where are the young people?"
00:32:56.10\00:32:57.47
They're asking, only 18.5%.
And so this is what they say?
00:32:57.51\00:33:01.34
Young people are
being born into the church
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.11
and some being
won into the church.
00:33:03.14\00:33:05.08
So why are our demographics
in some parts of the world
00:33:05.11\00:33:08.48
so tilted toward older people?
00:33:08.52\00:33:11.62
Here's their answer.
00:33:11.65\00:33:12.99
The young people have left.
00:33:13.02\00:33:16.89
That's not my words.
00:33:16.93\00:33:18.39
That's the General Conference,
the young people have left.
00:33:18.43\00:33:22.53
And then they go on to
say, and not only in the NADs.
00:33:22.56\00:33:25.90
We're not just going to
throw the NAD under the bus,
00:33:25.93\00:33:27.84
not only in the
NAD, but Japan Union
00:33:27.87\00:33:29.87
and other entities as well.
00:33:29.90\00:33:31.24
And they reference here
in parentheses, in Europe,
00:33:31.27\00:33:34.54
with ageing memberships.
00:33:34.58\00:33:36.85
But it goes on
to say, of the 40%,
00:33:36.88\00:33:39.21
that is the 40%
that's leaving, okay?
00:33:39.25\00:33:41.48
We're winning, if
we consider the 100%,
00:33:41.52\00:33:43.79
the 10 people we're
winning into the church
00:33:43.82\00:33:45.52
and the four people
that are leaving the 40%.
00:33:45.55\00:33:47.79
So they say, of the 40%,
00:33:47.82\00:33:49.62
who are leaving
around the world,
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.19
the surveys of ex members show
00:33:52.23\00:33:54.56
that a large portion
00:33:54.60\00:33:56.73
are our youth.
00:33:56.77\00:34:00.74
Lord, have mercy on us.
00:34:00.77\00:34:03.24
My friends, we're in a dilemma.
00:34:03.27\00:34:05.44
And we need to be
serious about the situation.
00:34:05.47\00:34:10.51
In fact, I did a little bit
more digging into this research
00:34:10.55\00:34:12.65
and they came up
with some surveys
00:34:12.68\00:34:14.48
that showed some
of the reasons behind
00:34:14.52\00:34:17.95
why these ex members
have left the church.
00:34:17.99\00:34:22.02
Okay.
00:34:22.06\00:34:23.39
And again, what
did they say in regards
00:34:23.43\00:34:24.76
to all of those ex members?
00:34:24.79\00:34:26.13
The vast majority of them
00:34:26.16\00:34:27.50
or a large
portion of them are youth.
00:34:27.53\00:34:29.30
Okay, so maybe not all
but much of these numbers
00:34:29.33\00:34:32.37
and these reasons that I'm
going to share with you now
00:34:32.40\00:34:34.37
is youth.
00:34:34.40\00:34:35.80
Okay, so here it is.
00:34:35.84\00:34:37.17
This is, again,
they're asking the question,
00:34:37.21\00:34:38.57
why did you leave?
00:34:38.61\00:34:40.14
And the qualitative
study on ex members,
00:34:40.18\00:34:42.54
given the most important
reasons for why they left.
00:34:42.58\00:34:44.85
These are some
of the top reasons
00:34:44.88\00:34:46.21
and the
statistics connected to them.
00:34:46.25\00:34:48.15
So 28% of those ex members
00:34:48.18\00:34:50.25
who left the church
actually owned up and said,
00:34:50.29\00:34:53.29
"It's no big issue.
00:34:53.32\00:34:54.66
I just drifted away." Okay.
00:34:54.69\00:34:56.02
Well, it is a big issue, right?
00:34:56.06\00:34:57.63
It's an issue
that they drifted away.
00:34:57.66\00:34:59.06
We don't ever want
to lose anyone, right?
00:34:59.09\00:35:00.86
We're willing to
leave the 99 to go
00:35:00.90\00:35:02.23
with the one if we need to.
00:35:02.26\00:35:03.60
But at the end of
the day, they said,
00:35:03.63\00:35:04.97
"I just drifted away."
00:35:05.00\00:35:06.33
So I appreciate that
20% who owned up and said,
00:35:06.37\00:35:08.00
"Look, it's really not
anyone else's fault but my own.
00:35:08.04\00:35:10.31
I allowed myself
to drift away." Okay?
00:35:10.34\00:35:13.51
25% says
00:35:13.54\00:35:15.78
lack of
compassion for the hurting.
00:35:15.81\00:35:20.02
19% again,
00:35:20.05\00:35:21.42
opened up and said moral
failure on my part, okay.
00:35:21.45\00:35:26.12
18% said, "I
just did not fit in."
00:35:26.15\00:35:29.26
That's the reason why they left.
00:35:29.29\00:35:30.63
"I just didn't
fit it." All right.
00:35:30.66\00:35:32.79
And you may not
agree with these reasons.
00:35:32.83\00:35:34.23
You may be saying right now,
00:35:34.26\00:35:35.60
"Well, that's not a
reason to leave the church.
00:35:35.63\00:35:36.97
And that's not a
reason to leave the church.
00:35:37.00\00:35:38.33
And that's not a
reason to leave the church."
00:35:38.37\00:35:39.70
You know, many of us may
not agree with these reasons.
00:35:39.73\00:35:41.24
But nonetheless, my friends,
00:35:41.27\00:35:42.60
these are the reasons they left.
00:35:42.64\00:35:45.14
14% said too much
focus on minor issues.
00:35:45.17\00:35:49.74
13% said conflict
in the congregation
00:35:49.78\00:35:54.02
made me leave the church.
