tsunami warning! ( our children’s lives are in danger)
TRANSCRIPT
Tsunami Warning!Tsunami Warning!((Our Children’s Lives are in Danger)Our Children’s Lives are in Danger)
December 26, 2004December 26, 2004
An unstoppable, unavoidable wave crashing down – today’s culture
Let’s zoom in here…
Note the father with the child on his shoulders. What would he do to rescue her?
But let’s look even more closely…
Note their expressions!
But soon it will be like this….
They think it is funny, that they can ride it out!
…Is this how we dismiss the danger of our culture?
And then like this….
What is in this wreckage?
What is the destruction from the current cultural tsunami?
What will the souls of What will the souls of our children look like our children look like
after they have been hit after they have been hit forfor yearsyears by the social by the social and cultural tsunami?and cultural tsunami?
(Are we taking it seriously?)(Are we taking it seriously?)
We don’t realize how We don’t realize how many of our children are many of our children are
the walking wounded, the walking wounded, suffering and bleeding in suffering and bleeding in
our society and in our our society and in our churcheschurches
To see the effects of the culture on our kids, click here to see “Casualties of War” on the Teen Mania
website.(return to this presentation when the video
finishes)
Let’s bring it home -- out of 20 kids (in your church)…Let’s bring it home -- out of 20 kids (in your church)…
6 Drunk in the past month5 used illegal drugs 4 considered suicide
2 tried it
8 have cut themselves 18 have seen porn online 5 have been solicited online10 have had intercourse 2 have been raped
Some are staggering under multiple hits
Out of 20 kids (in your church)…Out of 20 kids (in your church)…6 Drunk in the past month5 used illegal drugs 4 considered suicide
2 tried it
8 have cut themselves 18 have seen porn online 5 have been solicited online10 have had intercourse 2 have been raped
1 1 will keep their faith through collegewill keep their faith through college
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XXX ??
Some hard realitiesSome hard realities
Over 80% of churched youth leave the Over 80% of churched youth leave the church forever upon graduating high church forever upon graduating high schoolschool
At the current rate of evangelism 4% of At the current rate of evangelism 4% of today’s youth will be believers in the next today’s youth will be believers in the next generation.generation.
Builders (’27-’45): 65%Builders (’27-’45): 65% Boomers (’46-’64): 35%Boomers (’46-’64): 35% Busters (’65-’83): 16%Busters (’65-’83): 16% Bridgers/Millennials (’84-present): 4%Bridgers/Millennials (’84-present): 4%
Why is thisWhy is this happeninghappening??““Behavior is governed by belief”Behavior is governed by belief”
Where do these beliefs come from?Where do these beliefs come from?
Centuries of a progression toward highlighting man Centuries of a progression toward highlighting man and reducing Godand reducing God Renaissance, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Renaissance, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution,
DarwinismDarwinism Now compounded byNow compounded by
The media barrageThe media barrage The technology barrageThe technology barrage
The result is a difficult world for a young person to navigateThe result is a difficult world for a young person to navigate
To see an excellent video giving insight into how kids struggle to be clear about God, click here to see “Clear” by Student Life Ministries
(10 min)(return to this presentation when the video
finishes)
Understanding thisUnderstanding this GenerationGeneration
““A Marketed Generation”A Marketed Generation”
An average teen by graduation:An average teen by graduation: Is exposed to over 9 million marketing imagesIs exposed to over 9 million marketing images Sees 200,000 sexual references and 1 million acts of violence Sees 200,000 sexual references and 1 million acts of violence
on TVon TV Has spent 6,000 hours on the internetHas spent 6,000 hours on the internet
Who is deciding what is worth watching?Who is deciding what is worth watching? A $170 billion marketA $170 billion market Can a young person be expected to navigate that on their own?Can a young person be expected to navigate that on their own?
Should they have their own TV or computer in their room?Should they have their own TV or computer in their room? Can a parents’ criteria continue to be: “It’s not too bad…???”Can a parents’ criteria continue to be: “It’s not too bad…???”
UnderstandingUnderstanding this Generationthis Generation
““A Relational Generation”A Relational Generation”
““If I’m going to do anything, I’m going to do it in a If I’m going to do anything, I’m going to do it in a group”group” 63% Live in households where both parents work63% Live in households where both parents work ½ of young people have lived through their parent’s divorce½ of young people have lived through their parent’s divorce The vast majority of young people suffer feelings of The vast majority of young people suffer feelings of
isolationisolation
No wonder “Relationship is the new currency of this No wonder “Relationship is the new currency of this generation of students”generation of students” It is what they crave.It is what they crave.
