Psalm 78:4-8  [see also Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:2]

Note: Youth ministry begins in the home because…
• The Bible exhorts parents to teach their children the things of God.
• Youth are under the influence and authority of their parents from day to day.
• Youth want guidance and a consistent spiritual example from their parents.

78:4 We [parents; also teachers] will not hide them from their children, shewing [or telling; storying the Bible at home is important] to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done [including sending His Son].

78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob [the nation of Israel], and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known [teaching is a vehicle that carries God’s laws from one generation to the next] to their children:

78:6 That [purpose of teaching] the generation to come might know them [God’s laws], even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children [we must think beyond our generation]:

78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

78:8 [help children understand God’s displeasure with sin and that they cannot sin with impunity (see Gal. 6:7)] And might not be as their fathers [learn positive lessons from negative examples], a stubborn [resisted God’s authority] and rebellious [intentionally ignored God’s laws and chose their own way instead] generation; a generation that set not their heart aright [see Deut. 6:5], and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Note: Socrates asked, “Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth and take so little care of your children to whom one day you must relinquish it all?”