Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Mark A. Copeland
1. Parents often choose a church based on this factor
a. Out of a loving concern for their children
b. Assuming that the more young people, the better
2. A congregation with more young people may be better, but not necessarily so
a. Children tend to form cliques with their peer group, then rarely associate with others
outside their peers
b. Not all peers provide positive influence; I’ve seen good children ruined when they went
from a small church with no peers to a large church with many peers
c. Children need to learn to relate to those outside their peer groups; such is often much
easier in small churches without anyone their age
3. Spiritual interest and faithfulness in children is affected more by parents than peers
a. Fathers have the charge to bring up their children in spiritual matters - Ep 6:4
b. Mothers and grandmothers can have a powerful influence - 2 Ti 1:5
-- Parents should not abdicate their children’s spiritual training to the church, or to
their children’s friends
CONCLUSION
1. Over the years I have been privileged to be a member of many churches...
a. Some fairly sized (200-300) that provided lots of programs and children
b. Others rather small (10-100), even meeting in a home or storefront
2. I have found that wherever people faithfully proclaim the gospel and abide in the apostles' doctrine...
a. There is a family of God’s people
b. There is a place where one can grow in faith, hope, and love
A church should be a group of Christians where as we assemble to worship, we are encouraged by other
Christians to go out and live for Jesus, serve our brethren, and minister to those in our community.
Whether large or small, size does not matter. Where there is no church, one can start one in their home
as was often the case in the New Testament... - cf. Ro 16:5; 1 Co 16:19; Co 4:15; Phe 1:2
Topical Sermons 390