Notes taken by Gary Canan at the Preachers' Retreat

Jeremy Beller          8-9-2005        Camp Rock Creek        Session 1

Keeping Our Youth Faithful

Statistically he is not supposed to be here. Because of when he was born. 1977-1994 Those born during these years are called "Bridgers". Because of family of divorced parents. Because of small church with no youth minister. Because of Christian College experience (some brethren think graduates always leave into error). Statistically he is not supposed to be here today.

What has happened for me to be here today. 2 yrs after graduating from H.S. 50 – 70% of the church’s young people never come back to church. Look at average age of churches…. Where are young couples, young families?

A lot answers are given. Busy schedules of teens. Broken homes. Honest, good hearted attempts are being made to stop this…. programs, facilites… money invested and we still come back to the harsh reality of the statistics.

Basic points today…

1. Need to know our teens. We tend to stereo-type people… without giving them a chance. Not all kids drive too fast, listen to loud music, and get drunk.

Do the elders know the young people’s names? At Wilshire, they have an effort to get to know each other better. [Breaking down age barriers]


Ronald Reagan’s autobiography – The spokeperson for the young people said, "It’s sad but your generation can’t understand us."

1 Tim 4:12 written to "young Timothy" Here’s your responsibility. Be an example… We cite Joseph, Daniel, 12 yr old Jesus. Don’t let anyone look down on you. By implication, he is saying older people, don’t look down on them.


70% of those who stay in the church have other adults who they relate to (other than their parents). Dirk uses questionnaire activity where teens interview mature members, then share the answers with the group.

We have segregated the church! They have a name. Not just Jim Beller’s son.

2. Have to teach them. When he first went to Wilshire he did an activity with parents on one side and teens on the other. Both took a Basic Bible quiz. Then they exchanged papers to check them. Result – parent who didn’t know the Bible answers had teens who didn’t know. If we don’t teach them, how will they learn. Paul, how shall they hear? Go to the book store and try to find good solid textual material.

Only 14% of parents talk to their kids about textual things. 3 hours a week will not save a soul. We have to teach doctrinal truths! We have to teach how these thing relate to their lives. Application. We have to teach them practical things at the right time. "What does it mean to be a Christian in today’s world?"


Who is teaching our children? Not God’s plan for youth to teach youth. Titus 2:4 Older teach younger. Many YM are right out of college and they are the only one the teens hear in all their learning situations. YM degrees require ½ Bible of others! The YM’s responsibility is to facilitate the teaching. Do not trust the teaching entirely to youth.

Ephesians is practical, applicable book. To Paul, theology affects your life style. We try to separate the two – practical living or theology.

3. Have to involve them. 62% who are still here, are involved. They are important to the work. Stop praying "the church of tomorrow". Use their potential. Tap their energy. Eph 4:11-13 use various gifts for the preparation of God’s people to be more productive.

4. Have to show them. What does Christianity look like. What a strong marriage looks like. What integrity on the job looks like.

They haven’t experienced fighting for our country. They haven’t lived through the Depression. We need to share with them.

5. Have to expect them to be faithful. People rarely fail to meet low expectations. Tom Rainer research on unchurched (the lost), those who came to church said they felt they were expected to. We need to have high, not unreasonable expectations.

Exo 13:8 Celebrate the Passover, so that when the children ask, you can tell what God has done for you.

Dt 4:9 Moses said Teach the children…. Make them know to your sons and your grandsons.

Dt 6:4-9 Teach them diligently to your sons and talk to them…. write them down

Dt 11:18-19 Teach them to your sons. Primary responsibility is with the home. We need to help, support, confirm.

Josh 4:6 When the children ask, it’s a teachable moment.

Judges 2:10 There arose another generation who did not know the Lord

Statistically he is not supposed to be here. But, he was taught the text, not watered down lessons. He started preaching at 14. He spoke at a Youth Rally before he had his drivers license.