00:35:54.05\00:35:56.99
12% said moral failures
of other members. All right.
00:35:57.02\00:36:01.42
And we can look at that and say,
00:36:01.46\00:36:02.79
"Look, just because
someone else is failing morally,
00:36:02.82\00:36:04.56
should not be a reason
why we leave God's church."
00:36:04.59\00:36:06.90
That is truthful.
00:36:06.93\00:36:08.26
But nonetheless,
whatever that moral failure
00:36:08.30\00:36:09.93
was on the part of
that other church member
00:36:09.96\00:36:11.40
or church members
made some of these people
00:36:11.43\00:36:13.80
leave the church,
12% of these respondents.
00:36:13.84\00:36:17.57
11% said moral failures
of leaders in the church.
00:36:17.61\00:36:22.88
Another 11% said
00:36:22.91\00:36:24.51
pressure from family
00:36:24.55\00:36:26.35
or friends caused
them to leave the church.
00:36:26.38\00:36:28.52
And, of course, this
last one really got me.
00:36:28.55\00:36:30.79
But it's a reality.
It's the world we live in.
00:36:30.82\00:36:33.79
10% who left the
church said that race,
00:36:33.82\00:36:39.13
ethnic and tribal issues
caused them to leave the church.
00:36:39.16\00:36:42.40
And I look at that
and while it's a reality,
00:36:42.43\00:36:44.77
I say have mercy on us.
00:36:44.80\00:36:46.84
These type of issues
shouldn't even exist, right?
00:36:46.87\00:36:48.94
Racial issues
caused you to leave,
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.17
ethnic issues or tribal issues.
00:36:51.21\00:36:53.68
Lord, have mercy on us.
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.18
But nonetheless,
these are the real issues,
00:36:55.21\00:36:57.08
some of the real
issues, maybe not all of them.
00:36:57.11\00:36:59.61
In fact, I did a
little bit more digging.
00:36:59.65\00:37:00.98
And I found some
responses from other surveys
00:37:01.02\00:37:03.95
that were done
that were connected
00:37:03.99\00:37:05.32
to this particular
issue of youth retention
00:37:05.35\00:37:08.49
and non-retention in the church.
00:37:08.52\00:37:10.19
And while I am not going
to be able to read all of them
00:37:10.23\00:37:12.19
for sake of
time, I wanted to read
00:37:12.23\00:37:13.56
at least one of them for you.
00:37:13.60\00:37:15.23
And this is just a
response from a youth,
00:37:15.26\00:37:17.47
a young adult, that actually
there's many young adults
00:37:17.50\00:37:21.20
that feel the same
way as this young adult.
00:37:21.24\00:37:23.07
And there's many other
reasons that they gave in words,
00:37:23.10\00:37:25.71
that they verbally made known
00:37:25.74\00:37:27.31
as to why they don't
feel like they're in,
00:37:27.34\00:37:30.01
they like being
in the church anymore
00:37:30.05\00:37:31.55
or part of the church anymore.
00:37:31.58\00:37:32.91
So notice this person here
00:37:32.95\00:37:34.32
and I can understand
their sincerity as I read this.
00:37:34.35\00:37:37.59
This person says,
00:37:37.62\00:37:38.95
this is a young
adult and then they say,
00:37:38.99\00:37:40.32
"As I grow older,
00:37:40.36\00:37:42.32
I am beginning to feel
00:37:42.36\00:37:43.69
that I am not
important to the church.
00:37:43.73\00:37:46.39
Our Sabbath school is a joke."
00:37:46.43\00:37:48.56
That's their words.
00:37:48.60\00:37:50.30
"Because it's the department
00:37:50.33\00:37:51.83
that gets
leftovers for teachers."
00:37:51.87\00:37:55.30
They go on to say,
"When I'm home from school,
00:37:55.34\00:37:57.51
I just skipped Sabbath school
00:37:57.54\00:37:58.87
because it eliminates
the frustrations I feel
00:37:58.91\00:38:01.41
when I tried to lead the teacher
00:38:01.44\00:38:02.84
into topics that really
matter, but to no avail.
00:38:02.88\00:38:07.92
I know this sounds
very silly and it is."
00:38:07.95\00:38:10.12
And they're admitting it
sounds silly but you know,
00:38:10.15\00:38:12.15
it's the case that they say,
00:38:12.19\00:38:13.99
"But it is those
little things that add up
00:38:14.02\00:38:17.13
and make people feel
just a little less important.
00:38:17.16\00:38:22.10
Maybe it is a
lot of little reasons
00:38:22.13\00:38:25.03
that make people
want to leave the church.
00:38:25.07\00:38:27.94
And they say I'm an adult.
00:38:27.97\00:38:29.97
And I just wish my home
church would treat me like one.
00:38:30.01\00:38:34.48
Is that too much to ask?"
00:38:34.51\00:38:35.84
They say, "And is
it too much to ask
00:38:35.88\00:38:37.91
to have a
meaningful lesson study?"
00:38:37.95\00:38:41.22
My goodness, one of
the foundational aspects
00:38:41.25\00:38:44.75
of our church
experience is Sabbath school.
00:38:44.79\00:38:47.46
And I can tell you
00:38:47.49\00:38:48.82
that this is not the only
person that feels this way.
00:38:48.86\00:38:50.69
I have spoken to young people
all over this nation around
00:38:50.73\00:38:53.03
the world who have
said, "You know what, I just,
00:38:53.06\00:38:54.60
I don't I can't really
connect with Sabbath school
00:38:54.63\00:38:56.30
because I want to
talk about real things,
00:38:56.33\00:38:58.20
real issues that
that we have to experience
00:38:58.23\00:39:00.44
as young people but we're
more focused on other things."
