YOUNG PEOPLE
1 Timothy 4:12
Introduction:
1. Our fourth in a series of lessons primarily to young people.
2. "Timothy," "Pleasure and Recreation," "Yield Not to
Temptation."
3. In this lesson, I desire to begin showing some of the
responsibilities of the older to the younger.
4. Our younger people will be what we who are older lead them to
become. They came to us without knowledge, training, etc.
5. The trouble with the younger people far too often is the older
people.
I. WHAT OLDER PEOPLE OWE THEIR CHILDREN; THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE:
1. Should be Well Trained or Reared:
Prov. 22:6 -- "Train up a child in the way he should go and
when he is old he will not depart from it."
Eph. 6:4 - Nurture them in the Lord.
Poem: "When We Teach A Child" (Pg. 123, 1000 Great Texts.)
(The Catholic Church has made the statement: "Give me a
child until he/or she is 7 years old and he will be
Catholic from then on." Pretty close to the truth.
Are we training our children????
We provide them with physical necessities; how needful we
provide them for the spiritual needs.
Our HOMES must be used to train our children IN THE LORD.
An hour a week will not suffice, must be regular.
2. Should Be Well Educated:
2 Tim. 3:15 -- "From a child thou hast been taught the Holy..
Ps. 71:17 -- "O God, thou hast taught us from my youth, and
hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works."
They need to be educated in the ways of the world, BUT to
educate a race of people without God is but to have a
race of clever devils. EDUCATE THEM IN WAYS OF GOD.
When should this education begin??
Illustration: (Pg. 119, 1000 Great Texts.)
LET US NOT FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: Educate our
children to respect God and His Word, His worship. We
need to show them.
3. They should be encouraged:
Col. 3:21 -- "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
lest they be discouraged."
Youth needs help, and encouragement. Especially true of those
who are eager to assist in public part of our worship.
Encourage them to worship God. Show them how much you enjoy
worshipping Jehovah. OR DO YOU????
4. Be an EXAMPLE before them:
Your child will do like you do.
Even the smallest child is watching you and forming habits.
No good to let them see you do something wrong and then tell
them they shouldn't do this. Actions speak louder than
words.
DON'T SET A DOUBLE STANDARD BEFORE THEM: Good for dad, but
not for son. Mother can do this, but daughter you should
not do this.
II. HOW TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE -- THESE THINGS SHOULD LEAD YOU TO DO
CERTAIN THINGS:
1. Remember God:
Ecc. 12:1 -- "Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy
youth.
Begin while young to be faithful to God. Determine to be
right, something for God and His Service.
You are not a sissy to serve God. It takes real courage.
2. Know God's Word:
2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15; 1 John 2:14.
Study it while young, now you can remember it better.
Parents, do you show your children your faith in God's Word?
Bible class lessons; are you studying???
3. Be Sober-Minded:
Titus 2:6 -- "the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-
minded."
Keep your mind of clean wholesome things. Not on filthy
thoughts, dirty jokes; filthy movies on TV, etc.
Parents are responsible here: To see that their children are
guarded from such vulgar trash.
4. Keep Good Company:
1 Cor 15:33; 2 Tim. 2:22; Prov. 4:14-19. HOW IMPORTANT!!!
Parents -- know where and with whom your children associate.
Obviously, parents cannot be with them at all moments; but,
prepare them to make the proper decisions.
It does not take long for years of work to be destroyed. In a
moment, a young life can be crushed, one foolish act.
Keep your guard up at all times.
5. Submit to elders: (Older people):
1 Peter 5:5 -- "Likewise, ye younger, be subject to elder..."
Respect the age of older people. Don't be sassy with them.
This is one of the great shortcoming of the upcoming
generation. No respect for elders, adults. (And the way
some act, it is almost understandable.)
Young people, watch your lip, respect age and experience.
6. "Honor" your parents:
Eph. 6:1-4; Col. 3:20 -- Respect and obedience.
When does this cease?? Never grow to old to be respectful.
Be kindly toward parents and the older generation.
7. Avoid Bad Habits:
Prov. 1:10-16.
Bad habits are like a comfortable bed: Easy to get into, But,
Oh, so hard to get out of.
The fewer bad habits, the easier it is to live right.
Something never begun offers no temptation, no difficulty
III. IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, THE RESULT WILL BE:
1. You will be wise. 2 Tim. 3:15.
Start now thinking of the future and salvation and service.
2. You shall be strong: 1 John 2:14. Strength in God.
One does not wait unto old age to take exercise and become
strong. So, also should not wait until old to care for
the soul.
3. To Be Useful:
You can be of great use to God and fellowman.
A good person is more useful than one who is not.
Conclusion:
1. How much use am I (You) to God?
2. We must be willing participants in God's House, service.
WHEN WE TEACH A CHILD
What do we mean when we teach the child?
We put a thought that is sweet and mild
Into a mind that is waiting for seed,
Into a heart that has never felt greed.
The man with such thoughts is never beguiled,
For we teach the man when we teach the child.
What do we do when we teach the child?
We take the treasures which may be piled,
In lesson or poem or nature's store,
And transform them all into golden ore
Of character, which can not be reviled:
The strong man comes from the well-taught child.
What do we do when we teach the child?
We take the nature, untamed and wild,
And mold it into a life serene,
With heart and will and judgment clean.
We make the man who is undefiled
When we teach, as we ought, the little child.
What do we do when we teach the child?
We plant the truth, which The Undefiled,
Our Lord and Master, said freedom makes.
Through knowledge, true freedom comes and takes
Its place, and dominates passion wile:
We have save the man, when we've saved the child.
WHEN SHOULD RELIGIOUS TRAINING BEGIN?
An English atheist once stated: "Consider the helplessness of a
little child. Before it has wisdom or judgment to decide for itself
it is prejudiced in favor of Christianity. How selfish is the parent
who stamps his religious idea into a child's receptive nature, as a
molder stamps the hot iron with his model! I shall prejudice my
children neither for Christianity nor for Buddhism, nor for atheism,
but allow them to wait for their mature years. Then they can open the
question and decide for themselves."
Later Coleride, the English poet, led his atheist acquaintance
into the garden. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "How selfish is the gardener
who ruthlessly stamps his prejudice in favor of roses and violets and
strawberries into a receptive garden-bed. The time was when in April
I pulled up the young weeds, the parsley, the thistle, and planted
the garden-beds out with vegetables and flowers. Now I have decided
to permit the garden to go until September. Then the black clods can
choose for themselves between cockleberries and currants and
strawberries."
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