Strengthening the Next Generation

September 1, 2022

T.A. McMahon

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Transcript:

Tom McMahon: The title for my talk is “Strengthening the Upcoming Generation.” Anyone who considers himself to be a biblical Christian is aware that the time we're living in is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, antichrist.

To that I would add…should the Lord tarry, I have little doubt that it's not even close to being as evil as it will get.

My best friend in the Lord, Dave Hunt, who as most of you know, is now with the Lord....

Well, at times years ago when I would return from a Christian bookstore and read to him some of the passages from the heretical so-called Christian books that I purchased...

...after a couple of examples, he would stop me and blurt out, "Tom, what's the use? Let's just throw in the towel!"

Well, of course, if you knew Dave, you know that bailing out on even the most troubling issues was not his M.O.

He was way ahead of the curve when it came to discerning what was coming upon the church, from the New Age Movement, to so-called Christian psychology, to the exponential growth of ecumenism and mysticism.

Yet sometimes I think, How would he… I want you people who knew Dave, I want you to think about this, because I think about it a lot of late: How would he deal with what's going on today? I'm definitely not into necromancy, but I wonder how a conversation would go with him as I described where the world and the church are today.

I remember a time at a conference when he introduced me prior to my speaking. He told the audience that they needed to be Bereans as they listened to what I had to say....

Then he mentioned matter-of-factly that I grew up in an insane asylum.

Then he just walked off, leaving them to decide whether or not he was joking. Was he?

Well, yes and no. Yes, in fact, I did grow up for a time in a mental institution.

However, he failed to inform them that my father was a psychiatrist and as a director of a very large mental institution, we lived in a house on the hospital grounds.

I used to joke that my experiences in the mental health community definitely prepared me for what we're dealing with today. They enabled me to quickly discern when the inmates were running the asylum.

Tragically, and I mean tragically, it's no longer a joke.

Furthermore, we need to take steps in order to deal with what's taking place. Even so, the direction the world is going cannot be turned around.

It's a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

We re-published a book that was written in 1898 titled Christianity and Anti-Christianity in Their Final Conflict.

The author, Samuel Andrews, simply went to the Book of Revelation, Jude's Epistle, 1st and 2nd Peter and other epistles, as well as the Book of Daniel to see if those prophesies were reflected in his day and age.

That was over 120 years ago, and what he found were the roots of what we're seeing manifested today, primarily through the antichrist philosophers of his day.

My point is the development of the religion and the kingdom of the Antichrist is well underway and clearly moving toward a final conclusion.

Though many are promoting a worldwide revival, they do so with no scriptural support. That's not to say that the Holy Spirit won't bring about revival among individuals, churches, and many who are lost, yet are truly seeking our Lord.

But biblical prophecy gives no indication of worldwide revival.

On the other hand, the Lord has provided all that we need in order to overcome what the Adversary has and will throw at us.

That provision includes His Word. Second Timothy 3:16 is one verse, and for the enablement of His Holy Spirit we could look to Zechariah:4:6.

My talk this afternoon is based upon a two-part article that I wrote in The Berean Call titled "Conversations with Our Children."

My motivation for writing what I did was mostly two-fold: 1) My research and work in the area of biblical apologetics made me acutely aware that Satan and his demons and his physical minions have targeted children—I’ll repeat that—have targeted children as highly vulnerable in regard to their antichrist schemes.

Secondly) My heart and my joy is in teaching kids. Although my calling and main ministry has been to work with Dave Hunt for nearly four decades, yet by God's grace He has given me a number of wonderful experiences involving teaching children.

Early on in my walk with the Lord I was active in teaching Children's Church, in teaching second and third grade Sunday school, teaching middle-school Bible classes, leading Bible studies for children, and making special appearances in Vacation Bible School. I’ll talk to you about that later if you’re interested—I show up as Mr. Berean Bear, okay?

But being engaged in what some might consider heavy theological apologetics (and it gets heavy at times) versus teaching the Bible to second and third graders, they may seem to be at odds with each other.