00:39:00.47\00:39:03.17
And some teachers,
they're going doing it,
00:39:03.20\00:39:05.27
don't get me wrong, there's
great teachers out there.
00:39:05.31\00:39:06.91
There's great
Sabbath School programs.
00:39:06.94\00:39:08.38
We're not throwing
everyone under the bus.
00:39:08.41\00:39:09.74
But nonetheless,
these are real issues
00:39:09.78\00:39:11.51
that are causing some
people to rethink some things
00:39:11.55\00:39:13.78
and it's causing them to
be discouraged in the faith.
00:39:13.82\00:39:16.99
Notice what Mrs. White
says here in Testimonies
00:39:17.02\00:39:19.15
for the Church,
volume four, page 70.
00:39:19.19\00:39:21.49
Testimonies for the
Church, volume four, page 70.
00:39:21.52\00:39:24.53
She says, "Parents who can
be approached in no other way
00:39:24.56\00:39:28.16
are frequently reached
through their children.
00:39:28.20\00:39:31.93
Sabbath school
teachers can instruct
00:39:31.97\00:39:34.30
the children in the
truth, and they will,
00:39:34.34\00:39:37.01
in turn make it
into the home circle.
00:39:37.04\00:39:39.87
But few teachers seem to
understand the importance
00:39:39.91\00:39:43.38
of this branch of the work."
00:39:43.41\00:39:46.75
My friends, there's
lots that can be said.
00:39:46.78\00:39:49.15
We don't want to
make this whole sermon,
00:39:49.18\00:39:50.69
this just big
negative breakdown.
00:39:50.72\00:39:52.49
But nonetheless, my friends,
00:39:52.52\00:39:54.02
we certainly want to get
to the bottom of this issue.
00:39:54.06\00:39:56.79
This is a real issue.
00:39:56.83\00:39:58.16
We want to
retain our young people.
00:39:58.19\00:39:59.53
We want to lead them to Christ,
00:39:59.56\00:40:00.90
but it's sometimes means
that before we can reach them,
00:40:00.93\00:40:02.83
we first need to be reached,
00:40:02.86\00:40:04.47
we first need to do
some self-examination
00:40:04.50\00:40:07.14
and take some self inventory,
00:40:07.17\00:40:08.80
some spiritual
inventory in our life.
00:40:08.84\00:40:11.01
I want to read now just
a few quotes and scriptures
00:40:11.04\00:40:14.28
that will try
to, again communicate
00:40:14.31\00:40:16.48
the overall
attitude and importance
00:40:16.51\00:40:18.61
of reaching our young people
00:40:18.65\00:40:19.98
from the perspective of our God.
00:40:20.02\00:40:21.82
Testimonies for the
Church, volume six, page 471.
00:40:21.85\00:40:25.15
Notice what it says,
"The youth are receptive,
00:40:25.19\00:40:28.26
fresh, ardent, hopeful.
00:40:28.29\00:40:30.99
When once they have tasted
00:40:31.03\00:40:32.56
the blessedness
of self-sacrifice,
00:40:32.59\00:40:34.36
they will not be satisfied
00:40:34.40\00:40:36.13
unless they are constantly
learning of the Great Teacher.
00:40:36.16\00:40:39.50
The Lord will
open ways before those
00:40:39.53\00:40:41.47
who will respond to His call.
00:40:41.50\00:40:44.87
So the young
people, they're receptive,
00:40:44.91\00:40:47.71
they're fresh, they're ardent.
00:40:47.74\00:40:49.24
I can speak with absolute
certainty and experience
00:40:49.28\00:40:52.45
that is the case.
00:40:52.48\00:40:53.95
There are young
people all over this world
00:40:53.98\00:40:56.08
that you may look at as, "Oh,
00:40:56.12\00:40:57.45
that person's not
interested in spiritual things.
00:40:57.49\00:40:59.45
They're not
interested in the Bible.
00:40:59.49\00:41:00.82
They're not interested in having
00:41:00.86\00:41:02.19
a relationship with God."
00:41:02.22\00:41:03.56
But I promise you, you
don't know them well enough
00:41:03.59\00:41:04.93
to know that they're actually,
00:41:04.96\00:41:06.46
they are so
spiritually malnourished.
00:41:06.49\00:41:08.33
They're starving for
a relationship with God.
00:41:08.36\00:41:10.73
They're starving to understand
who they are in Christ.
00:41:10.77\00:41:13.94
It's just sometimes we
have to fix our perspective
00:41:13.97\00:41:16.30
and how we reach them.
00:41:16.34\00:41:17.97
It's a very delicate process.
00:41:18.01\00:41:20.01
Notice Ephesians 6:4,
again, biblical counsel
00:41:20.04\00:41:23.45
that comes for
such a time as this.
00:41:23.48\00:41:25.61
Notice what it says fathers
00:41:25.65\00:41:26.98
and I want to add
in there even mothers.
00:41:27.02\00:41:28.52
"But fathers, do not
provoke your children to wrath,
00:41:28.55\00:41:32.22
but bring them up in
the training and admonition
00:41:32.25\00:41:35.96
of the Lord."
00:41:35.99\00:41:37.36
Yes, we have a responsibility
00:41:37.39\00:41:38.79
to bring our
children to the Lord.
00:41:38.83\00:41:40.73
And we're going to
talk a little bit about that
00:41:40.76\00:41:42.10
in just a
moment, a little bit more
00:41:42.13\00:41:43.47
but let me read
you to this next quote.
