If We Don’t Teach Them, Who Will?  No. I
Introduction  
I. 	Some of you are old enough to remember that many local churches did not have someone who preached regularly.
A. 	Often, the primary “teaching” was a class on Sunday morning, which many times was taught very poorly.
B. 	Often the church would assemble after the classes, a scripture would be read, two or three songs would be sung, and the Lord’s Supper would be observed.
C. 	I don’t know why those who were “leaders” in the church did not give some  exhortations as we do here on Wednesday evenings, but even that was not done.
D. 	A meeting of two weeks would be planned, in my early years, which gradually changed to ten days and then to eight days.
E. 	It was during these meetings that first principle sermons were preached so that the church would learn about what one must do to be saved, about the founding of the church and its worship and some teaching on the error of denominationalism.
F. 	Some sermons were preached on immorality such as on dancing and “the movies.”
G. 	From time to time a preacher would be scheduled to come for the Sunday morning meeting once a month, with some churches having most of the Sunday mornings “filled” in this manner.
1. 	My first preaching was of this nature and what an opportunity it was for a boy who needed experience to speak before those who were willing to tolerate his youth and inexperience.
2. 	This continued for me for two and one-half years when I was asked to “fill-in” until Rufus Clifford came to what was later known as the Downtown Church in Lawrenceburg.
II. 	I have reminded some of you, and am informing others, of this to let you know of the teaching situations in most of the smaller churches in the mid-1900’s.  
III. 	We have obviously made much progress in having preachers trained to be available for even the smallest churches.
1. 	At University Heights and Compton Road I have participated in helping young men begin to preach.
2. 	More than thirty of these are still faithfully teaching the word.
3. 	Compton Road needs to plan work that will add many more young men to the list of those who proclaim the word.
III. 	This series, though, is going to be focused more on your and my work of teaching, both privately and publicly.
Body
I. 	During the 60 years or so which I can remember, there has always been a problem of young people’s being converted and then falling away.
A. 	The limited teaching of 50 years ago could have been a factor in some having fallen away because of a lack of grounding in truth.
B. 	World War II was the reason many fell away because they were drawn from the church to places where they were not able to meet with God’s people for worship.
1. 	The companions often led the young men from moral to immoral behaviors.          I Cor. 15:33.
2. 	Many people began to work in the defense plants seven days a week, gradually losing their spirituality.
3. 	Following the war, couples which had married just before the war divorced, often because of the immorality of one or both mates leading to unfaithfulness.

If We Don’t Teach Them, Who Will? No. I, Page 2.

C. 	During the 1960’s through the 1980’s rebellion against the “establishment” caused many youths to rebel against government, society in general and religion.
D. 	The 1990’s seemed to focus on, “It’s the nineties,” therefore living together before marriage, abortion, sexual promiscuity beginning in the early-teen or pre-teen years led many youths from religious faith.
1. 	Even the threat of AIDS did not diminish immorality for many.
2. 	Yet, in spite of all the negative behaviors, numerous young people took a stand against immorality and rebellion and became leaders in religious activities.

II. 	We are living at a time when we must recognize the necessity of teaching our children and others.
A. 	The Old Testament clearly declares the importance of such teaching.
1. 	The ten commandments were to be taught.  Ex. 24:12.
2. 	Israel was exhorted to be obedient to God’s commandment, statutes and ordinances.  Deut. 6:1-9.
a. 	Warning was given lest they become “full” and forget Jehovah upon their being settled in Caanan.  Deut. 6:10-19.
b. 	Following Israel’s rebellion in worshipping the golden calf, God gave further exhortations for Israel to keep His word and to teach them to their children.             Deut. 11:18-25.  
3. 	After the days of Joshua, the people forsook Jehovah to serve idols.  Jud. 2:6-15.
a. 	If you are a student of the history of the children of Israel, you know that God had to provide Judges to deliver them from their enemies who had overcome them because of their own disobedience.
b. 	Later, after desiring a king, they were disobedient and God punished them with captivities.
4. 	During the kingdom of Israel, a Psalmist wrote of the importance of teaching the word of God to the “generations to come.”  Ps. 78:1-72 (See vs. 6 & Ps. 102:18) .
a. 	I will not read all of this at this time, but the psalm would make a great lesson to remind us of the need of teaching the “generations to come.”
b. 	Hosea lamented that God’s people were “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hos. 4:6.
5. 	Because of ignorance, the nation of Israel, once one of the strongest in the world, was destroyed.  
a. 	Jesus spoke of the final destruction of Israel.  Matt. 23:37-39.
b. 	Ultimately the natural branches, the Jews, were removed from the “olive tree,” and Gentiles were grafted into the tree.  Rom. 11:17-32.
  
Conclusion
I. 	This lesson will be continued, making further application to our teaching our children.
II. 	Will you obey Jesus as a believer by repenting and by being baptized even this morning?  Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38.

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   October 31, 1999

	I am indebted to Kenneth E. Thomas for thoughts in this series of articles based on an article which he had published on Mars-List, which had been based on an article written by Anthony Hudson on another web-list.