Far from it. In fact, the latter has been a tremendous help to the former.

I believe if you learn to teach the gospel to second and third graders, you can teach it to anyone!

Why do I say that? Well, the gospel is simple. Greatly profound, but not complex.

Yet men have made it complicated by adding their mostly irrelevant theological theories. So, the value in working with second and third graders is you learn to clarify for them what is the simple gospel.

And as that's accomplished, they can readily answer the cry of the Philippian jailer. Remember?

"What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.... and they spoke unto him the Word of the Lord." (Acts:16:30-32)

And that understanding and belief in the gospel will save all who receive it, young and old alike.

If that's not the case as it relates to children, what then of Timothy who was taught by his grandmother Lois and by his mother Eunice.

"And that from a child [referring to Timothy] thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy:3:15)

So, as I said, one of my great joys is teaching children. And as you'll hear, I believe teaching them is more important today than it's ever been in the history of the church.

Another strong motivation for me in all of this is related to my family: I’m the father of five children and the grandfather of five children.

I love hanging out with all of them. Much of it of course is fun and games, but I also have other intentions, ones that include important conversations.

The conversations I have with them are very specific.

They deal with whether or not they fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Discovering whether or not they are able to articulate what the Bible teaches that they must believe in order to be saved.

In addition to knowing what our children/grandchildren need to believe in order to be saved, I want to help them to explain why they believe what they believe.

Certainly, knowing the “what” of their belief is first and foremost. Sadly, for some, even when their belief is biblically correct, what follows for many is spiritual disaster.

They cannot give reasons (“a defense”—NKJV, 1 Peter:3:15) as to why they believe what they believe.

What we have been observing over the last couple of generations is that children, even though they have been raised in Christian homes, have become biblically defenseless, especially those who go off to college and must endure being questioned by atheistic friends and bullied by antichrist professors.

Consequently, most back away from the faith they once professed.

What I'm presenting are potential discussions that may be useful for a born-again grandparent and his or her grandchild or a believing parent and his child.

As you'll hear, what I'm sharing is not a classroom situation. It's a teaching on the go, a “catch-as-catch-can” sort of endeavor, and it centers around conversation focused primarily on the gospel.

Although the content of the conversation must be simplified in the presentation of essential truths of Scripture, it's imperative that the adult involved must understand what a child has to know and do in order to be saved.

The conversation I'm suggesting should always be a one-on-one interaction between the adult and the child, the objective being that the adult can hear directly from the child what he or she personally believes.

This one-on-one condition is recommended in order to avoid distractions for the child, whether they be from siblings or friends, or from one child simply parroting what another says.

Again, the goal is to learn what the individual child believes.

The responses given by the child in this presentation are probable responses. Hopefully, they provide opportunities to help the child clarify what he actually believes.

The initial goal of the questioning is to help the child articulate what he or she understands about being a Christian.

It’s recommended that the conversations take place often and, preferably, they shouldn’t last longer than 5 minutes. (The time, of course, can be adjusted according to the child’s ability to maintain concentration.)

Repetition is encouraged! I try to engage my grandchild in a relatively brief conversation whenever we get together.

It starts with a “gimme five”—not as in a high five, which all kids love to do, but again, as “give me five minutes.”

My own grandchildren range in age from two to fourteen. I get to see the ten-year-old boy and the thirteen-year-old girl every couple of weeks. They live in Sisters, which is close by.

My two other grandsons live quite a distance from me, so I’m having my son carry out the conversation process with his boys. At times I can have this "strengthening" conversation with each grandchild by phone.

Since this is a work in progress, I tell them that I need their help (which I really do!) in trying to understand what kids their age believe about Jesus, and I want to start with them.

I ask them to answer my questions as best they can. I begin with “Are you a Christian?” My grandkids all answer “yes.” I then ask the older ones, “What kind of Christian are you?”

I briefly explain that there are many different kinds of Christians, and they do not all believe the same things.

