Recently, I had an encounter with about 10-12 of our teenagers. They had been asked a simple question, “If someone asked you what you believed in, how would you answer?” After several minutes of silence, it was clear they did not know how to respond. At another activity they were asked, “Who said, ‘I am not my brother’s keeper?’” and again, no response. Now, I’ve been in and taught the younger classes and I know that before the kids move up to the “youth group” they know these answers. So, where is the disconnect? Why aren’t our teens retaining the foundational information that they have been taught from their younger years?

I believe the answer is very simple. We (this culture’s mature Christians) have not held our teens to the standard to which God called Godly people to train their children up in. The youth of America today go to the youth group to be a part of the fun activities. At activities outside the building, Christian parents drop their kids off like church is a babysitter, removing themselves from the learning of the most precious information their children will ever hear and learn. Very seldom will you find a teen in today’s culture who is self-motivated in learning the bible over going to “play” with their friends. The standard to know their Savior and be familiar with the Word is not there for them. That failure falls on both the parents and the mentors that are supposed to be cultivating the Church and the FUTURE Body of Christ.

I’m grateful for the new Grandparents program that has been started here. I have been praying continually for its success because our children will be more prone to want to learn about Christ as they grow into teenagers when they know/see first-hand that the Church not only wants them to learn and retain the Word but holds an expectation to. Teens will respond to those who invest in them. Let’s not take this new program lightly, their souls may depend on it. 1 Timothy 4:10-11, “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.”