00:41:43.50\00:41:45.10
This is from That I
May Know Him, page 39.
00:41:45.13\00:41:48.47
That I May Know Him, page 39.
00:41:48.50\00:41:50.57
Notice what it says,
00:41:50.61\00:41:51.94
"How interestedly
the Lord Jesus knocks
00:41:51.97\00:41:54.84
at the door of families,
00:41:54.88\00:41:56.44
where there are little
ones to be educated and trained!
00:41:56.48\00:41:58.91
How gently He went,
00:41:58.95\00:42:00.32
He watches over
their mothers' interest,
00:42:00.35\00:42:03.18
and how sad He feels
to see children neglected.
00:42:03.22\00:42:06.05
In the home, notice,
characters are formed."
00:42:06.09\00:42:09.26
It says, "Human
beings are molded
00:42:09.29\00:42:10.93
and fashioned to be
either a blessing or a curse."
00:42:10.96\00:42:14.93
My friends, what is
your home life like?
00:42:14.96\00:42:17.43
Are you raising up
children in the way of the Lord
00:42:17.47\00:42:19.90
in an appropriate
manner leading your children,
00:42:19.93\00:42:23.20
leading your grandchildren,
00:42:23.24\00:42:24.57
leading each
other to Jesus Christ
00:42:24.61\00:42:26.17
in the love and compassion
and the Gospel of Jesus?
00:42:26.21\00:42:29.28
Or is it
something else happening?
00:42:29.31\00:42:31.71
Even Proverbs 22:6,
00:42:31.75\00:42:33.25
this is one that we quote often,
00:42:33.28\00:42:34.95
especially when
it comes to training
00:42:34.98\00:42:36.69
or raising children.
00:42:36.72\00:42:38.05
But Proverbs 22:6,
we've heard it many times,
00:42:38.09\00:42:40.39
it says, "Train up a
child in the way he should go
00:42:40.42\00:42:43.76
and when he is old he
will not depart from it."
00:42:43.79\00:42:47.66
And as I read that scripture,
00:42:47.70\00:42:49.03
I'm sure many of the
parents said, "Amen."
00:42:49.06\00:42:51.50
And you should say, amen,
00:42:51.53\00:42:52.87
because that's a powerful truth.
00:42:52.90\00:42:54.30
The only issue is many
people take this scripture
00:42:54.34\00:42:57.14
and they misuse and abuse it.
00:42:57.17\00:42:58.81
They twist it into
something that it's not.
00:42:58.84\00:43:03.28
You see much of our youth
are not being led to Christ,
00:43:03.31\00:43:08.58
but rather pushed
further away from Christ
00:43:08.62\00:43:11.39
because of religion.
00:43:11.42\00:43:13.96
Because many people
00:43:13.99\00:43:15.62
and I'm just going
to go ahead and say it,
00:43:15.66\00:43:16.99
many parents,
many family members,
00:43:17.03\00:43:19.19
even maybe many church officials
00:43:19.23\00:43:22.33
are simply
spiritually waterboarding
00:43:22.36\00:43:24.73
our youth with religion.
00:43:24.77\00:43:27.47
We want them to be so holy.
00:43:27.50\00:43:28.84
We want them to be raised
up in the way of the Lord.
00:43:28.87\00:43:30.94
We see it as our duty to
raise them in righteousness
00:43:30.97\00:43:33.31
and make them good old
00:43:33.34\00:43:34.71
Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:43:34.74\00:43:36.38
But in reality, my friends,
we are force feeding them
00:43:36.41\00:43:39.21
the rules and regulations,
00:43:39.25\00:43:40.85
instead of
showing them the Ruler.
00:43:40.88\00:43:43.65
We're force
feeding them the rules,
00:43:43.69\00:43:45.45
instead of leading them
to the Lord of the Sabbath.
00:43:45.49\00:43:47.96
We're more focused on
the rules and regulations
00:43:47.99\00:43:50.53
of the Sabbath.
00:43:50.56\00:43:51.89
It's putting a bad
taste in our youth's mouth.
00:43:51.93\00:43:54.43
They're not being led
into a passionate, loving,
00:43:54.46\00:43:57.63
wonderful
relationship with their Lord.
00:43:57.67\00:43:59.83
They're not tasting to
see if the Lord is good
00:43:59.87\00:44:02.94
because instead of Christ,
they might be hearing over
00:44:02.97\00:44:06.47
and over a misuse and
abuse of Ellen White says.
00:44:06.51\00:44:10.11
Ellen White
says. Ellen White says.
00:44:10.15\00:44:12.98
Don't please don't run, shout
at me and stone me for that.
00:44:13.01\00:44:15.75
Because you know, I
believe in the writings
00:44:15.78\00:44:17.12
and the
inspiration of Ellen White.
00:44:17.15\00:44:18.49
I'm using much of it
right here in my own sermon.
00:44:18.52\00:44:21.32
But, my friends, we
should be leading them
00:44:21.36\00:44:22.79
toward the saith the Lord.
00:44:22.82\00:44:24.16
We should be leading
them to Jesus Christ,
00:44:24.19\00:44:25.73
not beating them over the
head with the Gospel of Jesus
00:44:25.76\00:44:28.23
and not giving them every reason
00:44:28.26\00:44:29.70
to hate
Christianity, hate the Bible,
00:44:29.73\00:44:32.20
hate the truth,
00:44:32.23\00:44:33.57
because every
little single thought
00:44:33.60\00:44:35.00
or problem that they
have, we say, you know what?