I encourage the older child to refer to herself—that’s my grandchild Maggie—as a “biblical Christian,” which means her Christianity is based on what is taught in the Bible rather than the religious ideas people make up.

Following the response that the child is “a Christian,” I then ask how he or she became a Christian.

The most common answers are “Well, because my family is Christian,” “I go to a Christian school,” “My friends are Christians,” “I believe in God,” “I go to church,” “I'm in a Christian youth group,” etc.

It’s really surprising how many of the answers fall short of the biblical teaching of how one becomes a Christian.

Even so, no matter how erroneous their answers are, they provide great opportunities for the conversation to introduce what the Bible teaches about how one becomes a Christian.

The conversation as well presents a great opportunity to explain to the child that becoming a Christian has to do with what he or she believes, and it needs to begin with what they believe about Jesus.

So, my next question to the child—remember this is a work in progress, and I never know what to expect, so you’re getting some ideas here. Well, what does he or she believe about Jesus Christ? That’s a good question.

The adult may need to help the child articulate his beliefs by supplying biblical information. That, however, has to be done without putting words in the child's mouth.

The objective is to facilitate the child's understanding.

Answers will vary, but they must contain three biblical truths about Jesus: 1) Jesus is God.

2) Jesus became a Man in order to pay the eternal penalty for the sins of mankind.

3) Jesus, who is sinless, is the only One who could pay the penalty for a person's sins, which He did through His death, burial, and resurrection.

If the child’s answers are not true to the Word of God, or if he has no answers, the adult can introduce him to what he needs to believe about Jesus according to the Scriptures.

The answers taught must be simple, and, as stated above, they must contain the three biblical truths about Jesus.

That conversation should lead to a discussion about whether or not the child recognizes his own condition as a sinner.

The child should be asked if he or she understands what sin is and what it means to sin.

Have him give you an example of a sin that he’s committed. If he’s not sure, a good question to ask him is if he has ever disobeyed his mother or father.

The adult needs to help the child understand his condition before God: that he is a sinner, and that only Jesus can save him from the penalty for his sins.

The next question for the child that I use is, “Do you know what the penalty for sin is?”

Explain, then, that the Bible says that sin separates the sinner from God forever.

Inform the child that God is a holy God, and Heaven is a holy place where sin cannot enter. God cannot allow anyone who has sinned to be with Him in Heaven.

Since every man, woman, and child has sinned, explain that they are all prevented from ever entering Heaven and being with God. That everlasting separation from God is called Hell, a place of utter darkness and loneliness.

That’s the punishment for sin.

In fact, all of humanity would therefore be without hope of ever being with God, had God himself not provided a solution.

The next question you ask could be: “Do you know the solution that God has provided?”

Some children may know, while others are not sure. This is another place where the conversation provides the opportunity to teach about the character of God, especially related to His justice and love.

Explain that God is not only holy, He is just, meaning entering Heaven can only take place when the penalty for sin is paid. That’s God's justice.

When a person breaks the law, justice requires that law breaker has to pay the penalty that the law requires.

When a person sins against God, God’s perfect justice requires the payment for his sin, again, must be made.

Since the penalty for sin is separation from God forever, no human can fulfill what the law of God requires in order for him to be in the presence of God.

God, however, is also a loving God, meaning He does not want those whom He created to be separated from Him forever.

In view of God being perfect in justice and love, ask the child what he believes was the solution that God provided in order to save mankind.

If the child is still unsure of God's solution, that presents a great opportunity to go through the John:3:16 verse with him or her:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

"Perish" means never being able to be with God.

This opens the conversation to some great things about God, along with some other critical questions.

First of all, we see that God is a loving God who loves those whom He created. That’s referring back to John:3:16.

“Who is God’s Son that He sent? and what did He do?”

Here’s where the child’s answers usually come together for him during the conversation, especially if he’s understanding what his parent or grandparent has been informing him as to what the Bible teaches.

I would expect him to respond that “The Son of God is Jesus” and that “Jesus died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins.”

Remember, this is a conversation with your child or grandchild.

