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Training Youth Biblically

Today there are many different methods for teaching youth. In searching for a Biblical method to train our youth group for Christ, I studied what the Bible said about training children and youth. There are many, many references to training and teaching in the Bible. I have listed a few of them below along with a few brief comments on them.

  1. What to teach children/youth

    1. About God

      1. God's laws, statutes, and judgments

        1. Exodus 20:3-17 God gave the ten commandments for our good.

        2. Galatians 3:24-25 The law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

        3. Joshua 1:8 Success and prosperity (God's definition of success, not a worldly definition) come from studying God's laws.

        4. Daniel 1:4, 10, 17 Daniel had been taught the Scripture which showed him how to obey God in the midst of a pagan nation.

        5. Deuteronomy 4:1, 9, 10, 14 God commanded the children of Israel to remember His statutes and judgments in order to teach them to their children. The reward was that they could go in and possess the land — could have His blessings.

      2. God's Word

        1. Acts 15:35;Acts 18:11 The disciples taught God's Word.

        2. 1 Timothy 3:16 Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

        3. 1 John 2:13-14 The Word of God will help overcome the wicked one.

      3. Jesus Christ

        1. Acts 28:31 The disciples taught Christ.

        2. Matthew 19:14 Christ commands us to bring children to Him.

        3. Isaiah 40:31 Waiting on the Lord will give the children strength.

      4. Fear of/Knowledge of the Lord

        1. Deuteronomy 4:10 Learning of the Lord brings long life — then, they are to be taught to your children.

        2. Hebrews 5:12 It is imperative for them to know the Lord before they can move on in their lives.

      5. God's ways, not my opinions

        1. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 It is imperative to teach God's doctrine, not fables.

        2. Matthew 15:9 The Pharisees taught their doctrines as commandment and were rebuked.

        3. Mark 7:7 It is vain worship teaching the doctrines as commandments.

      6. Prayer -Luke 11:1 Christ taught His disciples to pray.

    2. About living in this world

      1. Way they should go

        1. Proverbs 2:17 Following God's laws will help keep them from sin.

        2. Proverbs 22:6 Training them in the way they shall go will keep them from sin later in life.

        3. 1 Timothy This book was written to help a young man live for God in this world.

      2. Memorials and Past Failures — Psalm 78 lists both the memorials and the failures of the children of Israel in order to teach the children the way they should go.

      3. Obedience

        1. to God —Numbers 1:54 — Children of Israel obeyed God's laws — they must have been taught His laws.

        2. to Parents

      4. Practical/Family Skills

        1. Titus 2:4-6 Teach women how to live at home.

        2. 1 Timothy 5:1-14 This scripture tells how to live among other people.

        3. 1 Chronicles 9:23 The children worked with the parents.

        4. 2 Samuel 1:18 Practical skills.

      5. Number our days -Psalms 90:12 Our life here on earth is temporary; we must teach children to use their time accordingly as well as using our time accordingly.

      6. Service

        1. 1 Samuel 2:11, 18, 21, 16; 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 3 Samuel was taught to serve God in His temple.

        2. Matthew 20:25-28 Christ instructed us to minister to others, to be servants, as He came to minister.

      7. Respect for authority

        1. 1 Timothy 6:2 Do service to your masters.

        2. 2 Peter 1:18 Serve not only the good masters, but also the froward.

        3. Ephesians 6:5 Serve your masters as if you are serving Christ.

        4. Colossians 3:22 Obey in all things as if you are obeying Christ.

  2. How to teach children/youth

    1. Timing

      1. From a young child (sometimes this is implied).

        1. Matthew 19:20 This young man had been taught the Scriptures since he was a youth. Sadly, he had been taught to obey them without loving God. We must teach our children to love God for the right reasons.

        2. Ecclesiastes 12:1 Children are told to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. They must be taught of the Creator in their youth.

        3. Psalms 71:5-17 David had trusted in God and been taught of God from his youth.

        4. Proverbs 7:7 Children who have not been taught of God will go the wrong way.

      2. Constantly/Daily

        1. Deuteronomy 11:19-21 We are instructed to teach the children of God constantly — in the way, in the home, everywhere. Doing so comes with a reward — your days and your children's days will be multiplied.