00:44:35.04\00:44:37.41
Ellen White says though.
00:44:37.44\00:44:39.91
We have to be careful
00:44:39.94\00:44:42.01
not to quench the
spirit in a young person's life
00:44:42.04\00:44:45.81
or be an aid to the
quenching of the spirit
00:44:45.85\00:44:49.78
in a young person's
life because we misuse
00:44:49.82\00:44:52.62
and abuse this powerful
message and truth that we have.
00:44:52.65\00:44:57.89
Yes, doctrines matter.
00:44:57.93\00:45:00.50
Yes, all of these
powerful foundational truths,
00:45:00.53\00:45:04.63
that we believe in a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:45:04.67\00:45:06.27
they matter.
00:45:06.30\00:45:07.64
They're crucial.
00:45:07.67\00:45:09.00
They're pillars of our faith
00:45:09.04\00:45:10.37
that hold up
the great sanctuary,
00:45:10.41\00:45:13.88
the great banner of
Seventh-day Adventism.
00:45:13.91\00:45:16.71
But nonetheless, my friends,
we have to also understand
00:45:16.75\00:45:20.35
that no one has ever
been saved by the Sabbath.
00:45:20.38\00:45:26.22
No one has ever been saved
00:45:26.25\00:45:28.72
by the truth of
the state of the dead.
00:45:28.76\00:45:30.66
No one has ever been saved
00:45:30.69\00:45:32.59
by any of these pillar doctrines
00:45:32.63\00:45:34.16
because those
doctrines in and of themselves
00:45:34.20\00:45:36.80
cannot save, only Jesus Christ
00:45:36.83\00:45:39.70
and His shed blood and
His love and His compassion
00:45:39.73\00:45:42.77
and His mercy that only
Jesus Himself has to offer
00:45:42.80\00:45:46.27
and has to give
to our young people.
00:45:46.31\00:45:47.64
Only He can save a soul.
00:45:47.68\00:45:50.05
Only He can turn a
hardened heart into a soft,
00:45:50.08\00:45:53.38
loving, receptible vessel.
00:45:53.42\00:45:55.92
And our young
people are no different.
00:45:55.95\00:45:57.89
Yes, there may be difficulties
in connecting with them.
00:45:57.92\00:46:01.02
Yes, there may be a difference
in ideology or mentality.
00:46:01.06\00:46:04.79
But if we think we're ever
going to lead them to Jesus,
00:46:04.83\00:46:06.90
simply by taking the
sword of truth and saying,
00:46:06.93\00:46:09.10
"Take it, take it, receive it,
accept it, because it's truth."
00:46:09.13\00:46:12.63
That is not the way we
lead our young people to Jesus.
00:46:12.67\00:46:17.31
Adventist Home, page
320, notice what it says,
00:46:17.34\00:46:20.91
"Parents make a
most terrible mistake,
00:46:20.94\00:46:23.71
when they neglect
the work of giving
00:46:23.75\00:46:25.18
their children
religious training."
00:46:25.21\00:46:27.05
Okay, so we should give
them religious training.
00:46:27.08\00:46:28.68
But notice, "Thinking
that they will come out
00:46:28.72\00:46:31.02
all right in the
future and as they get older,
00:46:31.05\00:46:34.26
will of themselves be anxious
for a religious experience.
00:46:34.29\00:46:37.59
Cannot you see, parents,
00:46:37.63\00:46:39.43
that if you do not plant
the precious seeds of truth,"
00:46:39.46\00:46:42.93
and then she goes on
to say, "and of love,
00:46:42.96\00:46:46.17
of heavenly
attributes in the heart,
00:46:46.20\00:46:49.20
Satan will sow the field
of the heart with tares?"
00:46:49.24\00:46:52.74
You see, there's always
the two opposite extremes.
00:46:52.77\00:46:55.58
You have the one who's
beating and force feeding,
00:46:55.61\00:46:58.41
beating the heads of
the children with truth,
00:46:58.45\00:47:00.72
with the Bible and Ellen White.
00:47:00.75\00:47:02.88
And they're force
feeding and waterboarding,
00:47:02.92\00:47:04.95
spiritually waterboarding
our children with Adventism,
00:47:04.99\00:47:07.66
rather than with the love
00:47:07.69\00:47:09.02
and the
compassion of Jesus Christ.
00:47:09.06\00:47:10.39
And then you have
the opposite extreme.
00:47:10.43\00:47:12.46
You have those that
are, you know, again,
00:47:12.49\00:47:14.13
claiming the name of
Jesus, claiming to be raising,
00:47:14.16\00:47:16.83
you know, godly
children in the Lord,
00:47:16.87\00:47:18.20
but yet they're left
in letting them drift off
00:47:18.23\00:47:20.17
into any old thing
the world has to offer.
00:47:20.20\00:47:22.94
There's no real guidance
that's good, Christ led,
00:47:22.97\00:47:26.68
spirit led,
spiritual training in the home.
00:47:26.71\00:47:30.21
It has to be balanced.
00:47:30.25\00:47:31.65
It has to be done in love.
00:47:31.68\00:47:33.35
And it has to be done
with compassion and truth.
00:47:33.38\00:47:36.05
Notice what
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says,
00:47:36.08\00:47:38.82
beautiful, beautiful passage.
00:47:38.85\00:47:40.99
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says,
00:47:41.02\00:47:42.72
"And these words
which I command you today
00:47:42.76\00:47:44.69
shall be in your heart.
00:47:44.73\00:47:46.23
You shall teach them
diligently to your children,
00:47:46.26\00:47:48.36
and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house,
00:47:48.40\00:47:52.03
when you walk by the
way, when you lie down,
00:47:52.07\00:47:54.44
and when you rise up."