It shouldn't be perceived by the child as a pass-or-fail test. The questions are for the purpose of seeing through the child’s eyes what he or she understands and supplying information that the child needs to know.

Remember, these conversations need to be of relatively short duration. Obviously, all the parent or grandparent's questions and input cannot be covered in a 5-minute or so get together.

Again, the goal is to increase the child's understanding of the gospel gradually. From one session to another repetition is encouraged.

After talking about the character of Jesus, a following question might be, “What must you do in order to receive what Jesus did for you?”

The child's response must be that he simply believes that Jesus did what the Bible says He did: He paid the punishment for sin for everyone who puts his faith in Him.

This point needs to be made absolutely clear to the child. There is nothing that can be added by the child to what Jesus accomplished on the cross in payment for the child’s sins.

Salvation is received by faith in Jesus alone!

Sometimes we forget that the very terms we use may need to be explained to the child.

For example, "salvation" and “being saved,” those are good examples.

The conversation should have its share of what some of the words we use mean.

“Being saved,” for example, can be made clear as one who is simply forgiven and spared from the punishment for his or her sins.

The conversation should include not only what a believing child is saved from, but also what the child is saved for.

That can be discussed by asking him or her if they understand what took place after they believed that Jesus saved them.

Now again, and I’ll probably repeat it, these are durations, these are short things. Every time I get together with the kids, I try and bring some of these things up, or go back and remind them, or have them articulate to me what they’re doing. So it doesn’t start with all of it, it starts progressively. But I’m getting to know my grandchild better. More importantly, I’m talking to that…I’m having a conversation that has eternal value.

Okay, well, you know, again, the conversation where we have the opportunity—and I know everybody doesn’t have the same opportunities, but where the opportunity is there, it’s of eternal value.

Well, these conversations with our children and grandchildren are not only to make sure they understand the gospel but also to realize it’s a relationship building procedure with the child that will have temporal and as I’ve said, far more importantly, eternal value.

In addition to the emphasis on things the child needs to understand, the way the parent or grandparent goes about implementing the program must reflect his or her love of Jesus and thankfulness for all He has done for us.

Now, the significance of that impression upon a child cannot be overstated!

In terms of the conversations being fun (perhaps maybe “joyful” is a better choice of words), the question related to what takes place after Jesus saves the child is nothing but good news!

The child can draw upon what he knew prior to the conversations, add things that he may not have known (e.g., eternal life with Jesus), and the adult can add things for the child that the Bible says takes place once a child is saved.

For example, once salvation has taken place, the child’s sins are completely forgiven. He receives the free gift of eternal life.

The child is born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of eternal life.

Now, I’m laying these things out here, but they can be simplified, explained. An explanation helping the child have an understanding about this. Well, to me there’s nothing more joyful than to be in that conversation.

All of the above constitutes much, what I’ve talked about, much of the “what” that a child should know about being saved. Without an understanding and acceptance of the what of the gospel, the child cannot receive the gift of salvation.

More often than not, a child has only heard that he must ask Jesus into his heart. That’s true, but it must be based upon the knowledge of who Jesus is and what He accomplished on the cross.

Although the parents or grandparents cannot know the heart of their children—this is important (well, hopefully you’re receiving this as it’s all very important)—but the parent or grandparent cannot know the heart of their children regarding their acceptance of the gospel. They can discern what the child understands, or misunderstands, about the doctrine of salvation.

The conversation is primarily about making sure the child's understanding of the doctrine of salvation is true to the Scriptures. A false understanding of the gospel can save no one.

You know, I know I’ve had experiences talking to people about this, and this isn’t stuff I made up overnight. I told you, from my background from teaching second and third graders to all of that. And this was one of the most challenging talks I’ve ever had to put together, because I never know where the kids are gonna be, you know, in terms of their heads, and I’m learning from them as well as teaching them.