UnderstandingUnderstanding this Generationthis Generation
““A Confused Generation”A Confused Generation”
Beliefs regarding faith:Beliefs regarding faith: 47% - Morality is relative47% - Morality is relative 91% - No absolute truth91% - No absolute truth 30% - All religions pray to the same God30% - All religions pray to the same God 65% - No way to tell which religion is true65% - No way to tell which religion is true
They are left piecing together their own They are left piecing together their own theological systemtheological system
(ie “my version of God..”)(ie “my version of God..”)
The New Paradigm of TruthThe New Paradigm of Truth
PARENT’S CULTUREPARENT’S CULTURE
““If it is true, it will If it is true, it will work”work”
Truth is an objective, Truth is an objective, external reality external reality
Truth does not change Truth does not change with circumstanceswith circumstances
Sin in a believer:Sin in a believer: Not living out truthNot living out truth
YOUTH CULTUREYOUTH CULTURE
““If it works, it is true”If it works, it is true”
Truth is a relative, Truth is a relative, internal experienceinternal experience
Circumstances Circumstances establish truthestablish truth
Sin in a believer:Sin in a believer: Revealing untruthRevealing untruth
What do we do?What do we do?
Develop A Rescue And Equipping Mindset!Develop A Rescue And Equipping Mindset!
► Understand the crisis that Understand the crisis that YOURYOUR children are in children are in NO ONE escapes!NO ONE escapes! 80% will leave the church forever if you don’t change.80% will leave the church forever if you don’t change.
► The culture is exerting everything it hasThe culture is exerting everything it has We have something moreWe have something more
► Shepherd children as equally important members of the Shepherd children as equally important members of the flockflock This is not This is not “just”“just” the youth & children’s department’s the youth & children’s department’s
responsibilityresponsibility They are precious to God (Matthew 18:6)They are precious to God (Matthew 18:6)
The SolutionThe Solution
Step #1 Build Relationships With Young PeopleStep #1 Build Relationships With Young People
Let them experience the Love of Christ Let them experience the Love of Christ which the world cannot offerwhich the world cannot offer
► Make sure they have significant, intimate relationships Make sure they have significant, intimate relationships with mature Christianswith mature Christians
““You don’t know me”You don’t know me”
In their familiesIn their families► ““If we don’t engage the families, there is a futility to what If we don’t engage the families, there is a futility to what
we do”we do”► ““The single most important influence on the life of a The single most important influence on the life of a
teenager is their parents”teenager is their parents” With other adultsWith other adults
► Kids are looking to see if adults validate the truth claims of Kids are looking to see if adults validate the truth claims of Christianity.Christianity.
► The builder goldmineThe builder goldmine
The SolutionThe Solution
Step #2 Disciple And Train Young PeopleStep #2 Disciple And Train Young People
Give them the confidence of the Truth of God Give them the confidence of the Truth of God
which the world does not knowwhich the world does not know
Develop convictions: Develop convictions: “We are talking about a belief that goes so “We are talking about a belief that goes so deep that it unlocks the secrets to one’s very own identity, deep that it unlocks the secrets to one’s very own identity, purpose, and destiny in life.”purpose, and destiny in life.” (McDowell)(McDowell)
► Teach them to:Teach them to: Know why they believeKnow why they believe Know how to interpret Know how to interpret Know what they believe Know what they believe Develop applicationDevelop application
► Teach the Bible, not the traditions of men (the hypocrisy Teach the Bible, not the traditions of men (the hypocrisy factor)factor)
The SolutionThe Solution
Step #3 Let Them Serve And LeadStep #3 Let Them Serve And Lead
Let them know the power of the Holy Spirit Let them know the power of the Holy Spirit
which the world cannot overcomewhich the world cannot overcome
““They’ve grown up with a resolve to be something, the question is they They’ve grown up with a resolve to be something, the question is they don’t have a lot of purpose about what they’re going to do or what don’t have a lot of purpose about what they’re going to do or what they’re going to be.”they’re going to be.”
► Give them opportunitiesGive them opportunities In service and evangelismIn service and evangelism To the communityTo the community In the bodyIn the body
The SolutionThe Solution
Where do you go from here?Where do you go from here?
Develop a plan that works for your church!Develop a plan that works for your church!
For assistance in developing a plan to rescue and equip your young people, contact me:
Dave [email protected]
www.rescuethem.com