Turning the ShipTurning the ShipHeath StonerHeath Stoner

Sunday, 19 Feb 2012Sunday, 19 Feb 2012

Sometimes people haveSometimes people have to see someone love to see someone love something before they something before they love it. love it.

The National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), The National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), the most extensive research on the religious lives of the most extensive research on the religious lives of

U.S. teenagers to date, found…U.S. teenagers to date, found… Many teens (including conservative Many teens (including conservative

Protestants) reject the essential Protestants) reject the essential doctrine of salvation by grace: doctrine of salvation by grace: three out of five believe a person three out of five believe a person can earn a place in heaven if they can earn a place in heaven if they are generally good, or do enough are generally good, or do enough good things for others.good things for others.

When asked who or what shapes their When asked who or what shapes their attitudes and actions, 78% of teens said it attitudes and actions, 78% of teens said it was their was their parents.parents.

The NSYR explained that “many teenagers The NSYR explained that “many teenagers use the youth group more as a source of use the youth group more as a source of social gatherings rather than spiritual social gatherings rather than spiritual growth…Once the teenager graduates and growth…Once the teenager graduates and moves beyond the social ‘bubble’ of the moves beyond the social ‘bubble’ of the youth group, his or her attitude about youth group, his or her attitude about religion likely will swing back toward the religion likely will swing back toward the basic values of his elders.”basic values of his elders.”

Sixty-six percent of churched youth Sixty-six percent of churched youth spend an average of less than 4½ spend an average of less than 4½ minutes per day with their fathers, minutes per day with their fathers, and sixty-two percent spend an and sixty-two percent spend an average of a little more than 8½ average of a little more than 8½ minutes per day with their mothers.minutes per day with their mothers.

The State of Our Nation’s YouthThe State of Our Nation’s Youth reported that, if they could have one reported that, if they could have one wish granted, 46% of students would wish granted, 46% of students would choose to have more time to spend choose to have more time to spend with their families over having more with their families over having more money to buy material things (27%) money to buy material things (27%) and living in a bigger house (14%).and living in a bigger house (14%).

Deuteronomy 6:4-9Deuteronomy 6:4-9Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon commandments that I give you today are to be upon youryour hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Psalm 78:1-7Psalm 78:1-7 O my people, hear my teaching; listen O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.  to the words of my mouth.  

I will open my mouth in parables, I will I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old – utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:1-7Psalm 78:1-7

He decreed statutes for Jacob and He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. their children.

Then they would put their trust in God Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.keep his commands.

Turning the ShipTurning the Ship

So what do we do now?So what do we do now? Clearly define what we’re looking for Clearly define what we’re looking for The home must return as the key learning The home must return as the key learning

center center DadsDads must take the lead ( must take the lead (Eph 6:4Eph 6:4)) What do we worship?What do we worship? Both home Both home andand church must equip in church must equip in

solid doctrine, apologetics and biblical solid doctrine, apologetics and biblical moralitymorality

One 26 year-long study found that the One 26 year-long study found that the most important childhood factor in most important childhood factor in developing empathy is a father's developing empathy is a father's involvement in the family.involvement in the family.

Fatherlessness has been shown to be a Fatherlessness has been shown to be a contributing factor to early sexual contributing factor to early sexual activity.activity.

Dads are the spiritual thermostats Dads are the spiritual thermostats of the home! (Mal 4:6; Luke 1:17)of the home! (Mal 4:6; Luke 1:17)

When Mom becomes a Christian, When Mom becomes a Christian, the rest of her family follows 17% of the rest of her family follows 17% of the time; but when the time; but when DadDad becomes a becomes a Christian, the rest of the family also Christian, the rest of the family also comes to faith 93% of the time!comes to faith 93% of the time!

Family CampoutFamily Campout

Daddy Date NightsDaddy Date Nights

Father/Son CampoutFather/Son Campout

Father/Son PaintballFather/Son Paintball

Mother/Son Baseball GameMother/Son Baseball Game

Mother/Daughter LuncheonMother/Daughter Luncheon

““Maximized Manhood”Maximized Manhood”

Devos for DadsDevos for Dads

Dads Bible StudyDads Bible Study

The Big One: AuthenticityThe Big One: Authenticity

Proverbs 29:18Proverbs 29:18 Give them the VisionGive them the Vision Let them see the VisionLet them see the Vision