Bible Verse: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20
Scripture Reading: Psalm 1
A mix of revelation and revolution grips children’s ministry in the Western church.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s research report summarizes the revelation nicely:
“Only one in three Canadian young adults who attended church weekly as a child still do so today. Of the young adults who no longer attend church, half have also stopped identifying themselves with the Christian tradition in which they were raised.”[1]
Stats vary slightly depending on who you ask, but the sad reality is that many or most kids who grow up in the Church leave church and Christ alike.
The revolution is the various responses to this issue. Why are so many leaving? What have we done wrong? What must we change?
The debate rages.
Most acknowledge that the way forward has more to do with parents than the Church.
Churches play a key role in supporting kids and parents in their discipleship of children, but parents play the primary role.
The way forward also needs to be focused on formation. I once heard Skye Jethani quip that church is “more fun and less formative” than ever, and perhaps this may be part of the problem.
This week, we’re looking at helping our kids find His path.
I’ll finish this introduction simply: There are no recipes for raising perfect Christian children— anyone who offers you “three guaranteed steps” to produce adult Christians is either deluded or deceptive.
But…we know that modelling and teaching life with God as we find it in the Bible will always be the way forward.
With that in mind, we’ll spend the rest of this week looking at three biblical passages we must continually immerse our kids in, and three biblical passages Western Christians often forget but need to remember.
Jesus is not surprised or scared by the depressing trends among Christian children in the West. He is still Lord and Saviour, Ruler and Servant of all, Beginning and End.
Jesus is standing at the door and knocking (Revelation 3:20), hoping we’ll let Him in and let Him lead our families and churches into the eternal life that has already begun and will continue forever.
He knows what He’s doing. Let’s focus on what He’s saying.
Prayer: Lord, bring back the kids who’ve left, and help us raise the next generation to know and love You deeply. Bring ___________ (insert the name of a kid you know who’s walked away from faith) back to You and Your people. Amen.
Reflection: Why do you think so many youth are leaving Christ and Church alike in the West? Is this happening in your church? What might we start to do about that?
[1] https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Communications/Research/Hemorrhaging-Faith-Why-When-Canadian-Young-Adul
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