1. Christian parents don’t guarantee

Christian children.

1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were

scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD

1 Samuel 8:1 As Samuel grew old, he

appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.

1 Samuel 8:2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in

Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were

greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Proximity to religion doesn’t mean

relationship with Jesus

1. Overprotective • Helicopter

• Demonize

• Afraid

• False separation

• Complexity

2.Shallow•What happens in church stays in church.

•No deep connections.

•The ideal and the real.

3. Anti-science•Enemies.

•Incompatible.

•Daniel 1:4 the language and the literature of Babylon.

4. Repressive •The most access to sex of any generation.

•The most tolerant of sexual preferences.

5. Exclusive•Multicultural America. ½ are white. 4/5 were white 50 years ago.

•Great agreement generation.

6. Doubtless“Doubt is the ants in the

pants of faith” Frederich Buchner

2. Children are books to be read,

not written.

1 Samuel 8:3 But they were not like their father… 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now

old, and your sons are not like you.

1 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold

anything back. “It is the LORD’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ask yourself three key

questions.

Do they know Him?

Do you know them?

Do they know you?

3. All is not lost. Especially not our children.

To do:

1.Make sure you’re sure.

2.Never give up.

3.Listen.

“Your children are going to break your heart. Somehow, somewhere. Maybe more than once. To become

a parent is to promise to love prodigals”

(“You Lost Me”James K. A. Smith)