00:47:54.47\00:47:55.80
Did you catch that, my friends?
00:47:55.84\00:47:57.17
You should talk of
them and talk with them.
00:47:57.21\00:48:00.21
You know, there's not
a lot of communication
00:48:00.24\00:48:01.71
going on in homes today.
00:48:01.74\00:48:04.05
Everyone's got some of
the most powerful devices
00:48:04.08\00:48:06.98
of communication
ever given to mankind
00:48:07.02\00:48:09.88
and ever made
available for mankind,
00:48:09.92\00:48:11.29
cell phones and
iPads and computers and oh,
00:48:11.32\00:48:14.26
the list goes on.
00:48:14.29\00:48:16.49
But yet inside the homes,
00:48:16.52\00:48:18.89
trying to live out
the American dream,
00:48:18.93\00:48:21.16
seeking careers,
that's keeping the families
00:48:21.20\00:48:23.80
and the parents busy.
00:48:23.83\00:48:25.17
And I'm certainly not
saying careers are bad.
00:48:25.20\00:48:26.53
I'm certainly not
saying you shouldn't have jobs.
00:48:26.57\00:48:28.10
We all have to eat, we
all have to pay bills, but,
00:48:28.14\00:48:29.97
my friends, never,
ever let those things be,
00:48:30.01\00:48:33.17
you know, causing neglect
within the home and the family.
00:48:33.21\00:48:37.71
We need to be sitting down with
our children talking with them.
00:48:37.75\00:48:40.38
And sometimes they
may not want to talk about
00:48:40.42\00:48:42.68
the spiritual things
you want to talk about.
00:48:42.72\00:48:44.72
"Well, I want my child
to understand the sanctuary
00:48:44.75\00:48:47.99
and the 2300 years."
00:48:48.02\00:48:49.36
They may not be
ready for that yet.
00:48:49.39\00:48:51.19
"Well they're 17
years old, they better be."
00:48:51.23\00:48:53.50
They may not be
ready for that yet.
00:48:53.53\00:48:56.70
You have to meet
them on their level.
00:48:56.73\00:48:59.90
If they're
interested in spiritual things,
00:48:59.93\00:49:01.54
let them
communicate and tell you
00:49:01.57\00:49:03.41
what they are interested
in talking to rather than you
00:49:03.44\00:49:07.14
dictating what it is
that they need to know.
00:49:07.18\00:49:09.44
Yes, we are to apply
these biblical principles.
00:49:09.48\00:49:11.95
Yes, we are to
train them up in the way
00:49:11.98\00:49:14.25
of the Word of the
Lord and in the truth
00:49:14.28\00:49:15.62
and the
principles of God's Word.
00:49:15.65\00:49:17.05
But it must come over time.
00:49:17.09\00:49:18.42
It must come in an
appropriate, balanced process.
00:49:18.45\00:49:21.32
And it must be
done in a very tactful,
00:49:21.36\00:49:23.29
methodical way that
is going to day by day,
00:49:23.32\00:49:26.36
moment by moment, week by week,
00:49:26.39\00:49:28.46
year by year lead
these youth, these teenagers,
00:49:28.50\00:49:32.07
these young
people, these adolescents
00:49:32.10\00:49:34.14
and these young adults
00:49:34.17\00:49:35.50
to Christ in
the appropriate way.
00:49:35.54\00:49:37.84
Adventist Home, page 320,
00:49:37.87\00:49:39.91
"From the earliest age of wise
education in Christ's lines,
00:49:39.94\00:49:44.05
it is to be begun
and carried forward
00:49:44.08\00:49:47.68
when the children's
hearts are impressible,
00:49:47.72\00:49:50.22
they are to be taught
concerning eternal realities.
00:49:50.25\00:49:54.79
Parents should
remember that they are living,
00:49:54.82\00:49:57.93
speaking and acting
in the presence of God."
00:49:57.96\00:50:03.50
As a parent, if
you're watching this,
00:50:03.53\00:50:06.33
you don't realize how powerful
00:50:06.37\00:50:08.80
of a witness you
are to your children.
00:50:08.84\00:50:11.44
Maybe you do.
00:50:11.47\00:50:12.81
I say that because
many parents don't.
00:50:12.84\00:50:16.31
You are going to
be first and foremost,
00:50:16.34\00:50:19.51
the gospel that your children
and your grandchildren see.
00:50:19.55\00:50:23.99
Do they see Jesus in you?
00:50:24.02\00:50:27.79
Because you can give
them the truth of God's Word
00:50:27.82\00:50:30.49
all day long.
00:50:30.53\00:50:32.63
And you can try to be
that hero in their life,
00:50:32.66\00:50:35.53
that's going to
introduce them to Jesus.
00:50:35.56\00:50:37.93
But if you yourself do
not know the God of the Bible,
00:50:37.97\00:50:42.07
then how in the world are
you going to lead someone else?
00:50:42.10\00:50:44.97
In this case, your
children or your grandchildren
00:50:45.01\00:50:47.81
to the God of the
Bible if you don't even know
00:50:47.84\00:50:50.95
the God of the Bible.
00:50:50.98\00:50:52.68
If they don't see the
light of Jesus in you,
00:50:52.71\00:50:56.15
then how in the world
are they ever going to come
00:50:56.18\00:50:58.59
to know the
realities of the God,
00:50:58.62\00:51:00.79
the true real God that exists?
00:51:00.82\00:51:04.96
How do we reach
our young people?
