Show Me, Don’t Tell Me

Introduction:

Somewhere there is a young person tired of their family. Tired of the rules they have to live under. Tired of going to church. They want their own life; they have their own worldview. They have their own ideas of how to spend their life. And…like the prodigal son, they walk away. Like the prodigal son, they will not be the first…and they won’t be the last. Today’s lesson came from a number of ideas I’ve been thinking on. Last week – we looked at a Barna survey of perceptions of non-Christian, members of Generation Y & M toward church. What about perceptions of those who go to church & claim to be Christians? Today’s lesson is not designed to be negative. But, it is intended to give us insight on how those in Gen Y & M may be feeling.

I. The Church is too judgmental

A.     Some feel they aren’t readily accepted, valued, wanted by others in the church.

B.     Some say they feel Christ is absent in their congregation. Others feel the church is not a safe place where a person can confess his/her sins to their brothers & sisters.

1.     Fear of gossip; fear of being rejected/shunned.

C.     Luke 18:9-14; Romans 12:1-3, cf., 12:3; Phil. 2:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-24

II. Church seems irrelevant.

A.     To some of our young people, we have become too interested in enforcing unwritten rules & become oblivious to more pressing issues.

1.     They constantly leave empty when emphasis on teaching/preaching is on topics that have absolutely nothing to help them cope with life.

B.     Matthew 23:23-24

C.     What are we doing to help our members with spiritual formation?

1.     Are we aware of those who go about spiritually unchallenged & unfulfilled?

2.     Will we allow our members to ask tough questions? Job 19:6-8

D.     We must create the kind of environment where people feel comfortable to seek help with deep seeded problems

III. A cultural struggle

A.     A handed-down faith.

1.     Some young ones go to church only because they have to.

2.     Young people will go through a phase

                                              a.     Do I believe this?  Do I need this? Do I want this?

                                              b.     If no positive answers, they won’t stay.

B.     Lure of the world.

1.     The exodus is happening because our young people want things more than God or the church.

2.     2 Timothy 4:10 – was a struggle for Demas…

IV. Meaningful relationships

A.     Church has been caught up in a lack of real communication that forges real relationships.

1.     1 Peter 4:7-8

B.     Do we practice this?  Do we love each other deeply?  Let us become more aware of this.

C.     The answer is not found in new innovations.

D.     When asked, “If you could change anything about the church what would it be,” many young people say: We need deeper, more meaningful relationships.

Conclusion:

A.     1 Cor 13:13 – take the time to love.

B.     Lets look for a way to get positively involved with our young people.

C.     Everyone, no matter the age, needs friendship.