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Tsunami Warning! ( Our Children’s Lives are in Danger)

Tsunami Warning! ( Our Children’s Lives are in Danger). December 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….

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Tsunami Warning! ( Our Children’s Lives are in Danger)

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  1. Tsunami Warning!(Our Children’s Lives are in Danger)

  2. December 26, 2004

  3. An unstoppable, unavoidable wave crashing down – today’s culture

  4. Let’s zoom in here…

  5. Note the father with the child on his shoulders. What would he do to rescue her? But let’s look even more closely…

  6. Note their expressions! They think it is funny, that they can ride it out! …Is this how we dismiss the danger of our culture? But soon it will be like this….

  7. And then like this….

  8. What is in this wreckage?

  9. What is the destruction from the current cultural tsunami?

  10. What will the souls of our children look like after they have been hit foryears by the social and cultural tsunami? (Are we taking it seriously?)

  11. We don’t realize how many of our children are the walking wounded, suffering and bleeding in our society and in our churches 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)

  12. Let’s bring it home -- out of 20 kids (in your church)… 6 Drunk in the past month 8 have cut themselves 18 have seen porn online 5 used illegal drugs 4 considered suicide 5 have been solicited online 2 tried it 10 have had intercourse 2 have been raped Some are staggering under multiple hits

  13. Out of 20 kids (in your church)… 6 Drunk in the past month 8 have cut themselves 18 have seen porn online 5 used illegal drugs 4 considered suicide 5 have been solicited online 2 tried it 10 have had intercourse 2 have been raped 1 will keep their faith through college X X X X X X ? X X X X X X X X X X X X X

  14. Some hard realities Over 80% of churched youth leave the church forever upon graduating high school At the current rate of evangelism 4% of today’s youth will be believers in the next generation. • Builders (’27-’45): 65% • Boomers (’46-’64): 35% • Busters (’65-’83): 16% • Bridgers/Millennials (’84-present): 4%

  15. Why is thishappening? “Behavior is governed by belief” Where do these beliefs come from? • Centuries of a progression toward highlighting man and reducing God • Renaissance, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Darwinism • Now compounded by • The media barrage • The technology barrage The 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)

  16. Understanding thisGeneration “A Marketed Generation” • An average teen by graduation: • Is exposed to over 9 million marketing images • Sees 200,000 sexual references and 1 million acts of violence on TV • Has spent 6,000 hours on the internet • Who is deciding what is worth watching? • A $170 billion market • Can a young person be expected to navigate that on their own? • Should they have their own TV or computer in their room? • Can a parents’ criteria continue to be: “It’s not too bad…???”

  17. Understandingthis Generation “A Relational Generation” • “If I’m going to do anything, I’m going to do it in a group” • 63% Live in households where both parents work • ½ of young people have lived through their parent’s divorce • The vast majority of young people suffer feelings of isolation • No wonder “Relationship is the new currency of this generation of students” • It is what they crave.

  18. Understandingthis Generation “A Confused Generation” • Beliefs regarding faith: • 47% - Morality is relative • 91% - No absolute truth • 30% - All religions pray to the same God • 65% - No way to tell which religion is true • They are left piecing together their own theological system (ie “my version of God..”)

  19. PARENT’S CULTURE “If it is true, it will work” Truth is an objective, external reality Truth does not change with circumstances Sin in a believer: Not living out truth YOUTH CULTURE “If it works, it is true” Truth is a relative, internal experience Circumstances establish truth Sin in a believer: Revealing untruth The New Paradigm of Truth What do we do?

  20. The Solution Develop A Rescue And Equipping Mindset! • Understand the crisis that YOUR children are in • NO ONE escapes! • 80% will leave the church forever if you don’t change. • The culture is exerting everything it has • We have something more • Shepherd children as equally important members of the flock • This is not “just” the youth & children’s department’s responsibility • They are precious to God (Matthew 18:6)

  21. The Solution Step #1 Build Relationships With Young People Let them experience the Love of Christ which the world cannot offer • Make sure they have significant, intimate relationships with mature Christians “You don’t know me” • In their families • “If we don’t engage the families, there is a futility to what we do” • “The single most important influence on the life of a teenager is their parents” • With other adults • Kids are looking to see if adults validate the truth claims of Christianity. • The builder goldmine

  22. The Solution Step #2 Disciple And Train Young People Give them the confidence of the Truth of God which the world does not know Develop convictions: “We are talking about a belief that goes so deep that it unlocks the secrets to one’s very own identity, purpose, and destiny in life.”(McDowell) • Teach them to: • Know why they believe • Know how to interpret • Know what they believe • Develop application • Teach the Bible, not the traditions of men (the hypocrisy factor)

  23. The Solution Step #3 Let Them Serve And Lead Let them know the power of the Holy Spirit which the world cannot overcome “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 they’re going to be.” • Give them opportunities • In service and evangelism • To the community • In the body

  24. Where do you go from here? Develop a plan that works for your church! For assistance in developing a plan to rescue and equip your young people, contact me: Dave Hoffman413-9639dave@rescuethem.com www.rescuethem.com

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