00:51:04.99\00:51:06.96
Let's get practical in
these last few moments we have.
00:51:07.00\00:51:09.90
How can I reach
the young people?
00:51:09.93\00:51:12.53
That's the question
we're asking you at home,
00:51:12.57\00:51:15.00
everyone listening.
00:51:15.04\00:51:17.11
The key, I believe, is found
in the Ministry of Healing,
00:51:17.14\00:51:20.08
page 143.
00:51:20.11\00:51:21.44
And by the way, this
is a universal principle,
00:51:21.48\00:51:23.65
universal truth that
applies for all witnessing,
00:51:23.68\00:51:26.61
no matter what the age,
00:51:26.65\00:51:28.15
no matter what
generation, it applies to all.
00:51:28.18\00:51:31.82
It's called
Christ's method alone.
00:51:31.85\00:51:34.92
The Ministry of
Healing, page 143, here it is.
00:51:34.96\00:51:38.16
"Christ's method alone
00:51:38.19\00:51:41.06
will give true success
in reaching the people.
00:51:41.10\00:51:45.40
The Savior mingled with men
as one who desired their good.
00:51:45.43\00:51:50.81
He showed His sympathy for them,
00:51:50.84\00:51:53.84
ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence.
00:51:53.88\00:51:59.51
Then He bade them, 'Follow Me.'"
00:51:59.55\00:52:03.59
Christ's method alone.
00:52:03.62\00:52:07.22
That's it, only
the way of Christ,
00:52:07.26\00:52:10.39
only the method in
which He used to win
00:52:10.43\00:52:12.99
souls to the gospel
00:52:13.03\00:52:14.83
and to be
transformed by the gospel,
00:52:14.86\00:52:16.56
only His method works.
00:52:16.60\00:52:18.53
And that's the
method we must embrace.
00:52:18.57\00:52:20.54
That's the
method we must practice.
00:52:20.57\00:52:23.07
Let me give you
some practical ways
00:52:23.10\00:52:25.27
that you can
reach your young people.
00:52:25.31\00:52:27.48
Again, these are just
a few little pointers,
00:52:27.51\00:52:29.64
certainly not a complete list
00:52:29.68\00:52:31.71
because we would need
a whole another series
00:52:31.75\00:52:33.52
to be able to communicate that.
00:52:33.55\00:52:34.92
But in the few
waking moments we have here,
00:52:34.95\00:52:36.89
I want to
communicate just a few pointers
00:52:36.92\00:52:38.45
that are absolutely crucial.
00:52:38.49\00:52:40.16
And applying
00:52:40.19\00:52:41.52
when you're reaching
a young person today,
00:52:41.56\00:52:42.89
whether it be a Millennial,
whether it be a Generation Zer
00:52:42.92\00:52:46.19
or whether it also be
this Generation Alpha,
00:52:46.23\00:52:48.26
that's coming up.
00:52:48.30\00:52:49.63
Number one, so here it is,
there's a few of these I think
00:52:49.66\00:52:51.10
there's five, so get
ready to write them down.
00:52:51.13\00:52:52.47
Number one, listen.
00:52:52.50\00:52:56.00
Listen,
00:52:56.04\00:52:57.71
non-judgmental
communication is key
00:52:57.74\00:53:02.11
when you're dealing
with a young person.
00:53:02.14\00:53:04.45
Listening makes room
for people and a culture
00:53:04.48\00:53:08.65
that places high
value on acceptance,
00:53:08.68\00:53:11.85
this is no small thing.
00:53:11.89\00:53:14.59
When we make space
first for who people are
00:53:14.62\00:53:18.66
and then for
what matters to them,
00:53:18.69\00:53:21.36
only then can we know
how to offer ourselves
00:53:21.40\00:53:24.70
and our faith to them.
00:53:24.73\00:53:27.04
Do not lecture or
impose thoughts and ideas,
00:53:27.07\00:53:30.01
your own personal
thoughts and ideas.
00:53:30.04\00:53:31.77
You haven't won
their confidence yet.
00:53:31.81\00:53:33.48
Remember, you're
trying to be a friend to them
00:53:33.51\00:53:35.18
as Jesus first
became a friend to them.
00:53:35.21\00:53:38.28
Number two,
00:53:38.31\00:53:39.91
show sympathy and genuine
attentiveness to the thoughts,
00:53:39.95\00:53:43.85
ideas and challenges
they may be experiencing.
00:53:43.89\00:53:47.79
You will never become a
person they trust unless
00:53:47.82\00:53:49.89
you show genuine care
00:53:49.92\00:53:51.83
and awareness in
their real issues and ideas.
00:53:51.86\00:53:55.76
Okay, so notice this,
doubt is not the enemy.
00:53:55.80\00:53:58.03
"But Ryan, my young
daughter or son or granddaughter
00:53:58.07\00:54:00.74
or grandson, they're
always doubting their faith
00:54:00.77\00:54:02.77
or doubting the
existence of God."
00:54:02.80\00:54:04.31
Doubt is not
necessarily the enemy.
00:54:04.34\00:54:06.74
In fact, we can often do
more harm in trying to protect
00:54:06.78\00:54:09.48
or shield our youth from
doubt rather than nurturing
00:54:09.51\00:54:13.25
that experience.
00:54:13.28\00:54:14.62
Study showed doubt
is an important part
00:54:14.65\00:54:16.45
of the process of forming
a healthy religious identity.
00:54:16.48\00:54:19.35
So get this,
doubt by its very nature
00:54:19.39\00:54:22.12
leads to both a
stronger belief in something
00:54:22.16\00:54:24.89
and unbelief in something else.