But, you know, there are some people that say, “Well, I know that my…” you know, let’s say down the line, they may talk about a child who went forward or received the gospel. “Well, I’m pretty sure they knew the Lord,” and so on and so forth. You can’t know that. You don’t know their heart. But you can know what they articulated about what they believed. So at least if we’re looking for assurance, we can know, “Well, they didn’t just go forward. They didn’t just ask Jesus into their heart. They articulated before us as parents or grandparents what they believed.

Now again, we don’t know their hearts. But I like the fact that we can be assured of what they articulated about what they believed.

Well, the conversation is primarily, as I said, about making sure the child’s understanding of the doctrine of salvation is true to the Scriptures.

As the parent or grandparent is confident that the child understands the "what" that is necessary according to the Scriptures for the child to receive salvation, the strengthening process can continue on to the "why" the child believes "what" he or she believes.

I'm very thankful for parents and grandparents who have done their best to raise their children and grandchildren in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” That has supplied for multitudes of children the “What?” necessary for their salvation.

However, as I mentioned, a serious condition has developed for many young Christians that has caused them to be shaken in their faith.

Few young Christians today can explain why they believe... what they believe. They are not able, as I mentioned, to satisfy 1 Peter:3:15:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

Consequently, when they are asked about their beliefs, their responses are nearly always personal and subjective, lacking reasons that would refute the objections of others, or encourage others to believe what they believe.

How bad are things today? To borrow a phrase from 2 Timothy:3:1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

Noah Webster defines “perilous” in his 1828 Bible-oriented dictionary as “Dangerous; hazardous; full of risk; as a perilous undertaking.”

Our times are definitely that—and worse.

Satan is more than aware that children are terribly vulnerable, and that awareness is no secret among his minions, both spiritual entities and his human yet unwitting followers.

As I’ve noted in some of my other writings, youth have been instrumental in initiating the major revolutions throughout history.

Hitler, Mao, and Stalin worked that angle with much success. One of the reasons, as the Scriptures inform us, is because though zeal among youth may begin well, without biblical knowledge it cannot end well.

Sadly, children today are not only lacking knowledge, but they are emotionally driven (this is so important), making them ripe for being controlled by someone or something else.

The fierce battle for the control of our children is a chief undertaking of the times in which we live. Although this is the losing situation in which we find ourselves, it should not take place among Bible-believing Christians.

What's the problem...or problems?

The Barna survey organization gives some insights and makes the following observations in its report addressing “The worldview dilemma of American parents.”

The report was based on “a survey of 600 American parents with children younger than 13 conducted in January [2022]. The respondents were asked several-dozen worldview-related questions that ‘measure both beliefs and behavior within eight categories of worldview application.’”

This is shocking, but here it is: “While 67 percent of parents with children younger than 13 identified as Christians, just 2 percent of those surveyed subscribed to a biblical worldview as defined by the researchers.

According to the report, a biblical worldview ‘emerges from accepting the Bible as a relevant and authoritative guide for life.’

“Among the two-thirds of parents who identify as Christian, just 4 percent of them possessed a biblical worldview.

“‘A parent’s primary responsibility is to prepare a child for the life God intends for that child,’ Barna, the director of research...said in a statement.

‘A crucial element in nurturing is helping the child develop a biblical worldview—the filter that causes a person to make their choices in harmony with biblical teachings and principles.’

According to Barna...the ‘research confirms that very few parents even have the worldview development of their children on their radar.’

He writes, “‘The typical American parent is either fully unaware that there is a worldview development process, or they are aware that their child is developing a worldview, but they do not take responsibility for a role in the process.”

Does the Bible exhort us regarding our responsibility to teach our children the ways of the Lord?

Yes—over and over again!

Deuteronomy:6:2: “That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

Deuteronomy:6:6-7: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Matthew:18:3: "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Ephesians:6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

2 John:1:4: “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father."

Colossians:3:20-21: "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."

Luke:18:16: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

The Word of God is God’s truth, and it gives believers hundreds of reasons to believe it is just that—God’s truth.

Our biblical faith is founded on reasons to believe it! It’s not a leap in the dark. It isn’t based on, nor is it driven by, emotions or feelings.