        2. Isaiah 28:9-10 Teach them beginning as infants — little by little.

        3. Mark 14:49 Christ taught daily.

      3. Even when not convenient

        1. Acts 4:18-33 The disciples taught even after being threatened. How much more should we teach children when it is not convenient?

        2. Acts 5:28 Another example of teaching even when it is not convenient (to say the least) is in this passage.

    2. Example

      1. Deuteronomy 5:31, 6, 7, 9 Stay close to God and in His Word yourself.

      2. 1 Corinthians 14:19 Be an example through our speech.

    3. Judges 13: Seeking God's help — We must seek God's help in training our youth.

    4. Discipline

      1. Isaiah 28:9-10 Build precept upon precept

      2. Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 29:15 Parents should discipline with correction & the rod.

  3. Why teach youth

    1. Jeremiah 3:25;Genesis 8:21 They are sinners.

    2. Matthew 19:14;Mark 9:37; Mark 10:13-14;Luke 18:16 God commands it.

    3. 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Kings 2 Chronicles 6:30 God knows heart.

  4. How youth (people) learn

    1. Job 6:24; Job 33:33 Staying quiet and listening — this is true of us all!

    2. Psalms 25:12;Psalms 34:11 Fearing the Lord — God will teach those who fear Him.

    3. Proverbs 2:2; Proverbs 22:17; Proverbs 23:12 Applying the heart to learn — you have to desire the learning.

    4. Proverbs 23:23 Valuing truth, wisdom, instruction, understanding — the learning has to have meaning and be valuable to you.

    5. Deuteronomy 31:19-22 &Exodus 32:1-44; Psalm 60 Singing the lessons/verses will help cement the truths in us.

    6. Psalms 32:6-8 Praying — God gives wisdom and guidance through our praying to Him.

    7. 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16 Through reading/studying God's Word , we are able to learn much!

    8. Judges 3:2-4 Hard times — God teaches us lessons through tribulation.

    9. Job 32:7 Experience — Days and years should teach wisdom. We should become wiser with experience.

    10. Ezekiel 5:7-17 Mistakes/Experiences of others — The punishment of the Israelites from God was a lesson to the surrounding nations.

  5. Rewards/Consequences

    1. Rewards of Well-trained, Dedicated Youth

      1. 1 Timothy 4:12 Example to believers - Youth can be an example to believers in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity.

      2. Isaiah 40:31 Strength — Those who wait on the Lord will be strong!

      3. Deuteronomy 12:28 Go well with thee — For parents (teachers), they should obey so that it will go well with them and with their children.

      4. Ezra 9:12 Separation from world — Separation from the world brings blessing.

      5. Isaiah 54:13 Peace — Children taught of the Lord will have great peace.

      6. Proverbs 4:13; Proverbs 10:17 Life — Instruction is life and the way of life.

      7. Proverbs 1:2-3; Proverbs 9:9 Wisdom/Discretion/Knowledge — Accepting teaching and instruction brings wisdom, discretion, and knowledge.

      8. Proverbs 23:24-2John 1:4; John 3John 1:4 Joy for parents/teachers — Training children does have rewards for the parents/teachers as well!

    2. Consequences

      1. 1 Kings 9:6-7;Ephesians 5:6 God's wrath — God's wrath comes on those who disobey.

      2. Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 29:15 Shame — Not instructing a child in the ways of God or refusal of a child to accept God's ways will bring shame.

      3. Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Not instructing children in God's ways will allow parents/teachers to forget God's Words and will keep their children from learning to fear the Lord.

      4. Proverbs 12:1 Brutish — Love instruction, love knowledge; hate reproof, become brutish.

      5. Proverbs 5:7-13 Sorrow and Evil — Not following instruction brings shame and evil into a life. The children must have godly instruction to prevent them from the shame and evil.

  6. Conclusions

    1. The goal of training children is to have them know God and His Word, to have them live for Him.

      1. The overall purpose for everything we do with the youth should be to bring them closer to God.

      2. The youth can be taught of God through Bible study, prayer, practical teaching, and loving them.

    2. The brevity of life would constrain us to not take the training of youth lightly.

      1. Each moment/activity with them is precious and should not be wasted.

      2. Time must be redeemed with them — not only to use to train them, but to teach them to number their days.

    3. Our life should be an example to the youth in every respect.