00:54:24.93\00:54:27.70
Therefore, the question is
not whether doubt will lead
00:54:27.73\00:54:30.13
to unbelief but which
beliefs will be strengthened
00:54:30.17\00:54:32.87
and which
beliefs will be rejected.
00:54:32.90\00:54:35.54
On this note, it is essential
00:54:35.57\00:54:37.41
that we play
more of a supportive,
00:54:37.44\00:54:40.58
yet facilitating
role in helping to guide
00:54:40.61\00:54:43.55
not dictate our
young people to the truth.
00:54:43.58\00:54:47.28
Number three,
meet their physical,
00:54:47.32\00:54:50.59
emotional and spiritual needs.
00:54:50.62\00:54:53.36
So what do they
need? Ask them, right?
00:54:53.39\00:54:56.42
Ask how you can help.
00:54:56.46\00:54:58.19
You know what they
need more than anything?
00:54:58.23\00:55:00.13
They need you.
00:55:00.16\00:55:02.30
You know what your daughter and
son needs more than anything?
00:55:02.33\00:55:04.73
They need you as a parent.
00:55:04.77\00:55:06.27
You know what your granddaughter
00:55:06.30\00:55:07.64
and grandson need
more than anything?
00:55:07.67\00:55:09.00
They need you to
be in their lives.
00:55:09.04\00:55:10.84
They need you to be
there to support them.
00:55:10.87\00:55:12.77
Invest your time, your
effort and your resources,
00:55:12.81\00:55:15.81
if necessary to
meet whatever it is
00:55:15.84\00:55:17.55
they need in the
moment or in general,
00:55:17.58\00:55:19.55
that's what Jesus did.
00:55:19.58\00:55:20.92
He met their needs first before
He bade them to follow Him.
00:55:20.95\00:55:23.65
He became a friend to them,
He became a supporter of them.
00:55:23.69\00:55:28.39
Number four, there's
a lot I can say on that
00:55:28.42\00:55:29.92
one but I'm going to go
on, we're running out of time.
00:55:29.96\00:55:31.46
Number four, upon
winning their confidence
00:55:31.49\00:55:33.86
because now you've
become a friend to them.
00:55:33.90\00:55:35.56
You've been
spending time with them,
00:55:35.60\00:55:37.27
you're meeting their needs,
you're meeting those physical,
00:55:37.30\00:55:40.67
emotional and spiritual needs,
00:55:40.70\00:55:42.30
you're spending time with them,
you're getting to know them.
00:55:42.34\00:55:44.04
Number four, here it is,
00:55:44.07\00:55:45.41
upon winning
their confidence now,
00:55:45.44\00:55:47.28
they will trust you with truth.
00:55:47.31\00:55:50.48
Why?
00:55:50.51\00:55:51.85
Why will they
trust you with truth
00:55:51.88\00:55:53.21
because they have
seen the truth in you.
00:55:53.25\00:55:56.52
They've seen Christ in you.
00:55:56.55\00:55:59.42
Christianity will no
longer be a myth or a mystery.
00:55:59.45\00:56:02.82
It will be real,
genuine and desired.
00:56:02.86\00:56:06.86
And so here,
notice the last one,
00:56:06.90\00:56:08.33
number five,
00:56:08.36\00:56:09.70
in a very strategic
yet methodical manner.
00:56:09.73\00:56:12.73
You lead them on a journey
00:56:12.77\00:56:14.30
and helping them to
grasp their essential worth
00:56:14.34\00:56:18.07
and identity in Christ.
00:56:18.11\00:56:22.04
That's all they want to know.
00:56:22.08\00:56:24.31
Youth are open,
they're open to truth.
00:56:24.35\00:56:27.58
Are you open to
meet them where they are?
00:56:27.62\00:56:31.25
There's a mass
exodus of young people,
00:56:31.29\00:56:33.02
my friends, in our church.
00:56:33.05\00:56:35.22
We got to do something about
it before there is no church.
00:56:35.26\00:56:38.63
And we know the
churches are going to fall.
00:56:38.66\00:56:40.20
We're been told that.
00:56:40.23\00:56:41.56
But we still have to remedy this
00:56:41.60\00:56:42.93
while we have an opportunity.
00:56:42.96\00:56:44.37
I leave you with
this final quote,
00:56:44.40\00:56:45.73
Messages to Young
People, page 25, powerful quote.
00:56:45.77\00:56:49.37
"The church is languishing
for the help of young men
00:56:49.40\00:56:52.87
and young women
00:56:52.91\00:56:54.31
who will bear a
courageous testimony,
00:56:54.34\00:56:56.85
who will with their ardent zeal
stir up the sluggish energies
00:56:56.88\00:57:00.95
of God's people,
00:57:00.98\00:57:02.32
and so increase the power
of the church in the world."
00:57:02.35\00:57:08.12
Will you lead them to Jesus?
00:57:08.16\00:57:10.06
Or perhaps maybe you
need to be led to Jesus.
00:57:10.09\00:57:13.90
Whatever the case
may be, my friends,
00:57:13.93\00:57:16.00
it's never too late.
00:57:16.03\00:57:17.57
It is not too late.
00:57:17.60\00:57:19.47
Whether it's you or your
child or your grandchildren
00:57:19.50\00:57:23.37
or whoever it is,
00:57:23.41\00:57:25.07
just surrender
yourself today to Christ.
00:57:25.11\00:57:27.44
Ask the Holy Spirit
to lead and guide you.
00:57:27.48\00:57:29.91
And He certainly
will. Thank you, my friends.
00:57:29.94\00:57:32.65