That doesn’t mean that we should deny the fact that emotions or feelings are involved in our born-again experience. It is something that takes place when a believer begins his personal—intimate—relationship with Jesus.

Although an outside observer may be impressed by seeing changes in the believer, the changes themselves are subjective. However, there is no shortage of objective proofs in the Word of God regarding salvation.

Committing one’s life to Christ should involve solid reasons. Certainly, that’s indicated by Isaiah:1:18.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This means that what the gospel declares...can be seen in the transformed lives of believers.

On the other hand, our believing children face another challenge that is overtaking most of them.

As it's been said, when they leave home, they have to contend with fellow students and teachers who are antagonistic toward their biblical beliefs. Very few are able to “defend” (1 Peter:3:15) their beliefs.

That’s a major part of today’s tragedy, as our young people are being overwhelmed by the antichrist teachings of the world, the devious devices of the devil, and their own lack of biblical knowledge.

A shipwrecked faith is the terrible consequence.

Nevertheless, conversations with our children can help many to understand and defend their faith.

The "knowing why" conversation approach is pretty much the same as the "knowing what" approach.

But this time, the emphasis is on apologetics, i.e., proofs for what the child believes.

Are there proofs? Absolutely!

However, some parents and grandparents may have their work cut out for them when it comes to supplying their children and grandchildren with biblical answers regarding the “why” of their beliefs.

If you don’t think you’re up to the task and tend to shy away from it, or push it off to the church and youth pastors, you need to go over the verses on teaching your children/grandchildren that were just quoted.

It’s a responsibility, not an option.

Your main resource is not what men have written but what God's Word teaches. Other sources may be helpful, but they are not to displace the Scriptures as the authority of what is being taught.

It may seem that there is no end to the questions for the child to deal with—whether hostile or from friends truly interested. And if our children are leading a godly life, the will draw people who are interested in what they believe! They see it in their friends, in their peers, from their peers.

You know, they may be truly interested in why they believe what they believe.

Even so, the conversation will be a very helpful exercise in getting the child accustomed to talking about his faith, especially, as I said, among his peers.

Furthermore, the process of learning why he or she believes what the Bible teaches ought to build their confidence in “the faith to which they are to earnestly contend” (and you know that verse, Jude 3).

Given that the days of apostasy that are without doubt increasing exponentially, we need to encourage our children to grow in the faith and in biblical discernment, and that’s critical.

Well, how critical? As has been pointed out, children are a chief target of the Adversary in our day.

One example (among hundreds that I could give you) is given by a friend of mine and one of our speakers, Carl Teichrib, in his book, Game of Gods, regarding the promotion of “Earth Day.”

Throughout the US our school children, even pre-school children, are taught that we are destroying our “Mother,” Gaia, a.k.a. Mother Earth.

That’s taught to them continually, with a special emphasis during the worldwide celebration of Earth Day.

They’re told that they are the only ones who can save “Her.” How?

Through worshiping the planet as divine. I’m talking about kindergarten kids here, not just high school students…well, all of them actually! Through worshipping the planet as divine. Through stopping overpopulation (read “abortion”). Through conserving our natural resources (the Green Movement).

Through ending the country’s belief in the teachings of Christianity, which are declared to be the main reasons for the besetting environmental problems of the earth!

Few Christian children are prepared to answer such false promotions and accusations.

Most are intimidated, and consequently overwhelmed, by the lies thrown at them.

The approach I'm recommending, which again, understand this: It’s definitely not the only approach! This is what the Lord put on my heart, and I hope and pray it will be a blessing to others.

Well, the approach I’m recommending is to help build some basic apologetics with our grandchild through conversations.

Again, I begin with questions that they may be asked or confronted by, for which I suggest an answer (unless they already have a good answer, which I then reinforce). Here are some of the questions:

“How do you know there’s a God? Why do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word? How do you know that Jesus is God? How can you be sure that your belief is the only true spiritual belief? Why is Jesus the only way of salvation?”

