TITLE: Graying of the Church
TEXT: Psalm 71:18 And now when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not leave me; until I have declared Your strength to this generation, and Your power to everyone who is to come.
PROPOSITION: The church is always one generation from extinction.
QUESTION: Why?
KEY WORD: Factors

Introduction:

1. I have seen it over and over – churches “dying on the vine”

2. The older die – the younger move away or quit.

3. What will be left in 15 or 20 years?

4. What are the factors involved in this “graying of the church”?

Factors that contribute:

1. Young people leave – don't return

   1. College – jobs elsewhere

   2. Few children take up their father's business or occupation

2. Lack of training of children

   1. We train them to be citizens

   2. Are we training them to be preachers? Teachers? Leaders?

3. Failure to instill strong faith

   1. Many leave for denominations

   2. Some leave religion – abandon faith

   3. Secular colleges take their toll on our youth

4. Absence of evangelism

   1. We preach it – we talk it – not many doing it.

   2. Great commission – still in force

   3. Song – You never mentioned Him to me

Is there a solution?

1. We must transfer our faith

   1. Faith is not inherited from parents or grandparents

   2. Faith must be transferred. It must become a personal faith.

2. We must teach more than moral values – teach doctrine

   1. Most parents – SS teachers – teach morals and behavior

      1. Share, tell truth, love people, be kind

      2. We teach them to behave, obey the law

   2. What about doctrine? Fundamentals of the Faith are not stressed.

      1. Why do we take communion every Sunday?

      2. Is baptism necessary for salvation?

      3. Why not use instrumental music in worship?

      4. What about – OSAS, Pre-mill, Calvinism, etc.?

3. We must teach others – evangelize – bring in new sheaves.

   1. Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8

   2. 2 Timothy 2:2 - “Commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”