The #1 Reason Why Young People Stay In Church

Psalm 78:1 – 8

“Young Adults Aren’t Sticking with Church”

• “70% of surveyed Protestants stopped attending by age 23”

• “7 in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 – both evangelical and mainline – who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23”

• “And 34% of those said they had not returned, even sporadically by age 30. That means about one in four Protestant young people have left the church”

• LifeWay Research, Nashville, Tennessee• USA Today by Cathy Lynn Grossman

Why They Left

• “27% wanted a break from church”

• 26% found church members judgmental or hypocritical”

• “25% moved to college”

• “22% felt disconnected from people at church

Why They Stay/Reasons Cited by 30% Who Kept Attending Church

• 65% it’s vital to my relationship with God

• 58% it helps guide my decision in everyday life

• 50% it helps me become a better person

• 43% I am following a family member’s example

National Study Of Youth And Religion

• 82% Of Children 15 to 17 Reared By Parents Who Attached Great Importance To Religion Remained Religious In Ages 24 – 29.

• 1% Of Children Ages 15 To 17 Reared By Parents Who Attached Little Importance To Religion Remained Religiousl In Ages 24 – 29.

Other Less Impactful Contributing Factors

1. Youth Ministers2. Preachers3. Service Projects4. Religious Schools

Cultural Influences Discouraging Parents

1. At Age 12, The Role Of Parents Recedes, And The Influence Of Peers, The Media, Music,

And Social Media Take Over.2. Cultural Messages That Encourage Parents To

Turn Their Children Over To “Experts.” In The Case Of Faith Formation, Many Parents

Consider That To Be The Responsibility Of Preachers, Sunday Schools, And Youth Programs.

Conservative Or Mainline Religiously?

1. 66% Of Teens With Conservative Protestant Parents Had A High Or Moderate Levels Of Religiosity As Young Adults.

1. 70% Of Teens Reared By Mainline Protestant Parents Had Minimal Or Lower Levels Of Religiosity As Young Adults.

Why The Discrepancy?

• In Interviews, Many Mainline Protestant Parents Said They “Feel Guilty If They Think They Are Doing Anything To Direct Their Children Toward Their Religion As Opposed To Any Other Possibility. There’s A Sense Of Like, ‘Should You Tell Your Child That What I Believe Is Right.’”

What Worked For 82% Of These Parents

1. They Talked About Faith At Home (Psalm 78:4; Deuteronomy 6:6 – 7)

2. They Attached Great Importance To Their Beliefs (Psalm 78:5; 1 Corinthians 15:33 – 34)

3. They Were Active In Their Congregations (Psalm 78:6 – 7; Luke 2:41, 51 – 52; 4:16

4. They Practiced What They Preached (Psalm 78:8; James 1:22)

What Works For AnyoneTo Be Saved

Hear Him (Romans 10:17)Believe Him (Mark 16:16)Repent Of Sins Against Him (Acts 2:38)Confess Him (Acts 8:37)Be Baptized Into Him (Acts 22:16)Live For Him (Galatians 2:20)

To Be RestoredCome Back To Him (Matthew 11:28-30)Repent (Acts 8:22)Pray (James 5:16)