Again, the questions and topics are seemingly endless. Therefore, the goal is to get the child used to responding to different questions about his faith.

Guys, again, you say, “Well, can you do that in five minutes?” Not everything! But you can make some points and get an interaction, you know, a conversation going. I’m telling you: it’s wonderfully joyful, and it’s critical I think.

Well, he or she won’t be able to answer every question (I can’t!), but the more they can answer, the more confident they will become regarding God’s Word.

It’s a good thing to remind them that they are responding from the high ground—God’s Word—which is the Truth.

Nothing the Adversary can deceive them with can stand up to the Truth.

Here are some samples of questions and responses—again, these are just things from my experience with my grandkids. I’m always trying to keep, as I said, the conversations simple.

Question: How do you know there’s a God?

Response: Creation makes that absolutely clear.

Just by considering our own bodies there has to be a Creator!

Our bodies contain about 100 trillion cells, each cell having its own special function.

It’s a mathematical impossibility for that to have come about by chance.

So, a human’s body must have been created by a Designer of incredible intellect and power! Only God fits that description.

Question: What makes you think the Bible is God’s communication to mankind?

Response: First, that’s what the Bible claims. Thousands of times we find verses such as "Thus saith the Lord," or "The Word of the Lord came to me."

Second, if God is infinite (meaning unlimited, all knowing, all powerful) and we are finite (limited and lacking knowledge), no one can know God unless He reveals Himself to mankind.

The Bible fills us in on the details about God...that can only come from God.

All other ideas about God are speculations, nothing more than guesses.

Question: I’ve been told that the Bible is full of contradictions. What do you say to that?

Response: Do you believe everything you’ve been told? Have you read the Bible yourself? Give me an example of a biblical contradiction.

Question: Doesn’t evolution prove the Bible wrong? Aren’t the Bible’s teachings opposed to science?

Response: First, give me an example of just one thing that can be proven about evolution.

Second, give me an example of a biblical teaching that is opposed to true science.

Since God is the Creator of all things, and since true science came about by studying His design, then opposing true science would be a biblical contradiction.

Most of the world’s greatest scientists, from Isaac Newton to Pasteur, to Faraday, to Lord Kelvin, to Kepler, Pascal, and many others, were biblical Christians.

[Phone rings, laughs] I’ll talk to Rob afterwards about that, folks.

Again, these are only a handful of possible questions a child, especially the older ones leaving home for college, may use to challenge those who doubt.

Biblical Christians, as I said, have the high ground of God’s truth, so I recommend that they respond by putting their hostile questioners on the defensive by responding with questions of their own—and perhaps, and if the opportunity presents itself, planting seeds of God’s Word that may well pierce the heart of the most arrogant challenger.

Remember—lies can never defeat the truth.

In addition to what you’ve heard from me, there's a video titled Within Our Reach, produced by Carl Kerby's ministry, Reasons for Hope.

It addresses similar concerns that we have regarding what our children are facing. That's on our schedule for tomorrow afternoon.

My prayer is that the conversation approach might encourage parents and grandparents to reach out in ministering the Word of God to their children and/or grandchildren.

In loving them, we can do no better than to love them in the Lord ... in word and in deed.

I pray that our witness to them will reveal our love for them and reflect our love for Jesus, who first loved us, a fact that He made evident by paying the eternal penalty for our sins.

Let's pray.

Lord, again, we are so thankful. You have not left us to our own devices. Those of us who have put our faith in you, you’ve given us your holy Spirit to teach us, to give us understanding, to encourage us, Lord. And again, show us your Word, Lord to enable us to articulate, communicate, share your Word with others, Lord. We all know, who are believers, that’s our only hope. And, Lord, I pray you’ll give us opportunities—I call them “divine appointments”—that we might share your love for all.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
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Transcript:

Tom: The title for my talk is “Strengthening the Upcoming Generation.” Anyone who considers himself to be a biblical Christian is aware that the time we're living in is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, antichrist.